Sunday, February 27, 2022

Reliable, Responsive, and Responsible

Locally owned and operated, providing pest control for your friends and neighbors in the Eugene, Springfield and surrounding areas for more than 35 years.

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Call us for an estimate: 541-688-0580 Eugene | 503-371-8373 Salem

Thursday, February 24, 2022

What Do Earwigs Do With Those Pincers Anyway?


When you walk through a park, go for a hike or take a trip to the zoo, most of the animals and plants you see appear symmetric. Whether it’s an oak leaf or an elk’s antlers, the right and left sides match. It’s much less common to find examples of asymmetry -- or things that are out of balance -- in nature.

But scientists aren’t exactly sure why symmetry is so prevalent. One idea is that it may be beneficial to have a spare body part in case one side is injured. Or perhaps it’s just easier to move through the environment with matched pairs of legs, fins or wings.

Symmetry also tends to look balanced and harmonious to our eye. And we’re not alone in that feeling.

Many animals seem to show a preference for symmetry in a potential mate. It can be a clue that the mate has the genes necessary to develop properly and thrive in an environment full of stresses and dangers.

But some critters buck the trend. Like the earwig, a diminutive insect found on every continent except Antarctica.

Monday, February 21, 2022

That Earwig in Your House


There are 10 native species of earwigs in the United States, and they’re benign or even helpful creatures. They eat vegetation as well as other insects. But it’s a non-native earwig, the European earwig (Forficula auricularia), that most of us in North America will encounter.

The European earwig is the one you often find scurrying around your basement or in your garden. This species was first documented in Seattle in 1907, and since then has thrived and spread across the continent.

It is considered a household and garden pest, although as invasive species go, the impacts are fairly mild given the abundance of the species. I know in our backyard garden many leaves are pockmarked from their feeding, and they can really hammer the raspberries. But they don’t have a major economic or ecological impact.

In fact, a Washington State University study found that European earwigs can even be beneficial. Researchers found that they prey on aphids, significantly reducing damage in commercial apple orchards.

Friday, February 18, 2022

The Varied Carpet Beetle

The Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) seems to be the most common pest in dwellings of Britain. The beetle is fairly small and strongly convex, rather like a tiny ladybird, with a characteristic mottled pattern of yellow, black and whitish dense scales. The larvae are brown and hairy, with bunches of golden hairs. This is why they get their common name of 'Woolly Bears'. Both beetles and larvae attack woollen materials, and cause damage to carpets in dark corners or under furniture. They also infest grain and other vegetable products.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Facts About Carpet Beetles



Carpet beetles, as their name implies, sometimes infest carpets. Similar to clothes moths, the pests also feed on many other items composed of wool, fur, felt, silk, feathers, skins, and leather. Such materials contain keratin, a fibrous animal protein which the larvae are able to digest. Cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless blended with wool, or heavily soiled with food stains or body oils. Infestations of carpet beetles can develop undetected, causing harm to vulnerable items.

Facts about Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles are common in dwellings, and their damage is often mistaken for that of clothes moths. (For more information about clothes moths, see University of Kentucky Entomology Entfact-609.) The adults are small (1/16 to 1/8-inch), oval-shaped beetles ranging in color from black- to various ‘mottled’ patterns of white, brown, yellow and orange. Adult carpet beetles feed on flower pollen and do not damage woolens and other fabrics. In springtime, they often appear on windowsills, suggesting an infestation may be present inside the home. Female beetles lay about 50-100 eggs on or near vulnerable materials. While some breeding sites may be obvious (e.g., a wool rug stored in a closet), others can be subtle—for example, accumulations of pet hair associated with baseboards, air vents and ducts.

Continue reading on Entomology  

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Cool Ant Facts


Bet you didn't know...

