Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Yes. The cockroach can jump… well at lest the Leaproach can jump, and up to 50 times it’s own length!

But this unique roach is the only 1 of ~4000 known roach species that can jump. While a few roach cousins like the American Cockroach are equipped with wings and do fly, the Leaproach has no wings. The secret to the roach jumpers success lies in it’s knees, modified with rubber-band-like resilin. Other differences from most cockroach species are in the antennae and eyes. The antennae also have an additional fixation point to apparently help with navigation. The eye’s are more rounded, perhaps an aerodynamic feature, and larger, possibly helping in sight for better landing. Oh one more distinction of honor for this particular roach…

Leapingroach wins Award for New Species 2011

Leaproach Awarded Top 10 New Species of 2011

According to the local Phoenix school of Arizona State University, the Jumping Roach made the top 10 New Species list for 2011! Who would of ever thought that cockroach would win a popularity contest? Hats off the this modern bug who is setting a new precedents for roaches everywhere.

And if you need Phoenix Roach Control then try Bulwark Exterminating… Shameless I know.

Make it a great day!

Related articles

• Leaping Cockroach Gets Around on Spring-Loaded Knees (wired.com)
• Leaping cockroach jumps as high as a grasshopper (newscientist.com)
• Cockroach Infestation Takes Police Cruisers Off The Road (boston.cbslocal.com)

Thomas Ballantyne ( @Thos003 ) interviewing Griffen Pest Solutions ( @griffinpest )

US Bed Bug Reports | InstectReport.org & bedbugregistry.com

Bed bugs are a hot topic for many U.S. cities. Fortunately most of the metro areas Bulwark Exterminating covers have not been red zones. But I understand Griffin is experiencing a lot of bed bug requests.

Where is Griffin located?

Griffin: Griffin Pest Solutions corporate headquarters is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, plus we have service branches in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor as well. We service most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and Northwest Indiana. Cities in our service area include: Detroit, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Flint and South Bend, IN.

Thos003: New York has had several retail outlets like Abercrombie and Hollister close down for bed bugs. What areas/properties are targets for bed bugs?

Griffin: We have seen a significant amount of bed bug business from the greater Detroit and Ann Arbor areas. This is no surprise as Detroit has been listed by several national pest control companies as one of the top 5 most infested bed bug cities in the U.S. Our bed bug heat treatment service teams are booked two to three weeks in advance. As business continues to grow, we are anticipating adding a 3rd shift.

Our biggest customers for bed bugs this year have been apartment communities and hotels. However, we have also treated college dorms, homeless shelters, hospitals, assisted living centers, recreational facilities, housing commissions and a good number of residential homes. Clearly bed bugs are spreading, with no end in sight.

Thos003: There is a lot of doom and gloom around the whole bed bug topic. The products that nearly made bed bugs extinct 30 years ago are no longer allowed by the EPA. So controlling bed bugs now is a whole new ball game. We are having to re-invent a solution.

How do bed bugs spread from property to property? And from city to city?

Griffin: Bed bugs are known as hitch-hikers. They are easily transported on people and their belongings. Some of the most common ways of getting bed bugs include picking them up while traveling. By simply putting your luggage on the bed in a hotel, bed bugs could latch on, or crawl in your luggage and you can bring them home with you.

Thos003: Are there other ways for them to spread beyond them being carried by their hosts?

Griffin: If you live in multi-unit housing, such as apartments or dorms, where you share a common wall, you may get bed bugs from your neighbor. Bed bugs only have to travel about 6 inches, through your walls, ceiling, or floors to reach you. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent this from happening.

Adult Bed Bugs grow to 3/8 inch

Another common way to get bed bugs is to buy used furniture at garage sales, antique shops or resale shops. Furniture is rarely inspected and bed bugs can easily hide in furniture cracks. Once inside your house, the bed bugs will multiply. People need to understand that bed bugs are not a cleanliness issue. Bed bugs are a people issue.

Thos003: A lot of bugs go dormant during the cold seasons. What about bed bug?

Do you expect bed bugs to die down for the winter?

Griffin: Living in a cold weather climate, we typically see insect activity dramatically decline in the winter. However, with bed bugs we do not anticipate a drop in activity. Bed bugs are on the rise across the country and Michigan has just scratched the surface of the bed bug issue. With the cold weather, people will be spending more time indoors, where it’s warm. Bed bugs live where people live, so the cold weather does not affect them.

Thos003: Wow, Christmas coming up soon and a lot of travelers.  How will this affect bed bugs?

