Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Pest Control Company, Bulwark Exterminating LLC, Receives Military Award from Staff Sergeant A. J. Richards.

Recently Bulwark Exterminating was nominated for an ESGR award by Staff Sergeant A. J. Richards. The ESGR award is given to employers of Guard and Reserve soldiers where the servicemen feel that the employer goes above and beyond the basic responsibility’s an employer has to their Reserve employees. The law requires those that employ Military Reserve and similar to abide by additional requirements, such as holding a position for those that serve while they are gone on military leave.  Further, they must work with mandatory military training, requiring them to allow military employees un-scheduled days off. Because of these requirements there are good reasons for employers to not hire reservists. Bulwark on the other hand gladly  hires military personnel.  The owners feel a great respect for those that serve to protect our country and our freedoms.

For this reason Staff Sergeant Richards nominated Bulwark and Adam for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve award. Here is his statement:

I have been in the National Guard for the last nine years and have had many employers. I had heard that there was a way to nominate your employer for an award through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). But until recently I had never worked for a company more deserving. I started working for Bulwark Exterminating in 2007 as an door to door sales men and even though I struggled with that job they always had a supportive team to mentor me. After the summer they provided me with a job servicing homes in southern Utah while I finished school. After school despite my performance in the door sales field they offered me a job in their newly formed call center in Phoenix AZ. The offer was too good to turn down so I packed up the family and headed down. I have missed work many times to fulfill my commitment with the guard and Adam has always made sure that my family and I had all that we needed while I was gone. Beyond that the Bulwark family has taken my family in as their own so while I’m away I don’t have to worry about my wife and kids needing anything. This is something that is priceless if you have ever been in that kind of positions. Adam continues to support me and my service in the Guard and often encourages me to do all I can to advance in my military career even at the risk of loosing me “one of Bulwark’s top employees” (per my supervisor), for extended periods of time.

The ceremony was held at a Marie calendars in downtown Phoenix and was hosted by “The Military Order Of The World Wars” Phoenix Chapter. The chapter is made up of retired military members from Colonel down. Adam Seever was nominated by Abenadi Richards an employee that works in the Bulwark Exterminating Call center. If you contacted Bulwark anytime in the last three years for new service there’s a chance you spoke to him. Abenadi says that the influence of the people that he works for not only has helped him to become a better person but also a better soldier. He said that skills that he has learned as an employee for Bulwark has taught him to be a better leader in his military duties as well.

Bulwark even received an additional honor from the speaker when he complimented Adam and Bulwark’s pest control service with  “and they do good work too.  They service my home.” The owner was very touched by the award and the sincere compliment of the speaker.

View more Award Photos on Facebook

If you are a military family then please ask about Bulwark pest control Military Discount.

Pest-Control-Stories In the News award, In the News, pest control, Phoenix Pest Control

Michael Gurevitz has been featured in a number of recent news reports for his research into practical and useful uses of scorpion venom. His research has found varying types of venom and varying effects based upon the chemical proprieties of the venom. Documenting and researching these properties has further proven that some toxins can target specific mammalian channels, and others will attack insect channels that are non existent in mammals, i.e. humans. But Michael hopes to take this information to a whole new level by identifying how these toxin interact with sodium channels, which make up mammal and insect nervous systems.  That information could lead to a pesticide based on scorpion venom and a morphine like medicine based on scorpion venom. But what are benefits of using scorpion venom and are there possible cons?

On the subject of venom toxins Raymond St. Leger, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, states that they are “a resource with almost limitless potential,…But you need a way of getting them into the insect.” Herein lies one problem. Genetically altering a plant to produce a similar compound to the scorpion venom will be useless as a pest control technique if ingesting the plant and its newly acquired compound does nothing to the pest because it is ingested rather than stung/injected into the blood stream. Exterminators that will hunt and manually inject the compound are going to hard to find. Clearly this is not the intent. The objective is to develop a pesticide that will be absorbed through an insect’s exoskeleton. The pest control products need to penetrate into the insects and attack their nervous systems, leading to paralysis and death. Determining the venom’s effective life span and how long it will take to be absorbed will determine the success of this natural alternative.  In order for a pesticide to be effective it must have a decent residual, something many natural products lack.

Individuals must further investigate the human health effects of occupational exposure. What dangers do these bio-pesticides and bio-insecticides poise with frequent and regular use to the applicators? What danger does this put on those that milk the scorpion’s venom? Adam Seever, put it this way, “I know it may seem backwards, but I don’t focus on how the products we use will effect my customers. I focus on whether they are safe for my technicians to use on a day in and day out bases. If my techs are safe then the customers will be safe as well.” On a pound per pound base is the scorpion venom more or less toxic then your average pest control product? Lastly, the most severe problems that occurs with products and even with scorpion toxins are caused by a mammals allergic reaction to the products. This varies on a case by case base, but one must wonder if this reaction would be higher in a pyrethrin based product or a scorpion based product.

