I see the light:pest proofing your home part 1

Ok, how many of you have kept your New Year’s resolutions? Every year we all resolve (me included) to make our lives better in at least a few categories. Although there is still time in 09 I wonder how many of us have broken some of the most popular. Let’s list them and see.
Quit smoking.
Lose weight.
Exercise.
Remodel the bathroom.
Get out of debt.
Pest proof the house.

Ok, so maybe ‘pest proofing’ your home wasn’t on your list but you got to admit it is at least on a back burner. It may be that a door sweep is loose or there’s that nagging window screen that keeps flopping in the wind but almost every home has a few needed repairs to seal out lurking pests who are just looking for a place like yours to call home. In an earlier article we learned how pests enter our homes. I’d like to expand on that with some things that you may not have thought of.

First let me say that pests see the world in a completely different way than you or I. While some can trace a scent for literally miles others will travel to vibrations, light, dark, heat, color, sound, certain plants and yes sometimes just blind luck will place a bug at your door. If that isn’t amazing enough consider that bugs fly, hop, dig, squeeze, hitch hike, swim, float, crawl on any surface in any direction, chew, run, catapult and even are delivered with mail or packages. Put these facts together and it’s no wonder we find insects in our homes.

See what a bug sees when looking for places to seal;
Daylight; you see it as a harmless bit of light around the front door or under a sink where a pipe leads out. A bug sees it as Interstate 75 and a possible McDonalds off the exit. While it’s true some bugs shy away from the light, it’s all dark when you tuck in bed for the night and they come out to play. To find such areas simply close the curtains during the day and dim as many lights as you can, then simply walk the house looking for light. Check closets, cabinets and any connected sheds or additions. Conversely the same holds true for checking the outside except you do this in the evening with the house lights on. Walk the outside perimeter of the house and take note where the light escapes. Now the fun part, The attic and or crawl space. Both areas offer huge opportunities for pest entry and sealing these areas up could save you from seeing many creepy crawlies for a long time. Still looking for light, enter in and take note. Cable and phone guys are famous for drilling holes for their wires and not sealing them up. Loose nails or siding can offer entry points as well. Day light is usually very easy to see in these areas but not always easy to seal up. In my house I found a spot I could actually look down onto the dining room table very clearly. You may want to go in with caulk gun in hand and some steel wool or hardware cloth (for rodent size holes) so you don’t have to trek the dark abyss a second time.
Sealing out the light means keeping pest entry points to a minimum so you’ll want to do it right and make it last. Caulk is an excellent product to use for the smaller holes or cracks and some kinds are made to be painted over however it gets real hot in the attic so make sure it is heat tolerant. As mentioned steel wool is great to keep the rodents out (scratches up their nose as they try to nuzzle through) but it tends to rust if exposed to moisture and then falls away. Squares of metal or hardware cloth may be better suited for some holes. For doors and windows weather stripping or door sweeps usually suffice. Foam in a can is also very handy and expands to fill most any crack or entry.(messy though) Other entry points such as large garage doors may need more carpentry skills but be sure to make everything tight.
It’s no wonder I guess that pest proofing the house is not on anyone’s list of life enrichment, it can be a bit of work. You can make a huge difference though with just these simple tips. So hopefully you’ll ‘see the light’ but remember to come back and read our next little adventure in part 2.

Posted in Pest proofing series | 3 Comments

Tips on avoiding ticks

With warmer weather coming we all want to get out and stretch our legs. Time to grease up the bike and hit the trail or just take a pleasurable walks with the pets. As we come out of our winter time stuper so do ticks. Last year was a banner year for this pest and indications are this year will be much of the same. It can be a bit like watching a scary movie, you know the monster is coming, you just don’t know when.
Here are some tips on how to avoid ticks or at least minimizing your exposure to them and the dreaded Lyme disease they carry. Also don’t forget the pets. They need you to keep them tick free. They don’t have opposable thumbs.

Posted in Ticks | 2 Comments

Have you hugged your ‘bug man’ today?

It is said there are three things attributed to mans well being and the great strides the human race has taken over the centuries.
They are advances in medicine, we have artificial hearts from as early as the 50’s, Penicillin, which has saved hundres of thousands if not millions of lives. Inventions, pills, therapies and such a great understanding of the human body that has enriched all of our lives allowing us to live happier, healthier and longer.

Indoor plumbing believe it or not is on the list. What you and I take for granted as a standard in everyday life wasn’t always so. Before the advent of flushing, disease and bacteria were rampant. To this day on average 5000 lives are lost each day because of a lack of clean water in poorer countries.
Pest control. Yes as unlikely as it seems without pest control disease would be rampant, food quality poor and in great shortage, living in our comfotable homes would be a shared venture with flies, roaches, mice, fleas, mites and the list goes on and on. From as early as 2500 BC man has been devising ways to eradicate pests. Sulphur powder, niccotine, arsenic and even fire were among mans first tools in extermination.

In America, early pest control services started with the likes of Otto Orkin, “The Rat Man”. Other companies took root as well and the fight was on to rid humans once and for all of harmful and nusiance pests. With each passing year newer more effective chemicals, equipment and discoveries were used and things were dramatically better. Crops were no longer completely wiped out by hoardes of hungry locusts. Rats and fleas would now no longer become a lethal combination bringing Black Death. Malaria, typhus and sleeping sickness just to name a few would no longer threaten us due to sound pest control practices. Our homes, work spaces, lawns and parks could now be places to enjoy rather than avoid.

