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]
Mar 29, 2013 | Uncategorized
Although it may not feel like springtime just yet…spring is on it’s way which means flowers blooming, birds chirping, sun shining, and of course…sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and yellow pollen everywhere. Welcome hay fever!
Common symptoms of hay fever are nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, postnasal drip, facial pressure, and fatigue. The large number of pine trees along with various other trees, grasses, and weeds we have in Georgia is a major contributor of pollen. Each plant has a pollen season which begins as early as January and lasts until November.
Short of locking yourself indoors, there are steps you can take to limit the amount of pollen in your home and car:
- Keep windows closed in your home and car
- Wash your car regularly to reduce pollen exposure
- Set your air conditioning on “recirculate”
- Wash bedding, pajamas, and clothing in warm or hot water to remove allergens
- Take a warm shower before climbing into bed at night
- Do NOT hang clothes outside to dry
- Do NOT rake leaves during pollen season
- Taking over the counter medications may be all you need to relieve your symptoms, but natural options such as acupuncture or the natural herb Butterbur, which is as effective as Allegra, may also be options to explore.
So take a deep breath and just breathe!
Barry Teubert
Northwest Exterminating
Savannah Service Center Manager
[email protected]
Mar 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Northwest is lucky enough to participate in the world renowned St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah, GA each year. Every year we have so much fun and we’re so lucky to be able to be part of such a great event. 2013 was no different! We had a great time and would like to thank the great city of Savannah, GA and all the wonderful spectators for another great year in the 2013 Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
To view more pictures, visit our Facebook or Google+ pages!
Dec 31, 2012 | Uncategorized
HAPPY NEW YEAR…well, almost!! It’s New Years Eve!! It’s a time for reflection over the past year as well as excitement for the year to come. We had some major highlights in 2012. Below are just a few:
- The Grand Opening of our East Cobb service center
- Participated in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, GA
- 2012 Relay for Life of Walton County
- Kelly Combs was awarded the MSAR Affiliate Member of the Year
- Launched Green Elite
- Green Elite Spirit Contest
- Awarded #23 in PCT’s Top 100 Pest Control Companies
- Joined Pinterest
- Randy Wilhite was a guest on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio
- Participated in Adopt-A-School
- Photo and commercial shoots
- Raised over $7,000 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
- Acquired Jody Millard Pest Control in Chattanooga, TN
- Company wide Halloween costume contest
- Another successful year for our Health Expo
- Celebrated Steve’s 60th Birthday
- Toys for Tots
- Had an Ugly Sweater Christmas
- Participated in many Chillin & Grillin events, trade shows, expos, and other fun things in our communities
From L to R: St. Patrick’s Day parade, East Cobb Grand Opening, Steve’s 60th Birthday, Steve’s Green Elite costume, Halloween costume contest
We couldn’t possible list off all of the wonderful events and accomplishments that we had in 2012. One thing we do know is that we couldn’t have done it without our loyal customers and the amazing Northwest Exterminating Team.
Here’s to a Happy Healthy New Year to you and yours…and another great year for Northwest Exterminating.
For pictures of the events above and many others visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CallNorthwest
Apr 27, 2012 | Mosquito
We’re all aware of the annoyance and health concerns that come along with mosquitoes. But there is a similar bug that can be just as annoying to those residents living in areas where sand is found, the sand gnat. The sand gnat (also known as sand fly or no see um) flies, bites, and sucks blood just like the mosquito. Sand gnats leave behind red, itchy bumps on the skin after they have fed off of your blood. It is not unusual for the effects of a sand gnat bite to be more intense and last for a longer period of time than a mosquito bite. Like mosquito bites, these bumps can become infected or cause a rash.
Sand Gnat
Sand gnats are a major concern to our customers living in Savannah and the surrounding areas. By being proactive, you can ensure that mosquitoes and sand gnats don’t invade your yard. Our Savannah service center offers a Green Mosquito & Sand Gnat Program to reduce the annoyance of these pests while still using the lowest environmental impact possible. To ensure that our mosquito control program is effective and environmentally friendly, we use products that are derived from flowers and bacteria.
For pest, mosquitoes, and sand gnat control in Savannah, call Northwest Exterminating. Visit us online for more information at www.callnorthwest.com.
Did you know: Sand gnats are so notorious in Savannah that the city has a minor league baseball team named after them, the Savannah Sand Gnats.