The response that Michael Gurevite gave us on the potential allergy’s and dangers of the scorpion venom is as follows:

“In the venom of scorpions of the Buthidae family, to which the Israeli yellow scorpion belongs, one can find a large variety of peptide toxins that affect ion channels. We work on those that affect sodium channel. Among these toxins there are different classes divided according to their pharmacological effects (alpha and beta), and further divided to groups by their ability to compete for the same receptor site, and their activity toward mammals and insects. Some of the toxins would be active against practically all animals, some show preference for mammalian channels, and some are anti-insect selective. All these differences in activity and preference are those that interest us at the molecular/structural level.

The desert bark scorpions belong also to the family Buthidae, the most common is Centruroides sculpturatus in Southern US and Mexico. Their venom contains mostly toxins of the beta class that affect mammals and insects. We work on toxins of both the alpha and beta classes.”

Hopefully Michael’s research pays off. It is very fascinating that he is documenting these effects and classifying them on a molecular level to the point that he can determine a “alpha” or “beta” class. This will in no doubt be beneficial in developing more pest solutions that will only effect insects and not humans. Or taking that one step further, that can target specific insect species.

And yes there is a sinister side of this in that we could use the scorpion’s sting against itself. Imagine the novel title now, “Scorpion’s recruited for Scorpion Control.” And homeowners that deal with scorpions would welcome the opportunity to use an effective scorpion insecticide against scorpion infestations in Phoenix, Austin, and Las Vegas. Especially using their closely related Buthidae family members for Scottsdale scorpion extermination.

There is also a potential that the research could lead to a scorpion based “morphine”, or other scorpion related health care products. Scorpion venom has even been tested in fighting off cancer. Could it be possible that a pesticide and a cancer “fighting” agent could use the same chemical makeup? Perhaps some day sooner than you think.

What are your thoughts on scorpion venom being used in pest control products?

Pest-Control-Stories In the News, scorpions Austin, insect control, Las Vegas, morphine, pest control, pest control products, pesticide, Phoenix, scorpion control, Scottsdale scorpion extermination

Pest Control Technology Magazine gave the owner of Bulwark a quick interview about what makes Bulwark Exterminating’s company so different.  Here is what they reported:

Bulwark Exterminating, Mesa, Ariz.
At 10 years old, Bulwark Exterminating
is built differently than most firms. More
than half of employees’ compensation is
determined through statistical analyzes,
said President Adam Seever. They typically
make 30 percent more than the industry
average, according to Seever, due to
higher productivity and the company only
promotes from within, giving them “lots of
reasons to stick around.” Employees must
feel financially and emotionally respected
or they can’t respect your customers, explained
Seever. The company has 250
employees at 11 offices in seven states,
including five programmers to manage its proprietary software.
http://pct.texterity.com/pct/201001/?pg=41&pm=2&u1=friend#pg41

Why by the numbers?

Many companies look to accountants to manage by the numbers, these companies often fail. But  Bulwark’s numbers are not found on a typical accountants balance sheet.  Bulwark tracks all kinds of numbers that most never think to track. And with 10 years of tracking Bulwark can see trends.  So Bulwark takes these numbers, puts a real monetary value on the impact of these numbers and then reworks the system. For example, how much more productivity could a company gain if customer call backs drop by down by 10%?  That value is calculated, monetized and then redistributed to those individuals within the company that make it happen.  The bottom line is the company runs more efficiently, more productively, and those individual’s that make it happen are rewarded for their efforts.

What’s beautiful about this system is that everyone wins.  “Yeah, Right… that’s just too cliche.” True, it is hard to believe in systems that promise to benefit everyone. But back to customer call backs… If the tech does the job correctly and takes a little more time upfront, to save time on the back end, (time=$$$) then the client, the tech, and the company all benefit.  The tech gets a bonus for having a lower call back number.  The customer is happier that the problem is being solved and that they don’t have to call us back.  The company saves time, which equates to dollars. Plus, the tech, the customer, Bulwark’s office staff, Bulwark’s managers, and the rest of the tech’s team are all happier.  Not a bad system… if it works. Don’t worry works. Proven by the same numbers that we meticulously track.

And it’s truly numbers that everyone can hit.  Many theorize that you should just play your team with your All-Star performers.  “Manage your producers and showcase them.” The most common analogy following this line of thought is that professional sports teams rely on only their superstars to make it happen. Well, pest control is far from a fantasy football team, and frankly, Bulwark has always believed that everyone on the team should play.  So Bulwark doesn’t develop a matrix to benefit a few top performers. The owner will focus on what is going to make the biggest impact on all of Bulwark’s players.  It’s a win-win-win-win-win… get the point?