Today the pest control industry is as vital as ever to maintain pest free living. Your pest control technicians are more thouroughly trained using products that are safer than ever before. What used to take hundreds of gallons may now be reduced down to a few well placed ounces to eliminate the likes of termites or turf insects. Equipment such as foamers, bait guns, injection tips and dusters can deliver just the right amount in the safest manner. Pest control companies are now more aware than ever about the need for your safety and theirs. Protection of the enviorment is a central theme in trade journals and pest companies advertising.

As time marches forward our industry is improving as well. Newer products and research will continue to make our lives better. We may never live in a ‘pest’ free world but………

We’ve come along way.

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Termites begin their annual swarm

It happens every year. Reproductive alates ( swarmers ) take to the air from specially built castles by the tens of thousands. It could be from a stump in the yard or right out of your living room wall. No state except Alaska is safe from the invasion. It’s over almost as quickly as it begins and sometimes the only evidence is discarded wings left behind.
It may be wise on your part to have a professional inspector come out to give you a once over. It’s not always visible even up to the hour in which they take flight, but experts agree this years swarm has begun.
If you’re a do it yourselfer than read more on what to look for. There are many treatment options and this could be the year you need one.

Posted in Termites | 1 Comment

Roach eats babies eye

Well if this isn’t a clear case for goverment mandated health care, I’m not sure what is. In India it’s been reported that a roach was caught eating a babies eye. To make matters worse the little one was born with only one eye to begin with.
The blame has been laid on the pest control company in charge of treating the hospital. They were apparently trying to save money on chemicals. In light of the earwig article below I thought this would fit nicely. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen? I’ve got ton’s of stories, perhaps I should start a new category and share. Of course I’ll include yours if they’re really good.

Posted in Roaches | 5 Comments

The legend of the Earwig

Earwigs get their name from a false European superstition. According to legend these tiny bugs would crawl into the ears of sleeping people and bore into their brains. In reality earwigs rarely bite and are for the most part harmless. Still in the age of fairness I thought I’d include this picture so you can see how the lore lives on. You can see the ‘queen’ lodged into the brain while the two ‘guards’ ( highlighted in red ) stand ready in the ear canal to protect the nesting site. Oh the magic of photo shopping and the legend lives on.

Earwigs are nocturnal insects feeding on a wide variety of plant material, nectar and some insects. They populate areas of high moisture such as potted plants, mulch, wet welcome mats or under a variety of things that may keep them cool while providing moisture.

Earwigs grow via ‘gradual metamorphoses, in other words the babies look like the adults. Female earwigs will lay 50 to 60 eggs either while in hibernation or early spring. Generally just one new generation per year for these guys’. Earwigs have wings but rarely fly. They are easily recognizable by the forceps which look menacing but pose no threat to you or I.

As stated earwigs feed at night and it is not uncommon to find them in your home. No real spray measures are needed for the occasional pest but sometimes outside numbers are so high that homes may get many more than desired in living areas. Since earwigs hide during the day a thorough crack and crevice treatment might be in order. Such sprays as Demand CS or Suspend SC will work nicely for baseboard hiding spots. For void areas such as where plumbing pipes are you could use Delta dust. It has some ability to hold up under moist conditions making it ideal for theses spots.
Your best bet is to alter the exterior near your home since this is where they’ll be coming from. If possible elevate potted plants, remove wet ‘welcome’ mats or alter any such thing that allows moisture to be contained under or in it. Rake mulch turning it to allow for some drying, point sprinklers away from home and regulate them so you are not over watering. In areas where it’s not possible to alter use Talstar PL granular insecticide, simply lift up the mat or pot and sprinkle the area. The same can be done in soil or mulch around the foundation of the home creating a barrier. Niban bait is also a good choice and should be used as the granules.

If you should experience a sudden influx of earwigs do a little investigation before you reach for the sprays. It may be a wet rug, a trim board on your door frame that is constantly soaked and perhaps rotting. Maybe it’s been cold so you’ve brought some plants inside. Look for the moisture source first and you’ll find your earwigs. Remove the source a maybe a touch of spray at the entry point and your problem will be solved.

There are rare occasions of mass earwig invasions and if you find this is happening to you please leave a comment with some details of your situation and I’ll see if I can help.

Posted in Earwigs | 157 Comments

Bed Bugs go political


New Jersey may be setting a precendent by introducing a bill to crack down on slack landlords when it comes to Bed Bugs. The Bed Bug bill if passed will not allow landlords to sit idle while their tennants suffer. Do you think this is a good use of our tax dollars? Leave a comment and let us know.

