All posts in “food”

Sometimes it takes an extreme effort in Pest Management…

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Sometimes it takes an extreme effort in Pest Management…

These little spiders just love to cause me sleepiness nights. We have battled these spiders for a few years and although the battle is not over they continue to be a scourge on this home. I have investigated and used different pesticides over the years and actually have found that a wettable powder formulation has worked the best. Its a block wall home and the wettable powder sets on top and prevents them for a few months and then they make their way back. This home is located on a waterfront lake and the spiders just hang out waiting for food to fly right on there webs.

I haven’t given up but it is fair to say that this is an ongoing pest control if I ever have seen one. (Thanks to George for taking these pictures)

I Hate Flies oh and mosquitoes too!

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I Hate Flies oh and Mosquitoes too!

I recently found this new device which I have just placed an order for because I Hate Flies and Mosquitoes too. It is called “Mosquito Eliminator”.

Why is it important to control flies and mosquitoes?

House flies have been shown to carry the disease organisms causing typhoid fever, cholera, summer diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax and ophthalmia, as well as parasitic worms. Flies contaminate food and they have been linked to many illnesses including those caused by E-coli, Salmonella, and Streptococci.
Attracts mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Customers and guest are unaware of the device.
No scattered insect parts from electrocution and no hazards from chemical pesticides.
Exclusive automatic advance 30 day cartridge trapping system.
Fresh sticky surface and attractants released continuously. Proprietary black light technology combined with special attractants.

Call ProBest today to order yours @ $195, replacement cartridges @ $19.95 and UV light $29.95 – local delivery FREE

The pest scurge of homes – German Cockroaches!

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The pest scourge of homes – German Cockroaches!

If I asked people in general to name the one one pest that afflicts their home, I think it would be roaches. So what is it about roaches that makes them a up close pest within our homes? Basically these roaches have adapted well to humans and they will eat anything we eat. Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects on the planet.

Cockroaches typically become established in homes after being introduced in grocery bags, with laundry or, in some cases, wandering in from outdoors. Once cockroaches become established they are prolific breeders capable of producing several thousand offspring in a year.

Cockroaches prefer to live where there is food, warmth & moisture. Since cockroaches flourish where food and moisture are readily available, sanitation is an important step in prevention and control. Empty soft drink bottles, cardboard boxes and paper bags should not be allowed to accumulate. Food containers should be sealed and any crumbs or spillage cleaned up, along with any grease that accumulates around the stove area. I also suggest that you pull out the stove and refrigerator yearly and clean the area, including the fan motor. If you are going to store food items, I prefer to freeze them and then seal them in food containers.

If you notice one roach react quickly because they are breeding machines. Don’t just let it go because one roach may become several roaches quite quickly. The German cockroach produces more eggs and has more generations per year (three to four) than other roaches.

Have You Hugged Your Pest Professional Today?

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Have You Hugged Your Pest Professional Today?

April is National Pest Management Month

For more than 30 years, April has been celebrated as National Pest Management Month, recognizing the professional pest management industry for its role in protecting public health and property from significant pest threats.

“Many people may not realize the important job pest professionals perform every day. Whether it’s salvaging a termite ravaged home, giving someone back the ability to sleep after eliminating a bed bug infestation or ensuring food warehouses and restaurants are free of disease-carrying pests, we are grateful for all that these men and women do every day,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

The NPMA is also encouraging people to brush up on common household pests including termites, ants, spiders and bed bugs this month.

Termites: Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood and paper products and cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year. With termite season upon us, homeowners should be on the lookout for swarmers (winged termites), which serve as a warning that a colony may have already settled inside.

Ants: Ants are the number one nuisance pest in the U.S. and are among the most difficult to control. According to a new NPMA survey of pest professionals, spring and summer are the busiest seasons for ant-related service calls. Ant infestations are most common in office buildings, restaurants, apartments and condos and single-family homes.

Spiders: While spiders tend to elicit fear in many people, only a few pose serious health threats to humans. For example, both the brown recluse and black widow spiders can cause painful bites that are especially dangerous for children and the elderly, sometimes causing gaping wounds and fatal reactions.

Bed Bugs: Bed bugs continue to plague Americans as they infest hotels, schools college dorms, residences and other places where people gather. A 2011 survey, conducted by the NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that 99 percent of pest professionals had encountered bed bugs in the past year; a number that has steadily risen over a 10-year period.

In an effort to encourage public education about this resilient pest, NPMA is launching “Bed Bug Awareness Week,” April 22 – 28, as a part of National Pest Management Month to spread awareness, promote public vigilance and provide essential prevention advice.

“With summer travel around the corner, NPMA is reminding travelers to be vigilant wherever they go and to be mindful about bed bugs’ hitchhiking nature. A few simple prevention tips can go a long way in saving travelers from an infestation when they return home,” noted Henriksen.

For more information on National Pest Management Month, Bed Bug Awareness Week or for information on common household pests, please visit Pestworld.org.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.

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6+ billion people – whose going to feed them all?

