Atak Pest Control

Menu

Tag: should

Categories
ants insects

How often should service be rendered to get Crazy Ants under control?

It is recommended that you service your property every 30 days to control these pests. In order to understand why this is necessary, let’s take a look at these crazy ants for a moment. The crazy ant, – Paratrechina longicornis, is a species of ant, that according to Entomologists is not native to the United States. Although it is not entirely known where it originally came from it is thought to have arrived in North America from Africa, Asia or the Carribean. These ants are named the crazy ant because of their characteristic erratic movements and behaviors. The crazy ant is a recognized pest common to the northeastern areas of the United States, as well as the southern states, and additional states out west such as Arizona and California. The crazy ant has also been spotted in Hawaii and Canada. Crazy ant adults are typically 2-3mm in size with longer legs than other ant species.

Crazy ants will feed on an assortment of things, and so they are known to be quite omnivorous. Crazy ants have been studied to eat just about anything, including garbage and composts, sweets to include fruit. They are attracted to grease, meat, plants, and liquids. Their favored environments include places like your trash, rotting trees, foliage, and soil. They nest in rotting wood, under large rocks or timbers.

The crazy ant doesn’t fly, but these pests are still able to reach new heights. The crazy ant has been found in high floors of taller buildings, as well as the lower floors. The crazy ants are also found in kitchens. These little insects are not just a nuisances, these ants can mean big trouble. An infestation can invade a building creating considerable damage. Additionally, these bugs are well known to short electrical units. They often will forage long distances from their nests, which makes eradicating infestations a little more challenging. The crazy ant workers carry food on their backs over long distances in order to feed the colony. These colonies are fairly moderate in size, with anywhere from 8-40 Queens usually residing in a single colony. Queens lay their eggs in the nest, that the worker ants will care for. Crazy ant life cycle is approximately 68-74 days. Crazy ants do not sting, but they will bite. This isn’t a concern beyond initial discomfort as most people only have a minor reaction to the bite. Less than 1% of the population will need medical attention from these bites.
If you have crazy ants, controlling them is necessary to prevent bigger problems from arising with these destructive pests. The crazy ant reproduces quickly making the job of eliminating them more of a challenge. Contacting your pest control specialist is the best-recommended option for treating your property for crazy ants. These ants aren’t attracted to the typical ant baits or red ant baits. Commercial products have been studied to have very little impact on crazy ants. After treatment by your pest control specialist, any crazy ants that survived will simply move their colony or start another. This is why treatment is recommended every 30 days because these ants often will return to re-invade, which is one of the great challenges for eradicating them.

W.J. Arnold. © 2016

https://my.carbonmade.com/portfolio/projects/6041626

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
rodents

How far should vegetation be away from your home to mitigate rodent invasions?

Rodents will inhabit spaces that offer protection and insulation. They get attracted by the scents or trails left by food. Vegetation especially lure them in. Your home is the most likely candidate for a rodent outbreak, as its walls and attic spaces provide ample opportunity for mass breeding. Once settled inside your home, these creatures will find their way into your food storage and defile your newly purchased groceries.The most worrisome aspect of a rodent home invasion is the potential illnesses and diseases that many rodents are capable of passing along to humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes 35 specific diseases that one can directly or indirectly attribute to rodents.

Vegetation should be done far away from home. Because, decking can sometimes cause problems, despite it being a great addition to your outside area. How? Well, food can drop between the slats and become a food source. There is also ample space underneath for garden pests to make themselves a nice home.

What can rodents do?

  • Gnaw on furniture, structures of the home, personal belonging, food packaging
  • Leave urine and droppings which leads to contamination
  • Can transmit diseases through droppings and biting
  • Cause fire hazards from chewing on electrical wiring
  • Can introduce other pests into the home such as fleas and mites.

So how far should vegetation be?

If open compost piles are positioned anywhere near a home, shed or other structure, don’t use them to process the kind of food waste that will attract creatures like rats, mice, possums and raccoons. Most kitchen waste adds no nutrition to the finished compost and is better recycled through a worm bin anyway. If food scraps must go outdoors, use a metal compost tumbler or similar device that’s sealed and sits up off the ground.

