Sep 7, 2011 | Company News
WSB-TV and Northwest Exterminating have teamed up once again! Together, we will be exploring the future of Georgia’s Green lifestyle. WSB-TV will be airing a half-hour special that will focus on the effects of traffic, climate changes and what we need to do to keep Georgia “LIVING GREEN“.
Be sure to check out Steve Phillips, President of Northwest Exterminating, as he talks about how Northwest is Going Green!
When: Wednesday, September 7, 2011
8:00 pm
Where: WSB-TV, Channel 2
Sep 6, 2011 | Mosquito
I am constantly explaining to my customers that most treatments are beneficial even if they don’t have a current issue. For instance, when trying to sell a pest control program I am often told, “Well, we’re not really seeing anything now but if we do we’ll be sure to give you a call.” Generally, I will not push the issue because as a consumer myself, I don’t like to be “sold” to and with the current state of our economy I can certainly appreciate not spending money on things I don’t yet see a need for. However, we must take into account the possibility of issues occurring in the future. If you were to wait to call an exterminator after you see ants all over your kitchen counter it is not only going to be much more difficult to get rid of them but most pest control companies are going to see that your need is much higher and could take advantage of your situation by charging more than they would have if they knew you had no or fewer problems. It’s not because they want to take advantage of your situation, they just know that it is now going to need more time, more trips, and more products.
This is the time of year where the temperature is dropping thus humidity and increased moisture goes down with it. Going back to not paying for things we don’t see a need for, I specifically see people cancelling their mosquito service this time of year. “We’re not really seeing them anymore so we don’t need you to come out and treat.” Our mosquito program runs from April through October and yet it never fails that we will have people wait and call in July to begin treatments and then turn around and cancel after August. There’s a reason it is important to “start it early and finish late.”
Do you ever wonder where mosquitoes go in the fall and winter? Depending on the species of mosquito there is one thing for certain – they haven’t gone anywhere! They are still in your lawn, pond, creek, woods, etc. Mosquitoes function in warm weather thus they remain inactive in colder months. Some mosquitoes lay winter eggs that are dormant in the soil until warmer weather returns. Beginning in the fall, the female mosquito lays her eggs in wet areas. The eggs will begin to hatch when conditions become favorable again. This typically occurs in the spring when temperatures rise and rain falls.
Some mosquitoes will survive colder weather in their larval stage. Mosquito larvae will need water even in winter. When the water temperature drops, it will cause the larvae to go into what is called diapause. This is when certain insects can adapt to weather change by suspending their development during a period of rest and resume activity when the water temperature goes back up.
Other mosquito species survive winter in the adult stage. In fall, the mosquitoes mate and the male dies. The females will spend the cold months hidden. They may do this in areas like wood piles or animal burrows. In the spring, when the temperatures are consistently around 60 degrees or more, the female will require a blood meal to develop her eggs and the season will begin again. Once she has fed, the female mosquito will lay her eggs in whatever standing water she can find.
As you can see, it is very important to understand that treatment schedules are in place for a reason. It is just as important to treat things you can’t always see before waiting for it to become a nuisance. My advice; hire a pest control company that controls adult mosquitoes with a monthly mist spray system and make sure they also use a larvaecide. After that, let it run its course. It will be much more effective.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Sep 6, 2011 | Mosquito
I am constantly explaining to my customers that most treatments are beneficial even if they don’t have a current issue. For instance, when trying to sell a pest control program I am often told, “Well, we’re not really seeing anything now but if we do we’ll be sure to give you a call.” Generally, I will not push the issue because as a consumer myself, I don’t like to be “sold” to and with the current state of our economy I can certainly appreciate not spending money on things I don’t yet see a need for. However, we must take into account the possibility of issues occurring in the future. If you were to wait to call an exterminator after you see ants all over your kitchen counter it is not only going to be much more difficult to get rid of them but most pest control companies are going to see that your need is much higher and could take advantage of your situation by charging more than they would have if they knew you had no or fewer problems. It’s not because they want to take advantage of your situation, they just know that it is now going to need more time, more trips, and more products.
This is the time of year where the temperature is dropping thus humidity and increased moisture goes down with it. Going back to not paying for things we don’t see a need for, I specifically see people cancelling their mosquito service this time of year. “We’re not really seeing them anymore so we don’t need you to come out and treat.” Our mosquito program runs from April through October and yet it never fails that we will have people wait and call in July to begin treatments and then turn around and cancel after August. There’s a reason it is important to “start it early and finish late.”
Do you ever wonder where mosquitoes go in the fall and winter? Depending on the species of mosquito there is one thing for certain – they haven’t gone anywhere! They are still in your lawn, pond, creek, woods, etc. Mosquitoes function in warm weather thus they remain inactive in colder months. Some mosquitoes lay winter eggs that are dormant in the soil until warmer weather returns. Beginning in the fall, the female mosquito lays her eggs in wet areas. The eggs will begin to hatch when conditions become favorable again. This typically occurs in the spring when temperatures rise and rain falls.
Some mosquitoes will survive colder weather in their larval stage. Mosquito larvae will need water even in winter. When the water temperature drops, it will cause the larvae to go into what is called diapause. This is when certain insects can adapt to weather change by suspending their development during a period of rest and resume activity when the water temperature goes back up.