Posted in Bed Bugs | 8 Comments

Control of nusiance Birds

Early in my career I did a lot of bird work. It was exciting climbing on roofs, catwalks, silos and towers. Back then our bird control products were limited to Avitrol corn bait, Nixalite strips which are stainless steel spikes on a role, hotfoot applied with a caulk gun and various nets and visual devices. It was dangerous hard work so naturally we had a lot of safety meetings. They went something like this; “Don’t fall, make sure you tie up and DON’T LET ANYONE SEE YOU, PARK IN THE ALLEY, IF NEWS CAMERAS SHOW UP CALL THE OFFICE.” To this day I’m sure companies that engage in bird work have similar meetings. People would get so upset at the thought of someone poisoning beautiful birds. News crews would literally descend on our office if more than a few birds would be found dead downtown close to where we were working. How could a company be so mean and who on earth would pay money to have birds exterminated?< What they didn’t know and would never accept is that our techniques and products would either just deter the birds or kill very few. The dying birds would send out a distress signal which warned the others and kept them away. Dead birds made news and the stigma has never been lifted. Approximately one billion birds are killed every year in the United States and it’s not due to exterminators. Even the dreaded pesticide poisoning myth is being debunked as studies and autopsies show this to be far less than thought. Unfortunately birds can’t see glass so millions die by striking buildings. Many more die by disease and parasites such as worms. Large numbers of birds are also killed by hitting planes. The most famous of which happened recently in New Jersey. No human casualties due to the heroic efforts of the crew but more than 200 people have been killed since 1988 in airplanes due to bird strikes.You can listen to the captain call out the strike and the heroic moments afterward. Incidentally the first recorded strike was in 1905 when Orville Wright’s plane hit and killed a bird.

Why is bird control necessary?

A few birds would pose no significant problems but birds such as pigeons gather and move in huge numbers. Their droppings land anywhere and everywhere. (Wash your car lately?). These droppings carry diseases such as Histoplasmosis, Crytococcosis and others. These are nasty spores from the droppings that can affect your eyes, skin and central nervous system but mainly your lungs with pneumonia type symptoms. It can be fatal and the spores can stay active for 2 years.

There are many more products on the market for bird control such as sound blasters, use of ultraviolet lights, trained dogs that chase nuisance birds and even predatory birds such as falcons who do the same. Even with this there are just as many bird fanciers who lack the understanding of bird control and why it’s so important. Well that is of course until droppings are found on their car, then it’s rock throwing time.

Posted in Birds | Leave a comment

Flies and gnats

Most flies in nature are very important and serve vital functions. Mainly as food for other bugs and animals but also to help recycle things like animal feces and giving back precious nutrients to the soil. Also flies such as Blow Flies, Flesh Flies and others provide this same function for decomposing animal carcasses. It’s only when these flies bite humans or land on,eat and contaminate our foods thus spreading of germs that they become pests. Of all the insects that invade our homes, flies may be the most important in terms of our health and well being. In countries such as South Africa and other third world countries diseases like typhoid, paratyphoid, cholera, bacillary, dysentery, infantile diarrhea, pin worm, roundworm, whip worm, hookworm and tapeworm are spread throughout. Flies are so often found in areas of filth picking up pathogens on their feet and mouth parts. This is then transferred to human food through their vomit or by their feces onto our food. It’s also common that these types if illnesses can be transferred directly into an open wound or sore. The lack of sound sanitation, plumbing and pest control allow flies to flourish. Always in search of food no matter where it’s located and no matter what the condition, flies present a huge danger and challenge to mankind.

Control of flies consists of 3 major factors;

#1 Is identification. Certain flies such as Horse flies eat blood and nectar so scrubbing down your garbage cans will do little in your control effort of them where as for common House flies this will make a world of difference. We all get the occasional fly in our homes and perhaps a good swing with the newspaper or handy swatter will beat out a google search for that day. For persistent or reoccurring problems however identification will be key.

Horse Flies Bite
#2 Is sanitation. Certainly cleaning up the yard, keeping the lids on your garbage cans is a major factor but sanitation means more. It may mean less watering of indoor plants if you have identified the pest as a Fungus Gnat. Or removal of say a mouse or squirrel carcass in the attic should you notice it’s Flesh Flies that are infesting. Also part of sanitation means exclusion of flies. Making sure screens are tight and in good repair as well as good seals in the doorways. Keeping them out to begin with can save you alot of grief.

#3 Pest control. Whether it’s sticky traps, lures, lights, sprays or baits it’s certainly an integral part of any fly control program and one that you should be ready to use. Fly infestations can explode overnight making life miserable and put you and your families health at risk. I’ve seen even the staunchest ‘chemical free’ people load up with 6 or 7 spray bombs for their 1500 square foot homes just because the fly problem had gotten so huge and unrelenting. (not that you’ll need this once you’re armed with just a bit of knowledge)

There are alot of flies and gnats out there and I doubt most of us will deal with even a majority of them on any serious level. However I believe we ALL will face a fly control dilemma somewhere in our lives. This article will deal with Small Flies and Filth Flies which should cover almost anything you and I will see.

Small Flies


Fruit Flies.
One of the most common in house problems he is a small little bugger only about 1/8 inch in length. A tan head and thorax but it’s red eyes are the most distinguishing mark you’ll see to identify this fly. There are several different species and they are found worldwide. They are also known as Pomace flies or Vinegar flies. One note this fly has been helpful to mankind in that early genetic research used fruit flies and that research is still considered foundational. It breeds and feeds on ripened fruits and vegetables as well as moist decaying organic matter.(which can be a long list of things) The female will lay some 500 hundred eggs near the surface of fermenting fruit or organic matter only to have the eggs hatch in about 30 hours. The larvae feed for 5 to 6 days then crawl to drier areas of the food source or even away from the source to pupate. Several days later the adult emerges. The entire cycle can take as little as 8 days.

