All posts in “swarmers”

Boy o boy when it rains in Arizona, it really rains.

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This was just a shot of a parking lot of a church which couldn’t handle all that rain. All this rains triggers the subterranean termites to become a little more active, so what signs should you be looking for?

  1. Mud tube or tunnels on the foundation stem wall of your home.
  2. Small pin sized holes with dirt/mud around the opening and maybe the presence of little white or maybe black swarmers.
  3. Mud tube or tunnel inside the home.
  4. Sometimes and not very often in Arizona, swarmers.

Its National Termite Awareness Week.

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Information by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) – check out the info at their site.

My Top 10 Tips on preventing Termites at your home or business:

  1. Don’t stack wood or firewood against your home.
  2. Trim trees so they don’t touch your home, better yet don’t plant trees to close to your home.
  3. In Arizona our termite season is really somewhere near August through December depending on monsoon rains.
  4. If you have a crawlspace, check to be sure that you don’t have any water leaks.
  5. Check the foundation for mud tubes, inside if you see mud trails or tubes coming from the ceiling call a Pro.
  6. Don’t store boxes over the expansion joint in garage, leave a little space to inspect the wall and foundation.
  7. Any structure like shed should be installed on blocks or concrete, wood to ground allows termites to damage the shed.
  8. Slope dirt and stone away from home, don’t allow dirt or rock to be higher than the stucco.
  9. Position sprinklers away from the house.
  10. Once a year call a Professional Termite Inspector, have them give you their opinion and advice on termite activity.

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Termites are sneaky, aren’t they?

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Termites will do everything in their power to gain access into our homes and businesses. Here is a picture of a cardboard box that was riddled with termites and their damage.

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Thanks to Carrie for the picture

 

I’m not a real big fan of those cabinets in the garage, I find that all they do is coverup the expansion joint and prevent us from getting a good treatment into those areas. So my tip of the day, check your cabinets and the rest of your home often or better yet give ProBest Pest Management a call today at 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176

Termite Season is here in Arizona – what do you look for?

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Termite Season is here in Arizona – what do you look for?

Well the rains of monsoon have begun along with the huge walls of haboob dust storms, so that means its time for the bugs to come out in force.

So exactly what do you look for:

1. Mud tunnels or tubes on your foundation walls –

2. Maybe you haven’t seen any tunnels or tubes outside but you notice something coming down from the ceiling.

3. It is unusual but I have seen it – but termites do swarm! So maybe you have seen a few flying things – what is the difference between an ant and termite?

They may be small, they may have small mouths but they work 24/7/365 – termites

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They may be small, they may have small mouths but they work 24/7/365 – termites

         

So here are 10 interesting facts you might not have known about termites:

  1. Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to heavy metal music.
  2. Although many people think termites resemble ants, they’re more closely related to cockroaches.
  3. Termites have the biggest nests.
  4. The largest termite in the world, the African species Macrotermes bellicosus, reaches a length of 5 inches. WOW glad they’re not here!
  5. Did you know that ProBest often works with manufacturers on the testing of new termiticide products, currently still in testing are 16 sites in North Phoenix testing the new Termidor HE Copack
  6. Termites don’t eat plastic or concrete, but if there is a crack in the concrete or a hole in the plastic then they can enter the home of business.
  7. Termites can create small pin-like holes in the swimming pool liners; I have personally seen this on one occasion.
  8. There about 2,500 kinds of termites living all around the world. With only 50 being found in the US.   
  9. Termites have been around since the time of the dinosaurs
  10. This last one was fascinating – Research conducted in southwestern deserts and desert grasslands by New Mexico State University’s Walt Whitford estimates that without the action of termites, cow pies would smother the land, covering 20 percent of the surface in 50 years.

 

Have You Hugged Your Pest Professional Today?

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Have You Hugged Your Pest Professional Today?

April is National Pest Management Month    

For more than 30 years, April has been celebrated as National Pest Management Month, recognizing the professional pest management industry for its role in protecting public health and property from significant pest threats.

“Many people may not realize the important job pest professionals perform every day. Whether it’s salvaging a termite ravaged home, giving someone back the ability to sleep after eliminating a bed bug infestation or ensuring food warehouses and restaurants are free of disease-carrying pests, we are grateful for all that these men and women do every day,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

The NPMA is also encouraging people to brush up on common household pests including termites, ants, spiders and bed bugs this month.

Termites: Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood and paper products and cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year. With termite season upon us, homeowners should be on the lookout for swarmers (winged termites), which serve as a warning that a colony may have already settled inside.

Ants: Ants are the number one nuisance pest in the U.S. and are among the most difficult to control. According to a new NPMA survey of pest professionals, spring and summer are the busiest seasons for ant-related service calls. Ant infestations are most common in office buildings, restaurants, apartments and condos and single-family homes.

Spiders: While spiders tend to elicit fear in many people, only a few pose serious health threats to humans. For example, both the brown recluse and black widow spiders can cause painful bites that are especially dangerous for children and the elderly, sometimes causing gaping wounds and fatal reactions.

Bed Bugs: Bed bugs continue to plague Americans as they infest hotels, schools college dorms, residences and other places where people gather. A 2011 survey, conducted by the NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that 99 percent of pest professionals had encountered bed bugs in the past year; a number that has steadily risen over a 10-year period.

In an effort to encourage public education about this resilient pest, NPMA is launching “Bed Bug Awareness Week,” April 22 – 28, as a part of National Pest Management Month to spread awareness, promote public vigilance and provide essential prevention advice.

“With summer travel around the corner, NPMA is reminding travelers to be vigilant wherever they go and to be mindful about bed bugs’ hitchhiking nature.  A few simple prevention tips can go a long way in saving travelers from an infestation when they return home,” noted Henriksen.

For more information on National Pest Management Month, Bed Bug Awareness Week or for information on common household pests, please visit Pestworld.org.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.

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