Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Why You're A Mosquito Magnet


If you’ve ever felt like a mosquito magnet, while your friends are totally ignored, you might be right. Female mosquitoes —which are the only ones that actually suck blood— favor some people more than others. In his book, THE MOSQUITO, Timothy Winegard explores what factors make you so attractive, including your blood type, what deodorant you might be using, and even if you’re a beer-drinker!

Sunday, October 27, 2019

3 Insects That Will Run Your Life If You Don't Use Pest Control


No matter where you live, unwanted bugs and vermin have the potential to annoy you and even cause health problems. Bites and stings from certain insects can be dangerous either due to allergies or venom in the affected area. You might think that you can root out the problem yourself with over-the-counter products and a little bit of elbow grease. This strategy might work for a while, but your problem will return. Get quality pest control services. They are experts at safely finding and exterminating a large list of infestations. These services also offer regular maintenance through house visits to root out your bugs for good. Let's view some common infestations these exterminators can deftly handle.

Cockroaches

These are quite possibly the most repulsive of all the vermin. They are highly adaptive creatures, which make them very hard to exterminate. On top of this, they reproduce at a rapid rate and are nocturnal, so you could have a serious roach infestation and not even know about it. They can survive without eating food for over a month and will eat glue, shoe linings, and other dead insects. If you have children, these vile creatures can also cause asthma problems in the event of a very serious infestation. Get the exterminators out to your house and rid yourself of roaches!

Bed Bugs

These tiny little bugs will crawl into your bed sheets and couches, and they bite hard enough to draw blood. Despite the fact that they ingest our blood, these insects are not known to pass diseases on to humans. If they do find their way into your home, you will need to have your whole house exterminated; simply throwing away an affected mattress or couch is not sufficient. Get professional pest control to your residence to effectively rid your house of these vermin. Bed bugs can survive for up to one year without feeding, and once they do feed, the females will lay around 200 eggs almost immediately. So be warned: where there is one, there are many.

Termites

These pesky insects can cause some serious structural damage to your residence. They won't be much of a nuisance to you, and you probably won't even be able to see them either, since most termites that affect residences in the United States are subterranean dwellers. These creatures tunnel up from the ground looking for dead or rotting wood. If they cannot find these sources of food, they are happy to snack on your home. Their infestations can number in the millions, and termites are particularly dangerous because you may not even see them at all. If you notice small holes near your trees or in your basement, you should immediately contact your pest control professionals before you sustain serious structural damage to your home.

These are but a few of the vermin that quality pest control services will be able to exterminate. Get in touch with your local exterminator to find out how they can help you and protect your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andrew_Stratton/83489

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8775320

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Need Of Pest Control And The Importance Of Professional Pest Control Services


People wish they never have to deal with pests, but the sad fact is that these pesky little creatures have invaded an astounding number of personal and business properties all over the U.S. It is quite common to find termites, cockroaches, rodents, bugs, ticks, spiders, fleas and many other pests in homes. These insects are also rampant in the food, hospitality, agriculture, construction, and other important industries.

Need for Pest Control
The main reason why pest control is indispensable is the threat to human, plant and animal health posed by the pests. Almost all pests are carriers of some disease or the other and have even been known to cause severe epidemics and massive agricultural destruction. Apart from destroying valuable food supply, causing death and serious health problems such as allergic reaction, the pests also lead to serious property damage. Pests like termites can eat away huge wooden structures and render them hollow and useless.

Almost everyone is revolted by these pests. In fact, the mere sight of a pest scurry around on a property is enough to turn you off and question the hygiene maintained at the place.

Professional Pest Control Services
Needless to say, pest control is something you cannot do without. However, it is a specialized service that you cannot manage on your own. The professional services of a pest control company have to be hired if you want to rid your residential or commercial property of pests.

Locating the pests and eradicating them involves the use of special products and equipment that these companies have. Their technicians are trained in the use of these solutions and equipment in a safe manner. With their extensive knowledge of the different types of pests, they are able to identify the places of pest infestation and decide upon the best extermination plan to use for solving the problem. Their services are focused not only on one-time pest removal but on minimizing the chances of future infestations as well.

If you are interested in periodic pest treatment of your property as a preventive measure, the pest control companies can handle it too.

Pest invasions can cause you great discomfort, physical harm, and financial loss. It makes sense to engage a knowledgeable, experienced and reliable professional to deal with the issue. If you are interested in knowing about the pest control companies servicing your area, you can log on to a local business directory and get all the required information.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7847207

Monday, October 21, 2019

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Inside The Ant Colony - Deborah M. Gordon


Ants have one of the most complex social organizations in the animal kingdom; they live in structured colonies that contain different types of members who perform specific roles. Sound familiar? Deborah M. Gordon explains the way these incredible creatures mate, communicate and source food, shedding light on how their actions can mimic and inform our own behavior.

Lesson by Deborah M. Gordon, animation by Steve Belfer Creative Inc.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Tips for Selecting a Pest Control Service


How do we select a competent pest control service?
First of all, many of us as homeowners, renters and landlords can control household pests through a combination of preventive measures, including proper sanitation and good home maintenance practices. However, some pest infestations may be extensive, or a particular pest may be difficult to control, requiring the services of a pest control company.

