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Author: Pest Controller

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hiding places

Eaves and Decks

Line art drawing of Eaves

Line art drawing of Eaves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The eaves of your home are the part of your roof that extends beyond the walls of your home.  This extra bit of overhang provides an excellent protection from the elements for all kinds of Wasps, Hornets and Bees!  Unless you are an environmentalist or socialite in the insect community, the last thing you want is a colony of these flying beasts attached to your castle.

English: Timber Decking Europe 4

English: Timber Decking Europe 4 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another place insects like to set up their home base of operations is on your decks.  Decks are external flooring usually attached to the outside of your home and extend into your yard, but can also be found as constructs around or near outdoor decorations such as swimming pools, flower beds and decorative ponds.  Having a flying insect nest attached to one of your decks can provide for a nasty surprise when you go out to enjoy the labor of your hands or when you are throwing party.

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum Scapoli 17...

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum Scapoli 1763). Bumblebees (also spelled bumble bee, also known ashumblebee) are flying insects of the genus Bombus in the family Apidae. Dorsal and ventral view of the same specimen. Male specimen: 13 items per antenna and 7 by abdomen (12 and 6 for females) :: Locality : Fronton, Midi-Pyrénées, France :: Size (antennae and legs off) : 1.7 cm (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can manage this yourself with off the shelf pest control products, but without a strictly followed schedule you will essentially be pouring your hard-earned money down the drain for just a little bit of benefit immediately after each application.  Other methods by which you can manage it are with brooms, brushes, garden hoses and high pressure washers. However that is a lot of work and unless the outside of your  home could use a good cleaning why go through all that labor or bother hiring a cleaning crew to do it for you.

That’s why you should let Atak Pest Control, Inc. service your eaves and decking with their exclusive Home Pest Control Package. One of the benefits of the Home Pest Control Package is regular spraying to ensure that insects are not around when you are there.

Categories
wasps

Wasps! They’re not all bad!

Oriental Wasp 1

Oriental Wasp 1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Without the common paper wasp such as hornets and yellowjackets that make the nests that hang from our eaves,  we wouldn’t have such extravagances as ripened grapes for the making of wine and bread.  That’s because the wasp in addition to its spidery and insect-ful diet also loves a good juicy bit of fruit on occasion. In doing so, they ingest the wild yeast which will survive the winter freezes in their digestive tracts while the wasp hibernate.  Upon emergence the following spring when the wasps goes out for its juicy snack the yeast in its tract will be reintroduced into the wild.

This same wild yeast is helpful to those of us that capture wild yeast for creation of homemade breads.  The self-same methods that our ancient Israelite brothers did to capture yeast during the time of Pharaoh and the Exodus. However, with the advent of commercialized yeast many of us do not think of this and perceive the wasp as stinging pest that deserves our most vile of reactions, extermination!

If your relationship with the common wasp is not so beneficent then give Atak Pest Control, Inc. a call today for all of your wasp extermination needs.

Categories
ants

The Pharoah Ant

The pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) is a small (2 mm) yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals.[1] The pharaoh ant, whose origins are unknown, has now been introduced to virtually every area of the world, including Europe, the Americas, Australia and Southeast Asia.  This species ispolygynous, meaning each colony contains many queens, leading to unique caste interactions and colony dynamics.  This also allows the colony to fragment into bud colonies quickly.  Colonies do not display aggression toward each other; this is known as unicoloniality.  Monomorium pharaonis is also notable for its complex foraging system, involving intricate trail routes maintained with several pheromones.  It was the first ant species discovered to use a negative (repellant) pheromone. These chemicals are integral for communication in this species.  Pharaoh ants are a tropical species, but they thrive in buildings almost anywhere, even in temperate regions provided central heating is present.

Biology and Nesting Habits

The Pharaoh ant colony consists of queens, males, workers, and immature stages (eggs, larvae, pre-pupae, and pupae). Nesting occurs in inaccessible, warm (80 to 86°F), humid (80%) areas near sources of food and/or water, such as in wall voids.  The size of the colony tends to be large but can vary from a few dozen to several thousand or even several hundred thousand individuals. Approximately 38 days are required for development of workers from egg to adult.

Mating takes place in the nest, and no swarms are known to occur.  Males and queens usually take 42 days to develop from egg to adult.  The males are the same size as the workers (2 mm), are black in color and have straight, not elbowed, antennae.  Males are not often found in the colony.  The queens are about 4 mm long and are slightly darker than the workers (Smith and Whitman 1992).  Queens can produce 400 or more eggs in batches of 10 to 12 (Peacock et al. 1950).  Queens can live four to 12 months, while males die within three to five weeks after mating (Smith and Whitman 1992).

