All posts in “Phoenix”

Spend It in Gilbert

Spend It in Gilbert

Spend it in Gilbert – When you buy local you help another family within the Gilbert area. When you buy from someone out of state much of that money goes away from our community.

“It’s your money. When you spend it in Gilbert at a local business, what you are really doing is voting for the success of that business, the success of your community, and ultimately the quality of life that you experience every day.“ Support your local economy. It’s Your Money – Spend It In Gilbert!

Shopping local affords a more personal interaction, you may get to know the owner or their technicians. Local also allows a quicker response time to seek out and determine the pest infestation.  Home town pride – invest in Arizona’s economy. For every $100 you spend locally, $43 dollars stay within that community and if your spend $100 non-local only $13 remains in that community.

Spend It In Gilbert

Invest locally.

I also ran across an article from the “Institute for Local Self Reliance” on Why support locally owned businesses. They give 10 reasons:

  1. Local Character and Prosperity
  2. Community Well-being
  3. Local decision making
  4. Keeping dollars in the local economy
  5. Jobs and wages
  6. Entrepreneurship
  7. Public benefits and costs
  8. Environmental sustainability
  9. Competition
  10. Product diversity

Bait and rodent stations

Bait and rodent stations

Bait and rodent stations – So something and not the rats have been eating my bait. Here is the bait I use versus an anticoagulant.

Premier Formulation with Vitamin D3

TERAD3 BLOX expertly combines the most recent advancements in bait formulation to yield a highly weatherable BLOX with the benefits of the active ingredient, Vitamin D3.

After years of researching the most effective formulation for housing this unique active ingredient. Bell scientists have found the perfect match – a denser, tightly compacted 1-oz. extruded BLOX with outstanding durability, palatability and weatherability. Incorporating an advanced preservation system, TERAD3 BLOX is mold and moisture resistant. Its high melting point keeps the blox intact in temperatures as high as 200 degrees F.

TERAD3 BLOX with Vitamin D3 kills anticoagulant-resistant rats and mice. With BLOX, bait translocation is also reduced.

Terad3 Blox has a broad label which makes it an excellent choice for controlling rodents. Especially at agricultural facilities, warehousing and food processing plants, as well as for industrial and residential accounts.

Benefits

Contains the calcium mobilizer, cholecalciferol. Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Keep away from children, domestic animals and pets. Do not get in eyes, on skin or on clothing.

Terad 3 is extremely popular because of the reduced risk of secondary poisoning. A pet or predator likes owls or hawks would have to eat a large amount of the actual bait to become very ill. In turn, a pet or predator would have to eat a huge number of rodents that ate a small amount of bait to become ill. Most pets don’t eat dead rodents….they may bring them to your doorstep but most do not consume the carcass. Of course you must do your part and use discretion on where you place the bait for the rodents so it is out of reach of children and pets.

Terad3 causes hypervitaminosis (vitamin poisoning) which in turn causes calcification of the rodents heart, lungs and other important organs which of course leads to death.

Bait and rodent stations

 

Grass eating termites

Grass and termites

Grass, termites and what they may eat. Here is Arizona we have a grass eating termite. Typically they eat desert cellulose cleaning up the desert. In the picture they are just eating the old dead tree bark. Sometimes you will see them building little castles in the yard. They usually don’t do any harm but it does freak out some people and from time to time we can treat around trees to stop them from doing any perceived damage.

You will occasionally see them in areas that are dry and they will build little tunnels over the lawn. This buildup looks like little castles and often look kind of unique in the yard or litter areas. They will buildup over leaves, small pieces of wood or twigs, manure, cactus and plant structures. They also are known as agricultural termites.

Grass

Rain

Rain

O boy all that rain, over 2+ inches here in Arizona. Thanks to Hurricane Rosa. Unusual for that much water in a few days, and its flooding everywhere. All this brings the bugs out in force and I’m expecting termi8te activity to bump up quickly. What can you expect?

  • Termite activity – check your slab foundation outside and inside for tubes.
  • Increase activity on scorpions, water may push them in.
  • Just like above ants may wonder in to get away from water.
  • This tarantula below was under a French door (thanks Chas A.) he/she was seeking shelter.
  • This is termite season in Arizona, after the monsoons so as usual do a monthly check of your home.
  • Honeybees may be swarming as well

Rain

Pesticides

Pesticides

Pesticides are a tool of the IPM or Integrated Pest Management. It is important to understand and implement the correct usage of any chemical used. I recently attended a workshop where this subject was addressed especially with the idea of IPM or Integrated Pest Management. Always a great idea to rehash the options you have when using them. I have always believed that IPM works and should be the basis of any pest treatment. I also wish to address the belief of some that IPM means no pesticides, that is incorrect it simply means that you use the other tools first and if you must use them you do so in a manner that is minimally evasive to the structure.

