Moths – Stored Food Pests

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Moths – Stored Food Pests

Sometimes referred to as Pantry Pests, Stored Food Pests or Indian Meal Moths, these insects can be a significant irritant to homeowners and cause millions of dollars’ of damage in the warehouses of retailers and manufacturers of foodstuffs. When I get a call from a homeowner saying they have ‘little flying moth-like things’ wafting through the air of their kitchen, it is almost certain that they have an infestation of Pantry Pests. However, these insects can be recognized not only through their mere presence, but by the holes and webbing in the packaging as well as by insect feces in the foodstuffs.

The two most common types of moths found infesting food packages in our area are the Indian Meal Moth (grey with tan or brown stripes on it’s wings), and the Angoumois Grain Moth (usually lite tan in color). The most common beetles found in foodstuffs are; the Sawtoothed Grain Beetle, the Drugstore Beetle, the Khapra Beetle, Granary Weevil and the Confused Flour Beetle.

These insects are well-adapted to living and breeding in food that is low in moisture content. They usually come into the home randomly with some infested package of food and then greatly increase in number and crawl into uninfested food. They can enter through extremely small cracks and may then crawl, and in some instances bore directly through the wrapper and container of surrounding grains and cereals.

If the homeowner is active in addressing the problem and participating in ridding their home of these pests, the following treatment has proven quite effective.

First, the source of the infestation must be identified and thrown out. The source is the one item that was brought into the home which started the infestation. In most cases, once the source is found and disposed of, the problem can be effectively treated.

Next, the entire pantry should be emptied and all infested foods should be disposed of as well. I understand that this can be quite costly and unfortunate, however, leaving the source behind and unaddressed will likely result in the insects continuing to reproduce within that item and eventually find their way into any new products that you bring in.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of moths and foodstuff beetles. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Because Pantry Pests are known as “occasional invaders” it is difficult to treat preventatively for them. However a recurring service plan for residential and commercial properties will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should insects come crawling.

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MICE – No Mickey Mouse Matter

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

MICE – No Mickey Mouse Matter

Although mice can be cute little pets in cages and some owners actually enjoy exhibiting their mice at shows, they can also cause damage and carry disease when not domesticated. It is not hard to believe that mice are still considered to be acceptable house pets since in ancient Greek and Roman societies they were notably featured as subjects of art. The albino form of mouse is bred and used for laboratory studies.

Currently we can account for more than 300 different species of mice native to the United States. Unlike rats, mice have hands and feet that are directly proportioned to their bodies, ears that are fairly large and distinct with small, round and shiny black eyes. As adults, they vary little in size, commonly about 3-1/2 inches long and ½ ounce in weight. Generally grayish in color, some may be light brown to dark gray with underbellies slightly lighter or a very light cream color. The tail of a mouse is about as long as the body and head combined.

Mice infestations are probably 10-20 times more common than rat infestations. Reproducing rapidly and prolifically, an average litter size is about six and females are capable of producing a litter once every 50 days. They enjoy just about any kind of food humans do, foraging on a varied diet including grains, meats, cereals, fruits and seeds. Favorite beverages include sweet liquids to pure water.

Mice are known as excellent climbers and can run up almost any abrasive surface without a problem. They can swim, jump and run horizontally along wires, ropes, tree branches and pipes. They can survive and even thrive in cold storage and are able to squeeze through a hole just larger than 1/4“ in diameter. Mice are known to be the culprits of structure fires as they chew on electrical wires. Although they are not completely blind (as the nursery rhyme suggests), they have poor sight and cannot see clearly beyond about 6”. Mice can spread disease to humans by biting, infecting food supplies with their droppings and urine and contaminating water supplies with organisms found in their bodies.

Although the most effective form of mouse control is still believed to be exclusion, if an infestation of mice already exists, baiting is almost always necessary.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of mice. These methods may include baiting, live trapping, snap traps and/or the use of glue boards or tracking powders. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Mice can be an unwelcome presence in your home. Not only do they present a health hazard to humans but they can also be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest quick and decisive action when signs of mice are noticed. The earlier the problem is addressed, the more effective the treatment will be.

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BEES – Friend or Foe?

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

BEES – Friend or Foe?

Man has been thankful to bees for honey, beeswax and most important of all, the fertilization of many of our crop-bearing plants. Social and living in colonies of 20,000 to 80,000 individuals, bees are normally gentle unless provoked. Weather patterns and human activity often affect the ‘temperament’ of bees. Windy, cloudy days when they are unable to forage for nectar, pollen, etc., can cause a cross or frustrated colony of bees to ‘take it out’ on some innocent passerby. It is for this reason that bees can quickly go from friend to foe.