Find ways to incentivize performance. And better yet, find ways to improve so everyone wins!

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control, In the News In the News, pest control news, proprietary software

thos003 General Pest Control bug control, exterminator, pest control

Pest Control Forecasting

What you can take away from the pest control trends is that from Febuary to March pest control will likely increase by 50% and that the Texas pest control season peaks in June 2010. So business should be picking up now and should increase until mid summer, June. Ant control shows no forecastable trend, but should follow closely to pest control with a June 2010 peak.

But does the forecast mean pest control companies will survive the economy? Last year’s economic downturn caused many pest control operators to close up shop. Despite the fact the the google trends only showed a 2% decrease in interest from June 2008 to June 2009. So people may be searching for pest control 2010, but that doesn’t mean that people will be buying pest control.

Reading the Trends

It’s hard to argue that pest control is a seasonal business. Further, it’s hard to argue that what people are searching for is “pest control”. The trends above are specific to the Texas region and it is interesting to see the metros within Texas that get the most searchs by keyword. Exterminators are less likely to find successful traffic campaigns by ignoring these trends. Further, trying to jump in at the heat of the race without doing your off season excercise is futile. Through trial and error sites launched and dedicated to “ant control in Austin” proved to capture very little traffic. Sites launced for “pest control in Austin” beat out scorpions, ants, spiders, and roaches combined. Needless to say, “scorpion control” is less than trendy.

Back to the drawing board. Thanks for the regional pest control insights provided by google trends.

Stay tuned for more information from your online bug channel.

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control, scorpion control austin scorpion control, Houston Ant Control, pest control in Austin, pest control trends

I’ve always liked the sounds that a cricket makes. It’s soothing and reminds me of the countless nights I have spent outside just staring at the sky and wondering what life is all about. It is kind of like a soundtrack for my mind. Others appreciate the noise as well, but they prefer to be outside of their home rather than inside. I was called to a home late in the evening, nearly after sunset. Timing was crucial for me because this lady had a pretty uncommon problem in Georgia, crickets breeding in the walls. Her eyes were bloodshot from having been up all night and you could tell she was irritated. She walked me to the master bedroom and stuck her head against the wall and held up a finger … nothing. No sound, no chirping, not anything. There was a bit of humor in it because it was like man vs. wild, all the little creatures stop making noise when they detect a threat. She was about to give up when the chirping restarted – it was pretty amazing because each chirp had its own unique location along the wall, almost like an echo. One would chirp in the middle and two others on either side of that cricket would begin to chirp. Sometimes, if they timed it right, they chirped simultaneously. I decided the best option would be to flush out the wall voids with an in-wall treatment and re-spray the exterior. I also did a yard spray to stop any crickets around the home from getting closer. I’m not a doctor but was able to provide a cure for insomnia.

Luke F

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control

Many people think that a bed bug is invisible to the naked eye and prior to my experience as a field technician, I didn’t even know they existed. Bed bugs can be very small, a little less than the size of a paper clipping in a hole-puncher. I was told I had to service a home with bed-bugs about 2 days in advance and this gave me some time to do some reading

Bedbugs are bloodsucking parasites. They are typically found around the seams in a mattress and can go as long as a year without feeding. They hide in cracks and crevices and are attracted to the heat we give off when we sleep – before they pierce the skin, they deliver an anti-septic which provides mild pain relief so you don’t wake up and feel a pinch. After getting their fill, the bed bugs will return to a crack or crevice in the room and hide until the next time it gets hungry.

When I arrived at the woman’s home she showed me her arms – curiously, her and her children were the only ones with bites even though the husband slept in the same room. He didn’t have a single bite – the woman was devastated and preparing to burn her entire house down. She wanted to throw away every ounce of furniture and every mattress in the house. I couldn’t blame her; you can’t even relax in your own home without fear of being bitten by parasites while you sleep. The point of this story is simply this, to draw out the extent of the infestation. I also wanted to share with you all of the areas I found bed bugs in:

Bed frame, mattress, box-spring, pillow, behind wall electrical plates, inside a TV remote battery cover, children’s toy cars, alarm clock, and an Xbox 360 just to name a few items. 

The Craziest place I found them was in the screws that held most of her bedroom furniture together. Behind a shelf, a cardboard backing was attached to the shelf frame for support and aesthetic purposes. When we move the shelf I observed 5 tiny bedbugs in one of the screw holes and a few even fell out onto the floor.  

Bed bugs are no joke. Throwing your stuff away will not get rid of them and short of burning your house down (kidding), not much can be done treatment wise to guarantee elimination.   This is because they can go long intervals without a food source, lying dormant in walls and hiding in luggage cases long after any product has expired. But they CAN be eliminated. There are a few chemical and non-chemical treatment programs that can help.