Start your growing vegetables in your garden or yard rather than your balcony or on your roof. That way rodents stay away. Also make sure to follow the instructions above and use them around the vegetation area.

A2I9P8Y0IZEK6L aka The Hangout © 2016

[xyz-ips snippet=”CC-BY-40″]

Categories
bees insects

When should a beekeeper be called during insect control and why?

It is said that Bee stings are the largest killer of humans in the United States, and people of many age groups become victim of bee venom and every year not less than a 100 people die every month due to venom from various insects and bees. Apparently many do not take precautionary measures nor do they call the pest control for proper steps to clear off for safety. But one more important thing is to be kept in mind is to have a beekeeper around to manage and to properly guide as to how bees can be controlled. A beekeeper is a professional in Apiculture and even knows deep about many bees and their details as to how good their honey is and also about its venom and to know if it is deadly or is potential to take human life. If the bee which is to be controlled of a good breed and can be accumulated in a area to be bred in Apiculture methods it could be mutually beneficial to the person and to the beekeeper. When bees are disturbed they often become angry and can sting whatever comes near them so a beekeeper is very necessary to be around in order to properly guide which poison or as to how to distract the bees and control them in order to not destroy their existence nor get a sting in return.

ASI4GFKXKIU7R © 2016

[xyz-ips snippet=”CC-BY-40″]

Categories
mice rats rodents

Compared to a rat how many mice traps should you actually set out for mice?

RAT TRAPS VS MOUSE TRAPS

By Jestin Ronody Marson © 2016

[xyz-ips snippet=”CC-BY-40″]

It doesn’t matter how many traps you set. If you don’t block the entryway, rodents will continue to return. PERIOD! But, I digress …

Mice are much smaller than rats. They are also quicker and smarter than people think. The tricky thing isn’t necessarily how MANY traps you need, but what kind of trap and bait to use. The old fashioned, spring loaded, finger amputating mouse traps will work if you have the nerve and patience to use them. I personally would advise the slightly more expensive “clip” version (TomCat, for example) which looks more like a large “chip clip” with teeth. They are easier to set and you are not as likely to lose a finger.

You can bait the trap or not, your choice. I like to use just a small amount of peanut butter since these sneaky little so-and-so’s like to run off with cheese. Peanut butter is sticky and hard to run away with. Also, use gloves. Rodents can detect human scent. The NUMBER of traps is debatable. You should use one trap for every ten feet, setting them several feet apart. I advise every other trap to be on the floor. For instance, if you have one on the floor by the fridge, put the next one on the counter behind the microwave, the next on the floor near the stove, the next behind the toaster on the counter, etc. Another marvelous benefit of the clip traps is they are easy to re-use!

Rats are larger rodents. You should never attempt to catch a rat in a mouse trap. That’s like taking a knife to a gunfight. Rats are sneaky, but they are much bigger than mice. They have been known to reach sizes that would scare Fido and Rover, thus a larger more effective trap is required. I still prefer the clip traps here. They are easy to set and easy to use. However, keep in mind, rats have been known to run off with the trap, so make sure you are using a RAT trap to catch rats. You are going to want to put the traps near water sources, and along the wall and floor. Also, you will want to set a few in the attic. I advise at least one under the kitchen sink and one behind the toilet. The number of traps may vary, I would think one trap for every ten feet of wall would be sufficient. You may also want to look into the cage/guard that can be used in concert with the trap. This would help prevent Fido or Kitty accidentally getting caught in the trap.

The number of rat traps vs mice traps is a matter of opinion. I believe if you see one mouse, you have a hundred. If you see a rat, you probably have fifty. I believe for every one rat trap you use, you should use at least two mouse traps. That is MY opinion. But no matter what you do, if you don’t block the entry, rodents will always find a way back.

Categories
ants insects

Why should you treat your whole yard for fire ants?

