Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Pest control mingles with many industries. In the restaurant and food industry, pest control is often part of the health code and food inspection process. More recently, the Hotel and vacation industry is being hammered by bed bugs and a pest control plan to prevent and reassure customers is vital. Pest control companies will do better in their service and their outreach if they understand and meet these needs. Branching out a little bit more, pest management experts can become specialized in niche industry needs. Electronic Manufacturing have their own unique need for pest control.

Image by xcode via Flickr

The Electronic Contract Manufacturing Facility

An important, but often overlooked, part of any ISO certified electronic contract manufacturing facility is a well documented pest control policy. An organization that has pest control policies in place shows it’s customers that they are prepared to address any issues that may come about. It also displays a well thought out approach to maintaining the quality and cleanliness of the facility in which products are built.

Facilities that have truck docs and visitors coming and going with easy access to it’s warehouse have to be aware of any situation in which an infestation could compromise the quality of their or their customers inventory. Not only can pests destroy inventory but delivering equipment covered in rat feces will damage reputation. If you don’t think bugs infest manufacturing plants then you may want to look at the Mazda Spider Recall.

Some of the many benefits of having pest control procedures in the ISO quality manual can be:

• Increased employee awareness
• Faster response to emergency situations
• Ensures quality of products and inventory
• Overall cleanliness and more effective facility maintenance
• Cut costs
• Improved customer confidence and loyalty

Having documented procedures for pest control policies also ensures that continuous improvements can be made to deficiencies in the system as they arise.

A continued commitment to quality for any ISO certified electronic manufacturer should include a documented pest control policy.

Related articles

• $12 Million Pest Control Job (blogpestcontrol.com)
• Promoted Tweet on Pest Control Twitter Stream by General Electric? (pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com)
• Govt. to provide incentives to setup Electronic Mfg. Clusters (EMCs), Preference to home-grown Electronic Products [National Policy on Electronics 2011] (trak.in)

In the past few days, there has been a sting of news releases about the World’s Biggest Bug, all started by this:

Picture: Mark Moffett/Minden Pictures/Solent

This extremely rare and endangered insect was found by Mark Moffett. It took him 2 days to find this Giant Weta. She was found on Little Barrier Island, in New Zealand. They are no longer on the main land as they were cleared out by rats brought in by the Europeans. Mark, a bug lover from Colorado, was excited to find this rare cricket-like creature. He was even more honored when it was declared the Largest Insect on Record, according to weight. The wing span is 7 inches.

http://pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/is-the-largest-bug-in-the-world-the-new-zealand-giant-weta/

That is one HUGE bug, but is it the worlds Largest?

Here are some other contenders for the “World’s Largest Bug Award”

Goliath Beetle:

Golaith Beetle

The Goliath Beetle is often considered the largest bug on earth. It’s wings span reaches up to 10 inches. It actually sounds like a small toy helicopter in flight. And yes you can buy the Goliath Beetle framed like the picture above for $250.

Giant Moths:

Photo by Bulwark Exterminating Technician

Moths can be very large as well. From the White Witch Moth to the Atlas Moth, these mammoth moths have wing spans of up to 12 inches. This particular moth was photographed in Tulsa, OK by Bulwark Exterminating. It’s not quite the size of the mammoth moths, but it looked good on film.

Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing:

Wikipedia Author - Mark Pellegrini (Raul654)

The Queen Alexandra Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world. The female’s wing span reaches just over 12 inches at 12.2. Interesting to note that this is yet another kingdom wherein the females rule, well at least based on size. It’s actually common for female insects to be larger than their male counterparts.

Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula

Tthe largest of the Arachnid family is the Theraphosa leblondi, known as the Bird Eating Tarantula. Yes it really does munch down a few birds and small rodents of unusual size. On record this spider is just over 11 inches, but others believe they grow to be 12 inches. But no need to fear, they are pretty harmless to humans. Go ahead and pick one up, if you dare.

Giant Walking Stick Insect:

If you are measuring on pure length then the Giant Walking Stick takes the cake. It can grow up to 20 inches.

So what of this Record Breaking Bug?