Part of the success and persistence of this ant undoubtedly relates to the budding or splitting habits of the colonies. Numerous daughter colonies are produced when a queen and a few workers break off from the mother colony.  Even in the absence of a queen, workers can develop a queen from the brood, which is transported from the mother colony.  In large colonies there may be as many as several hundred reproductive females (Smith and Whitman 1992).

English: Compared size of a pharaoh ant

English: Compared size of a pharaoh ant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Management

Control of Pharaoh ants is difficult, due to their nesting in inaccessible areas.  Treatment must be thorough and complete at all nesting sites, as well as the foraging area.  Thus, treatment must include walls, ceilings, floor voids, and electrical wall outlets.  Baits are now the preferred method of control for Pharaoh ants and several baits (insecticides) are labeled for indoor ant control.  A Pharaoh ant infestation of a multifamily building requires treatment of the entire building to control the infestation.  Ants nesting on the outside may be controlled by also using a perimeter barrier treatment (Smith and Whitman 1992).

Baits cannot be placed in just any location and be expected to work.  Pharaoh ant trails and their resources (both food and water) must be located for proper placement of baits and effective control (Klotz et al. 2000).  Non-repellent baits (such as boric acid, hydramethylon or sulfonamide) should be used, as repellent baits can worsen the situation by causing the colony to fracture and bud.  As a result, ant activity will briefly diminish as the new colonies establish, then become a problem as the foragers resume activity (Smith and Whitman 1992).

In addition, insect growth regulators (IGRs) are marketed for indoor control of Pharaoh ants. The IGR is used as a bait, and ants must be allowed to transport the bait back to their nests. The IGR prevents the production of worker ants and sterilizes the queen. Therefore, it is necessary to allow up to several weeks or months (depending on the size of the colonies or number of colonies) for ants to die naturally with the use of IGR.

Eradication

While you can certainly use your own methods of ant control and natural methods such as diatomaceous earth applications, it would be far more convenient and less worrisome on your part to let Atak Pest Control, Inc. manage them for you.  We will use our industry standard Home Pest Control Package to quietly and effectively keep your pharoah ant problem at bay, away from you and your guests and giving you that peace of mind that you have worked so hard to attain.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaoh_ant, http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/pharaoh_ant.htm

Categories
cockroach

Cockroaches

WHO HAS THEM?

Every house, business and location has cockroaches.  The key is you want to control them so they are out of site and out of mind.  Whether you live in an apartment, house or neighborhood in Conroe, Katy, Pearland or The Woodlands, you have cockroaches.  However, if your current eradication methods or pest control company is not up to the task of keeping them at bay, give Atak Pest Control, Inc. a call today at (281)291-9222.

WHAT KINDS OF COCKROACHES DO YOU HAVE?

According to information freely available on the internet the four most common types of cockroaches in The United States of America are the American, German, Asian and Oriental cockroaches.

TRIVIA

The name cockroach comes from the spanish cucaracha.  It originally was the spanish word for the wood louse or the sow bug, but eventually became used to mean palmetto bug aka the flying cockroach (cucaracha) from there it became to mean these little bugs that infest the supposedly clean parts of homes and bring with them diseases and other problems.

LIVING CONDITIONS

The cockroach loves it warm and cozy, just like you.  Unlike you, they can’t easily get inside of things to have a snack, so they rely on you to leave it laying around in opened containers, bags, uncovered bowls, uncleaned spills in the cabinets, on the floor, when was the last time you pulled out your refrigerator or stove!  If you feed them, they will come, just like an imaginary baseball field for ghosts.

Unless you have an Asian cockroach infestation, turning on the light will cause them to run for cover because the cockroach is nocturnal.  The Asian cockroach is not however and runs towards the light apparently trying to get to heaven or something!

THE PROBLEM

Cockroaches like ants leave a pheromone trail wherever they go.  This trail of chemicals tells other cockroaches what is going on, where the food is and whether or not there is a party happening (maybe). However, this chemical trail attracts bacteria.  These bacteria are what make you sick and is the number one reason, you should clean thoroughly and call Atak Pest Control, Inc. to help set up a barrier that will stop cockroaches in their tracks for several months at a time!