Control of the fruit fly means looking for the food source. Sometimes this is not so easy. Just remember they must have ripened (rotting) fruit or organic material to complete their life cycle. So look for any fruit or vegetable that may fit this bill. Also they can feed and breed in fruit juices or beers and wine found in the bottom of un rinsed containers. Besides all the obvious make sure to look under the fridge, stove and other appliances as well as those potatoes or bananas at the ‘bottom’ of the pile. Trash cans. Cracks and crevices with even small amounts of material will suffice to sustain hundreds of fruit flies. Kitty litter boxes are also something to check. Once you find the source (usually you’ll find the larvae squirming about) wrap it up and throw it away. That may be all you’ll need to do at this point but any other fruit that is ripening is suspect and needs to be watched. You can use such ’space’ sprays like non-residual aerosols to kill adult flies or even a bug bomb in severe infestations. Probably a better mode of adult elimination is a trap. You can make these yourself or purchase but either way you’ll need to put some type of fruit juice or beer as the bait. To make one take simply make a funnel out of paper, place the small end into a wide mouth jar ( such as a mason jar). Make sure the funnel doesn’t come to close to the bottom of the jar. Adjust by cutting if necessary. Remove the funnel and pour a small amount of fruit or orange juice into the jar.Beer works well too. Place the funnel back into place making sure the funnel covers the entire top lip of the jar. ( the flies will escape if any room between funnel and glass)
You can also simply place plastic wrap over top of a glass with holes poked in it. If you don’t have any juice handy you may also use a slice of fruit or banana. Place the trap near the area where the flies are most noticed and perhaps another trap or two in other areas just in case. If flies continue you must look again and perhaps think ‘outside the box’ for the source. You’ll usually know within a few short hours if you’ve been successful.

Phorid Flies. similar to fruit flies they are found throughout the world, about 1/8 inch in length and are tannish in color. Phroid flies however do not have red eyes but do have a noticeable ‘hump’ on their backs. They feed mainly on decaying organic material and lay eggs in such suitable materials. Phroid flies are also called Coffin Flies because they are known to be found in mortuaries and mausoleums. Also a serious threat in hospitals since females will lay their eggs in open wounds. The female will lay up to 40 eggs in a 12 hour period. Approximately 24 hours later they will hatch. Usually the larvae will feed up to 18 days then crawl to a drier place to pupate. The entire cycle can be done in as little as 14 days but typically takes a month.

Controlling the Phroid Fly. As with the fruit fly check for the source. Phroid fly larvae can only live in moist organic matter. A favorite spot to check for them is the drains. If adult flies are found in the drains that’s a good sign they are there. If so the drain must be throughly cleaned. Other areas such as noted for fruit flies also apply and the same rules go for the Phroid fly.

Moth Flies. Another little guy about 1/8 inch in length. They are usually black in color but what makes them most identifiable is the presence of visible hairs over it’s wings and body making it look ‘moth like’. This guy is found almost always in drains and is sometimes called ‘Drain Fly’. The eggs are laid and the larvae live in that gelatinous film that you find in drains and sometimes on organic materials. The larvae breath by extending a breathing tube through the film. They feed about 15 days before pupating. The pupation period is pretty short and the entire cycle takes about 8 days. While Moth flies are not the most common to infest a home they can be tricky to completely get rid of so it can be chronic.

Control of Moth Flies. Sprays or traps generally are not needed for Moth flies, most often it’s sanitation. The drains are usually a great place to check. Adult flies are always a good sign you’re on to them. Also areas such as sump pumps, refrigerator condensation trays, the base of toilet bowls or bathtubs and showers. Once you have determined the source it must be cleaned thoroughly. Note; Just bleach or hot water will not render control. The gelatin type material must be removed or the larvae will survive to infest another day. Some relief can be had with a bleaching but it is usually short lived. In some cases the drain pipes may be cracked or broken even underground. This may make it impossible to get results. Before you rent a jack hammer please call a pro and get their opinion. It may be that you’ll need a earth breaking remedy but it’s at least possible you’ve missed something he or she will pick up on.

Fungus Gnats. Small little guy with long legs. Most species are less than 1/16 of an inch long and black in color. Not as much is known about this gnat however we know they feed on fungus growing in moist organic material. This can usually be found in over watered plants in our homes. The adult lays eggs in such soil and the eggs hatch soon after. The larvae feed on the fungus for a time, pupate and emerge later as adults repeating the cycle.

Control of the Fungus Gnat. Usually this is achieved by simply removing the plant and allowing it to dry out. In some cases you may need to replace the potted soil in some plants. Proper watering from then on will not allow this fly to complete it’s life cycle. Sometimes this pest will build up outside in organic material such as mulch and enter the home through windows or each time the doors are open. In this case try to reduce watering. If quicker results are needed you can remove the mulch or turn it so it can dry out. Space sprays such as non residual aerosols can be used to reduce adult populations but that extreme is seldom needed. Treatment of the organic material with a liquid or granule may also help some but will do little against the egg, larvae and pupal stages. A potato slice can work wonders against the larva and may entirely solve your problem. Click the link to see how;

House Flies are probably the worlds most common insect. If one single female lived and had her normal 5 or 6 batches of eggs and they all hatched and had theirs. In the course of one year you would have over one billion flies, all offspring from one single female. Thank God they all do not make it but more than enough do that it warrants our best efforts to control them. If I were a betting man I’d bet that every man, woman and child has had a common house fly at sometime buzz their face while they were swinging wildly away with a rolled up newspaper or swatter. Please send your payments to pestcemetery.com unless you happen to be ‘the boy in a bubble’ you know I’m right.