The claim remains that this Giant Weta is the largest on record by weight. At 71 grams (2.5 oz) they beat out all of their winged friends… UNLESS you believe wikipedia which states that Goliath Beetles weigh in from 80 to 100 grams. Can someone please put this debate to a close?

Related articles

• Day 5 – With My Head In The Clouds (neoncstar.wordpress.com)
• In Defense of Taxonomy (bugsofboogercounty.wordpress.com)
• Is the Largest Bug in the World the New Zealand Giant Weta? (pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com)
• World’s biggest ever insect found called the Weta Bug (thesun.co.uk)
• Giant Weta is the World’s Biggest Insect, Eats Carrots [Video] (inquisitr.com)

A fellow youtuber commented on our Anascorp video through a message.

Anascorp saved my Grandsons life tonight. He went through 3 doses before recovering. Now how do we keep this from happening again? I’m tired tonight, I’ll see more videos tomorrow. ~T.J.~

Image via Wikipedia

The Bat is a Fellow Bug Exterminator

As a general rule, bats are not very popular with people, regardless of any benefits the pest management experts say they provide. Too often, bats are perceived by the general public, as dangerous, ugly and frightening. But, what most people are not aware of, is that those “hideous” bats prevent billions of dollars in damage to the U.S. agriculture industry, by consuming common insect pests that frequently eat and destroy important crops. In fact, it has been estimated that bats provide the American agriculture industry with free pest control services, that are valued at (upwards of) fifty three billion dollars a year! …Gives new meaning to bat pest control.

Some people would also be surprised to know, that bats do not just exterminate large amounts of common insect pests, across the United States. The bats’ free natural insect control contribution, reduces potential pesticide use by property owners and farmers, and helps to keep entire eco-systems; in delicate balance. As well, other important contributions made by bats, include: a vital role in pollinating many popular species of plants (like mangoes and bananas) and innovative medical applications; that suggest vampire bat saliva prevents strokes (Draculin). Nevertheless, people despise them, everywhere.

And the Vampire Bat?

Image via Wikipedia

Although movies and television have spent decades using bats to frighten audiences, people should re-think their negative feelings toward the bat population across America, and consider that of the 1200 recognized species of bats; only three actually feed on blood. And those three species, very rarely have an encounter with humans. Furthermore, any danger that is associated with a bat bite, is attributed to the potential for the transmission of disease; such as rabies. With that being said, the benefits that bats consistently offer to farmers and families across America, definitely overshadows any risk associated; with an unlikely bite or attack.

Related articles

• Iowa on watch for foreign insect invaders (thegazette.com)
• Unfair To Bats (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Mysterious Plague Killing Off Bats (abcnews.go.com)
• Vampire Bats Detect Blood With Their Noses (huffingtonpost.com)

And if you need Bat control, you can count on Vamoosevarmint

Image by ian boyd via Flickr

According to a new study, male Crickets have shown signs of chivalry to their female partners.  In a situation of danger, males will allow the female to enter the burrow first, even if there isn’t enough room for him.  Putting his life in danger for the female, often times allows him to mate with the female more and more often then he would have before.  Although crickets aren’t very intelligent, it is believed to be an instinctive trait among them.  What was long thought to be a human-only trait has now been found in field crickets.  Who knows, maybe other creatures and critters have this trait as well, we just haven’t found them yet.

Related articles

• Chivalry is not dead, at least among crickets (news.bioscholar.com)
• Cricket Chivalry: Ladies First, Please (abcnews.go.com)
• Male Crickets Risk Lives to Let Females Go First (neatorama.com)

His influence has touched so many industries, including our own pest control industry. His impact will be felt in future pest control companies as well.

Apple.com

Image source: http://theage.com.au/

Spider silk is becoming a hot commodity. Because of the strength of spider silk fibers, five times stronger than steel fibers, research is being done on potential uses. From bullet proof skin to artificial tendons, medical doctors are looking to capitalize on the health benefits a super spider silk lends itself to. But sadly the spider silk just doesn’t come quick enough. Noted by the spider silk tapestry that took millions of spiders to create. So scientists genetically engineered silkworms to produce a spider like silk. And that silkworm spider silk officially stopped a bullet. Taking that one step further, silkworm spider silk weaved with human skin was created, tested, and also stopped a bullet.  Interesting enough, a professor from Utah might just have a gold mind on this hands if he can take this mutated silkworms spider silk and produce similar fibers from goats milk. By mutating the goats genes, the goat will produce milk with the same protein in the milk. The Utah professor then takes these proteins, isolates them,  mimics the spider’s weave, and spins a spider like silk.

