All posts in “debris”

Alleyways

Alleyways

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Alleyways

Alleyways, side streets all pose a risk of trash buildup, which allows all kinds of scavengers a chance to feed. Birds, opossums, raccoons, rodents and feral animals will somehow always find a way to get the food. Pests including cockroaches, flies, earwigs and ants will find the food and carry it away. All in all its better to keep the areas clean, but we know our neighbors, right? We also know that all of these pest pose a significant threat to the Public Health, they carry disease and other pathogens. These  pathogens can cause stomach issues and affect us in many ways. Don’t get me started on flies, yuuuuuck. One minute in the garbage the next on your steak – throwing up and licking it up. Did I mention yuuuuuuuck. Even in the winter here, those bins can be nasty.

So what can we do?

  • Keep those areas clean, clean them frequently. Even if your not in an alleyway, keep it clean.
  • Keep the garbage lids down.
  • Recycle what you can, food can go into earth type recyclable bins and later into gardens.
  • I suggest bagging it, they have recyclable bags as well.
  • There are products like fly bags (they smell but if in alleyway its better) there are baits and things you can use near the trash sites.
  • Remember that fly can be in your house super fast, while it might take a few hours for the roach to make it there.

Grass eating termites

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Grass and termites

Grass, termites and what they may eat. Here is Arizona we have a grass eating termite. Typically they eat desert cellulose cleaning up the desert. In the picture they are just eating the old dead tree bark. Sometimes you will see them building little castles in the yard. They usually don’t do any harm but it does freak out some people and from time to time we can treat around trees to stop them from doing any perceived damage.

You will occasionally see them in areas that are dry and they will build little tunnels over the lawn. This buildup looks like little castles and often look kind of unique in the yard or litter areas. They will buildup over leaves, small pieces of wood or twigs, manure, cactus and plant structures. They also are known as agricultural termites.

Grass

Clutter

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Clutter in and around your home

Clutter in and around your home is an open ended invitation to come hang out if your a pests. Don’t allow cluttered areas because they are ideal in hiding pests including, scorpions, rodents and cockroaches. The ideal yard is free from trash, trees and bushes are away from structure and block walls and water is only on plants and not excessive. Wood is OK as long as it is on some type of raised platform and I would prefer it to not be against a block wall. The wood needs to breath and not hold moisture.

If your not using the wood its better to throw it out. Throw away trash, my theory is if you haven’t touched it in a year throw is out. Watch for cockroaches under garbage cans and don’t allow water to accumulate in containers which might promote mosquitoes. Mow the grass and keep the weeds down – We do weed treatments. 602-249-7378.

Clutter

Hoarding collecting

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Hoarding collecting

Hoarding collecting, clutter, junk, trash or just way to much stuff. The problem with this is often the amount collected. To much often hides other issues like cockroaches and rodents. With filth comes secondary pest infestation, after cockroaches and rodents may come parasites and flies. If you know me at all, flies are the biggest yuck factor.

This disease is known as compulsive hoarding by excessive acquisition (collecting). And an inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that cover the living areas of the home and cause significant distress or impairment. I’ve only had to deal with once so far, a mobile home packed to the gills and impossible to actually get under control without a significant clean-up.

Hoarding collecting

A lot of times vacuuming can really help with Pest Control.

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We often get calls to rid homes of certain bugs and sometimes I just want to say – clean your house first. Its all in the approach to a customer, I have always believed that a home was meant to be lived in. Hoarding though can be dangerous, look I prefer a home that was clutter free but that isn’t always going to happen. So lets just say that your home leans a little closer to clutter than clutter free, what can you do?

  • If you have carpet vacuum often and make sure you empty the vacuum. We don’t have fleas here in Arizona but I have seen fleas hatch from a bag vacuum and re-infest the entire home again.
  • Carpet beetles are a problem and if you have a vacuum that really works well, it may be able to suck up the larva and they do all the damage.
  • Bed Bugs can also hang out near the baseboard and edges of the carpet, so vacuuming could help. Speaking of Bed Bugs if you want to use DE or DiatomaceousEarth – don’t go crazy this stuff can be dangerous when your breath it into your nose.
  • Don’t use Bug Bombs, they can make the critter go deeper and more of an issue on treating in the future.
  • Vacuum again.
Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

Were you aware that May is “National Pet Month”?

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Were you aware that May is “National Pet Month”?

 

Lots of us own pets, from cats to snakes and because of this we can also from time to time get uninvited pests including ticks and other vermin. In Arizona we don’t get fleas very often but we do encounter ticks on a regular basis. So what can you do to stop those infestations from happening to your home.

  1. Don’t leave food out for feral cats, this may bring in other unwanted pests.
  2. If you see holes in the yard check for Pocket gophers, they can damage plants and bring in pests.
  3. Even birds like pigeons can bring in pests, don’t allow them them to live on your roof.
  4. Bats can make your attic a home, seal and block all access into your attic. Bat Bugs can take up residence within your attic and if you get rid of the bats, the Bat Bugs may come into your home space.
  5. Check your pets frequently for signs of fleas or ticks. You can use over the counter medicines but if you do please mention this to your Pest Management Professional – some of those products may contain a similar products and cause an overdose to the pet.
  6. Keep grass or vegetation trimmed around the home.
  7. Don’t become a hoarder, keep debris away from the home and discourage rodent activity.
  8. Never place firewood next to your home, don’t invite rodents or pests near the home. If you use firewood only bring in what you plan on using right away.
  9. If you have rodents, it may lead to snakes. Snakes have to eat so don’t encourage them to come to your house.
  10. Don’t allow water to stand, mosquitoes can bite and transit diseases and parasites to your pets.

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What does Carpet Cleaning have to do with Pest Control?

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What does Carpet Cleaning have to do with Pest Control?

You probably don’t even think about your carpet and how dirty it gets from normal daily usage? So where does all that dirt come from?

  1. Dust and dirt are everywhere!
  2. When you walk into your home, do you wipe your shoes – you can track mud, dirt and feces right in the front door. The neighbor’s dog leaves you a present or the pigeon poop on the driveway or front porch.
  3. Dust mites are everywhere.
  4. Critters get in and die along the edge and their bodies eventually disintegrate and become dust and allergens.

 

No home is immaculate, dust and dirt are everywhere. So we recommend cleaning your carpets (based upon usage) at least once a year. ProBest Pest Management purchased a Carpet Cleaning van to use with our Bed Bug service. Call us today to schedule that carpet cleaning – green products available!

ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378

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