Fire ants are particularly nasty pests and their presence has become commonplace in over 15 different states in the U.S. Some Fire Ants are native to the United States, but some were accidentally imported. They tend to thrive in warm, humid areas, as they are susceptible to cold, harsh conditions. When treating for fire ants, whether there is an existing infection or just for preventative measures, it is important to treat the entirety of the property.

These ants are incredibly aggressive and often territorial. When they attack, they bite with their strong mandibles and then sting their target. This sting can cause as little as mild irritation and nausea to much more severe kinds of reactions, including death in sensitive people. When stung, it feels similar to being burned by flames, hence their name. They also don’t discriminate against what they view as a threat, so they may attack people and even pets who disturb them. Fire ants may also cause severe damage, affecting plants, homes and even wiring. This makes treating the whole yard an absolute must to protect everyone in the household, the property as a whole, as well as the four legged family members. They pose a threat to everything!

Not only are these pests destructive, they spread rapidly. Depending on how many queens are within a colony, there can be up to 200 mounds and 40 million fire ants in one single acre. Each mound alone can hold up to 500,000 fire ants, a veritable army. The life cycle of these ants ranges from 30 days all the way up to six years, so when an infestation starts, they mean to stay around long term.

When looking for signs of an infestation, mounds of loose dirt are indicative of a colony and worker ants are readily seen when out scouting for the colony. These workers are most likely to be seen in greater numbers after rainfall, as they are drawn out of their colonies by flooding. Yards and open areas are the most likely to become infested by fire ants due to the higher sun exposure. They tend to prefer warm areas, which is why they’re also attracted to electrical wiring and the generated heat.

When it comes to treating a home and yard, it is imperative that the entire area be treated to prevent the Fire Ants from establishing and maintaining a colony that poses such a serious threat to people, pets, and property.

A13I4OQ7UCVD34 © 2016

[xyz-ips snippet=”CC-BY-40″]

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

[xyz-ips snippet=”CC-BY-40″]

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
fly insects

Should you be concerned about stoneflies (taeniopterygidae)?

Stoneflies (taeniopterygidae) as known as willow flies are relatives of the grasshopper and termite. Adult stoneflies are dark brown or black and can be found during the day or at night. Stoneflies can range anywhere from 5-50mm in body length. They tend to spend most of their lives as larvae, living at the bottom of rivers/streams, hanging onto rocks and other wooden debris.  Stoneflies are typically found in the winter season, while most other insects are hibernating. They primarily live near high paced streams, rivers, bridges and stones. Many other

pollutants in the air during the fall and spring, causes a reduction in oxygen levels for the stoneflies. So, winter becomes the most active time for stoneflies. Should you be concerned of stoneflies? None to say the least. Seeing Stoneflies in your local rivers/streams is a positive sign of a healthy environment as they thrive on the water quality within those waters. Streams and/or rivers with low oxygen levels and any signs of pollution do not support the growth and proper living conditions to stoneflies. Which is why Pollution Control Agencies love them…because they are so sensitive to water conditions, it helps the agencies get an idea of the river’s water quality within that area. Stoneflies need high amounts of dissolved oxygen from the rivers so, when the dissolved oxygen levels are low the stoneflies disappear. A rule of thumb is that typically if trout live in the water, it is more than likely that so are the stoneflies as they both tend to need the same environmental qualities.

Stoneflies are not like your typical house fly. They will not bother you when you are out on your family day picnic or surrounding your fish basket when you are out of the boat. Stoneflies are like dragonflies. You may see them and they may fly close, but never to eat anything on you or in your basket. Stoneflies are actually detritivores. Detritivores tend to eat broken down organic matter such as living or dead plant material. As juveniles, stoneflies feed of organic plant material or aquatic vegetation. However, as adults, stoneflies tend to stop eating vegan and have been known to eat aquatic insects as well as other stoneflies.The best time to catch some of these amazing stoneflies within your area, are during the winter time down by the streams when the streams are covered in snow.

Copyright © 2016  A32QAUGF2AIONO CC-BY-SA-4.0