silverfish Archives - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

All posts in “silverfish”

Storage Units

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Storage Units are for all our storage needs. People use them to store all sorts of stuff from furniture to stuffed animals. There can also be issues related with pests. These storage unit can be used by anyone to store anything. So by chance the next door person could bring in all types of bugs. From cockroaches to silverfish and anything in between. The ideal fix for this problem is to remind people that bugs travel. In my line of business I see a lot of bugs and I prepare for local bugs but I keep up with all the bugs in US.

A perfect example is Brown Recluse Spiders, from Texas north in a bell curve, not frequently seen in Arizona. We do have a Brown spider in Arizona related but not the same. Every time someone is bit, they claim it was a spider. Probably not, spiders prefer to leave you alone and only bite in response to being messed with.

The time to address pest needs is before they happen, there should be a rodent plan in place at your Storage Units. Rodents bring in snakes, the more rodent activity, the greater the chance of snakes. We do have rattlesnakes and they can do some damage if you are bitten. So being proactive is the key to keeping the rodent population in check. The newer the facility, may not have issues yet but keeping an eye out for your unit is beneficial. I’ve seen termites pop up in just a month, if some one brings in German Cockroaches they could soon be everywhere.

Attic entry points

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Attic entry points, attics can and do cause a lot of issues. We often forget that our attics exist. Especially at Christmas time when we bring down boxes etc. and find that mice or pest have invaded. Reminder – always open boxes in garage, that way when something pops out it won’t be in the house.

Most people are aware if there home has holes leading into the attic area, but what about hidden ones? The people that build you home cut out the hole that the appliance must fit through. But they make that hole bigger and that is where the issue stems from. Scorpions can fall through those holes, as well as other bugs. I’m sure you have noticed a scorpion in the tub, they can’t crawl up the sides and probably fell in from the ceiling.

Silverfish / Firebrats

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Silverfish / Firebrats

Silverfish / Firebrats can infest various and obscure places, this one was is in an outside rodent station. Usually found within structures and notorious for eating books, book bindings, papers and old documents. The quickest and easiest way of transporting them into your home is by way of old storage boxes or materials which they love to infest. Silverfish are usually uniformly silver, while Firebrats are mottled gray-brown color. They are usually associated with damp areas, active at night and hide during the day. Mainly nuisance pests, usually causing little damage. They do not cause disease and they don’t come up drains. The best method is reduce the dampness and they will usually disappear.

I think if you have a crawlspace and/or attic, this would be the first place to check. Those areas are noted for undisturbed and dampness, depending as well on geological areas of the country. I would then check areas of bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchen and basements and don’t forget to check stockpiles of books or magazines. I also think baits work best on getting rid of the little pests.

So here are a few tips:

Fix any leaks.
Caulk any opening in wall and any areas where they could slip in.
If you see 1, take action. If your system doesn’t get rid of them – Call a Pest Management Professional such as ProBest. 480-831-9328

Play – anywhere, anytime

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Play – Anywhere, anytime

Anywhere you might play, eat, sleep etc. Have you hear the sentence – “You Are Within 3-6 Feet of a Spider Right Now”? A 1995 popular article by famous arachnologist Norman Platnick begins, “Wherever you sit as you read these lines, a spider is probably no more than a few yards away.” From a 1999 Sierra Club book on spiders: “Wherever you are, there is a spider within a meter of you.” From a 2001 book on nature in the city: “Even in Manhattan, you are never more than three feet from a spider.” These are just some of the myths surrounding the sentence because it really depends on where you are. So what about bugs then, you probably have them all around you and you don’t realize it.

Maybe a silverfish in your attic, a cockroach under a kitchen cabinet, maybe an earwig off the back patio or your children are at play. The reason is that they outnumber us and by big numbers, its just that they are so small and often not visible to our naked eye.

Anywhere you play

You can always call A Pro…

So pest control often plays a part in the management of these pests, here in Arizona we have Bark Scorpions and they can sting and cause pain and fear. They normally don’t kill anyone but the sting is painful and can cause more serious trouble to younger children and older adults. Black ad Brown Widow spiders can cause significant more damage and I recommend wearing gloves while doing work outside or in the garage or attic. Cockroaches, flies and rodents can spread diseases and can seriously damage your intestinal tract. That is why I call myself a Public Health Professional and I’m here to stop those bugs and pests from getting to your family and friends. As always if you have questions, have a picture a picture or just need some advice give us a call 480-831-9328

Silverfish attic – book pests

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Where do silverfish live? My books are being eaten by something, what could it be?