You should select a pest control company the way you do any other service - Look for Quality and Value. Costs and competency are important. When selecting a pest control service, cost should not be the only factor that determines the company you pick. It is important to make sure the pest control company you choose is competent. If pesticides are misused, both health and property can be damaged. Before contracting with a pest control company, consider the following:

Take Your Time/Do Your Homework
When most people discover a pest problem, they want the problem eliminated immediately. However, most problems can wait a few days so you have time to select a competent, reasonably priced company. It is wise to obtain several estimates from prospective companies. Most companies will provide free estimates.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Pest Control Firm

How many years have you been in business at your present address?
Contact organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, the States Departments of Agriculture, or the States Attorney General’s Office, or the EPA to determine if complaints have been filed against the company or its applicators for misusing pesticides.

Would you provide me with a list of references?
Contact several references to find out if they are satisfied with the service provided by the pest control company.

Will the person(s) performing the services be a certified, licensed pesticide applicator or a licensed technician? Each company must have at least one certified, licensed commercial pesticide applicator in the proper service category. Other company applicators must be certified applicators or licensed technicians under the direct supervision of an certified applicator.

Licenses may be verified by calling the various State Departments of Agriculture.

Would you provide me with a copy of your pest control license, copies of the labels for all pesticides used and the rates at which they will be applied?
Reliable applicators will show you their credentials and will be able to provide you with copies of pesticide labels that indicate how the product should be applied, including the proper application rates, and the necessary precautions.

BEWARE OF COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS THAT.......

  • Want to do pest control as part of a package deal, such as general home repair or tree trimming or that will give you a special price if treatment is done immediately.
  • Don’t have a listed or working telephone number.
  • Sell services door-to-door or target the elderly or infirm persons who live alone. CHECK THEIR IDENTIFICATION AND CREDENTIALS!!!
  • Arrive unexpectedly and show you insects they have found in your neighbors house as evidence of a neighborhood problem.
  • Quote a per-gallon price. Termite control can require several hundred gallons of diluted insecticide.
  • Claim to have a secret formula. All pesticide products must be registered by the U.S. EPA and the States Departments of Agriculture. Registered pesticide labels contain a list of active ingredients.
  • Try to pressure you into immediately signing a contract by suggesting your house is structurally unsound and may collapse if not treated.
  • Claim to have excess material left over from a previous job and offer a reduced price for immediate treatment.
  • Claim to be endorsed by the States Departments of Agriculture, the U.S. EPA or other government agency. Government agencies DO NOT endorse any service company or specific pesticide product.

More Points to Consider

Some pest control companies offer service contracts in which structures are routinely treated for a particular pest. Contracts may be necessary in some situations such as warehouses that receive crates often infested with cockroaches. In general, routine pesticide applications in and around your home are not good unless there is a constant infestation by a pest and non-chemical methods have failed to control the pest. Service contracts for the homeowner should include periodic inspections, but pesticides should not be applied unless the pests are actually present and cannot be controlled by other means.

Generally, it is customary for termite control work to be guaranteed from one to five years. Make sure you know what the guarantee covers and determine if there is a yearly inspection charge. In addition, find out if the pest control company is responsible for structural damage if the treatment fails to control the termite infestation. The guarantee is only as reliable as the company that offers it.

If the service person asks you to do certain things before, during or after the pesticide application, cooperate and follow instructions. For example:

  • If the service person asks you to remove personal items from the floor, empty kitchen cabinets and remove pets, make sure you have done this before they arrive.
  • Do not allow children or pets into treated areas until the pesticide spray has dried.
  • Aquariums should be removed from the treatment site or covered with heavy plastic and the air pump turned off.
  • Remove all other household pets from the treatment area.
  • If the service person suggests non-chemical methods of pest control in addition to the pesticides, be sure to follow the instructions.

Good cooperation between you and the pest control company will help eliminate pests and reduce pesticide use.

Pesticides are inherently toxic and may cause health problems and/or damage to the environment if used in a manner inconsistent with the label directions. Certain pesticides may pose greater risks than others. To determine the pesticide that best fits your needs, contact your local University Extension Service.

Article Source: https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/tips-selecting-pest-control-service

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Cockroaches Survive Squeezing, Smashing, and More | National Geographic


Have you ever wondered why cockroaches are so hard to get rid of? Well, now scientists have put them before a series of obstacles to find out how tough they really are—and the results are creepier than you imagined. Whether squeezing through tiny crevices, running in tight spaces, or taking crushing blows, cockroaches use their flexible exoskeletons to survive your foot stomps and quickly make their way through the cracks and crevices of your home.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

See How Easily a Rat Can Wriggle Up Your Toilet | National Geographic


A rat's ribs are hinged at the spine, enabling it to easily squeeze through the tightest spaces—like the pipes draining your toilet. And rats are great swimmers too; they can hold their breath for up to three minutes. See how quickly a rat can go from the city streets to your bathroom.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Bugs in Your Home? Tips from a Pest Control Expert


If you find a few ants marching along the wall in your kitchen, it may be time to call an exterminator. It can also mean that making a few changes to your environment will likely take care of your pesky issue.