DON’T IGNORE THE PROBLEM!

Female cockroaches are sometimes seen carrying egg cases on the end of their abdomens; the egg case of the German cockroach holds about 30 to 40 long, thin eggs in a case called an ootheca.  The egg capsule may take more than five hours to lay and is initially bright white in color.  The eggs are hatched from the combined pressure of the hatchlings gulping air.  The hatchlings are initially bright white nymphs and continue inflating themselves with air, becoming harder and darker within about four hours.  Their transient white stage while hatching and later while molting has led many to claim the existence of albino cockroaches.

A female German cockroach carries an egg capsule containing around 40 eggs. She drops the capsule prior to hatching, though live births do occur in rare instances. Development from eggs to adults takes three to four months.  Cockroaches live up to a year.  The female may produce up to eight egg cases in a lifetime; in favorable conditions, she can produce 300 to 400 offspring.  Other species of cockroaches, however, can produce an extremely high number of eggs in a lifetime; in some cases a female needs to be impregnated only once to be able to lay eggs for the rest of her life.

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockroach “Eggs and Capsules”

PREVENTION

In addition to a good pest control program such as the Home Pest Control Package provided by Atak Pest Control, Inc., cleaning and vacuuming your home and furniture regularly is the number one best way to control them.  Furthermore make sure that all liquids and solids are stored in sealed containers, because cockroaches can eat and drink quite a lot of things that are harmful to humans in general.  Make sure to repair any dripping pipes, faucets and water leaks that you have as they will provide a supply of life giving water to these and other pests.  Also make sure that holes, cracks, crevices, etc. in your walls, ceilings and floors are properly sealed off.  You want to make it as hard as possible for these infectious invaders to get into your home.

A homeopathic remedy that works fairly well if you have good exterminator and cleaning policy is the application of Diatomaceous earth.  Applied as a fine powder, Diatomaceous Earth works very well to eliminate cockroaches as long as it remains in place and dry.  Diatomaceous earth is harmless to humans and feels like talcum powder.  Most insects, including bed bugs, are vulnerable to it.  Diatomaceous Earth can be found at most livestock feed stores.

Categories
fleas insects

Why should you treat for fleas inside and outside the home?

Fleas are a type of parasitic insect, the little buggers are known as an itchy nuisance, but they also come with a risk of further disease. These pests if left untreated can cause your animal to get sicker with other illnesses such as dermatitis, anemia, and other parasites like the tapeworm. You can easily spot these pepper looking bugs inside your pet’s coat where they feed on your pet.

Once you have detected fleas on your pet, you may already have an infestation. Fleas like your pet, but they also like your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. You should always consider treating the outside of your home as well as the inside. Fleas are first introduced to your pet typically through your lawn. Once a flea jumps on its host, it will bite for a nice blood meal while it goes along for the ride, and begins to reproduce. An adult female flea only needs to feed on its host once, before laying eggs. The life cycle of flea begins with one single adult female laying around 25-50 eggs each day. These little white eggs may resemble salt, and are easily detected in and around your pets bedding because the eggs usually do not remain on the host. The eggs fall from the host because they are quite slippery and they later hatch in your home, on your carpet, and on your lawn.

Flea larvae can grow into adults quite rapidly in as little as five days, and up to a month depending on environmental conditions. These adults soon jump onto any nearby hosts for mating and feeding, and this is where the infestation cycle continues unless it’s controlled. Adults actually only represent about 5% of the flea infestation, and the eggs of the fleas make up about 50% of the infestation. The typical or average life cycle of the flea is approximately 18-28 days in favorable conditions for the flea.

The best ways to protect your household against the flea is professional servicing of your home You should focus on treating both the inside and outside areas of your home, since the fleas come in through the outside typically, and then are brought in on the coat of your furry family member. Additionally, flea control efforts should be implemented in a way that targets the entire life cycle of the fleas, and it would be wise to also have your pet medically treated with recommendations by your veterinarian.

W.J. Arnold. © 2016

https://my.carbonmade.com/portfolio/projects/6040467

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://wjarnold.carbonmade.com/.

Categories
fleas insects

Why should granule based chemicals be used to supplement the flea applications?

Granule based chemicals are applied to outdoor lawn and living areas, slowly releasing the insecticide’s active ingredient. This will keep fleas and ticks out of your yard now, as well as in the future. The granules settle in quickly, limiting the amount of exposure you will have to the pesticide. After applying the pesticide, your yard will be safe for humans, animals, and also insects that are beneficial to the area. The granules will keep your outdoor living area inhabitable for your entire family.