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6+ billion people – whose going to feed them all?

As the world populations continue to grow, we have to consider how we are going to feed them all. A few weeks ago I suggested this “OK I have a great idea, NYC rat problem = Thailand” and just recently another article appeared with a similar theme “Could eating insects solve world food shortage?” written about this article “Insects Au Gratin” Looking for new ways to feed the world.

Coming to a table near you – insects al a mode…?

Even the Bees get respect in Arizona!!

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Even the Bees get respect in Arizona!! (Tonto Natural Bride, Payson, AZ)

Africanized bees get their name killer bees because they will viciously attack people and animals who unwittingly stray into their territory, often resulting in serious injury or death. They are similar in appearance to European Honeybees, the problem is that they respond with more numbers and often times will follow greater distances and that’s what get people into trouble.

As the weather is quite enjoyable these days and you decide to go out walking and the bees start bumping you it’s their way of telling you that you are in their territory. Stop, think and retreat.

If your thinking of hiking in the desert in Arizona, don’t wear perfume and don’t wear dark cloths.

If you notice a swarm on a tree, bush in your yard – the swarm will probably move on. If they don’t, call a Professional – Trust me on this one!!

If you see them going in and out of your home, call a Pest Management Professional.

Don’t panic if you see bees, they are important to life on our planet. We need them! If you are stung call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

OK I have a great idea, NYC rat problem = Thailand

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OK I have a great idea, NYC rat problem = Thailand

We all have heard about the issues in NYC and the giant rat or the mega number of rats, what if a young entrepreneur started trapping rodents and sent the meat to Thailand. “Demand For rat meat in Thailand Exceeding Supply of Rodents” from OutdoorLife Gayne C. Young. Hey I’m just saying!

This would be a Win, Win for everybody – it would diminish the number of rodents in NYC and supply food for people in Thailand who apparently like this stuff. This rodent meat is going for $3 a pound.

I decided not to show the picture –

Dirty Dining – Local coverage by KPHO

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Dirty Dining – Local coverage by KPHO

One of the things that I love to do is eat and if I’m correct lots of people probably agree with me on this subject. Now with that being said what I dislike are the restaurants that don’t follow the right course of action when it comes to cleanliness. I absolutely think KPHO (Dirty Dining) is right on the money when they follow these stories and those restaurants should pay the price – no customers until they clean up their acts. The other thing I like about this series is that they also highlight the good guys as well.

Every week CBS 5 News is sent a list of restaurants that have been recently inspected by Maricopa County’s Environmental Services Dept. Thanks to KPHO for publishing the facts. Here is the way in which they are rated “Restaurant Ratings“.

30 days to nothing, the saga of a mouse…

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30 days to nothing, the saga of a mouse…

30 days to nothing- OK to be candid with you I almost decided not to publish this dribble! Really the entire story just makes me sick and not because of the mouse but what some people will do to cash in on a lawsuit. Remember that lady with the McDonald’s coffee years back, she put the coffee cup between her legs and it spilled and burned her. Well my point is you can’t fix stupid, I mentioned that often here but for God’s sake you know its HOT and you put it between your legs – please!!!

So as the story goes “Mountain Dew Can Dissolve a Mouse“, I think most of us have heard of Pepsi or Coke and how it can dissolve a penny. So grow and realize that most of these beverages are made of acidic materials. I drink Mountain Dew and will continue to because I like it and just because some guy thought he could pull a fast one doesn’t stop me from enjoying a Dew. Now I’m not an expert in the bottling industry but having seen some shows, bottles (if they even use them anymore) are washed out, upside down, rinsed and thoroughly disinfected and filled and closed with minutes, cans and plastic bottles are new even if recycled. I don’t think there is any opportunity for anything the size of a mouse to get into a production line these days.

So anyway don’t believe everything you hear, don’t worry about PepsiCo or Coca Cola (Coke). Read my recent home seal about Food Safety.

Here is another take on the Mouse versus the Dew from EHS Eco-Sensitive Pest Solutions from NorthEast USA.

Cereal – Have you ever noticed bugs?

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Cereal – Have you ever noticed bugs?

Cereal bugs – Well it does happen from time to time. So what are the bugs and how did they get there? Stored Product Pest can sometimes be found in a variety of goods, from dog food, pasta, dried flower arrangements to flour. Most of the time this contamination occurs outside of the factory where it was produced. Have you ever been shopping and noticed little moths flying about? I notice them quite often in the dry dog food aisle at your local Pet Stores.

Here is a report I believe from France but it points out how problems can arise to the point of contamination or adultration.

4,900 kg of cereals destroyed due to presence of insects

US timelines

Lewis Caleb Beck in the Patent Office around 1848 to carry out chemical analyses of agricultural products

1904-1906 Upton Sinclair (did you know he lived in Buckeye, AZ with his 3rd wife) publishes “The Jungle” about the meatpacking industry which sparked the passage of the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906.

1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act

Pesticide Control Law 1910

FDA – 1930

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law – 1938

FIFRA – Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act passed in – 1947

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 1/4/2011