All posts in “crickets”

Lizards

Lizards

Lizards

These lizards are can often be found at South Mountain doing pushups on the boulders and the lizard in the picture is a Chuckwalla. They range in size up to 16 inches, and they live in the Southwest here is Arizona from California all the way to Southern Utah and Nevada. We do have a lot of lizards here in Arizona, but nothing as big as those Florida Iguanas.  Those were in the news recently when it got really cold and they were dropping from the trees. A friend has one in Payson, she named Stan, it hangs out daily and soaks in the sun.

In regards to pest control, we don’t treat and shouldn’t treat for them as they do more good than harm. They eat plants like annuals and perennials and will feed on insects. Occasionally they find their way inside, usually by mistake. Just let them out to continue to do what they do.

Spray on glass

Spray on glass = No Scorpions

Spray on glass = No Scorpions

Years ago in my other life I was in Australia looking at new termite technology. They had designed a PVC delivery system. It was far superior to anything I had seen but cost wise probably not affordable. I think most builders and homeowners think that just any termiticide would be fine and that in general the way that actually works. If I had a chance to build my own home – Termidor would be the pretreat material. Ideally the above system could be used to inject termiticide under the home because eventually the termiticide degrades.

This new spray on glass like technology is similar to the story above with one exception – the pricing is affordable. The greatness of this product is that it is fairly easy to apply and last for about 3 years. Ideally you also want no bushes or trees to touch the home. This also cuts down on ants and roaches getting in that way. The spray on glass prevents scorpions from climbing and is my product of choice for assisting with scorpions. They also stay in the treated pesticide zone longer and because of that hard exoskeleton it has the ability to be exposed longer.

I’ve been extremely lucky never been stung by a scorpion, many honeybees but not a scorp. So whenever I heard that a child has been stung I always cringe. This is what motivated the team at ScorpionRepel.com to come up with a real life plan. Call ProBest today to set up your FREE QUOTE and get that pain behind you 480-831-9328 or 623-414-1076

 

 

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Cricket Poo

Cricket Poo can be mistaken for termite activity. Cricket mess under a hand lens appear to have sharp jagged edges. Often black in color while termites use soil and water which when mixed in their poo, used to build tunnels and tubes. I see this kind of activity inside garages on the foundation step up and along foundations outside homes. Termites construct their tunnels over surfaces such as slabs and drywall or 2x4s in homes.

People mistake lots of things as termites, I get calls on Mud dauber soil nest, They build these almost ball looking things which they then pack with incapacitated spiders and then lay their eggs inside. When the egg hatches the little baby larva eats the paralyzed spiders. Termites build little tunnels or tubes about the size of pencils and the little girls make their way throughout these tubes to contain moisture. The arch enemies of termites are ants and they fight if they interact. But you really don’t need either of these two on your property.

If you run into something and you don’t know what it is, call us 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176 or send us a picture at [email protected]

Cat versus Dragon

Cat versus Dragon, every once in awhile you have that moment to take a picture that just has to be taken. This cat and probably very nervous Bearded Dragon, were just hanging out. The owner said they do it daily and have been doing it for a long time – unlikely friends, right?

What does this have to do with pest control? Many people ask if we can kill or get rid of lizards. We can’t and don’t, lizards eat bugs and are a natural way to get rid of pests, especially crickets. Just like bats they eat a lot of bugs on a weekly basis. I’ve also seen cats play with scorpions, never reacting to stings if stung. But still no reason to have bugs in your house.

Cricket poo

Cricket poo

Cricket poo often is confused by a lay person as termite damage or frass. Cricket feces is black odd shaped star looking almost ripped edges. Termite feces is used with tunnel making or with Drywood termites hard shell ribbed edges. Subterranean termites mix the dirt and poo together in the building of the termite tubes and/or tunnels.

The Art of Pest Management is with the knowledge and what and how pest occur, that by the way is why you pay me. Because I KNOW. I continually run into people that say the previous person said this and that is wrong. They might say its bed bug and I go and its springtails or even ticks. That’s another treatment protocol and generally a lot less money.

Poop – What is it?

Poop?????

Is it Poop? Not the best and most visible pictures, I need a new camera. Any ideas? I have been called a few times by people believing this to be from termites, not. I find this at the bottom of stucco and pretty readily found in Arizona.

poop DSC03764

Ok so we know its not termites, well here it is drum roll please – cricket poo. Somehow the crickets get into the wall and their feces falls down the wall voids. This is also a big sign that you need pest control because the next problem will be scorpions. I’m only guessing here but I’ll bet that scorpions love to eat crickets.

Pests hanging out?

Where do pests hang out?

Are there pests  hanging out on a tree nearby your home, this moth is home is warm climates. Caterpillars are known as horn worms and the adults may resemble hummingbirds due to their size. Can be found throughout the south as far as Argentina. The adults frequent deep-throated flowers, similar to that which hummingbirds visit. This moth really isn’t a pest but if you have trees touching your home you might be inviting them into your home. What is that tree housed an any colony, they would travel up a limb and right into your home and you might not know where they are coming from. What about Roof rats, another bridge right into your home. Ohhh and don’t get me started on vines on your home, you know what I would say, right?  What about those flies, yuuuuck!

There are good bugs.

Often times we just see a bug and we are prepared to exterminate it. This shouldn’t be our first thought, there are many bugs that aren’t pests. Butterflies and moths pollinate several different species of plants and flowers. Ladybugs eat a ton of aphids and spiders keep down those occasional invaders like crickets and earwigs. Hoping that in the future we can just pick a DNA strand and pick off whatever bug is eating our food or coming at our homes and businesses. This would allow the beneficial bugs that chance to continue to do what they do, protect and eat all those nasty bugs. The technology might be just around the corner, no harm to beneficials and only those that are a menace. Can you imagine a farmer having a plan to just take out the harmful bugs and leaving behind the good bugs. I’m sure the Praying Mantids, ladybugs and spiders will thank us later.

pests Rustic Sphinx moth

pests Rustic Sphinx moth

 

 

Top pests for ProBest Pest Management in 2015?

Top Pests

Throughout the day in sunny and hot Arizona we run across a plethora of pests and I thought we would share with you are Top 5.  I had really thought that Bed Bugs would be in the list but alas No. So the Top Pests for 2015 and ProBest starting with

# 5 on our countdown – mice/rodents

# 4 on our countdown – crickets

# 3 on our countdown – ants

# 2 on our countdown – termites

 

and the Winner topping our most frequent calls are scorpions.   top pests PART_1437183821806_20150717_183915

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Check out of our great information on home sealing and see why its important and how you can save money.

Why should you home-seal your home?

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At the bottom of your stucco, there is a device called the jtrim – it actually holds the stucco up when wet but more importunately it allows your home to breath. The problem comes later after the house has some time to settle and this piece pulls away from the foundation. See that little space, that is where the scorpions can enter your home. Use caulking and seal it or contact ProBest Pest Management to do it for you.

Clip the coupon for a money saving promotion going on right now – save $2 per lineal foot. 480-831-9328

Something sneaky came our way, what was it?

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Well it didn’t surprise at all, when you see this many crickets you are bound to see a spider or two. Let me tell you this Black Widow was huge, she was almost the size of a quarter. Rodent stations are ideal for hiding, minimal intrusion and plenty of space until we show up that is.

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