All posts in “IPM”

Marijuana & rodents eating evidence

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Marijuana, what a story?

This story comes to you from India, where the police had a little issue with some stealing. The rats or so they say, absconded with the seized drugs. “Rodents ’empty’ cannibis stored in Bargi Police Station“, I guess not even the Judge was amused as he let the alleged suspects go free. You go to all that trouble to track down the smugglers and the rats eat the evidence.

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The picture above is from rats bringing cactus into a bait station, I didn’t have any pictures of marijuana – sorry. Rats and mice are able to enter buildings by any hole between a dime and quarter size, they will also eat almost anything. So as I always say, home seal and prevention = IPM Integrated Pest Management. Prevent them from getting in and no worries.

What can you do to prevent rodents?

Check your yard and home monthly for bugs and rodents. Keep food out of their reach, pick up fruit that has fallen to the ground. Keep your yard clean, trim bushes from next to your home. Don’t keep stuff in your yard, rats will next in anything that might be stored. If you store firewood keep it high, dry and away from the house. Keep water from collecting in the yard or any containers, they need water just like we do. If you have a shed, keep things rat-proof stored and on shelves and of course check things often.

If you see rat bait stations in your neighborhood, check things out. If there is one rat there are probably more. If your going to clean sheds wear a mask and follow the recommendations from the CDC.  Don’t just sweep up dust without checking for droppings. If you notice something strange, investigate it or call in a Pest Management Professional such as ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378.

Bugs are bugs, right?

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Arizona Vegetable IPM Update “Aphid Identification, lettuce dieback, wheat herbicide sensitivity“. By John Palumbo, UA Research Scientist and Extension Specialist. (Western Farm Press) He’s got a point and in the business of bugs a very important point –

This is where the accuracy part comes in. Just because you can find a few winged aphids on produce crops does not mean these species are important to leafy vegetable and cole crops.

Most people call and say I got bugs, and when we ask questions they are hesitant to answer. There is a big difference between American Roaches and German Roaches and really, really important in the treating scheme of things. Yes you can kills bugs with any pesticide generally but you may not solve the problem or you may make it worse. I’ve seen floors covered with Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and still have bed bugs and I’ve seen people use can sprays to kill ants and still have ants. So here are my keys for pest control and they are fairly simple:

  1. Identify the bug
  2. Understand their biology
  3. Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  4. Use the right pesticide if necessary

The tips for keeping the bugs out, what are they?

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To a Pest Management Professional the slogan – Integrated Pest Management is really important. Why, you ask? Because it is at the heart of what we do, everyday! I don’t think that many of us that really want to harm nature and there is a fine line to doing that and protecting us from the bugs that could kill us.

At its core is this principle – “Integrated Pest Management is a process involving common sense and sound solutions for treating and controlling pests. These solutions incorporate three basic steps: 1) inspection, 2) identification and 3) treatment. Treatment options vary from sealing cracks and removing food and water sources to pesticide treatments when necessary.”

But you and I both know that it isn’t always easy controlling certain pests like cockroaches in apartments, so its take everyone’s cooperation and help to solve the dilemna. The same goes for scorpions, home-sealing is just one step to controling these beasts.

So heer are a few tips to help you in your mission to keep your home or business bug free.

    1. Home-seal your home or buisness (fill in cracks and crevices).
    2. Fix any leaking pipes.
    3. Don’t stack firewood or any material against your house, the idea is to be clutter free.
    4. Keep trees and bushes clear from your home.
    5. De-clutter.
    6. Don’t bring in used furniture until you check it completely.
    7. Repair screens and door thresholds.
    8. Those holes at the roofline are to allow the attic to breath, don’t let birds or wildlife make their home there.
    9. A clean home is less attractive to wildlife and pests.

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What is the Global Pest Market? Part 2

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Global – Here is my idea of Green Pest Service

Global – Everything we do starts with Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

  1. We do an inspection, we walk around the home with a webster broom and clean off window and doors of any spider webs. At this time we are doing a cursory exam of the home and property.
  2. We perform an outside service which may include a liquid treatment, granular bait – either a repellent or a bait depending on activity.
  3. We then use a bellows duster to dust block wall bump-outs and crack and crevices which haven’t been sealed. Usually this is a mixture of DE and some type of active formulation dust.

We will treat inside only if there are bug issues within the home and very limited in the scope. (Stored Pantry Pests)

***** Now some would argue that this isn’t a true GREEN service, but we have scorpions and it is almost impossible to kill them all.  So the question is, what if I have never seen a scorpion. Can I get a Green service?

 

Yes there are many items on the list of Green, just remember that they won’t generally last as long as the other products. Now this isn’t to put blame anywhere but some products we use are micro-encapsulated and hold up better with the sunlight and HEAT in Arizona. So here is the BIGGEST question, does it cost more? Yes and no, yes if you want me to handle any callbacks and no if you don’t. The chemical won’t go the 30, 60 or 90 days that most people want it to last.

Oh by the way, some of these so called Green products – contain pesticides like permethrin. So, really check out what you want and if you have questions send me an email at [email protected] and maybe I can help you decide on what is right for you and your family. What is the number #! thing you can do = home sealing.

How tight should your home be sealed?

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More and more people and designers of homes are asking this question. The house must be able to breath and allow the flow of some air to go both ways. I work with a company right here in town that deals with Environmental issues daily http://www.csceng.com/  Phone: (480)460-8334

Clark Seif Clark Inc. (CSC), and they have been helping clients deal with complex environmental issues for over 16 years. It is not an easy job. Part of their responsibility is to help protect the health and safety of building occupants.

