All posts in “plants”

Does your pest company still power spray or spray inside monthly?

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There are several things happening around the U.S. which may impact pest control in your specific area.

The EPA has been trying to reduce the use of rodentcides, mainly due to secondary poisonings. My hope is that people use common sence in placement of poisons, don’t randomly throw packets throughout attics or crawlspaces. ProBest has not used any of those packets since 2005 and we have swtiched to Terad3 in rodent stations.
The restrictions of pesticides continue, power spraying of Permethrin type chemicals are just one of the ways the EPA is limiting chemical usage.

The use of IPM or Integrated Pest Management continues to be the choice of real prevention of pests. So here are a few tips to reduce the use of pesticides and allow them to continue to be used in the future.

Be aware of placement especially of rodentcides. I’m a big fan of not using any rodenticide within a structure, use of snap traps can be just as effective.
Use pestcides that can be hidden and placed where insects will find them, crack and crevices, block voids and wall voids.
Don’t spray any flowering plant.
Follow IPM standards.
Always read and follow label and use directions.

Olive trees and their fruit, what can you do?

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Olive trees are a wonderful addition to any landscape but the fruit can be a real pain and somewhat unappealing sight to your yard. When the fruit ripens usually between January and April it can create a real mess and worse when its tracked into a home or business. So what can be done?

A growth regulator can be applied to the tree which will stop the tree from producing fruit. We use Ethephon 2 Plant Growth Regulator, for best results applications should be made before fruit sets. Application to the tree should be thorough and uniform coverage of the foliage.

So give ProBest Pest Management a call to stop those Olive trees from fruiting and causing undo damage to sidewalk and driveways. We also do a weed service and those weeds are really abundant right now.

Most destructive insect?

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I’ll would bet that most people would say termites but not so, it turns out to be the desert locust. This locust you may recall is the one from the Bible and can eat its own weight in food a day. It is estimated that a large swarm could eat 20,000 tons of grain and vegetation per day. (“The Handy Biology Answer Book”)

In the U.S. I’m still betting on the termite, estmates suggest over 5 billon in damage each year. Termites are in search of food and when they find it they will eat and eat. 24/7/365 that is their schedule and they won’t waiver unless the building is under water.

What can you do to discourage termites from finding your home as a food source:

Check water drip and irrigation systems to make sure they are working properly.
Don’t plant plants or trees to close to the foundation of your home.
Don’t allow stucco to come in contact with dirt or stone, you need to see the foundation.
If you noticed any wood in the ground left over after construction, remove it.
Don’t stack wood against the home.

PPMA King/Queen Sub-termites

What are the benefits of hiring a “Pest Control Pro”

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Always on the job, who are they?

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We probably don’t realize what they do but we probably couldn’t live without them – the U.S. Custom and Border agents. Every day they intercept bugs and all kinds of things we don’t need in the U.S. “Custom and Border Protection intercept unwelcome pests“.

In fiscal year 2012 — from Oct. 1, 2011 until Sept. 20, 2012 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists in South Texas intercepted 13,553 pests. They also intercepted 22,518 quarantined animal materials and 100,338 quarantined plant materials, according to the agency.

Notice, that is just one border station and kind of scary when you really think about it. Arizona Game and Fish have an action plan in place for mussel movement on boats.

The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis

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The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis

Note: From time to time I allow people to write articles which I believe will be of interest to our community. This article while pretty much exclusive to the United Kingdom was interesting in that mice are quite intrusive no matter where they live. I also do advise people that in some cases pest control can be handled by the Do It Yourselfer but you also can get in over your head and the opinions and advice from a Pest Management Professional should be sought. Dr Bug!

What is a Glis Glis?

The Edible Dormouse is originally from continental Europe and was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1902 as part of a private wildlife collection at Tring in Hertfordshire. Due to an accidental escape, it now lives in the forests and countryside where it reached a population estimated at 10,000 rodents located within 25 miles of Tring.

The Edible Dormouse is one of the biggest rodents present in the United-Kingdom as it can reach 30 centimeters long. The Glis Glis has grey fur and similar to a young squirrel; it has big eyes and a long tail which it can spontaneously cast off in a situation of danger. Herbivorous, it feeds on fruits and nuts but if food is scarce it adapts and can eat plants, invertebrates and eggs. The Glis Glis is a great climber and usually inhabits in forested habitats and seeks shelter in bird nests, hollowed trees and caves.

Why is it considered as a pest?

Glis Glis are considered as one of the 14 threats to Britain’s countryside as they destroy crops and trees as well as electrical cables and wires due to their constant gnawing. A nocturnal rodent; Glis Glis will seek refuge during daylight and during hibernation. They will seek shelter in outbuildings, homes (basements) and business premises and may damage property and belongings. This can be very dangerous as an example, gnawing of an electric cable in your property can lead to a fire.

For those reasons, it is highly recommended to eliminate/manage any Glis Glis infestation, however, as it is protected species by the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981, restrictions apply in how to proceed.

How do I know if I have Glis Glis in my property or business and outlying areas?

First and foremost, Glis Glis hibernate for almost seven months; from autumn to spring (May to October). Therefore during that period, it will be difficult to find proof of the existence of the Glis Glis as their activity is very limited.