Kids are coming home from college; people are traveling to visit family and friends, and bringing bed bugs with them. We expect to see a spike in bed bug activity about 45-60 days after the holidays. This is about the amount of time it takes for bed bugs to multiply to a significant infestation level.

What can one do to protect themselves while traveling?

Griffin: When traveling, people need to be vigilant. If they’re staying in a hotel, inspect the room before you bring your luggage to the room. When doing an inspection, bring a bright flashlight. Look for insects the size, shape and color of an apple seed. Bed bugs also shed their skins as they grow, so you may see some casings. Pull back the bed sheets and check the mattress for small rust stains, bed bug excrement, about the side of a pencil eraser. Look under the mattress, inside the end tables and most importantly, behind the headboard. If you can take the headboard off the wall, do it. Hotels can change out bedding and mattress, but usually don’t switch the headboard. If there are no bed bugs behind the headboard, you can be reasonably sure your room does not have bed bugs. If you see any signs of bed bugs, ask for another room nowhere near the room you just came from…or check out of the hotel.

We also tell people not to place luggage on the bed or floor. Keep it as far away from the bed as possible. When traveling, our team puts luggage in the bathtub. We also travel with large zip-lock clothing bags and put all dirty and unworn clothes into the bag. When you get home, immediately dump the contents of the bag into your clothes dryer and turn it on the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes. Don’t overload the dryer though. You need the hot air to circulate. Vacuum your luggage and then store it in your garage or basement, away from where you sleep. Be sure to remove the vacuum bag, double bag it and throw it away. I know all of this seems excessive, but it is well worth the hassle. Getting rid of bed bugs can be very expensive.

Thos003: That is some great advice.  I’ve got some of my own precautions I use when traveling.  The bit about keeping the luggage away from the bed and floor is priceless. But honestly never considered placing it in the tub. Thanks!  I am sure there are lot of people searching the internet right now for some tips on controlling bed bugs.  Lot of good and some bad advice online as well.  Are there some other resources people should use online for bed bug advice?

Griffin: Yes. Be proactive before you travel, check out www.bedbugregistry.com and www.tripadvisor.com. On these sites, consumers report bed bugs. BedBugRegistry is straight forward. However, on TripAdvisor, you will need to search by city name and key words “bed bugs”, and then read the consumer comments. If a property is listed or a consumer comments about bed bugs, you may want to stay somewhere else.

Thos003: Awesome. And while these precautions may seem extreme, getting a bed bug infestation in my own home isn’t something I would ever want to experience. So again, great advice.  I would also add one more tidbit for the holiday season, send all of your new clothes through a dry cycle when you bring them home from your Christmas Shopping.

Learn more about bedbugs on www.GriffinPestSolutions.com webpage about Bed Bugs.

Related Bed Bug Articles:

Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite, or ruin your mattress

The Beginning of the Bed Bug Epidemic

Happy Thanksgiving wishes from your pest control guys at Bulwark Exterminating.

Thanksgiving Turkey from your pest control service.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. It is very humbling to sit and ponder upon one’s fortune. From a guy that knows what it like to have the Helper without the Hamburger, no matter your situation there is always something to be thankful for.  Cliche, but “An attitude of gratitude will lift your altitude.”

So while I was rocking my baby girl in the wee hours of the morning, I realized despite  my body telling me that I would rather be sleeping, that this moment would create an endearing memory. Further, I am thankful for each and every smile my little on gives me. A smile, such a small act for us. But for her it takes almost all of her energy to find that muscle memory and curl those lips. Those smiles don’t last more than a brief moment. But the stamp it leaves is timeless.

And so it is that many of the mundane things of the world get overlooked. A simple smile, a kind word, a thank you. At the risk of loosing some of the macho “We toy with bugs” perception, Bulwark Exterminating would like to take the time to thank so many of our technicians for the little things they do. Things they believe go unnoticed. But these small things, we as a company hold to be monumental acts of service. Things our customers have expressed their gratitude for. We would like to echo those customers in their thanks with our Thanksgiving list.

Bulwark’s 2010 Thanksgiving List:

When I was a waiter I was trained on how to be a server or servant, as in one that provides service. Among all the rules of providing service as a waiter there was one simple rule that topped the list, “Never let the cup run dry.” This one ear mark was a key ingredient to providing a pristine dining experience. In fact, we provided water as soon as the guest sat down. Even before taking a drink order. Arguably giving water away could hurt profits, but this level of service is superb. Once a drink order was taken monitoring the beverage level and promptly re-filling empty glasses was monument on the quality service check list. Sadly, I often find this level of service lacking in many restaurants today.

All smiles from this joy rider.

