Always be on the lookout for something that looks like these pictures, termites build these tubes to protect themselves and to gain entry into your home.
Subterranean termites live in the ground and these mud tubes are often visible on your foundation. So if your checking your home and see something like this, it is time to call a Pest Management Professional.
I want to thank Tosha for picking up some fantastic books that we can give as give-a-ways at our pest control/post office. They are a great read for ages 9+ and I think they help to spread the word about bugs in general.
Scurrying Cockroaches by Jon Eben Field
Feasting Bedbugs, Mites & Ticks by Carrie Gleason
Bloodsucking Lice & Fleas by Carrie Gleason
Infesting Rodents by Rachel Eagen
Published by Dalmatian Press, LLC http://www.funpup.com
A new Tick disease discovered in Missouri – The Heartland virus, a mysterious virus first identified last year in two Missouri farmers, is indeed transmitted to people by ticks, new research suggests.
They found that about 1 in 500 of members of species Amblyomma americanum, also known as lone star ticks, carried the Heartland virus.
There are so many things that can cause you to have those sleepness nights, so worring about what’s eating your home shouldn’t have to be one of those things. So whose got your back? Well, ProBest Pest Management if you have one of our warranties. The pictures above are just one more reason why wood shouldn’t touch the soil and you should be able to clearly see the foundation slab.
Subterranean termites (western) – live in underground colonies or in moist secluded areas aboveground that can contain up to 250,000 members. They build distinctive “mud tubes” to gain access to food sources and to protect themselves from open air.
Wood Rot – A wood-decay fungus is a variety of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as brown rot -is a dry crumbly condition sometimes incorrectly referred to as dry rot in general. The term brown rot replaced the general use of the term dry rot, as wood must be damp to decay, although it may become dry later.
Powderpost Beetles – The term “powderpost” comes from the fact that the larvae of these beetles feed on wood and, given enough time, can reduce it to a mass of fine powder. Powderpost beetles spend months or years inside the wood in the larval stage. Items that can be infested by powderpost beetles include wooden artifacts, frames, furniture, tool handles, gun stocks, books, toys, bamboo, flooring, and structural timbers. If an item is brought into a home this beetle could reinfest the entire structure.
Drywood termites are social insects that live in colonies in sound, dry wood. Each colony consists of offspring from an original pair and cut across the grain while subterranean termites usually go with the grain.
Antarctica is the only continent without any reptiles or snakes.
A pound of grasshoppers is three times as nutritious as a pound of beef.
Anteaters prefer termites to ants.
A bat is the only mammal that flies.
Out of every 1,000 Mosquitoes, one female carries a disease that could be fatal to humans.
Just for the record the trees are not standing up, they are petrified (you know who you are). Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park unit to protect a section of Historic Route 66! Animal life at Petrified Forest includes amphibians, birds, insects, spiders, mammals, and reptiles. Over sixteen varieties of lizards and snakes make Petrified Forest their home.
Do you have a “mystery shelf” in the back of your garage, basement, attic or shed? If so, you aren’t alone. Many homeowners with clogged drains, an ant issue in the kitchen, a patch of crabgrass in the yard or rooms requiring paint touch ups tend to try a bit of this, a spray of that and all of the sudden, their “mystery shelf” accumulates bottles of expired DIY products, homemade remedies and unknown substances.
What happens to these products (also known as Household Hazardous Waste) on the mystery shelf? Leaving them around poses a potential threat to children and pets. But these products should not simply be poured down a drain, emptied into the backyard or thrown away in the weekly trash. Doing so can contaminate groundwater, drinking water and soil, and the improper disposal of these DIY products can create landfill buildup and pollution. At a time when being environmentally sensitive is more important than ever before, homeowners often have little – if any – information on the proper Household Hazardous Waste disposal at their fingertips.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following tips for proper Household Hazardous Waste disposal:
This information is brought to you by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) http://www.pestworld.org
Loud noises or vibrations, sometimes just the smell – maybe aftershave or cologne and for sure don’t throw things. Here is some information from WikiHow at http://www.wikihow.com/Escape-from-Killer-Bees with pictures.
An incident this last week in Tucson can remind us of the dangers that surround us. Children at an early stage should be instructed in what is good and what is bed in nature. That is one reason why Dr. Bug teaches a class at the Chandler Environmental Education Center.
This story scared me and I wanted to bee sure everyone paid attention to issues in your neighborhood. This story takes place in Florida but could easily be Arizona, Texas or any place where bees can make a home. This home in Port Orange, Florida had been plagued in the past but now that it is vacant it continues to be a problem in their neighborhood. I suggest that we all have something at stake in a neighborhood where there might be a foreclosed or vacant home. Here are my tips to stay safe when it comes to bees:
or maybe NOT!
Federal Bill Suspending Neonicotinoid Use Forthcoming
An Oregon Congressman last week announced plans to introduce federal legislation suspending certain uses of neonicotinoid pesticides until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews these chemicals and makes a new determination about their proper application and safe use. The measure specifically suspends the use of neonicotinoids for foliar treatments on bee attractive plants, soil applications and seed treatments within 180 days.
Congressman Earl Blumenaer’s Save America’s Pollinators Act was precipitated by a massive bee kill last month in suburban Portland that state investigators determined was caused by an application of a neonicotinoid pesticide application. here to read Congressman Blumenaer’s press release announcing the Congressman’s intention to drop the bill.
Statementby National Pest Management Association (NPMA) (I wanted to personally share this message as a former beekeeper I’m greatly concerned about these deaths).
Most bees, including bumblebees, are beneficial insects. As such, our industry is firmly committed to the protection of bee health and the vital role bees play in pollinating flowers and crops, thereby strengthening our food supply. The death of tens of thousands of bees earlier this month is undoubtedly an important loss. An investigation is currently underway and although we cannot speculate on the pesticide application process in question, the event stresses the necessity for label instructions to be strictly followed at all times. Pesticide labels are mandates, not recommendations, set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency after years of rigorous testing.