How many people do you think bring in boxes into the house during Christmas or other occasions without thinking about pests? That pest, mouse or squirrel may have been living in that box all winter until it found itself within your home and all heck breaks loose. The silverfish may be eating the paper, glue or any binding on a book it can find. That mouse or squirrel may have set up to give birth in that warm and comfy attic space away from all the hub bub. Check out Bob Vila’s Top 5 Spring Pest Proofing Tips.

silverfish

All I can think about is “Christmas Vacation” where that squirrel jumps out of the Christmas tree. Boy wouldn’t that give you a start?

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVWUhkPuU4Q[/embedyt]

Self Storage pests issues

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“Why self-storage operators should use Professional Pest Management services“. Excellent article from the National Pest Management Association on the truth and myths of storage facilities. Here are few ideas that I had in regards to this topic:

I’ve actually used a few storage facilities over the years and I must say that the ones I have used have been extremely clean and well kept. But with that being said you never know what someone can or will bring in.
If the building is older – when was the termite work done. Termite treatments don’t last forever and something popping in and damaging someone’s personal possessions can account for some serious agony.
Each unit is maintained by the person storing the stuff and each person is different in how and what they see or don’t see. I’m sure you’ve seen the hoarders, so sometimes they may or may not see the problem until it spills out into another unit.

So my advice if you are using a storage unit, keep an eye out for possible pests and advise management if or when you see something strange. Maybe it won’t be anything and then on the other hand it may be something serious.

Photo by PPMA

PestTube! What is this thing

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PestTube! What is this thing.

Pestubes-In-The-Wall™is a proactive, centralized pest control system designed to deliver a mild residual pesticide inside the walls of your home where bugs live and breed.

Pestubes-In-The-Wall™eliminates 90% of the need to spray within in your home’s living area by equipping your new home with a fundamental barrier against pests. Pestubes-In-The-Wall™ is a reliable, modern approach to pest control that can help keep your family and home free of harsh pesticides.

The innovative Pestubes-In-The-Wall™system, shown below, incorporates a network of precision perforated tubes built into your home’s framing, which are linked to a pesticide injection port located on the home’s exterior.

OK for my take, I have investigated numerous versions of this device both under concrete and in walls. The version under concrete which I have seen in action was more of a pvc pipe versus tubing (TermGuard) and I really liked the ability and adaptability of this product. The only issue is pricing and with the advent of repellent termiticides such as Termidor or Transport I just don’t see this catching on.The stuff in the walls I’m not sold on, I think the tubing kinks to often and this prevents the products from being delivered to the area in question. The other problem is the product used whether dust or liquid often blocks the tubing and now we have to address the propellent. This propellent needs to ensure that the product is pushed to where it is needed and unfortunately I just haven’t seen anything that really gets the product to the end source.

The Clean Trust – training continues

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The Clean Trust -training continues…

Why did ProBest Pest Management get into carpet cleaning: Bed Bugs are the main reason.

The Bed Bug epidemic has spread across the USA at a rapid pace and people react with a sense of urgency and frustration. Often times people panic and react by immediately throwing things out and this leads to the spread of eggs and adults throughout the home including carpets. ProBest Pest Management decided to offer a service of pest treatment with a carpet cleaning as a way of total and complete eradication. What better way than to steam everything including the carpets if needed. We offer steam, limited pesticides and follow-ups if needed. ProBest immediately sought certification and so far 2 employees are “The Clean Trust” certified.

What does Carpet Cleaning have to do with Pest Control?

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What does Carpet Cleaning have to do with Pest Control?

You probably don’t even think about your carpet and how dirty it gets from normal daily usage? So where does all that dirt come from?

Dust and dirt are everywhere!
When you walk into your home, do you wipe your shoes – you can track mud, dirt and feces right in the front door. The neighbor’s dog leaves you a present or the pigeon poop on the driveway or front porch.
Dust mites are everywhere.
Critters get in and die along the edge and their bodies eventually disintegrate and become dust and allergens.

No home is immaculate, dust and dirt are everywhere. So we recommend cleaning your carpets (based upon usage) at least once a year. ProBest Pest Management purchased a Carpet Cleaning van to use with our Bed Bug service. Call us today to schedule that carpet cleaning – green products available!

ProBest Pest Management 480-831-9328