Those of us who fear bees do so because of their potent sting. Bee stings consist of a poisonous sac and several other parts of the bee’s anatomy that are torn from the bee’s body and deposited into the skin of the unfortunate individual. The stinging action is an instantaneous reaction and if the barbed stinger is not immediately removed, the reflex action of the muscles attached to the sting drive it deeper into the skin, which in turn permits more time for the discharge of poison from the poison sac. It is the discharge of the toxin that augments the sting. Different individuals are affected in various ways by bee stings. Variation is due to the part of the anatomy that is stung, the amount of toxin that has entered into the system and the natural immunity of the individual. Although most people suffer nothing more than initial pain at the sting site, allergic reactions to bees can range from slight to serious shock.

Bee colonies exist in three types of castes which include the queen (a fertile female), worker (infertile female) and drone (male). Each hive will have only one egg-laying queen. Colonies are primarily comprised of workers who build, forage and repair the hive. Drones have but one purpose and that is to mate with the virgin queens and once they have served this purpose, they are banned from the colony. The sounds made by a buzzing nest of drones are quite ominous, however, they lack a stinger and are entirely harmless.

The presence of bees can become a significant risk when they nest in the wall voids of homes where they will enter the living areas if not controlled. The mere existence of bees can present a danger to humans when they are found nesting in close proximity to homes and areas of human activity. This is when control techniques are sometimes necessary.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of bees. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Bees are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should insects come looking for food and shelter from the elements.

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SPIDERS- The Original Webmasters

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

SPIDERS- The Original Webmasters

Itsy, bitsy? Not always. There are over 35,000 known species of spiders in the world. Of course, only a few species regularly live in buildings. Those found inside usually get there by wandering in, but more often they are carried in on things like firewood, flowers, or laundry.

The majority of spiders are harmless to people, but beware, some species can mete out a serious poisonous bite when disturbed. In this area of the country, the most common poisonous spider is the Black Widow. Other common spiders in our area are; Jumping Spiders, Tarantulas, Cellar Spiders (sometimes referred to as Daddy Long Legs), Wolf Spiders, Orb Weavers and House Spiders. For example, the Brown Recluse (or Fiddleback Spider) is one of the most poisonous spiders in existence, yet because of it’s ordinary appearance, it may be perceived as nothing more than a harmless little arachnid. Obviously, when it comes to spiders, judging by appearance can get you in a lot of trouble!

Spiders can be identified by their two body regions linked by a narrow waist or pedicel. The fused head-thorax or cephalothorax has two jaws or chelicerae, two palps, eight legs and usually many eyes. The abdomen is unsegmented and in females, ends in spinnerets which produce silk for web-making.

Spiders are predators. They find their food simply by gathering it from their carefully constructed webs or by direct seizure. Do you want to keep spiders out of your living area? If you do then remember, spiders are rarely a problem in areas where there is no prey.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Spiders. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Spiders are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should spiders come crawling.

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Silverfish – Why are Silverfish Here?

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

SILVERFISH – What are they after? Why are they here?

What are they after? Why are they here? These are valid questions that may cross your mind when these slithering, creep crawly insects make their way into your home.

Otherwise known as ‘fishmoths’ (due to their fish-like movements and silvery light grey and blue color), these small, wingless pests are after the glues and pastes in the bindings of your magazines, books and papers. Although they are also quite fond of carbohydrates such as sugar, starches, and cereals, it’s the valuable documents, fabrics, prints and etchings they attack which cause the most concern to the homeowner. Silverfish enjoy moisture and because there is little molding behind which they can hide and the smooth bowl of wash basins or bathtubs make it difficult for them to get out, they are often spotted in bathrooms.

Silverfish are known as one of the most primitive of all insects. Some believe they evolved even before the cockroach. These insects are certainly long lived, known to survive for several years. Carrot-shaped, long and slender, these bugs are wide at the front-end and more narrow at the rear. Usual size is between a half to a full inch long with short legs, long slender antennae and three tail-like appendages called bristletails at the end of the body. There are 13 known species of silverfish in the United States, most of which can be found indoors, while a number of species establish themselves in the nests of ants, termites and birds. Silverfish prefer warm and temperate climates with lots of humidity. They can be found in basements and around water pipes and are commonly brought into new homes in cardboard cartons and books and papers that have come from infested sites. It is uncommon to find these insects outdoors.

Bringing about a change in the environment and effectively eradicating moisture in the immediate area of infestation will reduce potential harborages for these pests.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Silverfish. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Silverfish are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should silverfish come crawling.

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Rats – Yuck – Rats Spread Disease

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

RATS – YUK!

