The University of Arizona provides a very handy newsletter and this month November is right on target. “Rodents: Get them out of your school, house and yard.”
I’ve had people say well it’s only 1 mouse or rat, but let me tell you one is enough and should be dealt with ASAP if not sooner. Home-sealing is the best method to keep these little pest out of your home.
Well the heat is finally going away and the cooler weather is right around the corner. Thank goodness – I’m not sure it was the heat or that humidity but whatever I’m thankful it is getting cooler.
Termites continue to pop up around the valley and if the weather doesn’t get real cold the pests will continue. So now would be a great time to tackle those little chores around the house to prevent pests from getting in. What can you do?
We don’t often talk about grasshoppers or locust but I would say that they would be considered occasional pests. Those pests that accidentally get into homes or businesses. Technically a locust is a grasshopper but not all grasshoppers are locusts. Locusts were once known as the Plague of the West and will eat almost anything in its path.
Keeping windows and doors shut will keep them out along with repairing window screens.
Two different farmers in Missouri have been diagnosed with Heartland virus with symptoms that include fever, fatigue and nausea. Back in 2013 we reported on CDC reported cases and we just want people to take precautions before hiking or going off into the woods. Lyme Disease in Arizona, Yes was another article we did on protecting yourself against ticks and fleas. Take care hiking!
Ants can be a major issue, they can get into our homes and businesses. They can find their way into food storage and pantries and spoil food. I have even seen them in refrigerators, stoves and microwaves. They can also get into restaurants, this can cost the restaurant business revenue and lost of patrons. Pest control is essential for business that rely on patrons and also that serve food or beverages. There are a number of species that can get inside homes including nuisance Pharaoh, Ghost and even Carpenter ants will trail to sweet or protein foods. It is really important to understand the habits of the nuisance critter you are dealing with, in this way you know when they need protein and/or sweets as carbs.
ants
Some great information from the National Pest Management Association
Mud daubers are not Termites!
I sometimes get called to homes to find that they see a Mud dauber nest and not a termite mud tunnel.
Picture #1 is a Mud dauber wasp nest and there are a variety of shapes and styles but basically a glob of dirt molded by the female wasp to hide/protect her eggs. She will lay an egg and usually provide it with paralyzed spiders.
Picture #2 and #3 are Subterranean termite mud shelter tubes, typically much more slender in size.
http://en.wikipedia.org
The good news – if it is a Mud dauber – just scrape the mud off the house – that’s it. The bad news if it’s termites – I think you should call ProBest Pest Management!
Successful strategies to prepare your home for winter: 
The key in my book is to keep an eye out throughout the year. If Africanized Honeybee’s have taken up residence and you didn’t notice it for a year you will have more problems because of the time involved to build more colony and honey storage. So here is my list:
Flying insects abound with rain and great weather…
Thanks to Scorpion Techs for the pictures. www.ScorpionTechAZ.com
So yesterday we had a rash of calls concerning little tiny crawling and flying bugs. These above came from Scorpion Techs and they were curious what they were, after a little book research I think we have Chinch bugs. The other ones earlier in the day almost look like a Pirate Bug which sucks juice from plants such as Aphids do. Nothing a little general pest service can’t take care of. Since they are extremely tiny they can get into your homes by way of windows and doors and the really annoying thing is that they might get into your nose or mouth, yuuuuuck…
With the rains and great weather comes the bugs, so keep your mouth shut (so they don’t fly in) and call your friendly Pest Management Professional (which I hope is ProBest Pest Management).