House flies almost exclusively breed outdoors. Animal manure is perhaps the favorite place for a female to lay her eggs but decaying garbage or grains are other areas common as well. She will lay up to 150 eggs at a time called a batch. 5 or 6 days later she’ll lay another. She will lay 5 to 6 batches all total. Larvae burrow into the material and feed for some 8 days. The larvae then begin to move to find a dry place in which to pupate. This is sometimes seen by the homeowner as they notice maggots crawling up the walls or across the ceiling. Finding a protected place they enter the pupal stage. Several days later adults begin to emerge and the cycle continues. 10 to 12 generations can be produced in one summer.

Control of the House Fly. Indoors control is usually with light traps, sticky type strips or sanitation. Sprays such as Raid are often used but most of the spray ends up in the air or running down the wall with the acrobatic evasive flying skills that the house fly possesses. Indoors chemical control is usually not the answer since the House Fly is most certainly coming from the outdoors. Since eggs are laid mostly in animal manure keeping your yard and surroundings cleaned up from Rin Tin Tin’s deposits will go along way. On large farms or in rural areas this is not always practical. Sprays or fly baits can work outside to reduce adults in areas such as dumpster or trash can areas. The ground and wall surfaces adjacent to this area can be treated and produce good results. Usually you’ll need to retreat after every rain however so it can be tedious. Perhaps the best way is to seal the fly out of your home is making sure screens are in good repair, doors have weather stripping, window trim is caulked and on and on. I know I know, you wanted a magic bullet from me. After all, mankind has been battling the fly for 1000’s of years and I’m gonna tell you to “make sure your door shuts all the way”. Well unless you can fit daily poop patrol in your schedule, spray the trash areas, purchase a & 200.00 light trap and dodge all those fly strips as you head to the fridge then, yes it’s time to seal up the house.

Well actually there is one remedy that may keep the caulk gun in the drawer. If you fill a large clear zip lock bag with water, put a penny in it and hang it just outside your doors and windows you will supposedly keep flies from entering. According to lore the water in the baggies refracts the light, confusing the fly and in essence it flies the other direction or the other theory is they think it’s a wasp nest and stay away. I haven’t seen it on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens yet but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. Very attractive.

Blow Flies and Bottle Flies. Usually identified by their metallic sheen. The color can vary but the most common is blue green. Not as understood as say the House Fly but very important none the less. These flies are the first to show up after an animal dies, beginning the decay process. Often these flies help in murder investigations as detectives can use the maggots (larvae) collected on the scene to determine the time of death. Other than carcasses eggs can be laid on decaying organic material. Trash areas or dumpsters may be suitable at times for this pest.

Control of the Bottle or Blow Fly. Generally speaking you’ll not have a huge infestation problem with these flies but in case your seeing shiny blue or green flies about the home you’ll know what to look for. It’s not uncommon to have 130 or more flies come out of one small mouse carcass.Animals can and do die in all sorts of places. In your search don’t forget the attic, crawl space or anywhere the trail may lead you. No real spray is needed just removal of the breeding material. In a very short time you’ll see less and less of your problem. If perhaps it does continue then there is another source somewhere that you’ve missed. A word of caution; Any time you are dealing with dead animal removal you may wish to dawn gloves and protective clothing. I go so far as to wear a respirator. The smell alone is more gross than I want to deal with.

Good Luck!

Posted in Flies and Gnats | 24 Comments

Swarmer Termites are coming ‘Don’t Panic’

As the long cold winter ‘finally’ is coming closer to an end. A new beggining is also approching for swarms of winged termites. Each year subterreanean termites produce winged alates to perpetuate the colony as a means of the species survival. Unsuspecting homeowners will no doubt panic and rush to the phones as a literal ‘exodus’ of flying bugs pour into their living areas. In this state of mind money from your wallet will exit just as fast if you do not think things through.

Should you be one of the many unfortunate you should remember 3 things.

#1 Don’t panic– This caste of the termite colony is is harmless. They are not going to infest your furniture, start eating the piano or spread some exotic disease. They usually diappear as fast as they came leaving only shed wings behind. Should the swarm occur inside chances are high they will simply die in the crack or crevice they find to hide in. ( they need to return to the soil )

#2 Place your calls calmly to the 3 exterminator companies of your choice. See our article on Choosing a company to find ones right for you. Arm youself with the knowledge contained in this site and/or any others but don’t overwhelm yourself. This way you can ask all the right questions.

#3 Take your time and READ the proposals. Do it without the salesman there. Compare and make sure of what you’re getting in to. There should be graphs, limitations, conducive conditions and prices all spelled out.
Well I’m sorry you have ‘got the bug’ but at least now you can deal with it appropriately and can rest easy. Now it’s time to enjoy springtime in your termite free home.

Posted in Termites | Tagged | 1 Comment

Disappearing Bats

“White nose” disease is mysteriously spreading throughout the northeast killing thousands. Scientists seem baffled by the spread of this disease first discovered two winters ago. Tell tale signs are white smudges on wings and noses of hibernating bats. Although it poses no health risk to humans the ramifications can still be great. Bats consume millions of harmful pests each night and threats to our crops and health get larger without this misunderstood predator.

