All posts in “summer”

Bedbug Awareness Week day1

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Well it’s that time of year, school is out and the traveling begins. Whether at home or traveling for summer vacation, bedbugs could be a key concern. Although named for their habit of feeding on human hosts in bed, they can be found in all types of locations and items. To promote public awareness and to help avoid infestations, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared June 4-10, 2017 as BedBug Awareness Week. ProBest Pest Management is joining NPMA in this important public education effort by sharing common signs of a bed bug infestation to keep an eye out for this summer.

“Just like people enjoy traveling in the summer months, so do bed bugs, and they love using personal belongings like suitcases, boxes and shoes as a hiding place, just to be near a food supply,” said Keith V. Birkemeyer aka Dr. Bug,  at ProBest Pest Management in Gilbert, Arizona. “With these biting pests being easily transported, it’s important to know the top signs of an infestation, so proper precautions can be put in place and to know when it’s time to call a licensed pest control professional such as ProBest 602-249-7378 or call us at 623- 414-0176 to assess the situation.”

Dr Bug shares the following noteworthy signs and symptoms of a possible bed bug infestation:

  • Small red to reddish brown fecal spots on mattresses, upholstery or walls
  • Molt bed bug skins, their white, sticky eggs or empty eggshells
  • Red, itchy bite marks, especially on the legs, arms and other body parts exposed while sleeping
  • Very heavily infested areas may have a characteristically sweet odor

“During the summer, travel increases and so does the likelihood of encountering bed bugs. We strongly encourage the public to take extra precautions to avoid encounters with these biting pests,” added Dr. Bug.”

Bedbug

Bedbug

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Weather is colder, will it bring in the rodents?

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Weather is getting colder, are you letting Pest in?

Now that the weather has changed, will the cold bring in the pests? A hole the size of a quarter for a rat and a hole the size of a dime for a mouse, that’s all it takes for them to make it inside your home or business. Have you walked around your home and made an inspection for rodents of bugs? Most people probably don’t think about pests until they are in the home. Then it becomes a crisis, so let’s all take a few minutes to make our inspections or hire a Pest Management Professional.

 

I have a great offer, send an email to [email protected] for your free E copy of “Ten Tips to keep the bugs out”

weather IMG_0831

weather

 

Does it get cold enough to kill pest/bugs?

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Over the last few years it certainly hasn’t been cold enough in Arizona to freeze out the bugs. Some insects actually have a type of antifreeze or so called blood within their bodies. They crawl into a nook or hiding spot and if it is cold they just don’t come out. If it warms out they will come out and possible go in search of food.

  • If it rains and they get flooded they search for drier land, that might be your house.
  • If it is really hot, they might be more active and search for food.
  • If its cold for only a few days, that might not be enough to kill them, Especially scorpions or the hardier of the insects.

Filling in those cracks or holes around your home will help to keep them out and also keep the cool or warm in. Caulking is an excellent tool in keeping those bugs out – buy and use the clear caulk. It really works well.

Photo by NPMA

Photo by NPMA

 

Are you protecting yourself against the summer biters?

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Only 22% of people responding to a survey,  purchase products to protect themselves from annoying and biting insects, according to National Pest Management Association (NPMA). If you spend a lot of time in the great outdoors I would suggest purchasing insect repellents to use as an aid in dealing with some real biters. There are some nasty bugs out there, let’s be safe.

One point I found useful about this article was this quote:

“When buying insect repellent always select one containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535,” said Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor for the NPMA. “Vector-borne diseases are a growing concern in the U.S., so it is essential that we understand how to protect ourselves and recognize the signs and symptoms of these diseases.”

 

SONY DSC

Photo by PPMA

Wood destroyers and termites

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Wood destroyers, including termites and wood rot can play havoc on your home. Whenever you place wood directly on the ground, you are inviting termites and other  creatures to that area. It is always better to place firewood or any wood for that matter on blocks or pavers. Ideally having wood stored just for one season at a time is best, there is less chance of buildup of pests in general. But as always – please wear gloves and only take into the structure what you are going to use immediately. If it is cold and you warm up the wood, the insects living inside may try to come out and  infest the home. So here are a few Quick Tips:

  1. Always place firewood or wood on blocks or pavers rather than directly on ground.
  2. Keep that wood pile away from the home.
  3. Always wear gloves moving wood.
  4. Store only the wood you will use that season.
  5. Only bring in enough wood to use that day.
wood destroyers

wood destroyers

Ahhh the rain has come, termites more active – maybe.

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This next week the National Pest Management Association kicks off Termite Awareness Week (March 16-22). The Spring brings a lot more activity for termites on the East Coast, well what about Arizona? Our monsoon (usually in the late summer) brings the rain and this triggers the termites and other bugs to become more active.

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So as the cold disappears and the warm weather finally makes it to the Valley, keep an eye out for termites and other bugs. No freezing weather – less death of common food of the scorpions and that means that the scorpions didn’t succumb to the extreme cold either.

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