WebMD's Bad Bugs Slideshow

We know that bugs are gross and unsanitary but did you also know that they can be bad for our health.  WebMD discusses some of the worst bugs and the potential harm they can do to our health:

  • Ticks –Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and allergic reactions.
  • Black Widow Spiders – Poisonous.
  • Brown Recluse Spiders – Poisonous, can cause serious wounds, infection, and in some cases can be deadly.
  • Head Lice – Itchiness can lead to infection, loss of hair.
  • Fleas – Itchiness can lead to infection.
  • Bee, Wasp, Hornet, Yellow Jacket – Painful sting, and can cause allergic reaction.
  • Fire Ants – Painful sting, venomous, red bumps that burn and itch, and can cause allergic reaction.
  • Chiggers – Itchy red welts.
  • Scabies – Itchiness, sores.
  • Bedbugs – Itchy, red bumps,  can develop infection from scratching, and can cause allergic reaction.
  • Puss Caterpillar – Poisonous, painful sting, rash, fever, vomiting, and muscle cramps.
  • Scorpions – Poisonous, painful, and can be deadly.
  • Deerflies – Infection, and Tularemia.
  • Mosquitoes – West Nile virus, dengue fever, other diseases, and scratching can cause skin infection.
  • Houseflies – Carries more than 1 million bacteria, intestinal infections by contaminating food.
  • Cockroaches – Salmonella and other diseases, dead carcasses can trigger allergic reactions and asthma.

Tips to prevent feeling the sting of these health issues:

  • Make sure your home is treated by a professional exterminator.  A professional can diagnose current problems, and prevent new issues from coming into your home efficiently and effectively.
  • Wear long clothing when outdoors.
  • Wear DEET repellant when outdoors.
  • Keep a clean, sanitary home and yard.  This will prevent insects from seeing your home as a place for them to call home.

For more information on these insects and their health hazards, visit WebMD: Bad Bugs Slideshow: Identifying Bugs and Their Bites.

 If you think you may have been bitten or stung by any of the insects above, please take note of  your body’s reaction and seek medical assistance immediately.

 

 

Insect Fashion

Insects and other pests may inspire a myriad of thoughts but fashion likely does not come to mind. Still, the array of colors and shapes found in the insect world may already have invaded your closet! Take a look at these bug inspired fashions below that are crawling down the hottest runways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If these outfits don’t pique your interest, perhaps these jewelry options below may intrigue you. Bug jewelry comes not only in artful bug designs but also feature actual insects!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bugs are “in” this season but you don’t want them “in” your home.  Call Northwest Exterminating or visit www.callnorthwest.com to learn how we can help you. If you want to see more artsy insect creations, please visit us on our Pinterest page.

Melissa Brown
[email protected]

Cicada Killer Wasps

You are probably seeing cicada killer wasps working overtime these last few weeks of summer.  They are preparing to overwinter by digging their underground burrows and stuffing them with paralyzed cicadas that they will use as food for their larvae.

Cicada tunnels can range from 30-70 inches long and run 12-15 inches below the surface.  Each tunnel has an average of 15 side chambers.  Each tunnel contains 1-3 paralyzed cicadas and a cicada egg that is due to hatch in 2-3 days.  The larvae will feed for about 10 days before leaving the tunnel.  Cicadas only produce one generation each year.

Where are cicadas found?

Cicadas do not have a pack mentality; they are typically a solitary species.  They prefer dry, light textured soils in full sunlight that are near trees that harbor other cicadas.  Common places to find cicada killers are along sidewalks, patios, in flowers beds, gardens, sand boxes and in lawns.

Do cicadas sting?

Female cicadas have stingers that are used to inject venom into other cicadas that causes them to be paralyzed.  Female cicada stings are very painful.  Luckily, females are not territorial like honey bees or hornets.  Male cicadas do not have stingers but are very territorial.

Can cicada killers cause damage?

Female cicada killers burrow and dig tunnels which cause the soil to be misplaced and smother grass.  Cicadas dig loose soil in garden and flower beds that can ruin garden plants and/or vegetables.  A burrow at the base of a plant can disrupt the root system.

How to get rid of cicadas?

Cicadas do not like wet soil so keeping soil watered will deter them from making their borrows  and cause current cicadas to abandon the site.  Watering the soil can also help to settle the soil back into the ground if it has been disrupted by a burrowing cicada.  Another tip is to regularly stir soil or sand to discourage wasps from creating tunnels.

When treating for cicadas, the application should be made directly into the burrow or at entrance.  If you have cicadas messing up your lawn, call Northwest!

Preventing Head Lice

With kids being settled back into the school year, September is the perfect time of year for Head Lice Prevention Month.  Here are some tips on how to keep head lice from bugging your household:

  • Avoid sharing clothing or other belongings that might have come in contact with lice or nits (lice eggs).
  • Avoid head-to-head contact.
  • Do not share hats, brushes, combs, hair accessories, helmets, coats, or other pieces that come in contact with someone’s hair.
  • To disinfect combs, brushes, or towels that have come in contact with lice, soak them in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
  • Avoid laying on linens, pillows, or carpets where someone with lice has recently been.
  • Wash and dry clothing, linens, or towels that have come into contact with someone infected with lice during the 2 days prior to treatment.  Wash and dry on the highest heat.
  • Vacuum carpet and furniture where a person with lice has recently come in contact.

Using the simple tips above can help prevent the spread of lice from one household to another.  For more information on preventing head lice visit the CDC’s website.

Other useful blogs about head lice:

September is Head Lice Prevention Month
School Has Started…So Has Lice

West Nile Precautions for Your Labor Day

West Nile Virus has made its way back into the news for 2012.  After a few years of laying low, health officials have warned that the virus is once again on the rise. Reports state that four times the usual number of cases for this time of year have been identified.  As of August 27, the AJC reported that Georgia had seen 21 cases of West Nile so far, which is only 1 case away from the 22 total that were reported in 2011.

Labor Day weekend is often spent outdoors enjoying the last little bit of summer.  If you and your loved ones are going to be outdoors for the holiday, we urge you to take steps to keep the mosquitoes away.

Steps for keeping away mosquitoes/West Nile:

  • Apply DEET, or any other EPA approved product that repels mosquitoes.
  • Get rid of any standing water.  These areas of standing water will be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and needs to be drained or removed.
  • Use a bug zapper.
  • Mosquitoes are active all day but the species that carry West Nile are most active at dusk and dawn.
  • Use citronella candles.
  • Wear waistbands or bracelets that have repellants built in or that can be clipped on.
  • Wear loose, long sleeve pants and shirts when possible.
  • Use screens on open doors and windows.

If you are bitten and start to experience symptoms like dizziness or fever, contact your physician.

Happy Labor Day to all from Northwest Exterminating!

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