No solutions are yet apparent for ‘white nose’ but scientist and enviormentalist alike are gravely concerned.

Posted in Pests in the news | 2 Comments

Rat quiz

A rat is just a rat, right? Well not really. there are Black Rats, Sewer Rats, Norway Rats, Roof Rats, Cotton Rats, Kangaroo Rats and many others throughout the world. ( don’t forget the squirrel ) To most people however a rat is just that. They all look so similar but the right identification can sometimes make all the difference in trying to catch one.

I used to do a lot of rodent work in the city of Baltimore. Rats and mice were so plentiful there. Mainly the Norway Rat and Sewer Rats. In one open food market downtown we trapped 43 rats in our first service-BEFORE- we even finished setting all the traps. I hated that account, I had to be there every Tuesday morning at 3 am, spray for roaches ( that’s a whole other article ) and bag all the dead rats while resetting the traps. Some mornings I’d fill 2 trash bags full of rotting,stinking rats. Even the mice were were afraid to move in because the rats would eat them. All in all I have to say I got pretty skilled in ‘how’ to trap them. They are cautious critters and caught on pretty quickly of the dangers of my traps.  Across town however I had another account. This was a mattress assembly plant and they had a whole different kind of rat. Cotton Rats. They came in with the huge truck loads of cotton. The men would dump their load of cotton and these funny looking rodents would scurry off looking to hide. My usual techniques and baits didn’t do so well there. I had to approach these guy’s with baits and grains in large protective stations and even use liquid baits. Cotton Rats are much cuter than the Sewer or Norway so I always felt a little sad for them.

My point is I guess, a rat is not a rat. Just calling the exterminator and telling him you saw a rat may not be helpful. In North America there really are just 2 rats you’ll probably have trouble with. The Norway Rat and the Roof Rat. Each is totally different in terms of how to trap them. As the name suggests a roof rat will most likely be in your trees or attic where as a Norway Rat is happy in your shed or garage. The 2 look very similar and are easily confused.

Just for fun ‘take the rat quiz’. See what your score is and then come on back and let us know in the comment section.

http://www.ratbehavior.org/QuizNorwayRatRoofRat.htm
https://pestcemetery.com/funpage/take-the-rodent-quiz/
For more great quizzes and pest control brain teasers check out
 

pestcemetery’s own fun page. You’ll love it!
mice control

Posted in Rats and Mice | 7 Comments

Ants


Consider the ant thou sluggard

 

”Proverbs 6:6-8

Ants are amazing insects, so much so the Bible instructs us to look at their lives for examples of work, efficiency, cleanliness and team work. There are so many different ants in the world and all are unique to each other in some ways. Just some of their names indicate the differences. Carpenter Ants, Pharaoh Ants, Leaf Cutter Ants, Thief Ants, Acrobatic Ants, Velvet Ants, Army Ants, Fire Ants, Big Headed Ants, and on and on. Most folks can’t tell the difference between ants so they give them names based on their similarities or habits. Such as pavement ants, sugar ants, grease ants, wood or bull ants, etc.etc. Regardless of the names when ants enter our homes and yards it’s time to act and when your dealing these pests you’ll need some know how to be successful.

Carpenter Ants are rather large in the ant world and can be quite destructive to wood in our homes. They do not eat the wood ( contrary to popular belief ) but hew out chambers for the colony. In some states you’d be unable to sell your home without first passing a Carpenter Ant inspection. Part of the problem in treating these ants is that you are dealing with a colony and as many as 5 other satellite colonies. If you are fortunate enough to find a nest you still have 4 or 5 more that will rebuild, re-establish support and defend the entire population. Other challenges these ants present is that they are primarily nocturnal, travel above and below ground, can live in almost any location and do not necessarily walk along ‘ant trails’ such as we’re used to. This makes tracking them and finding the nest extremely difficult. Add to that, they are finicky eaters and there aren’t many bait products out there that work really well. Your best option for treating these ants is ‘non-repellent’ liquids that they cannot detect, walk on and take back to the nest doing the work for you. If you know of a infestation in your wall ( usually indicated by ‘frass’ or sawdust that drops down from say a small hole in your window sill). You would at that point drill a small hole into the area of the hole and inject your chosen pest product into their galleries. Such products include Phantom, Termidor, Drione Dust,etc.. Treating suspected walkways and nesting areas with non-repellents will not give immediate results but soon the entire colony will fall.

Fire Ants, not native to America but were transported here on ships from tropical regions. This ant is a very dominant and will take over your yard & home if you give them a chance. Characteristic mounds are a tail tell sign the invasion is on. These ants eat just about anything and will follow cable lines, expansion joints in cement or just trail up and into your home when so inclined. Fire Ants do bite but it’s the stinger that gives the victim those painful little pustules. They have a unique way of climbing up on your leg or feet and all biting/stinging at the same time. Some folks have severe reactions to the venom but to most it’s just a painful reminder to watch where we step. Control of these ants has come along way from the ‘gallon per mound’ drenching. Some baits such as Amdro can be quite helpful or treatment granules that last an entire season will work just fine. For quickest relief call a professional who can treat your entire yard and home if need be. If you bait try to bait in the evening hours so the hot mid day sun doesn’t ‘cook’ the bait.