So when I received a prompt replacement of my beverage today almost in the same instant I was placing down my empty cup I was in awe. Without even having to ask! And with such exact execution… Impressive. But even more shocking was that this superb act wasn’t even performed by waiter at a restaurant. This stellar service was provided by a southwest flight attendant. Astounding.

Thank you Jim. Thank you southwest for putting a smile on my face today. Not only are your rates great, your on-time arrivals dependable, and your luggage department free of charge, but additionally you have great employees that provide geniune service. In the Bulwark pest control world, service is all about the little things. Jim and Southwest Airlines showed that they feel the same way about quality service.

Thanks Jim for the excellent service.

The internet is a sea of information.  Some salty, some entertaining, some exciting, and some information is just useless.  The world of pest control has been around for some time now.  There are industry giants that have been around for close to 100 years now. The pests may evolve , but not much really changes on a daily bases. So I sometimes wonder “how can anyone add new and valuable content to the topic of pest control?” Sure there is a new love song everyday of the week. Yes, Facebook is revolutionizing the social scene.  But PEST CONTROL???

But, as with love songs, it’s the passion that keeps the flame burning.  And while pest control isn’t most people’s topic of choice, there are those that carry the torch because they love what they do.  This past week a fellow exterminator reminded me why pest control is a good business to be in. Hearts Pest Control out of San Diego, really does have heart.

Hearts Pest Control, San Diego Pest Control Service that Cares.

Written by Gerry Weitz and reproduced with his permission.

Published in PMP magazine
http://www.mypmp-digital.com/pmpdigital/201004#pg14

Take Back My Paycheck

It is hard to part with money, yet I enjoy personally handing out paychecks.  At my office, the employees usually take a second look at the envelope before opening to see the paycheck.  Occasionally, they’ll look at the envelope and say, “Take this back, you didn’t write a fortune cookie.”

Whether or not the paycheck is particularly good, the staff enjoys seeing genuine notes addressed from me to them personally:

“Outstanding teamwork!  Good start to a great career at Hearts!”

“Love those extra efforts at client retention!  Thanks so much.”

“Mistakes get made.  Don’t let it get you down.  We’ll get there together.”

Something special is happening when employees care first about a small, heartfelt message before their paychecks.  It not only inspires them.  It inspires me.  I’m not a fool to think the employees would be here if they didn’t get a decent paycheck.  Nevertheless, people will exit companies that don’t inspire them.  Appreciation is a powerful word.  Combining that with inspiration for a better future is that much more empowering.

Great companies continue to inspire staff even as they grow.  Writing a personal note to one random employee each week might start a workplace legend.  There is something wrong when employees say, “It’s all about the numbers.”  If that sounds like your company, beware!  One way to prove you are listening to staff is by responding with communications that show you care about their personal and family welfare and their careers at your company.

Communicate those little things that make your employees want to feel as happy to come back on Monday morning, as they do walking out on Friday with paycheck in hand.

-Gerry

www.heartspm.com

Need San Diego Pest Control? Call Gerry at Hearts Pest Control. He will work on luxury homes to downtown San Diego condos. What ever your pest control needs are in San Diego, call on Hearts.

Putting the Service back into Pest Control

I really enjoyed Gerry’s article and from what I have learned about Gerry I can tell that he runs a good operation. Service companies should understand service from the top down. Service should be a genuine action of your personal choice with the intent to help another. To be genuine, the giver will have no motives to question. An act of service is also not given out of obligation. It is about caring. While I am not an employee of Hearts, I believe Gerry cares for his employees.

-Thomas Ballantyne
“Yes, I am a pest control guy.”

Related articles

• The 3 Most Dangerous Phoenix Pest Control Problems [OPINION] (blogpestcontrol.com)
• My trip to Raliegh NC – Bulwark Pest Control Guy (pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com)
• DIY Pest Control to Prevent Pest Control Problems This Fall (blogpestcontrol.com)

I remember a call that I got last April, and it is a month this customer will never forget.  While in her laundry room, she noticed an odd, gray bug clinging to the wall.  She showed it to her husband and neither of them knew exactly what it was, so into the garbage disposal it went.  Afterwards, she went out of town leaving her dogs and husband at home for about ten days.  When she returned, she found another odd bug in the laundry room.  She also found ticks crawling on the walls, floors and embedded in her poor little pups!  She immediately called the vet and picked up some very expensive tick guard.  She went to the local pet store and bought even more expensive sprays and foggers to try to stop these horrible little creatures from their massive invasion. She had to take all my dogs to the groomer and have them shaved so she could check them for ticks on an hourly basis!

