Oct 22, 2012 | Pest Control
The German cockroach is the most common species of cockroach and can be found all around the world. They are most often found in kitchens and bathrooms due to their preference for warm, humid places that are near food and water sources. But you won’t always see them out in the open because they like to live in the cracks and crevices around homes and commercial buildings. In fact, they spend 75% of their time in the cracks and crevices.
Environment of German cockroaches:
- Cosmopolitan in distribution and will live anywhere humans build heated structures
- Usually found in kitchens in secluded areas
- Behind and under appliances
- In cracks and crevices behind backsplashes
- At counter edges
- Behind and under cabinets
- In void areas around plumbing
- Backs of drawer wells
- Will infest warm areas around appliance motors such as refrigerators and dishwashers
Not only are German cockroaches a nuisance pest but they are also a health risk. Studies have shown that German cockroaches have been linked to illness and allergic reaction in humans, especially children. They can spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They pick up germs while crawling around and transfer them as they crawl on our food and surfaces. They spread allergens as they crawl, and deposit droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies.
Health threats of German cockroaches:
- Will invade your home and leave fecal matter and other debris in and around food and food preparation areas
- Can enter homes when boxes or products are shipped moved from one location to another
- Reproduces at a high rate, completing a life cycle in 30 to 45 days
- Produces 30-48 eggs at a time
- Can generate 3 to 4 egg cases in a lifetime
- Difficult to eradicate because they can infest so many areas and can be very difficult to contact with an insecticide
Contact a professional pest control company if you think German cockroaches have taken up residence in your home. Trained personnel know where to look for harborage sites and what products to apply to achieve fast and effective results. It is much easier to eliminate a German cockroach problem when it is newly established and small, rather than when the population has time to build.
Oct 17, 2012 | Pest Control
The fear of insects is normal. For some, the fear can be so severe that it can be diagnosed as entomophobia, a fear or aversion to insects. This fear can confine people to their homes without the ability to enjoy the great outdoors and interfere with the quality of life. Experts say that 1-2% of adults in the US has some degree of entomophobia.
But not all bugs are to be feared. We speak a lot about the harm and damage that pests can do to your health and home but we also want to point out that not all insects are bad. The preying mantis is pest control in itself. Preying mantis’ are predators that catch and feed on other insects. Although termites can do thousands of dollars of damage to a structure they are beneficial for the eco-system. Termites help break down decaying trees. Termites can break down wood on a massive scale and prevent trees from piling up and killing the forest. Ladybugs are another natural pest control. Ladybugs eat other insects that do not have a too hard shell.
Although some bugs can be beneficial it is still very important to protect your home. Continue your pest control service to keep bugs in their natural environment instead of your home.
Check out our blog 5 Bugs to Love
Oct 12, 2012 | Pest Control
We talked on Wednesday about the return of the stink bug. We had so many questions that we thought we would continue our conversation about these pesky pests.
Stink bug
You may have noticed these six legged creatures in and around your home lately. The brown marmorated stink bug, also simply known as the stink bug, originated in parts of Asia. It first showed up in the American mainland in parts of Pennsylvania. At some point, these insects migrated to all parts of the Southeast and have a penchant for fruits, vegetables and other plants.
Stink bugs get their names from a defense mechanism located under their bodies that is triggered when threatened by predators such as birds or lizards. Nevertheless, simply handling the bug, injuring it or attempting to move it can trigger it to release an odor.
Damage done by a stink bug to an apple
As the seasons change, these bugs tend to seek out people’s homes as overwintering shelter from September to the first half of October in order to go into a state of hibernation. Adults can live anywhere from several months to a year. Typically, these bugs enter the home through cracks under or behind baseboards, around window and door trim, and around exhaust fans or lights in ceilings. Sealing these openings will prevent the insects from entering.
If you find that you are having trouble keeping these bugs at bay, call Northwest and our experienced technicians will provide you with a service that protects your homes, lawns and gardens. For the best – Call Northwest!
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Oct 10, 2012 | Pest Control
The stink bug made it’s presence well-known this past Spring when we saw a large invasion of the pest. Well it seems that they are back.
Stink bugs feed on leaves, flowers, fruit, crops, and even other pests, such as caterpillars. They can damage plants and crops but luckily besides the foul odor they emit when they are crushed or threatened, they do not cause harm to humans.
Prevent stink bugs from making a comeback in your home:
- Seal cracks around the structure of your home.
- Replace damaged screens on door and windows.
- Vacuum up stink bugs found in your house (DO NOT step on them. They will emit a horrible odor.) Tightly seal and throw away the vacuum bag outside of your structure, immediately. It is important to dispose of the bag immediately. Stink bugs tend to die or bust in the bags causing a horrendous smell that could be difficult to get out of your vacuum.
- Call your pest control company. Professionals can help you identify where these pests are coming from and what is attracting them. They will also be able to help develop a customized plan that would get rid of any stink bugs and prevent them from coming back.
Oct 8, 2012 | Pest Control
American Cockroaches, or the Palmetto Bug, have been making appearances in homes all over the South recently. Reddish brown in color with a yellow marking, palmetto bugs can grow to be 1.5 to even 2 inches in length. These roaches have wings but are not good flyers.
Cockroaches are found in residences and commercial buildings…anywhere that has food and water sources. Homes, restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, food processing plants, and even hospitals are common places that cockroaches can be found. Kitchens, food storage areas, and basements are the usual areas roaches are found in because of food and water. They can be found in dark, moist places like basements, drains, tubs, and sewers looking for water.
Keep roaches from invading your structure by:
- Sealing off entry points.
- Caulking around pipes and drains.
- Keep kitchen and food preparation areas clean, especially at night.
- Use a disinfectant on counter tops.