Related articles

• Spider-Goats of the Day (geeks.thedailywh.at)
• Human Skin Strengthened With Spider Silk Stops Bullet (milkandcookies.com)
• First spider goats, now bulletproof skin?
• Chimera Goat/spider hybrid thing??? …Gee Thanks

This message has been sponsored in part by Bulwark Exterminating, Need Phoenix Scorpion Control?

Dave Royce with Utah based EcoFirst filed suite against a competitor, Johnny Hebda, for posting false complaints online. The judge ruled in favor of EcoFirst, and has ordered the following:

•     Hebda was ordered to pay Royce $1,973,300 in damages.
•     Hebda was ordered to pay Royce’s attorney’s fees.
•     Hebda was ordered to refrain from posting any additional statements on websites (including ComplaintsBoard.com and RipoffReport.com) about Royce, EcoFirst or any affiliated companies.
•     The judge ordered the two websites, Complaintsboard.com and ripoffreport.com, to remove over 20 fictitious postings placed by Hebda.

Per Johnny Hebda’s Linkin profile, he is currently “Vice President of Sales at Green Pest Services”, and it lists at length positions associated with pest control companies: President/Owner at Incite Marketing Inc, President at Hebda Corp, Vice President at Eclipse Marketing, Franchise Owner of Pointe Pest Control, which was acquired by Terminix International.

David Royce, said that he did not take the false complaints lightly because they notably hurt his pest control business. EcoFirst is listed in the top 100 Pest control companies and has grown rapidly. Royce, is happy with the ruling and feels that justice was served.

Related articles

• EcoFirst Pest Control Wins Libel Lawsuit Against Competitor that Seeded Fictitious Complaints Online (prweb.com)
• Top 100 Pest Control Companies – Breaking Down PCT’s List (bulwarkpestcontrol.com)

 Being a thief just doesn’t pay.

Image via Wikipedia

A theif decided to bury his stolen treasure. And it just so happened that a hungry termite colony found the stash. Ultimately termites ate up more than Rs 3 lakh of the Rs 5 lakh in Rs 500 currency notes he had hidden under the ground, which equates to about $6,000 to $10,000 in U.S currency. (currency translation per Jey Pandian) It’s funny most people only think of termite’s costing money due to structural damage.  They eat up more money in the US than all other natural disaster’s combined. But in this case, they literally ate the money. Green bucks are still made from trees, and that’s the same root that termites like to feast upon. Moral of the story… Don’t be a thief!

That’s your Friday Fun Pest Report!

NAGPUR: A satisfied colony of termites proved to be the Nemesis of a thief who had left a considerable stolen booty buried in the premises of a school in Dhantoli. The termites ate up more than Rs 3 lakh of the Rs 5 lakh in Rs 500 currency notes he had hidden under the ground. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-22/nagpur/29802776_1_crime-branch-lucky-madhao-giri

 

Other than bury it, what would do with $6,000?

Annie Cushing… “Buy shoes!”

Wikipedia Mosquito Image

If you live in most of the southwest, you might be surprised to hear that the West Nile Virus has just been found in Los Angeles County. Unfortunately, mosquitoes with the West Nile Virus have been plaguing the Phoenix area for years. According to the Daily Breeze, Mosquitos carrying the West Nile Virus have been found at Torrance’s Madrona Marsh nature Preserve. Two men recently tested positive for the virus and several dead birds were found to have the virus.

According to the article, the reports are more frequent than normal and the outbreak is considered an epidemic since there have been more reports this year than there have been since the virus outbreak in 2004. The outbreak might be due to an especially wet winter followed by a warm summer.

Although the virus can be deadly to animals, it is usually not fatal to humans. Those who are in poor health or the elderly can be at risk but for most, the virus only causes flu-like symptoms. Park officials are getting the word out that the virus has been found in the area and they are doing what they can to kill many of the mosquitoes; mainly cutting back the vegetation and eliminating standing water.