Her tick problem was just getting worse so the neighbor, vet and groomer suggested she seek professional intervention.  Heeding the neighbor’s advice, she called Bulwark and spoke to me.  I made a special trip to their home the very next day because I could hear and feel the frustration and overall panic in her voice.  The customer said in a review “Chris and his technicians came to our home several more times treating the yard, inside the home and even provided them with some tick spray for our dogs!”  We answered their calls and her questions in a caring professional manner.  It took about two months to completely eradicate the ticks and all their eggs, but they are happy to report they are tick free!  Bulwark sprays their home once a month and they continue to be pest free.  Living on the desert of Phoenix is beautiful but leaves everyone more susceptible to many critters, large and small.  The small ones are oftentimes the most irritating and destructive.  She continued to say, “Thank goodness for the professional team of Bulwark and their ability to take care of all our pest problems.   I always recommend Bulwark and Chris Benham to anyone who does not want a pest problem!”

Chris Benham

Phoenix AZ

Bulwark has gone through a few different stages in its marketing.  To say the least, finding a consistent voice that really communicates what your company, culture, service, ideology, and values are all about isn’t as simple as it might seem.  Some people refer to this as branding, others call it public relations, or simply put its your public face.

Well as the new year rolls in, we want to visit this thought just a little bit more.

“Live a pest free life.” Catchy phrase that we promoted for a little while.  It conveys the hope and aspiration of what a pest control company delivers to its customers.  But it sounds almost too cliche.

“Like Family.” Perfect for how Bulwark views and treats all within its sphere of influence.  Employees, customers, we want all to feel at home with us. But is it too vague?

“Small enough to care, big enough to deliver.” This seems to hit the nail on the head.  Bulwark is the perfect medium ground between small family owned companies, and the larger corporate pest control services.  Bulwark still remains a family owned operation and services thousands of US homes.

“Do you have a Bulwark protecting your home?” Now this is a play off the definition of Bulwark, a defensive wall or barrier.  So in light of the definition we hoped that people would catch on to the goal of our service.  Get the bugs out and keep them out.  But, like a bad joke, if you have to explain it then it doesn’t work.

Needless to say, at this point, we still have no really marketing message.  Bulwark’s pest control service simply rolls forward by providing good service.  Business comes from referrals.  Referrals come from providing good service.  In the end, if we perfect what we do best, pest control service, then we won’t have to do the talking at all.  Our customers will do it for us.

“ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.”

To sum it up… Live a pest free life by getting your Bulwark today from a pest control service that is small enough to treat you like family but big enough to do it right.

It is Christmas Day and we hope that all is well for you and yours.  Merry Christmas from the bug guys.

Now Proudly Displayed in our Gilbert AZ location

Scanning the Bar code for the Boss. To show him this high tech stuff.

This is way cool! Here we are!

You can actually scan this from your computer screen!

Bulwark was honored to receive its first letter last Friday from Google Maps.  The letter boasts a big congratulations on front and a very pretty window sticker.  Then it went on to explain that “Between July 1 and September 30″ each location had been found X number of times and received X number of requests “for driving directions or other information about your business.” After doing some digging online and checking to see how legitimate this honor was, Bulwark’s owner found listed on Google’s site the following

“Over 100,000 businesses were identified as Favorite Places, representing less than 1% of the 28 million U.S. businesses. We believe that our standards for selecting businesses are as selective or more selective than other companies which have run similar initiatives.”

“Google users “decided” based on their actions, and we sent the decals.” http://www.google.com/help/maps/favoriteplaces/business/faq.html

The owner quickly recognized the value in this recognition from Google and a email went out Monday morning to all of our locations to keep their eyes peeled for these envelops.  Sure enough, 3 other branches of Bulwark had received the letters!

“I got the golden ticket.” was the email reply from one of our Austin managers.  While he may have been joking, the owner and web team were not.

“It is an honor to receive this and we are happy to post the sticker in our window boasting Google as well for being an industry leader.” said Adam, the owner and CEO of Bulwark.  “And hopefully more are on their way.”

Jon McCain step out on a limb and called attention to some of the new funds going out of the national government for the sake of economic stimulus.  A recent report from our local Phoenix Pest Controller debates the value of this stimulus money when it comes to researching ants.  The report says that 3.5 jobs will be supported at the Arizona schools with this near million of taxpayer’s dollars.  The 3.5 are only jobs in the schools, and it does not account for the workers that will be needed in the field research.  Even still, should the state of Arizona get $950,000 to research harvester ants and turtle ants?

Visit the original post at:

http://pestcontrolphoenixaz.net/Pest-Control/2009/12/arizona-gets-near-1-million-dollars-to-research-ants/

and add your thoughts on if $950,000 is too much for ant research.