By applying the granules to your yard, you are saving yourself from having to apply the expensive treatments to your pets. I know my dog always seems very sensitive to the flea treatments I apply directly to her skin and once the chemical has been applied, she seems extremely lethargic for some time after. I would be very happy to be offered an alternative to the expensive, monthly flea treatments that we rely on currently. There would also be a nice piece of mind that came with knowing the entire yard had been treated, so when other friends with pets and children come over to enjoy my outdoor space, I don’t have to worry that they might be picking up some sort of parasite from being in the area.

Ticks carry a multitude of serious diseases, and I would be very happy to know that I helped in keeping us all safe to enjoy the outdoors together. I don’t feel that the topical flea applications work very quickly either. I have been told, that if my pet currently has fleas, once I apply the medication, it can take up to 3 months for them to completely go away. Three months of applications. Three months of living with fleas in the house. Disgusting.

AK371CK97Q9XM © 2016

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Categories
fleas insects

Why should a flea application be done 7 – 19 days after the first one?

Fleas are those little, jumpy, itch causing, insect-parasites which infest areas quickly because of the rapid nature of their life cycle. They are a parasite because they rely on a host in which to live. They bite to feed off their host. If they aren’t controlled or left untreated, your pet may become sick with anemia, dermatitis, and tapeworm.

Once you have detected fleas in your house, you may already have an infestation. Fleas can be found on your pet, but you may be sharing your house with them also. Fleas like your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture whenever they aren’t spending time on a host. You should always consider treating the outside of your home as well as the inside. Fleas are usually first introduced to your pet through the outdoors. Once a flea senses the vibrations of a potential host nearby it will jump to hitch a ride. Once a flea jumps on its host, it then begins to feed and reproduce. With a single adult female flea requiring to feed on its host once, before laying eggs (around 25-50 each time). These slippery little white eggs usually do not remain on the host, and will often fall from the coat of the host. This is where they will later hatch in your home, and begin to reside like a pesky squatter on your carpet, and on your lawn.

Flea larvae can mature into adulthood in as little as five days, and in some situations the larvae may take up to a month to mature if environmental conditions are less favorable. Once again the adults soon jump onto any nearby hosts for mating and feeding, and this is where the infestation cycle continues unless the infestation is treated. When you examine your pet for fleas, it is important to consider that adult fleas actually only represent about 5% of the flea infestation, but the eggs of the fleas make up about 50% of the infestation. When considering the typical or average lifespan of the flea is approximately 18-28 days in favorable conditions, it is then wise to understand that eradicating them isn’t as easy as one treatment.

It is important to consider the life cycle of the flea and understand that a second treatment 7-19 days after the first will help safeguard your home against re-infestation. The most widely recommended way to protect your household against the flea is professional servicing of your home. You should focus on treating both the inside and outside areas of your home, and plan on at least 2 services to fully eradicate the fleas. In addition, it is recommended to also consult with your veterinarian to have your pet medically treated for further prevention.

W.J. Arnold. © 2016

https://my.carbonmade.com/portfolio/projects/6040531

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://wjarnold.carbonmade.com/.

Categories
general

Why is service every 30 days for a Crazy Ant infestation ideal for getting them under control?

The crazy ant, – Paratrechina longicornis, is not native to North America, it is not entirely known where it originally came from though it is believed to have arrived at the United States from Africa, or Asia. It is also thought they may have been brought in from the Carribean. Named the crazy ant because of its movements and behaviors, it is familiar to the northern states, and northeastern areas. The crazy ant is also very common in the southern states, and some of the states out west such as California and Arizona. Hawaii and Canada are also acquainted with the crazy ant.

Adults are typically 2-3mm in size with long legs. Crazy ants feed on an array of things which make them omnivorous. Their diet contains dead or live insects, composts, fruits, sweets, grease, meat, plants, and various liquids. They love environments like trash, rotting trees, plants, and soil. You may even find nests under large rocks or timbers. They have been found in top floors of tall buildings as well as the kitchens of normal size structures, though they are not believed to fly. A bad infestation can invade a home causing extensive damage to property and they are also known to short electrical units. They may forage long distances from their nest, making infestations even more difficult to control. A crazy ant worker will carry food on its back long distances to its nest to feed the colony. Crazy Ant Colonies are actually quite moderate in size and several queens (8-40) might reside in one colony. When a Queen has mated she will then lay her eggs in the nest for the worker ants to care for. The life cycle of a crazy ant is typically 76-84 days. These nuisances don’t sting, but they will bite and these minor bites are treated easily, not typically requiring medical attention.