Pharaoh Ants are perhaps some of the most difficult to deal with. They are so small and you literally can’t see them unless they are moving. People spray these ants with all they have and still they keep coming. Part of the reason is that they have multiple queens in their colony and will ’split’ or ‘bud’ as a defense when attacked. So you see some, spray and now you’re dealing with 2 colonies instead of 1. Then 3, then 4. It can be quite maddening. These ants have a high need for moisture so often times you’ll find them in kitchens and bathrooms trailing on your toothbrush or in your coffee maker.

Ants in general can detect sprays easily and Pharaoh Ants are no exception. Until recently baits were about the only effective way of reducing this pests population in your home. However baits usually only work so long and results sometimes were not as we hoped. Today’s pest products such as Phantom, Pharoid and others can be quite effective on these little buggers but need time to work through the entire colony. Baits such as Max Force Ant , Terro and others work well. Reducing food and water sources can help greatly as well. If you’re having trouble with Pharaoh Ants you might be better off by calling in the big guns right from the get go.

Posted in Ants | 6 Comments

Understanding your wdo report

One of the most misunderstood aspects of pest control work is termite inspections. Even the best inspectors can only truly asses about 17% of the average home. Termite inspections account for well over half of all litigation in the pest industry and most of the gray hair on any termite inspectors head. Termites feed in the walls and sometimes the only evidence might be the size of a pinhead. Companies utilize dogs, thermal imaging, x-ray machines and listening devices to try and minimize the risk but nothing can truly be 100% . While customers demand a thorough inspection, some realtor’s frown on the use of any aids in detection seeing red flags as a commission killer. Whats more the pest industry does not do such a good job setting standards for such devices and most legal advice (at least all that I’ve heard in the countless meetings I’ve attended) actually say the inspector opens himself up to more ‘at fault risk’ if they employ such tools. Sadly then 9 out of 10 inspectors will revert to the ol tapping baseboards and a good flashlight. Most inspectors I know are very good at what they do but with the odds stacked against them it’s only a matter of time before they have to face an angry customer with termite woes neither of them saw coming.

This article is mostly based on the rules of Florida, the state I work in and know best, however your state won’t be to far off from most of what is written. Check with your local inspectors but this should at least aid as a general guide.

A Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Inspection Report is a written report of an inspection on a home for visible and accessible evidence of an infestation or damage by wood destroying organisms. Usually this means subterranean or dry wood termites, but will also cover wood destroying beetles and wood destroying fungi. In Florida,carpenter ants & carpenter bees do NOT have to be reported. Most northern states DO include these pests while excluding wood rot or wood decaying fungi.

A WDO report is also commonly called a ‘Termite Inspection’, ‘WDI’, ‘Clearance Letter’, or “Termite Letter”. A WDO inspection report is provided when a home or other structure is being sold and the mortgage lender or buyer requires the inspection as part of the transaction. If an inspection is done for these purposes, the inspection must be reported on a specific report form as required by Florida Law.(Chapter 482, Florida Statues). The form is sometimes called the “1145 report” because of the old form number.The new number is 13645. The WDO inspection can only be done by a wood destroying organisms identification card holder( or a certified operator within the wood-destroying organisms category) of a pest control company licensed by the state of Florida. These employees must receive special training to be qualified as WDO inspectors. A WDO report tells the buyer if the pest control inspector saw any of the following: * live termites or other wood destroying organisms. * evidence of infestation by termites or other wood destroying organisms(including wood decaying fungi). * damage by termites or other wood destroying organisms. *previous treatments for termites or other wood destroying organism. *The inspector must also report the common name of the wood destroying organism identified & the location of the evidence. If any areas are not accessible for the inspection these areas and the reason they are inaccessible must be reported.( For example-if an attic is not inspected,this must be noted and the phrasing “low crawl space” or other reasoning must be put on the form).
A “ clear” report is a report that states that no evidence of wood destroying organisms infestation or damage was visible and accessible at the time of inspection. It does NOT mean, however, that the buyer can be absolutely assured that there are no wood destroying organisms infesting the structure or that there is no damage from termites or other wood destroying organisms. Such an infestation or damage may be hidden (therefore not visible and accessible), or may have been repaired by the seller and therefore not visible and accessible to the pest control inspector.

Every year termites do more damage to homes in America then storms & fires combined, well until ‘Katrina’ hit, now they’re recalculating the figures but the damage is incredible. A simple termite inspection isn’t or shouldn’t be the only action you take while getting ready to invest in such a large purchase. In addition to the WDO inspection, home buyers should obtain written documentation of the following:
* termite treatments and termite protection contracts issued on the structure for at least the last 3 years (longer if available). ( Note: Florida law requires pest control companies to issue a written contract whenever termite or other WDO treatments are performed). * reports of annual inspections conducted as part of a termite protection contract. These reports will indicate if signs of infestation or damage were observed during the term of the protection contract. * any WDO inspections performed on the structure within the last year ( or longer if available).

Tips in choosing an inspection company “It’s your choice” Choosing an inspection company is not always easy but it is your choice. Some title companies and realtor’s have proven reliable inspectors they count on for these inspections. Sometimes it’s more of a matter of a cheaper price. Don’t let this be your guide. Ask for references or speak directly to your inspector to get a feel for his or her knowledge. Don’t use the same company that has done work on the home before. You’ll want a completely separate evaluation not one that may have protecting interests involved. Choose someone who’s not ‘lumped’ in with a host of other inspection services. This will keep his or her opinion separate and unswayed in the event repairs are necessary. Ask Questions. It will be to late when the inspection is done and you’ve purchased the home.