I have yet to find anyone who doesn’t get squeamish at the site and sound of these rodents. The mere sound of them scratching away in your attic as you lie awake at night is enough to bring some people to tears! And that initial fear is there for a reason. Rats can hurt you in a myriad of ways. But take heart, with good information and some due diligence, you can get these scurrying varmints under control. Yes, a good nights sleep is just around the corner!

First, let’s look at the threat these rodents pose to the human populace. As most of us are aware, rats are the vehicle by which many diseases are spread. An extreme example of this is the ‘Bubonic Plague’ which swept through Europe in the mid 1300’s causing the deaths of one third of the population. Not only do rats spread disease by carrying insects (such as fleas in the case of the plague), but they are also known to carry transmittable diseases such as Rat Bite Fever, Typhus, Salmonellosis, and Trichinosis. These diseases are spread by the rat excrement which is referred to as ‘droppings’. Rat droppings are usually soft, shiny and dark when fresh. After a few days the feces can be recognized as dry and hard, and when even older they become dull and grayish and crumble when pressed with a stick. Rat droppings can range in size and are usually up to ½ inch long, spindle shaped and can be curved or blunt (depending on the species of rat). Although disgusting, it is important to be able to identify the droppings in order to exercise caution in disposing and cleaning since bacteria which causes disease is commonly spread by direct contact.

Rats by nature are not predatory or aggressive animals, so it’s not likely that they will seek you out and eat you piece by piece or bite you as you sleep (even though this is a common fear). Rats are looking for many of the same things humans are; warmth, water, food and shelter from the elements. Foods such as grains, meats, fish, nuts, fruits, snails, slugs, avocados and citrus fruits are especially appealing to some varieties of rats. And where do they hang out? To make up for their poor eyesight rats are known to follow “odor trails”. Rats can commonly be found under piles of garbage and waste, rubbish and behind or under boxes, boards and thick vegetation. Rats also possess a keen sense of touch which is detected by the specialized hairs along their body and whiskers. They prefer continual body contact with at least one vertical surface (a fence or wall) as they travel. Tree branches which meet the rooflines of homes and other structures provide a feasible ‘highway’ to rats seeking to gain entry, however they are also known to climb, jump or swim through sewers entering through toilets or broken drains.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we employ the use of rodent feeding stations among other methods of eradication. Because rats are especially sensitive to new objects placed into a familiar environment they are able to quickly detect and avoid traps for several days. Feeding stations placed in attics, subareas, and wherever droppings are found can be left in place and refilled with baits as necessary.

Rats are an unwelcome sight. Not only do they present a health hazard to humans but they can also be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest quick and decisive action when signs of rats are noticed. The earlier the problem is addressed, the more effective the treatment will be.

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Fleas – The Circus Performers of the Insect World

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

FLEAS – The circus performers of the insect world

Yes, you heard that right. Dating back to the 1800’s imaginative directors have utilized the aboriginal traits of the flea to entertain and delight audiences. Fleas could be observed walking tightropes, juggling, and even dancing! However, fleas are even more notorious for their specialized talents in tormenting mankind. The chief fame of the flea rests in it’s ability to transmit disease, therefore we must look at it in more than just a jocular vein.

The body of the flea appears to be well adapted for forward movement. Dark colored adults are flattened from side to side with many bristles or ctenidia that point backwards and facilitate forward movement through fur, hair, or feathers. Fleas are wingless creatures, with strongly developed legs and hind legs that are especially adapted for jumping (and dancing, apparently!). Their sucking mouthparts also make them well equipped for a parasitic lifestyle on many animals and birds.

While difficult for some of us to imagine, some individuals become accustomed to fleas and are not disturbed by them in the least! Others are extremely irritated by the mere presence of fleas, let alone their painful bites. Fleas are common in the United States because of the even temperatures and high humidity. Newcomers are especially susceptible to flea bites, even though some individuals have to be bitten repeatedly to become sensitive to the bites, and often become immune after being bitten over a long period of time. Flea bites may be mistaken for a rash but various cooling preparations will often give relief to those who are sensitive to the bite.

Since the tendency of the flea is to feed on several different species of animals, it is prone to carry disease from one animal to another, for example, from rat to man. The flea life cycle varies according to the living conditions. In hot weather and with no blood to feed upon, fleas may live from two to five days. However, when fleas have a blood source to feed upon, they may live for a month to almost a year!

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Fleas. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations. IGR (Insect Growth Regulators) are used to disrupt the life cycle of the eggs and larvae so they cannot grow to become biting adults. Once adult fleas have mated, the female flea will not lay eggs until she has a blood meal. Fleas can get their blood meal from a variety of sources. Rat or cat fleas may attack humans who come into a house where the preferred host has been removed.

Fleas are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should fleas come crawling.