Other mosquito species survive winter in the adult stage. In fall, the mosquitoes mate and the male dies. The females will spend the cold months hidden. They may do this in areas like wood piles or animal burrows. In the spring, when the temperatures are consistently around 60 degrees or more, the female will require a blood meal to develop her eggs and the season will begin again. Once she has fed, the female mosquito will lay her eggs in whatever standing water she can find.
As you can see, it is very important to understand that treatment schedules are in place for a reason. It is just as important to treat things you can’t always see before waiting for it to become a nuisance. My advice; hire a pest control company that controls adult mosquitoes with a monthly mist spray system and make sure they also use a larvaecide. After that, let it run its course. It will be much more effective.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Sep 1, 2011 | Pest Control
Recently, my daughter woke up with a strange bite on her foot. The swelling became pretty severe so my wife took her to the doctor. The doctor told her that since the bite had a white “head”, like a pimple, and was causing red vein-like streaks to appear on her foot that it was a brown recluse spider bite. He instructed her to take our daughter home and DO NOT ice it. He said that icing it would only make the blood flow to the area slow more. He also stated that if her toe started to turn red, white or blue to take her to the ER immediately. The doctor also felt the need to show my wife pictures on Google of people who had been bitten by a brown recluse spider. The pictures showed rotting flesh wounds and cases where amputation was necessary. Not something a mother that is already worried about her four year old wants to hear. He did state that it would be a worst case scenario but not to panic for now.
If you have children, or a pulse, you are already scared to death! No one wants to hear the worst case scenario when it comes to their children unless it is absolutely necessary. My wife did not want to take any chances and was heading to the ER when she called to fill me in. Luckily, the pest control company that I work for, Northwest Exterminating, has a Board Certified Entomologist on staff. I suggested that we let him see our daughter first and get his recommendation. Within 5 seconds of looking at the bite on my daughter’s toe he pointed out that here was only one, not two heads. If there would have been two heads then that would indicate a spider bite but this was simply a fire ant sting.
He went on to explain that the way a person’s body reacts to a bite or sting is the key. You can’t always judge it based on the first appearance, this causes people to mistake it for something it’s not. As you know, people react differently to bee stings, mosquito bites, flea bites, etc. This was simply a case of someone judging the appearance of the reaction and making an assumption that we all react the same. He also pointed out that the doctor should have been paying more attention to how my daughter was acting instead of just looking at the sting. She was all smiles and happy as ever. If it would have been a brown recluse bite she would be showing symptoms of sickness and/or fatigue.
As an exterminator myself, I must admit that I was a little embarrassed for being worried. But again, when it comes to your children, no one wants to assume anything. I was relieved that it was nothing severe and yes, happy I didn’t have to pay an expensive ER bill to find out it was a simple fire ant bite. After two days, the swelling went down and her toe was back to normal. My daughter was only upset that she had to go back to school after two days of nothing but hanging out with mommy.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center Manager
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
Sep 1, 2011 | Pest Control
Recently, my daughter woke up with a strange bite on her foot. The swelling became pretty severe so my wife took her to the doctor. The doctor told her that since the bite had a white “head”, like a pimple, and was causing red vein-like streaks to appear on her foot that it was a brown recluse spider bite. He instructed her to take our daughter home and DO NOT ice it. He said that icing it would only make the blood flow to the area slow more. He also stated that if her toe started to turn red, white or blue to take her to the ER immediately. The doctor also felt the need to show my wife pictures on Google of people who had been bitten by a brown recluse spider. The pictures showed rotting flesh wounds and cases where amputation was necessary. Not something a mother that is already worried about her four year old wants to hear. He did state that it would be a worst case scenario but not to panic for now.
If you have children, or a pulse, you are already scared to death! No one wants to hear the worst case scenario when it comes to their children unless it is absolutely necessary. My wife did not want to take any chances and was heading to the ER when she called to fill me in. Luckily, the pest control company that I work for, Northwest Exterminating, has a Board Certified Entomologist on staff. I suggested that we let him see our daughter first and get his recommendation. Within 5 seconds of looking at the bite on my daughter’s toe he pointed out that here was only one, not two heads. If there would have been two heads then that would indicate a spider bite but this was simply a fire ant sting.
He went on to explain that the way a person’s body reacts to a bite or sting is the key. You can’t always judge it based on the first appearance, this causes people to mistake it for something it’s not. As you know, people react differently to bee stings, mosquito bites, flea bites, etc. This was simply a case of someone judging the appearance of the reaction and making an assumption that we all react the same. He also pointed out that the doctor should have been paying more attention to how my daughter was acting instead of just looking at the sting. She was all smiles and happy as ever. If it would have been a brown recluse bite she would be showing symptoms of sickness and/or fatigue.
As an exterminator myself, I must admit that I was a little embarrassed for being worried. But again, when it comes to your children, no one wants to assume anything. I was relieved that it was nothing severe and yes, happy I didn’t have to pay an expensive ER bill to find out it was a simple fire ant bite. After two days, the swelling went down and her toe was back to normal. My daughter was only upset that she had to go back to school after two days of nothing but hanging out with mommy.
Austin Milligan
Alpharetta Service Center Manager
Northwest Exterminating
[email protected]
