Dec 21, 2012 | Uncategorized
White Fly
It’s the holiday season and while many plants are losing leaves and color in the cold, poinsettia plants thrive. These winter plants are native to the area around Taxco, Mexico. Their name comes from that of the first United States ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett. Though the most popular color for this plant is red, poinsettias also come in pink, white, yellow, speckled or marbled.
A common myth is that these lovely flowered plants are poisonous. In actuality, it is merely recommended not to consume the plant and the sap may cause mild skin irritation to those who are sensitive to it. Still, though this plant may not be recommended for humans, plenty of pests delight in the lovely plant for more than just its beauty.
Pests that may be attracted to poinsettias include white flies, fungus gnats, mealybugs and spider mites. These pests tend to attack either the plant itself or the social surface. Mealybugs, in particular,
Fungus Gnat
will feed on the leaves of the poinsettia plants. If caught early, be sure to gently clean the leaves of your plant with alcohol on a swab.
Northwest Exterminating looks to handle all your pest issues. Even though it’s the holiday season, we are dedicated to keeping your home and work environment pest free. Schedule an appointment today!
Sources:
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/poinsettias.html
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Spider Mite
Mealy Bug
Dec 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
Builders in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina can rest assured knowing that they have Northwest Exterminating in their corner during the termite pretreatment phase. Time is money in the new construction business and Northwest’s New Construction Team helps make sure that your projects stay on track. We are dedicated to providing superior services to the builder market.
Northwest’s New Construction Team is a department that is dedicated specifically to builders and their needs:
- Prompt Scheduling
- Online Scheduling
- Online Letter Ordering
- Quick Response Time
- High Quality Service
- Accurate Paperwork
- 24 Hour Online Service
- Damage Repair Warranty
- Centralized Scheduling and Billing Department
- Convenient Emailing of Closing Documents
- Termite Treatment Options: Sentricon, Borate Wood Treatment, and Soil Treatments
A Northwest Exterminating New Construction representative will meet with you and customize a pretreatment plan to meet your needs. We also continue this same great service once the home has been sold. We take care of pest control, termite control, wildlife, commercial, TAP, lawn care, mosquito, fire ant, and bed bug solutions for homes and businesses. Builders and homeowners alike can Trust the Mouse.
Dec 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
Spotting a spider or roach may cause someone to jump from fright. Most people who have a typical fear of bugs may have these fears for various reasons. For instance, people who avoid bees may have a legitimate concern about being stung, especially if they’ve been stung before and found themselves to be allergic. Some bugs such as bees, wasps, poisonous spiders and mosquitoes can carry threats that many people try to protect themselves from. Northwest Exterminating provides an extensive amount of services to protect homes and businesses from such threats.
Then there are the bugs that may not carry much of a threat but we know the sight of them indicates other unpleasant conditions. Flies and roaches tend to flock to places that are unhygienic and not the cleanest. Maintaining a clean living and working environment usually helps eliminate the presence of these bugs, as well as the related fear. Our preference for a bug-free environment may be due to that in more industrialized, urbanized societies, we do not have firsthand experience with bugs because we do not live in their natural environment. Out of sight is out of mind, so spotting an unusual insect might always be a little bit surprising.
Other people have much more than an aversion, but rather a legitimate fear of insects otherwise known as entomophobia. A well-known form of entomophobia is arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. As the definition suggestions, the fear or concern has little to do with bugs themselves and more to do with somebody’s psychological disposition. Northwest Exterminating may not be able to fix your fears, but we can certainly take care of the bugs for you. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
Source
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Dec 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
The holiday season is a busy time for travel. People visiting family or taking holiday trips…it is a fun and exciting time. But there are precautions to take when traveling. Bed bugs have made a comeback in recent years and are a real concern for travelers. Not only are they a concern for while on a trip but bringing them home can cause thousands of dollars and loss of sleep.
But this shouldn’t discourage people from traveling. With knowledge and diligence, you can protect yourself and your home from bed bugs.
Tips for Avoiding Bed Bugs While Traveling:
- Research the hotel. If staying in a hotel do your research by reading reviews on the website and visiting The Bed Bug Registry. The Bed Bug Registry is a free, public database where people report bed bug infestations across the US and Canada.
- Keep luggage off of bed and floor. Place your luggage on a luggage rack, bathroom floor, or balcony when you enter the room. Placing it on the bed or carpet could give present bed bugs easy access to your luggage.
- Inspect your bed. Check the headboard, foot board, mattress, sheets, pillows, and comforter for little bugs or dark red or brown spots that mark a trail. Check seams and corners closely and the box springs. If you see scurrying, dead bugs, or dark colored trails, notify the hotel management immediately.
- Inspect your room. Check sofas and chairs, or other places that bed bugs could be found.
- If you find bed bugs after you’ve slept in the room, notify hotel management right away. They should launder all of your clothing and give you a new room immediately.
Preventing bed bugs from making their way home with you:
- Unpack your bag in the garage or on a hard, light colored surface. Do not unpack on the bed or carpet. This will allow you to see any bed bugs if they scurry out of your bag.
- Wash and dry all clothes as soon as possible on hot.
- Vacuum your suitcase.
- Although it’s unusual for bed bugs to travel on a person, shower before you sleep in your own bed.
If you suspect that bed bugs have made their way into your home, there is a solution. Northwest Exterminating has a dedicated team of experts that specialize in the treatment of bed bugs. Call the Mouse to get rid of bed bugs in your house.
Dec 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
Normally, an invitation from a friend to go out to lunch will be met with enthusiastic acceptance. However, if your friend tells you that bugs are on the menu, you’ll probably take a rain check. Here in the U.S. most people go great lengths to avoid creepy crawlers in the kitchen, but other countries around the world have a different view.
In some countries, dishes featuring insects are delicacies, so these meals are a rare and unusual treat, much like escargot and caviar. Grasshoppers are the favorite insect to eat, being included in the diets of some people from Latin America, Japan, Africa and the Middle East. Other insect treats include wasp larvae, silk moth pupae, and termites. Some brave students over at Princeton University decided to give it a try, though they described their silkworm treat as “surprisingly bland.”
One researcher states “insects have been a delicacy… not only because of their delicious flavor, but also because they provide a more complete protein… and are concentrated sources of calcium, magnesium, potassium and many other nutrients.” So not only do some people think they taste good, but some insects are also good for you – better than soy, meat, and fish! In addition, insect farming is ecologically less damaging than raising animals for human consumption. At Northwest Exterminating, we have a different type of recipe when it comes to insects. Our goal is also to reduce our impact on the environment while protecting your home from unwanted pests.
Sources:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/2795548-insects-are-worldwide-delicacies
http://blogs.princeton.edu/paw/2010/11/bugging_out_stu.html
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