How do you stop yourself from getting bedbugs? Use your eyes. It is believed that most people bring them home from hotels, where they will crawl into your clothes and luggage.

You can avoid getting bedbugs by checking the bed when you get into the hotel room – lift up the sheets under the mattress starting at the end with the pillows. Are there brownish / reddish stains along the seams of the mattress? If so, this is an indicator of bed bugs. After a blood meal they can be observed making deposits of fecal matter around the host and room. Good luck!

Luke F

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control

My name is Svea Owens and I work for the Phoenix AZ branch of Bulwark Exterminating. Over the past several months, we have been using our website as a way for our customers to share with others about the jobs our technicians do for them. The first few weeks of using this website, we had a couple of customers call in saying they couldn’t figure out how to leave reviews. As the calls came in the other girls in our office would transfer these people to me and I would get on the website and walk them through step by step on how to do it. One customer in particular was very appreciative of this. She called in wanting to leave a review for one of our technicians, Jason. She said he always does an outstanding job and she really wanted him to get the recognition he deserves. I got onto the website with her and walked her through it and by the end she was so thankful. She told me that she wasn’t very computer savvy and that I explained everything very well and made it very easy for her to follow. She was happy that she was finally able to give Jason the gratification she felt he deserved. I also let her know I would relay her comments of Jason’s performance to my service manager as well.

Svea

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control customer service

I was an Initial Service Technician, meaning I only was only servicing new customers and providing the Full House Clean Out, for one of the best salesman in the history of Bulwark.  I had a full day of services in one of the cities more influential neighborhoods.  As normal I begin to scan the customer’s property as soon as I exit the work vehicle.  I noticed that there was a paper on the driveway so I picked it up and carried the paper with me to the door.  This is one of the advance tactics that you learn as a seasoned technician.

I rang the door and after a few minutes a kind women who spoke broken English opened the door and greeted me.  I introduced myself and with a smile tried to hand her the paper I had kindly retrieved from the driveway.  She looked at me skeptically and opened the door widely allowing me to see that there was another woman in the home, possibly the homeowner.  After a short conversation (in a language I dare not guess at) the kind women told me in broken English no, they “don’t want.”  I again tried to hand her the paper so that she could see the signed service agreement in my hand.  Again the homeowner kindly refused.  I sat the paper down on the front porch and then presented the contract to the women in the doorway.  At this time she had given all the time she was willing to and slowly closed the door on me.  I was a little surprised but it wasn’t the first time a customer has refused service.  I then called the next customer of the day and told them I had an opening in my schedule and would they allow me to service their home.  The customer allowed me to and I was about an hour ahead in what I thought would be a demanding day.  Late that afternoon I received a phone call from the office asking my why I never showed the earlier stop of my day.  I explained to them that I did, and that the customer refused my service.  The person I was speaking with sounded confused and asked if I went to the correct address, I told him yes that I even recalled verifying the address on the corner of the home after the customer refused service.  The person then stated they would call the customer and speak with them again.  A short time later I received a second phone call from the office; the customer thought I was a newspaper salesman.

Wayne Bryant

Las Vegas, NV

Pest-Control-Stories Story 3, C, Las Vegas NV, Misunderstanding

Doing pest control you see the best and worst of people’s homes. As a technician for our East Atlanta branch, I would often find myself walking through a series of webs in both crawlspaces and unfinished basements, even some garages that were just totally covered. For whatever reason, these areas tend to be hotspots for spider activity; my guess is because they are usually poorly sealed and cool or moist. A young woman had called in regarding a mouse in her basement and it was no surprise to find a maze of boxes and cobwebs littering the unfinished floor. She took me to the corner where she suspected the mouse had hidden and I began to examine the area… there was a chewed up bag of some bird seed and a couple shreds of what almost looked like press board. And who can forget the line of droppings delineating the inner wall. The woman had been raised in another country and described to me a level of fear associated with certain animals per culture. She was relatively calm, but she also carried an anxious undertone as well.  We followed the droppings along the wall and went around a corner and to the basement door. To my surprise, sitting by the door was fat long snake, at least 3 feet in length and a ½ an inch in diameter. I almost fainted because the lady had let out such a blood curdling scream. It’s a good thing that snakes don’t have ears, I am positive it would have attacked her. She grabbed my shoulders, as if to use me as some sort of shield, which I thought was kind of funny. I have an affinity for reptiles and this little guy just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time … the trail of droppings had disappeared about 3 feet from the snake and its my guess he had a fat little meal prior to our encounter. Animal control is not really our cup of tea (beyond rats and mice), but I was able to find a stick and pick up the snake gently removing it from the basement. The lady said her basement door is never open but I am not so sure how the snake could have gotten in. To this day I do not have that answer. Why do you think basements are so high in pest activity?

Luke F

Pest-Control-Stories General Pest Control