GREENPRO a part of QualityPro, encourages  those firms that seek to demonstrate their commitment to the environment may earn this enhanced certification by meeting additional standards related to risk reduction in pest management. As a pest management provider, GreenPro gives you the opportunity to prove your credentials to customers that are looking for a truly integrated pest management approach to reduce and eliminate their problem.

As a member of GREENPRO we also participate with EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP), “Healthy Housing“,
Green Restaurant Association and USGBC LEED Building Certification.

Home- sealing if done correctly can keep those little bugs and critters out of your home. Even restaurants can be sealed to prevent infestations from becoming an all out issue. Businesses can also receive a better review for using GREEN products and services.

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Stay tuned for an article next week from Clark Seif Clark on issues relating to how tight should a home be sealed and other great information. * On a side note he mentioned storing products in a garage and when a a/c units come in, does it suck the fumes into the house through door seals etc.

How to get ready for the Spring bug season?

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How to get ready for the Spring bug season?

  1. The more feeder bugs could equal more scorpions or spiders on your property and eventually inside your home, pest control is important.
  2. Check your home for cracks and crevices where bugs and rodents try to get in.
  3. Don’t store stuff around the foundation of your home.
  4. If you do have firewood, store it on something and away from the house.
  5. Check your storage areas for pests.
  6. Don’t over water things, to much water may kill plants and encourage more bug activity.

As always if you become overwhelmed don’t let it go and hope for the best. Call a Pest Management Professional who can either give you advice or give you a hand. A great site for information on seeking a Professional is http://www.pestworld.org

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Is your building pest-proof? San Francisco sets standards.

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Is your building pest-proof? San Francisco sets standards.

 

First-ever national guidelines published on designing buildings to prevent pests.

“The standard definition of ‘green building’ has mostly included considerations around location, energy use and recycling materials,” said Melanie Nutter, Director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment. “

The Pest Industry has over the years recommended  (IPM) Integrated Pest Management now the City of San Francisco steps up to do the right thing.  United States Green Building Council (USGBC) updates LEEDS Standards 2/29/2012 home seal and What’s all the fuss about pest control and IPM? 5/16/2012 PESP

 Good job and kudo’s to the City of San Francisco…

ProBest Pest Management has GREEN options available.

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GreenPeople.org is the world’s largest online directory of green, eco-friendly, and holistic goods and services, non-profit organizations and eco-events, serving consumers since 1998.

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GreenPeople Directory businesses are reviewed against stringent stringent eco-criteria, examining ingredients, supply sources, organic or other certifications, and the effect the product or service has on the environment. We weed out toxic, or ‘greenwashed’ products or services, resulting in a trusted directory of 20,000 members and growing.

 

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Protect Your Family.
Preserve the Planet.
Eco-Effective Pest Control.

As individuals across the world make great strides to preserve our planet and increase consumer awareness for environmentally responsible initiatives, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is excited to offer the world’s largest and most credible green certification program for pest management professionals – GreenPro.

The GreenPro certification means that your pest management provider must comply with a multitude of qualifications to ensure that you receive a safe and effective service each time they arrive at your door.

 

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Established in 1994, the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) is an EPA partnership program that works with the nation’s pesticide-user community to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

ProBest Pest Management gold ribbon   Gold membership is reserved for PESP’s outstanding environmental stewards. These members’ demonstrated commitment to pesticide risk reduction makes them models for other PESP members. Gold members may develop an IPM strategy, demonstrate significant and sustained progress in reducing pesticide risks, and independently measure the progress of their IPM implementation.

The Battle Wages ON against Bed Bugs…

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The Battle Wages ON against Bed Bugs…

 

The EPA, CDC,  USDA and ProBest Pest Management all agree that bed bugs are a public health pest.  Many have experienced the lawsuits, legislation, and desperation that these insects can cause.

Know your enemy.  Several years into their resurgence and bed bugs are showing no signs of retreat.  There is no magic bullet, no quick fix.  But there are effective weapons and IPM strategies that can defeat this pest. Clutter gives these critters the hiding places they need to survive and sanitation is the key to a successful treatment protocol.

This. Means. War.

 

There are many options available these days to the Pest Management Professional, (such as the Verifi monitoring and detection device) so please don’t panic and consider your options when choosing a professional to handle your Bed Bug issues.

Boom, goes another house!

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Boom, goes another house!

 

‘Bug bomb’ burns house – Henry County, GA

Read that last line from the Fire Captain and the entire story to see what happens when people don’t read or follow label and use directions.

 

The fire captain suggested a few simple tips, to prevent the devastation of losing a home to fire, and/or an explosion in an attempt to rid the home of bugs.

#• Carefully read the product label first. Product labels provide information on how to use the product safely. Ask for help if you have trouble understanding the instructions.

#• Turn off all possible ignition sources when using bug bombs. This includes stoves, heaters, and water heaters that have pilot lights. Be sure to turn off all electrical appliances that may generate heat or sparks.

#• Use only the number of foggers you need for the area you want to treat. You will find that information in the directions. Using more than the recommended number does not eliminate pests faster.

#• Reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to keep pests away (cover garbage, keep food in plastic containers, keep house clean, etc.).

#• Contact a commercial applicator to control the presence of pests if you are experiencing a severe infestation.

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