1. Did you know that an ant never sleeps. (Actually they Power Sleep)
2. An ant can lift 50 times its weight
3. The ant has two stomachs, one holds food for itself and the second is for food to be shared with the other ants.
4. Every ant colony has at least one Queen. The job of the queen is to lay eggs.
5. Every ant colony has its own smell.
6. Did you know that Black and ants and wood ants have no sting, but they squirt a spray of formic acid,
7. Some birds put ants in their feathers because the ants squirt formic acid which gets rid of the parasites, 
8. All the workers and soldiers in females.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Ant Control & Extermination Information

There are more than 700 ant species found in the U.S., although only about 25 species commonly infest homes. Ants are social insects that typically live in underground colonies, made up of workers and a queen. Ants will eat practically any kind of food, but are especially attracted to sweets. Ant identification is relatively simple due to their three distinct body regions: head, thorax and abdomen, as well as antennae. Despite similar construction, ants vary in overall appearance. Small or large ants and brown or black ants are common nicknames for different species.

If you do find signs of an ant infestation in your home, contact a pest professional promptly. They will be able to inspect your home, perform proper ant species identification, and recommend a course of ant control and extermination.

American Pest Management 541-688-0580 Eugene | 503-371-8373 Salem

Article Source: Pest World.org

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Pest Identifyer

 


“What Bug is This?” Browse 90+ Bug, Insect, Rodent, Bird and Other Pest Identification Guides!

Have you ever found a pest in your house and wondered “what kind of bug is this?” Are you worried about what pests may be damaging your property? The identification of insects and other pests can be tricky. That's why PestWorld developed robust pest and insect identification guides to serve as a handy bug identifier. Our comprehensive list of bugs and insects can help determine what insects, rodents or birds are pestering you, plus how to prevent an infestation. Trust this handy pest and bug identifier.

Pest World.org

https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Pest Control: How to Prep for the Exterminator


American Pest Management, LLC, is a family owned and operated business. Bob and Barbara Weyand started the business in 1980 with the goal to provide realistic solutions to pest control needs while still maintaining a safe environment.

Contact us to "Stop the Bugs" 

Eugene, OR: 541-688-0580 | Salem, OR: 503-371-8373

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Where Do Mosquitoes Go in Winter?

Many people often lament over the final days of summer and dread the first frigid days of winter, but we’re guessing everyone may welcome winter with open arms, so they can bid adieu to mosquitoes and the threat of Zika virus.

Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception that mosquitoes simply die upon Jack Frost’s arrival. Read on to learn more about seasonal mosquito activity and how you can prevent a future mosquito problem from hatching come spring.

Mosquito Lifecycle

Believe it or not, mosquitoes do not simply die off during the colder months. Exactly how a mosquito survives the winter can differ by species. The mosquito responsible for transmitting Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, overwinters in the egg stage. As temperatures begin to fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, adult females deposit their final batch of eggs in water-holding items containing as little as a half an inch of water. The adults will eventually die, while the newly deposited eggs enter a state of diapause, a process that suspends their development during the coldest months.

When temperatures start to rise and rainfall picks back up again in spring, the eggs are re-submerged and hatch to start the next generation of pesky Aedes mosquitoes that will undoubtedly seek out humans as a food source. Even more alarming, though, is the fact that these offspring could be infected with Zika, as noted in a recent study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Pest World.org

https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/where-do-mosquitoes-go-in-winter/

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Spiders 101


Identify Common Spider Species

Spiders often appear in horror movies, haunted houses and, worst of all, inside our homes where they are usually met with shrieking and the bottom of a shoe. It's easy to understand why people cringe at the sight of a spider on the wall. The way they move is startling and unpredictable, their webs are sticky and their hunting methods can be rather gruesome. There are also many myths floating around about spiders (no, people don't regularly swallow spiders in their sleep!) that make this pest seem much scarier than it actually is. In reality, almost all types of spiders found in the United States pose no threats to people.

Despite the benevolent nature of most spiders, there are two species in the southern and western United States that can cause serious harm when accidentally disturbed - the black widow and brown recluse. Below is a guide to help you identify some of the most common types of spiders and the potential threat they can pose to your health.

Pest World.org

https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/spiders-101/