bait Archives - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

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Winter Weather

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Winter Weather

Winter weather generally means all of us are cold and that means critters as well. So as we are trying to maintain our houses, pests are trying to get in. Any hole or opportunity will allow them inside. I would recommend the use of IPM, the art of using everything at your fingertips and then getting to pesticide if you have to.

Do a monthly or at least quarterly check of your property.
Seal any cracks or holes on the home, use caulking or steel wool if rodents are involved. Remember mice need a hole the size of a dime. Rats require something in the area of a quarter to gain entry. Seal it with steel or copper wool and calking or cement.
Remove, replace any wood rot and seal it if possible.
Keep trash receptacles closed and clean and away from house.
Keep bushes, trees and vines away from the house.
Keep wood trim painted or sealed to keep away pests.
Keep water usage to a minimum, make sure you’re not collecting water in certain areas.
If you have a crawlspace keep it clean and dry, always good to keep it ventilated as well.
Once a year have a termite inspection done, they can also perform a pest inspection.
When in doubt, or maybe you don’t understand the pest – time to hire a Professional call 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176

The picture is of bait in a rodent station and as you can see activity is taking place. The bricks show that something is gnawing at it, the next visit may or may not show more evidence but rodents should on the down swing.

Rattlesnake Rattlers

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Rattlesnake Rattlers – What’s inside the box?

Rattlesnake Rattlers – I don’t advocate killing things unless you have to. Now with that being said, if you have rodents inside your home, they must die. End of story, why you ask? Because they can cause serious health risks, they urinate and cause other potential issues like asthma. I technically didn’t kill this rattlesnake, it crawled into a rodent station that had a snap trap within. I probably should have saved the skull but didn’t think that far but the rattlers were impressive. Also I somewhat relived I didn’t run into this snake when it was alive. It must have been a good size, probably a good 5 foot.

A few of my accounts just relocate the snakes, taking them for a ride to a somewhat further distance away from the house or business. I was out the National Cemetery and there was a small 1 footer which I moved to a field just down the road.

Have you ever tried DIY for German Roaches?

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The biggest issue I have with DIY (Do It Yourself) pest control is that most people don’t understand bugs. If you have the knowledge then you can deal with the pest. Same reason I don’t replace my own brakes on my vehicle. I don’t have a clue and frankly I don’t want to know. But let me tell you, I know bugs.

You know those cockroach stations that you just throw into the kitchen or bathroom cabinet, they might work if you get them close enough. But most people just toss them into the cabinet and that isn’t very helpful. Yes some roaches will find the stuff but if you place them near the source, it will work better.

So how would you control these roaches if the bait wasn’t close by, it’s far easier to just call a Pest Management Professional. 602-249-7378

Off Label – DANGEROUS

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Off Label – dangerous and extremely improper method to eradicate rodents.

I now understand why the EPA wants to take away these products from consumers. Not all consumers are this reckless. I have even seen Pest Professionals do things that are not wise, spray for weeds in short pants with flip flops on. But I guess that is why they award the Darwin Awards each year for stupidity. That is also why items need warning labels such as “Don’t put your hands under mower when its running”. This is all dangerous, what if a child ran across this bait while on a walk. Bait must be securely installed within a rodent bait box, not accessible to children or pets. These packets are often throw into attic and I have seen rodents attempt to bring it out via the weep holes in the attic. I’ll also mention another pet peeve of mine, moth balls – they are not intended to be throw anywhere you want, they are poisonous to animals and children. Any pesticide can be dangerous, they all have Label directions of use and Safety Data Sheets and should be read each time you use them. Pests pose a significant risk to the public health and that is why I consider myself a Public Health Professional. Pesticides save lives everyday and should be used in accordance with the Label. Things change and pesticides are getting better at doing their intended purposes. The EPA has a very informative site for the safety of pesticides.

Please read the label, it is the law and must be followed for the safety of your community.

DANGEROUS is about all I can say! It isn’t just about yourself, it’s about the general public at large. Just think for moment before doing something. Thank you!

off label

Did you know that I test products before recommending them?

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One of my favorite accounts has been having some fly issues, so we are running a test. The fly bags work but they stink and I mean really stink. This device is called the Solar Fly Trap – it does use an attractant but allows the flies to be held in a dry area. So the biggest issue the stink is far better from the start of the test.

Used by horse owners, breeding and training facilities, dairies, poultry and swine facilities, feedlots, gardeners, pet owners, kennels, and other places where flies are a problem.

This made-to-last, rust-free, heavy duty trap goes anywhere. Use it to reduce existing fly populations, fly blooms and migrant flies.

The yeast bait is mixed with water and poured into the container at the bottom of the trap. Within seconds flies are lured into the trap. They enter into the confinement chamber and dehydrate from exposure to the sun. When the solar fly trap begins to fill up with flies, just empty, hose out and reset with new bait.

Give us a month and we will post the results.

How does that insecticide really kill those bugs?

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How does that insecticide really kill those bugs?

