All posts in “water”

Mosquito Proverb…

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In my early years I became a Boy Scout and had the opportunity to become a member of the Order of the Arrow ( honored camper society) the beginning of this endeavor was to camp out alone (I was probably 13) all by yourself and the next day perform good works for the scout camp and stay silent. The mosquitoes were fierce and they wouldn’t leave me alone, so I can understand that proverb – I never did sleep! But I did pass my Ordeal and later received my Brotherhood and Vigil as a youth.

I often hear people say – if Noah had just not taken the mosquito or termite into the Ark, how different our planet would be?

Everything has it’s place and the mosquitoes are food for birds and the termites food for ants, such is life!

I say thank goodness for medicine, entrepreneurs and pest management professionals!

Termite sleuth at the job!

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Termite sleuth at the job!

 

Well you know the story it’s not about the actual job it’s my knowledge you really need! At least from the point of view of bugs and termites, anyway. Every once in a while one comes along to almost baffle me, well this one did. Here’s the story:

Two story home, wooden floors downstairs and upstairs, termites issues in the past and we were called to stop them in the wooden floors 11/2011. We actually did drill the wooden floors, customer will eventually have to remove and replace flooring. Termites gone but now the rest of the story.

Upstairs they had a waste basket on the floor and when they went to move it – it was very wet on the bottom. We are talking dripping wet, went back to investigate and pulled up some of the flooring and it appeared to have had termites at one point. Mud is very dry, but when they place the waste basket near the area it gets wet.

How the bugs get in? Part 1

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How the bugs get in? Part 1

 

      

 

This is an everyday occurrence for us here at ProBest Pest Management, the obvious problem is the door threshold and it needs to have a door sweep attached.

Help keep those bugs out of your home, install a door sweep or hey even better we can do it for you. Call and ask us today at 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176, by the way we even have them for garage doors.

Sometimes it takes an extreme effort in Pest Management…

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Sometimes it takes an extreme effort in Pest Management…

 

         

These little spiders just love to cause me sleepiness nights. We have battled these spiders for a few years and although the battle is not over they continue to be a scourge on this home. I have investigated and used different pesticides over the years and actually have found that a wettable powder formulation has worked the best. Its a block wall home and the wettable powder sets on top and prevents them for a few months and then they make their way back. This home is located on a waterfront lake and the spiders just hang out waiting for food to fly right on there webs.

I haven’t given up but it is fair to say that this is an ongoing pest control if I ever have seen one. (Thanks to George for taking these pictures)

Wood to ground is always bad………………

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Wood to ground is always bad………………

 

Not only do termites love to eat wood but water is also the enemy to wood. Wood will wick up water whenever in contact with dirt, soil or the ground. So its not just about the termites its also an agent to allow water into the structure.

The picture below still allows water to wick up after resting on top of the cement. I also consider this to be faulty grade because I can’t see the stem wall or at least inaccessible access.

Don’t let the sneaky rodents in!

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10 Common access points

 

While many entry points are not obvious, a few are. Let’s look at a quick checklist of the more common ones:

 

1. Under garage doors; where the door does not meet the concrete pad. Replace the seal.

2. Crawlspace vents; repair or replace if screens are ripped or vents broken.

3. HVAC penetrations; where HVAC refrigeration lines go through the foundation and around the unit itself.

4. Hose bibs; where water line goes through foundation or wall.

5. Under first course of siding; occasionally you’ll find an opening between the sill plate and footer.

6. Door frames; openings between door frame and structure.

7. Plumbing vent cover missing or broken; reinstall or replace.

8. Under entry way doors; adjust or replace door sweep.

9. Wire/cable through wall or foundation; seal around opening.

10. Basement and crawlspace doors; seal all openings.

This information taken from an article in B&G EquipNet Technical Newsletter November 2011 by William H. Robinson, Ph.D

I would also like to state a few others that we all should be aware of:

  • Never stack firewood against the house, it will attract pest including rodents, spiders and ocassional pests.
  • Window screens.
  • Weep holes, screens in place or repaired.
  • No trees touching the home.

firewood

Pigeons and their mess…

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Pigeons and their mess…

Pigeons can cause quite a mess and yet some people love and feed these pests! I have written post here before and a few people have given me their opinion and frankly I like birds. I would prefer that they do their nature thing but man has created the opportunity for many animals and pests to adapt to us. It’s really not the fault of the animal it’s just doing what it does, it needs food, shelter and water just like us. But what do you really know about them? Here are a few tidbits of information.

  • Pigeons are generational – that means that when born on your roof they will continue to come back there forever, unless permanently moved.
  • In nature they eat seeds, but will adapt to whatever we feed them.
  • Some people raise pigeons like Mike Tyson and HRH Queen Elizabeth.
  • They have a significant place in history, including Noah’s Ark, air mail service and as Passenger Pigeons.
  • There are a number of diseases associated with pigeon droppings including  Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, and Psittacosis.
  • Birds foul many buildings, statues and homes with their feces.

About the only way to remove them from your home is to exclude them, use hardware cloth and I would suggest not feeding them. Let them find food on their own and maybe they might move on.

piegons

 

 

 

 

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