Because of their nocturnal nature, they remain inactive during daylight for fear of predators. Most of the damage caused by their behavior will be done at night.

To know if you have Glis Glis on your property, look for:

Gnawed electrical cables.
Scratching noises and movements coming from tree branches and bird nests.
Damaged young trees or missing bark.
Missing fruits from plants.
Most damage will be in your kitchen or basement, Glis Glis are very intrusive animals.

The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis is protected species, so what can I do?

Indeed, Glis Glis is protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 which prohibits certain methods of killing and trapping except under license. The trapping or killing of Glis Glis can take place if it is a matter of public health or public safety, in prevention of serious damage to crops, fruits, livestock etc. This means that only pest control experts who are certified to do so under license can take action. Homeowners can apply for a license for live trapping Edible Dormice; however this is subject to several rules and restrictions.

Prevention is always the best first steps to take. A few steps can be undertaken to make your house/business rodent proof. You will find how to do so in the Tips & Advice section of our website or by clicking here.

Victor®, the global leader in rodent control, offers a variety of innovative mouse control solutions such as Live Mouse Traps and rodenticides to help you with all your rodent control needs. Victor® has all the information you need to get rid of the rat in your home.

How do the bugs or rodents get into your home?

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Can you guess how many ways the bugs or rodents can get into your home?

Lets see how many ways we can come up with:

Garage Door, homeseal or garage door seal if possible.
Do you ever bring firewood into the home?
Do you have pets?
Do you ever bring in plants or flowers?
Do trees touch your roof?
Are there holes in your stucco where pipes go into the home?
Are the weep holes sealed?
Are the shingles or tiles in place?
Are your door seals in good condition?
Do you have door sweeps in place?
Are your screens in place?
Are yout attic vents in good condition?
Do you have a chimney guard in place?
Does your stucco go all ythe way to the dirt or stone? You should be able to see your foundation.
Do you have a wood fence and does it connect with your home? Its best if there is no dirt to wood contact.
Do you have siding on the home? This could allow bugs or rodents the option to sneak underneath.
Do you have shrubs or trees to close to the home?

Picture from this site http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us

Can you think of any more, make comments below and thanks….

Ho, Ho Ho – Pest Tips for the Christmas Season

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Ho, Ho Ho – Pest Tips for the Christmas Season

As the season approaches and you begin the work to set up all those decorations we thought we should share a few tips on decorating:

If you stored anything in your attic, check those boxes before you bring them into your home. I suggest opening them in your garage and unpacking before distributing them throughout your home. (Rodents, roaches, scorpions and all types of nasty critters could be making a home within those boxes).
Check that Christmas tree before bringing it into your home, bird and bugs could be living within those branches. Some bugs lay eggs or egg cases on trees and plant, so take care. Also check any wreaths or homemade type of decorations for insects or eggs.
If your putting up lights or decorations outside, check for signs of infestations such as birds nesting in eaves and honeybees going in and out from a hole or crack.
If you are putting decorations on you roof (be careful) but check for any signs of infestation. Rodents and wildlife may be scratching or clawing at wood or shingles trying to gain entry, this is a great time to check for any type of activity.
If your putting lights on shrubs or trees, check for signs of nesting such as pack rats and other types of birds.
If you bring in firewood, only take in what you re going to use right away. Some beetles lays eggs in wood and if it is warmer in the home they may decide it’s summer time and exit the wood.

Merry Christmas to all our friends may you enjoy a peaceful and enjoyable pest free holiday season and just remember we are but a phone call away.

ProBest Pest Management

425 W. Guadalupe Road #110

Gilbert, AZ 85233

602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176

Eyeless spider discovered in Laos

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Eyeless spider discovered in Laos

Honestly all I can say is better it’s in Laos than my back yard, Creepy Eyeless Spider Discovered in Cave. Spiders are just one of those bugs that most people either hate or dislike so I can understand all the phobia’s out there on this bug.

Scientists figure that there are still 5 million species still waiting to be discovered.Read this “Undiscovered Species – How many are left to find?” I think there is one out there that should have my name on it, what say you?


Category	Species	Totals
Vertebrate Animals
Reptiles	1,300
Amphibians	8,500
Fishes	8,000
Total Vertebrates		17,800
Invertebrate Animals
Insects	4,000,000
Arachnids	500,000
Molluscs	115,000
Crustaceans	103,000
Echinoderms	7,000
Others	700,000
Total Invertebrates		5,425,000
Plants
Flowering plants (angiosperms)	71,000
Ferns and horsetails	15,000
Mosses & Liverworts	6,500
Total Plants		80,500
TOTAL SPECIES		5,523,300

Ducklings in the pool, oh nooooooo…

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Ducklings in the pool, oh nooooooo…

First off, did you know ducklings can swim – I mean underwater and they are good at it? Mom must have set up a nest in the enclosed backyard (block wall) and then the ducklings became trapped. My plan was full-proof, catch the mother and then the ducklings – that didn’t work as I had planned it. Mom was way faster that me, period. Then to plan B, set large animal trap with ducklings inside within a box and hope mother duck comes to the rescue. No go on this one either, we finally had to move the ducklings to Liberty Wildlife where a surrogate mother duck took over.

Can ducklings live in a pool? All the data I see is no. First, there are no fish, plants…and second, chlorine is toxic, even for us, so more so for birds.

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