Apr 18, 2011 | Going Green
Northwest Exterminating isn’t the only one GOING GREEN. The United States Postal Service now offers Go Green stamps.
16 new stamps have been created to show ways to keep our environment healthy. Green tips include:
- Plant trees
- Adjust the thermostat
- Use public transportation
- Buy local produce, reuse bags
- Fix water leaks
- Share rides
- Turn off lights not in use
- Choose to walk
- Compost
- Let nature do the work
- Recycle more
- Ride a bike
- Insulate the home
- Use efficient light bulbs
- Maintain tire pressure
Go Green stamps are just one of the many green tools that the USPS website offers to ensure that we are making positive changes in our environment. Visit their website to order Go Green stamps and to read about the USPS‘ other initiatives to Go Green!
Apr 15, 2011 | Pest Control
In the 1960s, animal behavior researchers studied the effects of various substances on spiders. When spiders were fed flies that had been injected with caffeine, they spun very “nervous” webs. When spiders ate flies injected with LSD, they spun webs with wild, abstract patterns. Spiders that were given sedatives fell asleep before completing their webs.
The cochineal insect, which lives on the prickly pear cactus in the southwestern United States, is an excellent source of natural red dye. The insects are dried and ground into a powder that is cooked to release the maximum amount of color. The powder is then used as a dye for fiber, fabric, and basketry materials. It has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in food and cosmetics. Most brands of lipstick and some kinds of fruit drinks are tinted with cochineal extract.
For more than 3,000 years, carpenter ants have been used to close wounds in India, Asia and South America. They use the mandibles to close the wound after pinching it shut, then snip off the head to “suture” it.
Provided by Jerry Hatch ([email protected]), Northwest Exterminating
Jerry is a Board Certified Entomologist
Certified Environment Health Professional
Certified Professional-Food Safety
LEED Green Associate
Apr 13, 2011 | Community News, Company News
Our very own Ryan Bloyd was featured in the latest addition of Spinal Column magazine. Spinal Column is a magazine produced by The Shepherd Center here in Atlanta. The Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit hospital that specialize in the research and rehabilitation of spinal cord and brain injuries.
Check out the latest addition and look for Ryan on page 22.
Apr 11, 2011 | Blog
Spring has sprung and chances are…so have your allergies. Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from allergies. Allergies to pollen, also known as “hay fever”, can be caused by plants or trees blooming. When plants bloom and set off pollen, it messes with a person’s histamine levels, which is what causes the symptoms that you may be all too familiar with. Symptoms of pollen allergies can be sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, runny nose, coughing and sore throat…or basically, just feeling miserable.
Unless you want to lock yourself indoors (and even then, sometimes it doesn’t help) there are ways to prevent your allergies from getting out of control this season. (If you have severe allergies you should consult your doctor.)
- What is causing you allergies? Is it a certain tree, bush or plant? Once you’ve identified the culprit…avoid it. If you can’t identify the cause of your allergies on your own, get an allergy test from your doctor.
- Keep windows and doors closed which can allow pollen into your home.
- Use air-conditioning in your car instead of rolling the windows down.
- Avoid using window and attic fans; instead use air-conditioning to cool your home.
- Change air filters regularly to prevent pollen buildup.
- Pollen likes to use your pets to hitchhike into your home. Wash, wipe and brush pets frequently when they’ve been outside.
- Dust and vacuum frequently to prevent pollen buildup. Use a vacuum with a HEPA certification.
- Run a HEPA air filter in your bedroom when you sleep at night.
- Wear a respiratory mask when dusting, cleaning the inside of your home or mowing the lawn or doing yard work.
- Wear sunglasses when outside to limit the amount of pollen in your eyes.
- Remove clothing when coming in from outside in case you have any pollen on your clothes.
- Do not hang laundry on a clothes line to dry. Use the dryer instead.
- Eat more salads. Fruits and vegetables have high levels of quercetin, which helps to reduce histamine levels.
- Eat more garlic. Garlic is known to prevent and ease the cold and flu symptoms. If you aren’t a fan of garlic…take garlic capsules.
- Eat more honey. Use locally made, unprocessed honey to get your body used to the pollen from local plants.
- Drink green tea. Green tea is an antioxidant that can give relief to a stuffy nose.
Apr 8, 2011 | Pest Control, Wildlife
It’s spring time so there is a good chance that you are seeing those large black bees and those large holes and tunnels in your wood. Those are carpenter bees that have been living in those holes and tunnels throughout the winter and are emerging in the spring time to find places for new nests…which mean new holes and tunnels in your wood. Carpenter bees are often confused with bumble bees but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black; while bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings.
Carpenter bees drill through wood to build nests where they stay all winter and throughout the spring until they find a new nest or emerge to mate. Although male bees tend to be aggressive, often hovering around people who are near their nests, they are mostly harmless since they do not have stingers. On the other hand, females can inflict a painful sting but rarely do unless they are being handled or bothered.
You may find piles of wood underneath the hole where the bee has drilled their nest. Carpenter bees prefer to make their nests in bare, untreated or weathered wood. Wood that is painted or pressure-treated is much less susceptible to a carpenter bees nesting. Common areas for nesting include window trim, facia board, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.
The best control for carpenter bees is to treat or paint all exposed wood surfaces. If you are using a spray, it is best to spray at night, while wearing protective clothing, when bees are less active to reduce your risk of being stung. Each hole should be treated individually if the bees are inside the holes. If they are not in the hole, seal, paint , etc. the hole so the bees cannot return.
And of course, if the problem persists or if you are just not up to the task, call Northwest Exterminating.
For more information on carpenter bees click HERE