If the crazy ant isn’t controlled they can become a larger problem. These destructive and abrasive insects reproduce quickly which makes controlling them more of a challenge. These ants aren’t attracted to the typical ant baits or red ant baits. Commercial products do not have an impact on the crazy ant. The best solution to these pests is contracting a qualified pest control specialist. After the treatment, any ants that survive may relocate their colony. Treatment is recommended every 30 days because these ants are known to re-invade, which makes them nearly impossible to eradicate.

W.J. Arnold. © 2016

https://my.carbonmade.com/portfolio/projects/6040311

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://wjarnold.carbonmade.com/.

Categories
general

Why is quarterly service important?

Quarterly service is highly recommended , it will save you in the long run both financially and time. And what is more valuable than time? By having us come out to your house once a quarter, that’s only once every one hundred and twenty days. You can guarantee yourself that not only will you not see us , you wont be seeing any pests either. We make sure that we get to pests before they become a problem, we do that by thoroughly going over your home inside and out. We make absolutely sure that your only guests are the people you let in!

A simple service that we are experienced and professional at will save you countless costs and give you unending piece of mind. You don’t work hard to put a roof over the head of unwanted guests who bring diseases and filth with them. Let us do the dirty work so you and your family can stay safe and secure in your pest free home.

  • Why wait until there is a problem?
  • Why let them live at the expense of your family?

With a quarterly inspection you are protected with us as your shield. You are never surprised at how much it is, the costs stays the same small small fee over the life of the contract. You never have to remember to call, we will call you and you pick the time and the date of the quarterly inspection. You can get up in the night turn on your lights without a care in the world. Your property will remain pest free as long as you allow us to care for it.

Once we give you our thumbs up, you and your family can sleep peacefully and blissfully knowing that the they are in no danger from unwanted pests. Because we are experts at what we do, not only can we identify and prevent problems before they can become problems. We can identify the cause of the problem and take steps to stop it from ever starting. Sleep easy let us fight for you. You work hard to be able to enjoy your family ,there is no reason in the world your weekends should ever be spent fighting pests. You should not even be thinking about it.

So relax enjoy your time with your family and we will do the rest . Save your time and money and enjoy your pest free home, you earned it! And a quarterly inspection is the way to safeguard it.

A3SOJWB6AZWZV9 © 2016

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Categories
general

Why do the chemicals last 90 days when exposed to the environment?

The chemicals last 90 days when exposed to the environment because these chemicals are powerful enough to last the 90 days. Its effect lasts so long in order for the chemical to be able to properly and thoroughly perform its job. Because of its such long-lasting effects, these chemicals are extremely potent and powerful. Why these chemicals last so long is because when mixed together, these chemicals work together to create a long-lasting chemical that is powerful and effective.

  • But what effect do these chemicals have on our own environment?
  • Are they safe?
  • Or are they dangerous?

These chemicals can indeed have a negative impact on the environment and can destroy the environment with its potent formula. Many chemicals can be found to be dangerous for our environment while other chemicals expose no real threat to the environment.

But how are we to know which chemicals are safe for our environment and which ones are not?

Each bottle of chemicals has a warning label and an ingredient label located on the back of the bottle. These instructions contain information on what the chemical is made out of and whether ot not this chemical is indeed environment friendly. Many chemicals, however, seem to be harming the environment in some shape or form, which isn’t good in the health and state of our environment. Some chemicals are tested beforehand to see whether or not the chemicals mixed together would harm the environment in any way.

Some chemicals need to be modified and adjusted before it is safe for humans to use in the environment without causing any real physical or mental harm to themselves. These chemicals are usually brought back to be reviewed and tested again until its content is safe for human and environment use. When being reviewed, all aspects of the chemical are considered and it is carefully looked at before it is released to the public. Many professionals will test a chemical and test whether its affects are either negative or positive. If the chemical results in being positive, the chemical is then released to the public and is deemed safe for the buyer and safe for the environment. If a chemical, however, has a negative result, it will be sent back and reviewed and modified again. The chemical will be changed and tested until it becomes safe for the public to use in the environment. It is always recommended to fully read the chemical label on the back of any bottle before using it.