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Earwigs Wig Me Out

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

EARWIGS- Wig Me Out

These creepy looking little pests are characterized by a pair of sensory, forcep-like appendages at the end of the abdomen. These cerci are used for offense as well as defense.

The earwig gets it’s name from the word “Earwicga”, which means ‘Ear Creature’. At one time thought to purposefully crawl into sleeping peoples ears, it was believed by gullible people to be able to bore into the brain and kill people. Some earwigs, such as the European earwig and the ring-legged earwig are omnivorous by nature and are found throughout the United States.

Commonly reported invading buildings, this is a nocturnal species that scavenges. They will avoid light by hiding in cracks or crevices, under rocks or litter outdoors. In California and other warm regions of the United States the shore earwig can be found. This species is a predator and scavenger but is not known to damage living plants. Contrary to other species of earwigs, the shore earwig is attracted to lights at night, thus it can more commonly be found inside. It is important to note that all species of earwigs in the United States have one generation per year.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of earwigs. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Earwigs are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should earwigs come crawling.

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Pest Control | Cockroaches – The Ultimate Survivors

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

COCKROACHES- The ultimate survivors

The ‘old timers’ of the ecosystem, Cockroaches have remained practically unchanged in form for over 320 million years. The fact that they have outlasted about every other life form known to man can in large part be attributed to their ability to adapt to practically any situation. Able to detect changes in barometric pressure, cockroaches instinctively know when a severe storm is imminent. Able to eat just about anything, these scavengers will consume human hair, eyebrows, fingernails, garbage, cigarette butts, soap, glue and even other cockroaches. And in those rare instances when they must, they can survive without water for two weeks and headless or without food for a month! Not only are they astute weathermen with revolting dining habits, but they are fast. Cockroaches are capable of moving 50-body lengths per second. Boarding boats, trains, airplanes, trucks, moving boxes and even grocery bags, they spread quickly and easily.

The biggest problem caused by cockroaches would have to be the bacteria, viruses and disease they carry on their bodies. Cockroaches have been found to carry pathogens that cause tuberculosis, cholera, leprosy, dysentery, and typhoid and are responsible for many major allergies as well as asthma. Even though they leave trails of fecal matter when they walk, leaving stains and odors behind, many times people don’t notice their presence until the cockroaches run out of room to hide and are forced out into the open.

Cockroaches can be identified by their brown or black color. They are usually about half an inch to two-inches long (not counting the antennae). Their heads are built for ramming and even though the males have wings, they cannot fly. Turn on a light in a dark room infested with cockroaches and you will see and hear them scatter.

So what can you do to keep cockroaches from setting up a ‘roach motel’ in your home? First, be sure to keep your home clean. Second, cover and seal your food tightly. Third, completely block all roach entrances to your home. Once you have done this, have a licensed pest control technician treat your home. Here’s what we do.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of cockroaches. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and/or the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. The use of glue boards to monitor the number and activity of the cockroaches may also be used. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Cockroaches are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should cockroaches come looking for food and shelter from the elements.

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Pest Control – Boxelder & Carpet Beetles

Friday, February 26th, 2010

What’s Buggin’ you?

BOXELDER AND CARPET BEETLES -

“The lowest kind of vermin and the one I most abhor, is the bug that ate my wife’s mink when it was only half paid for” – A.M.
Although it is said that there are over 2200 known species of beetles in North America – two of the most annoying to man are the boxelder beetle and the carpet beetle.

Beetles can be special pests of hides, meat and similar animal products. These beetles are often referred to as skin beetles, larder beetles, tallow beetles, and dermestids. Where the carcass of a dead animal is encountered, beetles will commonly be found feeding on the remains. Because of this, some species of beetles consider taxidermic specimens in the museum, or a cured hide in the warehouse, as fair prey. Museum caretakers and taxidermists beware, these beetles could be a regular trouble. On the good side, when used properly, these scavengers can be of value to the museum preparators for removing the flesh from skeletons, a delicate job for which they have no peer.

Beetles are also the common pests of woolens, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture and materials of a like nature. In the case of the carpet beetle, the adults feed largely on pollen and nectar, frequenting flowers like the crepe myrtle. When in bloom, the crepe myrtle can be host to great numbers of carpet beetles, of which even the larvae are responsible for damage to commodities. Care should be taken not to bring these insects into the house or building on cut flowers. Onset of cool weather may drive the insects indoors. Nests of birds, rodents, insects, and spiders harbor large numbers of beetles whether inside or out. However, indoor nests are more apt to be heavily infested than those in the open as the protected environment provides drier conditions and favors survival of the insects. In some areas, carpet beetles are responsible for more injury to carpets, rugs and other woolens than even the clothes moth!

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Beetles. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Beetles are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should beetles come crawling.

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