Jun 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
No, it’s not the Geico Gecko…it’s a green anole. This lizard is native to the U.S. and is nicknamed the “chameleon” due to it’s ability to change colors from bright green, to brown, to gray…all depending on their mood. Their heads have pointed snouts, their tails and bodies are long and slender, they have special padding on their feet for crawling along walls, and they make no sound. Of their total length, their tails are the major portion of their bodies. The males have a pink flap of skin that hangs below their neck that turns a fiery red color during territorial displays or courting and mating. The males also have two sets of bigger scales at the point where their tail starts and both males and females shed off their tails and can grow a new one in its place. In the southeastern United States, these lizards can be found in trees, shrubs, on walls or fences. They require greenery, some shade, and a moist environment and they eat small insects and spiders by stalking them in shrubs, vines, walls, and even window screens. So don’t be afraid of these little guys, think of them as nature’s green exterminators.
Barry Teubert
Northwest Exterminating
Savannah Service Center
[email protected]
Jun 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
No-see-um’s, hop-alongs, beach fleas, biting midge, punky…these are just a few of the “cute” names that sand fleas go by! But cute they’re not! And they are very present in the low country area of Savannah, GA!
Sand Fleas reside on the beach and in other sandy areas during warm weather, double in numbers during the spring, produce a loud whine when in groups, and feed early in the morning and late at night. Sand flea bites may feel like a sting because they are very deep causing welts and lesions with severe pain and itching. The female bites for the blood protein needed for her egg laying, however this saliva can trigger your body to react and the bites can cause infections and fever viruses. Sand Fleas tend to “feed” on people with paler skin, as the skin is thinner making it easier to pierce.
To help keep these fleas at bay, try using an insect repellant similar to those used against mosquitoes. If you are bitten, do not scratch the welts, as scratching can cause swelling, itchiness, skin redness, and can lead to sand fleas burying themselves underneath the skin allowing them to continue feeding on blood. For bite relief, you can take a pain killer such as ibuprofen gels. Seek medical advice should the pain or itchiness worsen.
Barry Teubert
Northwest Exterminating
Savannah Service Center Manager
[email protected]
Jun 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
Recent news stories have brought attention to a new pest that has all threat of pests such as rats, including its size! Snails may not seem like the most imposing of pests, but the giant African land snail is definitely a force to be reckoned with. It is starting to invade parts of southern Florida, but has also been seen in parts of Texas and the Great Lake states.
Giant African Land Snail
These snails live up to nine years and can produce 1200 eggs a year, after reaching adulthood in just one year. If you’re not a fan of math, just be certain that these snails can soon become an astronomical problem. Florida knows this especially after having to spend $1 million on its initial infestation – which evidently did not offer them a permanent solution.
So what’s the bigger issue here? Firstly, these snails eat at least 500 different types of plants, thus serving as a huge threat to agriculture. Not only that, but according to Agriculture Department spokeswoman Denise Feiber, giant African land snails carry a human parasite called rat lungworm, a potentially deadly form of meningitis. Homeowners should beware not only for these issues, but also because their shells are so sharp they might shred a tire!
These pests are thought to be carried in through traveler’s luggage, although other, not so wise citizens, carry them as pets and later release them. This was the cause of the original infestation on the American mainland in 1966. Agriculture officials are working to eliminate the pest problem before it becomes a major issue, but urge homeowners that they are the first line of defense against this pest. If you spot a pest similar to these below, call Northwest Exterminating immediately! There might be a larger problem than the one that already meets the eye.
Snail Diagram
If you’re interested in learning more about this pest and pest prevention, view the video here.
Sources:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/gas/index.shtml
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/africansnail.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/us/florida-giant-snails/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://news92fm.com/350719/giant-african-land-snails-spotted-in-houston/
Jun 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
If you’ve spent any time in Savannah, Ga in the spring or fall, you know all about sand gnats, or as locals call them….the state bird. The sand gnat is not just the mascot for the Savannah Sand Gnats minor-league baseball team, but just like the baseball team, they’ll sting you, draw your blood and defeat you on the field.
In the low country, the sand gnat is more of an issue than mosquitoes or fleas. Sand gnats live along waterways, such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, and marshes. They fly, bite, and suck your blood just like a mosquito, leaving behind
red, itchy bumps on the skin. Although blood has no nutritional value to the sand gnats, they need it so their eggs can mature prior to laying. Carbon dioxide draws sand gnats from up to 30 yards, they stay in a 300 foot zone where they breed around your home, fly less than 25 feet high and most adult females live for 2-3 weeks.
It is not unusual for the effects of a sand gnat bite to be more intense for a longer period of time than a mosquito bite. Unless you want to cover yourself from head to toe in the sweltering Savannah heat, be proactive. Commercial repellents with Deet can be useful to prevent biting, or you can try a local remedy such as taking garlic pills – that is, if you don’t mind smelling like garlic. However, a more “user friendly” remedy such as rubbing your arms with baby oil will prevent the sand gnats from biting as it provides a protective layer to your skin that the gnats can not penetrate.
For sand gnat treatment at your home or business, Call the Mouse! 888.466.7849 or visit online at www.callnorthwest.com
Barry Teubert
[email protected]
Jun 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
Contrary to urban myth, lovebugs, also known as the honeymoon fly, kissing bug, or double-headed bug, are not a result of a University of Florida genetics experiment gone wrong, but a result of their migration into the southeastern states.
During and after mating, adult pairs remain coupled, even in flight, for up to several days. Lovebug flights usually occur first in late spring, then again in late summer, and extend over periods of four to five weeks. They are usually restricted to daylight hours, reaching peak activity at 10 am, and can number in the hundreds of thousands.
Lovebugs do not bite or sting, but they can be a nuisance to drivers. When left spattered on a car, lovebugs can leave damage to the finish of the car. Soaking the lovebugs in water for several minutes will help with the removal, and to make future removal easier, apply a light film of baby oil over the front of the hood, above the windshield and on the grill of the bumper.
Barry Teubert
[email protected]
