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Construction errors

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Construction errors

 

I don’t think that most people in the construction trade think about a home after it is built. Many things that we think are architecturally beautiful often can be a haven for animals and birds. The corner in the picture is in a hidden area and birds can build nests and raise their young. Pigeons are generational, raising their young on a home which they will continue to return to forever. Birds like sparrows can take up smaller spaces while pigeons occupy larger spaces, pigeons love corners which allow them to protect their backs. Nobody can sneak up on them like hawks, eagles and other predators.

One of my pet peeves are those closets found in garages. They secure the bottom boards with staples and prevent the termite technicians from accessing the expansion joints. I think the boards would stay in place just by gravity and allow us the ability to pull up the board and drill the slab at the expansion joint. But I’m not a builder or carpenter and they are often mandated by City, County and State code laws. Maybe not directly related to birds or pigeons but an example of building issues associated with homes or sometimes businesses.

Rodents, who will win?

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Have you seen any rodents?

Rodents including rats and mice and it seems like every once in awhile we get them in the Valley, back in 2011 and this last year 2016-2017. Roof rats mainly and they can be a real pain if you live in areas where they have become quite the nuisance. Sometimes we even get Pack Rats, I still have no idea how they survive the Jumping Cholla cactus. They will use that cactus to build their middens (their home) and no idea why they don’t get barbs everywhere. If you live in Arizona you know to stay way clear of this cactus, they don’t jump but they somehow manage to get to you and they hurt.

Also we should be concerned about cabins or sweeping up remains of the rats/mice etc, Histoplasmosis  is a major concern.

rodents

rodents bait station

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YlSxaeJq0[/embedyt]

How is GreenPro adding value to our Pest Control Industry and consumers?

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GREENPRO PRINCIPLES

GreenPro certified services minimize pesticide exposure to humans, non-target animals, and the environment by:

  • Focusing on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies such as habitat modification, exclusion, removal of food and water sources, sanitation, and making repairs.
  • Providing and documenting thorough pest inspection and monitoring services, as well as follow-up to ensure efficacy.
  • Regularly communicating with clients about pests infestations, conducive conditions, and ways to prevent pests.
  • Requiring specialized training for all company employees who sell or perform these services.

Services that include any of the following will not be certified as GreenPro:

  • Preventive pesticide applications that are based solely on the calendar.
  • Routine, high volume pesticide applications without justification.
  • Indoor pesticide applications without justification.
  • Rodenticides placed in a manner in which they are accessible to children and nontarget animals.

All information taken directly from the Guide to certification.

I’ve been pushing this for years, my regular service is an outside only, inside only on request and based on the problem or issue. We only use power spraying for weeds and ticks. In Arizona we have scorpions, so we recommend home sealing but it also requires monthly spraying, we do use a lot of DE.

greenpro

 

DIY home repairs , do it right…

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DIY home repairs –

In DIY home repairs – don’t use chicken wire, spend the time and do it right with hardware cloth. Or better yet give ProBest Pest Management a call and have us do the the job correctly. The nice thing about hardware cloth is that it can be bent into angles which looks 100% better than chicken wire.  Also I suggest the metal bird spikes, the plastic fades and weathers. Just a few tips to point you in the right direction.

Also just think about the height of the job, should you really be up there? I don’t do roofs… anymore.

DIY home repairs20151118_085929

 

Does black-lighting or exclusion work to control pests?

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PART_1437183821806_20150717_183915
So what in my opinion really works the best to control pests from getting into homes, without a doubt home sealing or exclusion. Here are my Top 3 ways to control scorpions and those other bugs that may want to make your home theirs.

  1.    Home seal or exclusion.
  2.    Black-lighting to reduce the population.
  3.    Consistent monthly pest control.

You hear me talk about IPM all the time and I’m telling you it works. Rather than spraying pesticides all the time, you can reduce the risk by helping your Pest Management Professional by doing a few things to improve the situation at your home. By black lighting you reduce the numbers and by doing so you reduce the numbers that might make it to your home. By sealing your home you again reduce the numbers that make it to your home and reduce the numbers that could make it in. The next way is to reduce the numbers of the food (crickets, roaches) and ultimately the scorpions themselves.

Now with all that said, I do believe in pest control but as I stated above it needs to be done in a consistent manner. If you have scorpions I think especially in Arizona it needs to be done monthly. I also believe that outside service is the most efficient along with home sealing and black-lighting. There are some in my professional that still don’t get it, they are the ones that still treat inside each month or power spray each month. Now don’t get me wrong I still occasionally do the inside ie: German Cockroaches or ants and if you have ticks I may decide to power spray. There are always exceptions to the rules. But soon the lack of water or water quality issues are going to trump the constant overkill of those outdated and impractical pest control techniques. (my opinion)  PART_1437183843093_20150717_184143

Why should you home-seal your home?

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probest2014-05-01 09.02.55

 

 

 

 

 

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. 602-249-7378

Debunking myths especially of the INTERNET…

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Debunking myths especially of the INTERNET…

 

Most of us have seen the commercial on TV that indicates that everything you read on the Internet is absolutely, unequivocally without a doubt TRUE and CORRECT!!!! Well I hope most of us realize it is just plain and simply not true. ProBest Pest Management is a Gold Member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program or PESP.  We receive a newsletter quarterly and this newsletter this quarter is about a few of those items – puts to rest the myth about rodents and the New York subway system – too bad it doesn’t talk about that huge alligator that lives there.

It provides some great information on “Ten Steps to Pest-Proofing”

http://www.epa.gov/pesp/news/pesp/pespwire-2012-11.pdf

I suggest you wear your shoes!

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I suggest you wear your shoes!

 

It’s dark outside and you need to run to the garage, so you ask yourself “Should I put on my shoes?” – The answer is an unequivocal – YES. Bark Scorpions pack a sting that could send you to the hospital and this whopper – Desert Hairy Scorpion will sting you but generally is not as bad as the Bark Scorpion.

Unwelcome visitor in my driveway on Saturday .

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Unwelcome visitor in my driveway on Saturday.

I absolutely love when our customers take photo’s and send them our way. Always on guard in Arizona, when the temperatures get HOT out come some of our friends including rattlesnakes. The Fire Department responded on Saturday and gently removed the snake and relocated it to the wash area.

Not everything needs to be killed, the snake was just out wondering and looking for food.

Thanks AJ for the picture and we will start the use of Snake Away immediately!!

Here is another picture of what can hide and where?

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