house Archives - Page 6 of 14 - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

All the talk about Ebola, what are the most dangerous viruses?

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With all the talk about Ebola this last month DW author (Helena Schwar)website wrote a very interesting article “Top 10 most dangerous viruses in the world“.

#3 Hantavirus – rodents

#5 Lassa virus – rodents

#7 Crimea-Congo fever – ticks

#8 Machupo virus – may be transmitted by rodents

#9 Kyasanur Fiorest virus – ticks

#10 – Dengue fever – mosquitoes

So do you see a pattern here, I do and its related to my job – Public Health Professional. We are very fortunate here in the U.S., we don’t have as many issues with these pests as some countries do. So stop and think about what we could do to protect ourselves even further against these deadly viruses.

Can I home-seal my own house?

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So just imagine this outlet is in your home, see all that space along the edge. I would use caulking and seal that completely and put that cover back on. Nothing will get by the caulking and that cover, but if you leave it open or not sealed can you imagine what could get in?

When they cut holes in the drywall, they approximate the opening and cut away. These holes if left unsealed allow air and bugs free access into the home. Sealing helps to keep the cold in, the warm out or vice versa and the same with the bugs. You can seal a lot of these small holes which will help your electric bill and keep those bugs out.

I located a honeybee colony in my house and had it removed, now what?

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Most times if you located it early enough you are probably alright but if its been there for a long time you may have some issues.

Normally I ask questions and hope for the best but from time to time you never know what might happen. I’ve seen times when not only was there a distinct smell, but there was Wax Moths everywhere. I don’t know how they do it but they got into the house and were flying and flirting around in every room. So here are my tips:

Monthly checks of your home during Honeybee season – Africanized Honeybees swarm in Arizona as soon as it becomes warm and wills swarm right up to our mild winters.
If you see bees going in and out it is time to call a Pest Management Professional.
Keep an eye after the bees have been removed for any signs of leakage. The beeswax and honey will melt and secondary pests will come by for something to eat.
Leakage may be inside or outside, pay attention to smells and spotting on walls or ceilings.
Honey won’t mold but dead bees might so again pay attention to the smells.

Can Subterranean termites damage paintings and other wall art?

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Remember last week on the 18th July Arizona termites – sneaky and they will get in

Once termites find their way in they will continue to seek out cellulose and if they find it in a painting they will attack and eat. So if you notice anything unusual on a wall or painting please check it out. Sometimes those hidden areas can surprise you.

Arizona termites – sneaky and they will get in.

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Arizona has some rather sneaky termites but very capable of gaining entry into our homes. They usually make termite tunnels over the outside foundation but can also make their way in by way of that crack or where concrete meets another piece of concrete. This photo was the only evidence within this home but looks typical of those mud tubes or tunnels on the foundation.

So if you notice something that looks like this or a drop tube from the ceiling it’s time to call ProBest Pest Management at 602-249-7378.

A little tip to protect your home.

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If you have wood siding please consider the following:

Remember when it rains, the wood will act like a sponge and wick the water up.
Don’t plant grass or any type of plant to close, the plan is to make the foundation visible for inspections.
Just my opinion but don’t plant anything under the drip-line of the home. That is where the roof extends out away from the house.

What is an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator)?

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An IGR is a chemical that inhibits the life cycle of an insect. OK what does that mean, some IGR’s stop insects from molting their skin, while others can cause eggs to be sterile and some can stop the formation of chitin which aids in the construction of the exoskeleton. We often add an IGR into a product designed to kill that insect but for some reason that insect maybe because of the sheer numbers evades our kill. This IGR then acts upon those survivors by interfering with molting, reproduction and/or the break down of their skeleton.

An example of this would be a heavy infestation of German Roaches, our goal is to kill them all but sheer numbers dictate that this probably won’t happen. So if we kill 97-98% the IGR is there to help wrap up the remaining numbers. Many of these IGR’s are labeled as “Reduced Risk” meaning that they target the offending bug while not affecting other good bugs. You can actually use an IGR by itself and not use any pesticide, the kill might take longer but use are reducing the pesticide within that structure (IPM).

There are a few IGR’s that target specific pests, I’m going to mention a few because of their ability to work really well (my opinion). There are some new ones that work well and are constantly being tested for new pests.

Gentrol – Cockroaches, beetles and moths.

Precor – Mosquitoes and fleas.

Sometimes nature just re-imagines itself..

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So every once in awhile you come across something unique. This wreath was nice as it was but then this dove decided to add a little touch of class by building a nest right on top.The only problem was the lack of hygiene by Mama bird and the poo on the welcome mat.

So a little upgrade to an existing wreath, looks fine to me. Have you seen anything like this?

Where do Honeybees make their home?

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Well almost anywhere!

These are meter boxes, usually they seek out areas that are hidden and away from people such as these closed meter boxes. I also always thought these boxes were to small, but I guess I would be wrong. Africanized Honeybees swarm 30% more often and maybe it has to do with space.

So bee careful out there, as they will make their home almost anywhere.

Wood destroyers and termites

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Wood destroyers, including termites and wood rot can play havoc on your home. Whenever you place wood directly on the ground, you are inviting termites and other creatures to that area. It is always better to place firewood or any wood for that matter on blocks or pavers. Ideally having wood stored just for one season at a time is best, there is less chance of buildup of pests in general. But as always – please wear gloves and only take into the structure what you are going to use immediately. If it is cold and you warm up the wood, the insects living inside may try to come out and infest the home. So here are a few Quick Tips:

Always place firewood or wood on blocks or pavers rather than directly on ground.
Keep that wood pile away from the home.
Always wear gloves moving wood.
Store only the wood you will use that season.
Only bring in enough wood to use that day.

wood destroyers

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