Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Dallas Wildlife Control is a lucky benefactor of our post here today. Code: k9bugsit33Bulwart

What is the difference between Animal Control and Pest Control?

A wildlife control is very different from structural pest control. Different laws apply to dealing with wildlife. Different techniques apply. In many states a separate license is required. It is almost always prohibited to relocate nuisance animals and other wildlife without written permission from the state’s gaming department. Yet, somehow, animal control and pest control seem to be synonymous to the general public. Pigeon control, rat control, and wildlife control are very much different than general pest control. Trapping and removal are also different from exterminating a rat or mouse. Animal cruelty charges have been made against pest control companies that have not handled animal removal properly. See the NJ case. One of the most glaring differences between animal control and pest control is that general pest control often uses pesticides for pest control solutions, where as animal control uses exclusion techniques and trapping.

From more info on the differences that may apply in an Animal Control license vs a Pest Control license visit: http://www.crittercatchersinc.com/license/

What to do as an Exterminator who doesn’t offer Animal Control Services

Exterminators that often get calls for animal control or wildlife removal may want to find local resources that they can refer to. Providing links on your website to local Animal shelters is a good idea. Finding a local company that deals exclusively with Animal Control or Bat Removal, or Pigeon control may help foster a mutually beneficial relationship. But choose whom you recommend wisely. You don’t want another company’s bad service to reflect on your own company. You also don’t want to refer out business to a company that may try to steal general pest control companies from you. Build a solid relationship and check in from time to time to keep that relationship strong.

If you know of any quality animal control services please let us. We would love to add them to our pest control directory.

Caption: An 1860 engraving of parts of a bed bug.

The image above is an interesting look into the anatomy and psychology of the mid 1800’s and their preoccupation with bed bugs. A few additional specifics to help identify bed bugs versus other common household pests:

• A bed bug has 6 legs.
• Its antennae point forward and are about half as long as the body—not longer.
• Its head is broadly attached to its body and it has no wings.
• Eight legs indicate a tick or mite.
• Six legs and long antennae with two spikes coming off the back (cerci) might be a roach nymph.

Bed bugs cannot fly, and will crawl into the darkest, most isolated space possible. If this is a car or RV, expect them to settle down in a crevice in the seat or RV’s mattress. To best avoid this fate, a bed that will not allow infestation is best, such as a latex mattress.

There have been many theories as to where the phrase, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” originated; some more interesting than others.  Here is a breakdown of those theories, and their origins:

• The phrase dates from the days when mattresses were supported by ropes, which needed to be pulled tight to provide a well-sprung bed
• The phrase refers to the tightness of bedclothes, intended to keep bedbugs at bay
• That within the phrase, the word tightly, although not often used in this way now, means ‘soundly, properly, well’. In this way it would imply ‘fast asleep’.

Modern day use of this phrase can be taken quite literally, both for bed bugs and for the quality of mattress being slept on. Let’s just hope it’s a memory foam mattress and not ropes that anyone is sleeping on…

"Rebecca Black - Fri..." This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Rebecca Black. Sorry about that.

As a follow up on our Failed Pest Control -Most Successful Failure In America Rebbecca Black is fighting Ark Records for copyrights. Apparently Ark records was not satisfied with the amount of money they were already making off of her video. But, don’t be dismayed.. you can now find a slew of knock of videos to treat your Friday FUN FUN FUN taste buds.

Brock’s Friday knock off has 21 million views…. “My hand is Dolphin” Funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzfQwXEqYaI

And Glee produced their own version… 3 million views… But only Music. No video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey-VNes5YQs

Interesting enough, this social media hit spurred on several other knock offs and Lil’Kim’s Diss pushing their reach into the Million+ range.

And that is your Friday Pest Control Report.

Timeline of bed bugs in Europe:

Greece – 400 BC

Rome – 77 AD

Germany – 11th Century AD

France – 13th Century AD

England – 1583

Bed bugs have been documented and recorded for millennia, and until the late 18^th century were believed to have healing characteristics. They were used throughout the centuries to treat everything from snake bites to ear infections, and as late as the 18^th century to treat hysteria. Bed bugs have been extremely common in past centuries, as recently as 1933 there were many areas of the UK that all houses had some degree of infestation. After World War II, bed bugs were thought to be eradicated with the advent of DDT, and for decades they were not an issue. More recently, bed bugs have been returning to developed countries, especially with overcrowding and international travel. Traditional mattresses contribute to this issue by housing the bugs, while newer hypoallergenic and latex mattresses are better as they do not allow the bugs to live inside the mattress.

Elimination of bed bugs frequently requires a combination of pesticide and non-pesticide approaches.Pesticides have increasingly grown ineffective as a result of bugs building resistances to known agents, making alternative methods increasingly popular. Alternative approaches such as vacuuming the insects, heat-treating items, or wrapping have been recommended in addition to pesticides.

As soon as an infestation is found, treating all bedding, clothing, and furniture exposed is imperative to ensure that additional infestations do not occur. This entails washing all items in hot water, wrapping all exposed furniture and leaving in the sun for an hour. Heat is the best method of eliminating bed bugs, aside from pesticides.

A great tool for preventing bed bugs is a mattress wrap, these stay on your mattress permanently and prevent bed bug infestations in your bed. They work well in conjunction with latex mattress toppers, which don’t allow bed bugs to burrow or crawl inside.