Have you ever thought once you sprayed that bug – How does it die? I’m guessing probably not, it’s not that you don’t care but generally speaking you just want the damn bug dead! Over my 25 years I have learned a great deal about how the bugs die and why. One of the products I absolutely love is called Avert, this is a dry bait used for cockroaches and one of the reasons I love this product is this. Most products cause the cockroach to die on it’s back – Avert makes them stop fast while walking. So immediately you know your product is killing them. I had a chance to read a great article “Insecticide Mode of Action” by Drs. Michael E Scharf and Daniel R. Suiter in Pest Control Technology magazine October 2011.

You may not want to know all about this subject but maybe I can hi-light and simplify it a little (I said maybe).

Targets the nervous system = neurotoxin.
Insecticides that do not target the nervous system.

Just when you thought, can they invent another rat trap?

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Just when you thought, can they invent another rat trap or bait station to be more exact?

These bait stations are designed to look like electrical boxes, blending in and discreet. It includes simulated connectors that slide into the sides of the station, making it appear as an electrical box. Perfect for sensitive accounts where discretion is essential, the EVO^® CIRCUIT™ is understated for a reason.

I have always used a different design because of the ease of use with the key, so I’m very eager to try this new model all with the same key.

Brought to you by Bell Laboratories an exclusive manufacturer of rodent control products, Bell Laboratories produces the highest quality rodenticides and other rodent control products available to the pest control and agricultural industries on six continents.

No self respecting Bug would Dare – enter my home, or would they?

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No self respecting Bug would Dare – enter my home, or would they?

Well it finally happened, the ants came ing into my kitchen Saturday. In my 10 years at this home in Phoenix I’ve only had a few little bugs make their way into the realm of the “Bug Guy”. A few years ago an American Roach had made it’s way into my shower and another had made it’s way into my kitchen but not bad for 10 years. Saturday I got up to make some coffee and there they were on the window sill and counter, trying to make their way into the bag of garbage there. Luckily enough for me I had some TerroPCO to stop them in their tracks. I think I created the issue, we were moving the stone from the back yard to the side and it’s a little higher than it should be, but my goal is to remove it completely and replace it with wood chips or bark.

Now I know what you are thinking – didn’t the ants know better than to come to a house of someone licensed to kill (bugs only)? I think they temporarily lost sight of the real facts, just because there is food handy – its not always free. No free entitlements here at my home, especially to any wayward pests!

They were Black Fire Ants and they were just looking for food, the best way to combat any ants that make their way into your home is to identify and then treat. I decided to try the TerroPCO first and they readily started feeding on it and within 2 days they were gone. You can’t just spray them, this may kill the surface ones but will never solve the problem. You must get to the source and that is the Queen ant, she lays the eggs and you must kill her and the easiest method is for the foragers to take the food home to share.

Curiouser, Curiouser the Intriguing Tale of a Mouse or the Rat…

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Curiouser, Curiouser the Intriguing Tale of a Mouse or the Rat…

An actual story from two of our customers:

Curiouser “There I was sitting on my couch one late evening, probably shouldn’t have been watching a scary show.Then I heard the noise. My mind races thinking I was being burglarized or someone was watching through a window. Then I heard it again and small noise more like a bump. I got up and went into the kitchen and I almost screamed, it was a small mouse on the kitchen sink counter. I couldn’t wait, I knew my bug guy was probably asleep. But I did call and got the asnwering machine and I left a message. Then it happened the Bug guy called me back and boy was I impressed with that company. The Bug guy said it probably was something unusal and that he would see to it that someone would respond first thing in the morning.”

So it turns out that the mouse probably came in through the bottom of the kitchen door and we replaced the door threshold. We put down a tin cat to catch the little mouse (which we did the very same day). We did check all the cabinets and only found a few little dropping on the counter and no where else.No mention of a rodent again from that customer and I’ll bet she is extremely glad of that.

The inspection – identifies the issue and the cause = one mouse.
Fix the problem – door threshold.
Catch the mouse.
Follow up with customer.

I received a call one morning from a very upset customer – during the night one of her children had to use the bathroom and discovered a rat in the toilet. I can only imagine that scream and how I would respond to that shocking discovery. She indicated that the rat was still in the toilet and would I please respond ASAP. I had to think for a minute or two to come up with the plan and I headed that way. I put a fishing net under the seat and lifted the lid and there it was – one scary wet looking rat. It was tired and I grabbed it with my gloved hand and put it into a bucket and away I went. Several months ago I saw the customer again and she mentioned the rat again and we laughed. In my 20 years in this industry I have never had a rat in a toilet and often think about how it got there. Second story bathroom, no signs of a tree touching the home and I would think the sewer pipe was a long way to go – so I’ll guess I’ll never know!

Inspection/asscertain the issue
Remove rat
Inspect to make sure nothing can come in from outside, windows closed, no evidence outside including any way in.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDi_p_2_4Ow]

Not my video but one I found on youtube. stelladachicken