Posted in Termites | 6 Comments

Myths about pest control

There are just about as many myths about pest control as there are pests. Some are funny, some are old and some are a bit dangerous. For all our sakes, just read and enjoy this section.’Don’t try any of these at home’.

* Rats and mice will run to water after eating ‘bait’ and EXPLODE. In 25 years I have yet to find mouse shrapnel pasted all over a basement wall. Truth is most baits are anticoagulants which simply makes them hemorrhage inside or bleed to death if they cut themselves.
* Baiting ants with ‘grits’ works because they eat it and swell up and die. No explosion but no real truth either. Ants can’t eat solid food (ever see how skinny their necks are). Now they might take grits or solids back to the nest but it’s the larvae in the colony that eat the solids and excrete it out as liquid,which is what the ant eats.
* Chlordane last’s for 60 years in the soil. Most reports I’ve seen have at about 30-35 at the longest.
* Mixing ‘Borax’ with sugar or cocoa powder makes a good roach bait. Not really, although roaches may venture close to whiff out the sweets you’ve left, the harsh detergent in the mix will usually keep them from eating any of it.
* Ultra sonic plug in bug device will hurt insects ears and they won’t come in. You might get a better reaction if you play a Barry Manilow song in your stereo. The majority of insects CAN’T hear ultra sonic noise.
* Spiders will nest in your hair. Oh boy, that one made it around the world at least 3 times when I was a kid. A lady apparently liked her hair-do so much that she never washed it. She just kept spraying hairspray on it everyday. Soon a spider moved in and became ‘toxic’ from all the spray, bit her and she died. Maybe that’s where the idea for the Spiderman story came from.
* Carpenter Ants eat wood. Very common thought but totally false. They do excavate wood for nesting purposes. Actually they eat just about anything you and I do.
* Baiting Termites will attract them to your home. That’s a hard one to convince someone otherwise. Termites forage 365 days a year in every direction all day and all night. They were there the whole time and it’s only with a little know how (on where to place the stations) and time that they find the bait. You simply have ‘intercepted’ them in their natural activity.

* It’s a scientific fact that Bumble Bee wings cannot support their size thus they shouldn’t be able to fly. OK this one IS true but they still fly.Why? Well they have four small wings, to small to carry them in flight no matter how hard they beat. However a small hook like feature on the wing allows them to become ‘one’ larger wing and creates more mass which creates more lift, thus fly off at will. PS. ‘don’t tell the Bumble Bees this,they still believe it’s a miracle of faith.
* Formosan Termites can chew through concrete. One of, if not the most destructive termite species known but their tiny jaws can’t cut through bricks. They are able to (so are other species of termites) slip through a crack about 1/64th of an inch thick.
* Roaches become immune to your sprays. Yea it’s true that resistant strains of roaches do develop but not in the way most folks think. Many people feel that if you spray the same pesticide over and over the same roaches become immune and don’t die.It’s more along the lines of say-you are susceptible to Poison Ivy but your good friend not so much. Chances are his kids won’t be either but yours will be scratching. Truth is that your initial spray kills many but a few may be ‘already’ resistant to that product and as a result when they breed they create more of the same genetically resistant babies. So it seems they’ve developed immunity. A good exterminator will change the ‘class’ of his products to prevent this from happening.Spray ‘immunity’ does happen but it takes much more time than what most think.

* Exterminators spray is so toxic you must leave the home when being treated. Truth is that most finished solutions being applied in your home are no more toxic than table salt. On average your ‘professional’ pest technician will only spray 4 or 5 ounces of mixed product in select places (cracks & crevices) within your entire home. It’s how and where it’s placed that makes the difference.

* If it doesn’t smell it doesn’t work. Well this is an oldie but a goodie. Just a few years ago this was the general  assesment. Our manager would always receive angry calls ” your man didn’t spray anything, there’s no smell.”  Around this time exterminators were using Ficam W for flea control. Ficam W is a wettable powder and when mixed has no smell. Everything else at that time did. Dursban LO, Diazonon and many others. A Lot has changed since then and now practically everything is completely odorless. Now when your bug guy happens to use a product that leaves even the slightest smell that poor mgr. gets the same angry call. Only this time it’s, ” your man is trying to kill us, the whole house stinks.”  Smells have nothing to do with a products “toxicity”, just a harmless by product.

* Spraying the baseboards doesn’t help. While true just willy nilly spraying baseboards or ‘mop boards’ isn’t the most effective use of a barrier insecticide. Treating the cracks and crevices behind them is. Also just under the board where the carpet tack holds the carpet is a rather large  ( for a bug or trailing ants ) void that insects use to travel undetected the full length of the room. So baseboard treatments do have their place.

* Only bug guys can buy the good stuff. Sure we get some products you never can buy but the real difference is the training behind our treatments. Look at the ingredients of the sprays you can buy at your local hardware store. Most of the percentages are higher than what we carry of the same thing. The difference is know how. And that can be most valuable.

If you have any more please share them.

Posted in In my opinion | 2 Comments