- Wash, dry, and put away dishes.
- Tightly seal and remove garbage.
Roaches can be difficult to control once they have infested your home. Call the professionals for a quick and efficient way to get roaches out of your home.
Oct 5, 2012 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Q: My neighbors abandoned their home and the yard grew about 4 feet tall. The neighborhood had their lawn service cut it and they saw many mice and rats in the yard. The yard is behind mine. What can I do to prevent them from coming into my house?
A: It is a frustrating situation to be in when you are concerned about problems from another source that you do not have any control over!
All animals need three items in order to be successful: food, water and shelter. If you can eliminate these, in most cases you can help control any issue. It sounds as if cutting the grass from the neighbor’s yard took away the shelter and food causing them to search for these sources elsewhere.
We suggest that if you have any outdoor feeders for birds or squirrels to move them away from your home. Also, if you have any water sources such as fountains, bird baths, etc, it would be helpful to move them as far away from the home as possible. Additionally, make sure that any pet food, bird seed or grass seed is stored in a tightly concealed, rodent proof container.
If you find that you notice evidence of animals or rodents in or around your home, call Northwest Exterminating. A pest prevention program or wildlife control program may be needed to remove the unwanted visitors from your home.
Oct 5, 2012 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Q: My neighbors abandoned their home and the yard grew about 4 feet tall. The neighborhood had their lawn service cut it and they saw many mice and rats in the yard. The yard is behind mine. What can I do to prevent them from coming into my house?
A: It is a frustrating situation to be in when you are concerned about problems from another source that you do not have any control over!
All animals need three items in order to be successful: food, water and shelter. If you can eliminate these, in most cases you can help control any issue. It sounds as if cutting the grass from the neighbor’s yard took away the shelter and food causing them to search for these sources elsewhere.
We suggest that if you have any outdoor feeders for birds or squirrels to move them away from your home. Also, if you have any water sources such as fountains, bird baths, etc, it would be helpful to move them as far away from the home as possible. Additionally, make sure that any pet food, bird seed or grass seed is stored in a tightly concealed, rodent proof container.
If you find that you notice evidence of animals or rodents in or around your home, call Northwest Exterminating. A pest prevention program or wildlife control program may be needed to remove the unwanted visitors from your home.
Oct 3, 2012 | Pest Control
At this stage in your life, you probably think you know quite a few facts about nature – the sun rises in the east, dolphins can communicate with each other, and bees gather honey from flowers. So, it may come as a surprise to you that you may have to reconsider what you know. Keep reading for some myth busting – Northwest style.
5 Common Misconceptions About Insects:
1. Bees get honey from flowers
When bees buzz through your garden, they gather nectar, a complex sugar, which they carry to the hive in a “honey stomach.” Once they deposit it into the hive, other bees break down the sugar and pack it into the cells of the honeycomb. Finally, they fan their wings over the honeycomb to evaporate water out of the nectar and the end result is honey!
2. All spiders make webs
Many people think that all spiders spin webs of silk to trap their prey. It is true that all spiders produce silk. On the contrary, hunting spiders, which include wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and trapdoor spiders among others, actually track down their prey instead of making webs.
When most people think of animals, they often mean furry creatures such as dogs, cats and even more menacing lions, tigers and bears. Perhaps because of the unusual appearance of most insects, which have exoskeletons among distinctive features, people tend to assume these arthropods are of a different classification. Though they may not have skin or fur, insects are animals just like dogs, cats – and us!
4. A cocoon and a chrysalis are the same
Growing up, we learned stories of homely worms turning into beautiful butterflies after emerging from their cocoon. Actually, the term chrysalis defines this transformation stage between larva and adult, otherwise known as a pupa. Only butterflies can come from a chrysalis. It is its cousin, the moth, that emerges from a cocoon made of silk.
5. Daddy longlegs are spiders
Daddy longlegs, also known as harvestmen, walk around on eight legs as all spiders do. However, not all eight-legged creatures are spiders. Spiders have two distinct, separated body parts, whereas the harvestmen have one. They also do not have silk or venom glands as spiders do.
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Sources:
http://insects.about.com/od/teachingaboutinsects/tp/15misconceptions.htm
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/exhibits/always-on-display/butterfly-rainforest/butterfly-qa
Sep 26, 2012 | DIY, DIY Pest Control, Pest Control
There are over 700 species of ants in the US so it is no surprise that ants are the number 1 reported nuisance pest in the US. But according to Pestworld.org there are 6 simple steps that can help you reduce the invasion of ants in your home. Click on the links for more explanation from pestworld.org.
- Know the popular hangouts – mostly found in kitchens for food and water, ants can also be found in bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, basements, inside walls, and around heating and air structures.
- Eliminate water sources – rid your property of standing water and excessive moisture. Use a dehumidifier in moist places like crawl spaces, attics, and basements. Repair leaky pipes in and around tubs and sinks.
- Eliminate food sources – cleaning up spills and crumbs, sealing foods, and taking out the trash regularly will discourage ants from coming into your kitchen looking for food.
- Don’t discount your pets – pet food and water can attract ants if left out. Clean up pet food and water and wash bowls when they are finished eating. Make sure that pet food is stored in a properly sealed container.
- Block off or eliminate access points – cut back foliage from property and seal any cracks or crevices that can be used as entrances.
- Don’t go it alone – without proper knowledge of ants your problem can grow. Calling in the pest experts will help identify your problem and create a plan to solve it.
Read the full article HERE and contact a licensed pest professional to get rid of ants in your home. Call Northwest Exterminating to get rid of ants and other pests that are invading your home or business.
Source http://www.pestworld.org/news-and-views/pest-articles/articles/six-steps-to-an-ant-free-home/