Pesticides     Pesticides

Thank you to Dr. Michael R. Wierda for supplying this information, info to talk with him included with the sheets.

 

BMP – Best Management Practices

BMP – Best Management Practices

Pest Control, Termite or Weed treatment

BMP’s or Best Management Practices.

NPMA or the National Pest Management Association sets the standard for these practices.

  1. Always deal with a qualified and licensed company.
  2. Evaluate pest companies especially those members of NPMA and State AZPPO (Arizona Pest Professional Organization).
  3. Experience.
  4. Consider QualityPro companies.
  5. Ask friends, family and neighbors.
  6. Get bids.
  7. Don’t rush your decision, seek out family and other people who may have dealt with this issue.
  8. Understand any paperwork.
  9. Do they have current liability insurance.
  10. Examine and understand the guarantee.
  11. Buy VALUE not PRICE.
  12. You can call and seek opinions from AZ Office of Pest Management www.azda.gov

BMP

These of course are suggestions and you can add additional items relative to your issues. It is always wise to consider input from friends, families and neighbors. Don’t always trust stuff you find on the internet – half the time that stuff is just false or fake news. I think the biggest issue with me is price versus value, price can reflect low cost chemical, shoddy work and improper methods of treatment. Check with the Better Business Bureau, many companies are accredited through them – such as ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378.

You may also contact us if you have questions on identification, harborage areas and what they may feed on. Send a photo to [email protected]

We here at ProBest want to help you make a great informed decision. Please feel free to contact us.

 

Termite video

Termite video

Termites are small and white, and are termed social insects like ants. Colonies have males and females in the colony at all times. In Africa and Australia mounds are often built and can be 20 or more feet high. In nature termite take wood, break it down and redistribute back into the ground. Termites look for wood/food 24/7/365, constantly looking for a food source. Here is the Southwest or Arizona a termite infestation is not a cause for immediate panic. The infestation needs attention, but due I think to the lack of water the damage isn’t going to happen overnight. So you have some time, contact a Pest Management Professional like ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378 to discuss options. So as I said it takes time, compare options – use Termidor and look at the reputation and reviews of the company.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tymdqc5XBBE[/embedyt]

Termite video

ProBest name change

ProBest name change

ProBest name change. So I’m sure everyone has heard about this certain company that recently told everyone they were changing their name. It was all a publicity stunt to grab attention to their name and the fact that they more than pancakes. It was a great idea and we all know that they have burgers now. Names can tell what the company does and its even important in our line of work. So with that in mind:

Interstate House of Pests or Interstate House of Bugs —- names changed to prevent me from being sued? So what do you think? “I don’t care what you call me, as long as you call me” 602-249-7378 — ProBest name change —

ProBest name change

Remember we handle a plethora of bugs and pests, scorpions, ants, bees, rodents and termites and a lot more. We LOVE helping people and businesses and we offer value and we are accredited with the BBB. We are also a QualityPro company since 2005, earned by less than 3% of companies in the United States, the QualityPro designation demonstrates a commitment to excellence and provides consumers with an easy way to identify and be confident in their selection of a quality pest management provider from the National Pest Management Association.

I’m just kidding and I like the name ProBest Pest Management, so no name change but spread the word…

Chicken wire sub-par work

Chicken wire = sub-par work

Chicken wire isn’t in my repertoire of work stuff, I think it looks unprofessional. This looks like a DIY or do it yourself job and wouldn’t cut the muster at my place. This is especially true if it was the front of the home or business, for just a little bit of time and money please use hardware cloth. Square angles will assist in making the corners and the entire job look better. trust me.

Hardware cloth can be worked into straight lines, and also screwed into place or bent under shingles or tiles. Pigeons are generational and will continue for life to nest in areas of your home. As a result the birds must be convinced to abandon the spot and they will continue to roost on the higher peaks. If there are 2 story homes in the neighborhood, they will use those areas to keep watch. They will nest in areas that afford them opportunities to have their back.

Look for  possible nesting areas.

In conclusion, discourage them, don’t feed them.

Chicken wire

Spider webs

Spider webs and spiders

Spider webs are the worst, you’re walking through the woods and boom – spider web. You’re in  crawlspace and boom spider web. You’re in your garage and you are looking for a tool and you encounter a spider web – freaks you out. Yep, been there. Black Widow webs are crinkly and most often in a complete mess in direction. Sometimes you will find a egg sac and sometimes even the mama upside down just hanging out waiting to bite you. (They don’t do that).

Wear gloves ALWAYS when you are doing yard-work or working in garage.

When you’re hiking in the wood carry a stick ahead of you, by the way this also serves as a bear stick – I’m kidding.

Keep your garage area tidy, less chance for spiders to pop up.

Keep doors and windows closed and door trim in place.

Spider webs    Spider webs

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