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Fruit fly sex lives impact effectiveness of pest control strategies

Scientists in Australia have been hard at work watching fruit flies mate to figure out how fly sex is affecting your food. During this process they are discovering more effective pest control strategies. For a great read, check out:

http://nittygrittyscience.com/2012/09/06/fruit-fly-sex-lives-impact-effectiveness-of-pest-control-strategies/

Mosquitoes Plague the Northwest as West Nile Cases Increase

Recent rains, warm weather, and high humidity have made mosquito control in the Northwest challenging. The number of foreclosed properties in the area, with their sometimes un-kept swimming pools and scattered backyard debris that’s collecting water, is making mosquito control more difficult.

http://blog.pestcontrolceus.com/mosquitoes-plague-canyon-hills-neighborhood-as-west-nile-cases-increase/

New Kind of Ant Discovered in New York City

We can now add one more type of ant to the 13,000 plus known breeds in the world. A new type of ant was discovered by a biologist earlier this week near 63^rd and Broadway in New York City.

http://www.longislandpestcontrolblog.com/2012/09/06/new-type-of-new-york-ant/

Scorpion Sting Leaves Arizona Woman With Massive $83,000 Bill

Our friends at Pest Control Mesa AZ bring us this unfortunate story coming out of Phoenix. Imagine being in your garage, opening a box of air conditioner filters, when you are suddenly stung by a scorpion—and that’s not even the worst part! Read all about it at:

http://pestcontrolmesaaz.com/scorpion-sting-leaves-arizona-woman-with-massive-83000-bill/

Top 10 Considerations when Hiring Pest Control Companies

Here are ten criteria our customers are taking into consideration when they are looking to hire a pest control professional. As a pest control operator, look to align yourself with most of these demands to be successful in the industry.

http://xtremeartandentertaiment.blogspot.com/2012/09/top-10-considerations-for-pest-control.html

The Basics of Dust Mites

For all the ins and outs about dust might behavior, including: where they like to hide, how they get into your home, and the health concerns they can cause, check out:

http://www.richterslawncare.com/detroit-pest/the-basics-of-dust-mites/

The Culture of the Negotiated Pest Control Transactions

Here’s a great blog for us pest control operators that explores the art of negotiating prices among different cultures, and how American’s are catching on. There’s a great take home lesson at the end on setting prices while still being able to negotiate with potential and existing customers. Check out:

http://heartspm.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/culture-of-negotiated-pest-control-price/

Tips on Hiring Pest Control Services

This article provides an interesting consumer perspective on exactly what our customers want in a pest control service. As pest control operators, we can look to model ourselves, and our customer service, according to these guidelines.

http://www.linksparadise.com/?p=20782

August Means Hungry Yellow Jackets

Heritage Pest Control of New Jersey reminds us all that August is Yellow Jacket season. These aggressive wasps have been busy the previous summer months building their paper-like nests on the ground, and now they’re on the lookout for food. For a few tips on dealing with Yellow Jackets:

http://www.heritagepestcontrolnj.com/blog/2012/08/27/august-means-hungry-yellow-jackets/

Borax/Boric Acid for Pest Control

Many of our possible customers are still turning to the toxic Borax/Boric Acid to help eliminate unwanted pests. If someone comes in contact with the powder it can cause health problems like nausea, vomiting, and throat swelling. Many consumers turn to the Borax method because they are uneducated about many of our industry’s safe, all-natural, or organic pest control methods.

http://www.momprepares.com/2012/08/27/borax-vs-boric-acid-for-pest-control-safe-and-effective/

Africanized Bees on Attack in Arizona!

Our friends at Pest Control Mesa, AZ bring us a frightening incident about a grandmother being attacked by Africanized “Killer” Bees. The women’s 4-year-old granddaughter witnessed the attack, and likely saved her life.

http://pestcontrolmesaaz.com/africanized-bees-on-attack-in-arizona/

Fall Season Pest Control

As the weather starts to cool this fall, pests of all kinds will be making their way into our homes in search of food and the warmer air. For some helpful how-to’s on keeping these pests out of your home this fall:

http://aaapestcontrolmyrtlebeach.com/541/fall-season-pest-control/

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Pest Control Held to New Standards

New legislation has been passed in Annapolis, MD banning toxic pesticides within 25 feet of schools, daycares, government buildings, and waterways. Starting July 1, 2013 pesticides will only be used in emergency infestations. This new legislation is following the same pest control approach of other cities like nearby Washington, DC.

http://annapolis.patch.com/articles/pest-control-held-to-new-standards-by-council

Parasites and Products

Here is a great blog on what the pest control industry is using to treat tick and fleas. Some Pyrethroids like Permethrin are working well for fleas as well as ticks. The article emphasizes customer preparation and education.

http://brownpestcontrol.com/aug-21-2012-parasites-and-products/

Tips For Cleaner, More Energy Efficient Living

McDonald Pest Control offers some great tips on how all of us pest control operators can live more energy-efficient, cleaner, greener lives.

http://www.mcdonaldpestcontrol.com/st-petersburg-pest/tips-for-cleaner-more-energy-efficient-living/

Don’t Let Bedbugs Ruin Your Vacation

Our Pest Control Atlanta friends give us some great pointers on the steps we need to take to prevent bringing those pesky bedbugs home with us while on vacation.

http://pestcontrolatlantaga.com/2012/08/dont-let-bedbugs-ruin-your-vacation/

Flea Prevention Tips For Families

Here is a good read on the life-cycle of fleas, and how they can be prevented.

http://www.modernpest.com/blog/flea-prevention-tips-for-new-england-families/

West Nile Cases Surge in Mississippi, Pest Control Companies Prepare For More

Great information on how Pest Control Operators can cope with the surge of business due to all theses outbreaks. 78 people have contracted West Nile in the state of Mississippi.

http://www.fieldaware.com/2012/08/21/west-nile-cases-surge-in-mississippi-pest-control-companies-prepare-for-more/

Brown Recluse Spiders In The News

The drought and heat are forcing spiders, like the poisonous Brown Recluse, into our homes. We don’t need to be afraid of this home invasion, but the article does offer some helpful preventative measures we all can take.

http://lennyspestcontrol.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/brown-recluse-spiders-in-the-news/

Related articles

• Watch: West Nile Virus Detected in 43 States
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As pest control operators, we encounter many bizarre pest situations almost daily.

Whether it’s a house crawling with roaches, 

maggot stuffed Oreo cookies,

or a spider’s nest crawling with it’s young,

these experiences will stick with us for our lifetimes.

Spider Living in Women’s Ear

A story that has been sticking with me comes to us from China. A woman who was seeking medical attention went into China’s Changsha Central Hospital because she felt a burning and itching inside her ear. To her horror, and the horror of her doctors, a spider was found living in her ear canal. The women’s physician, a Dr. Liu Sheng, speculates the spider made its way inside her ear canal while she was sleeping and had been there for approximately five days. I’m guessing the experience marks the first time in the doctor’s career in which he looked inside an ear and discovered something looking back.

The spider could not be removed with surgical tools, because the attempt would only drive the spider deeper inside the women’s ear and force it to dig its barbs into the ear canal. Instead of manually retracing the imbedded spider, Dr. Sheng opted to flush it out with a saline solution. The procedure was a success, and the women reportedly wept with gratitude after the spider crawled out.

In related news, ear plug sales have made a sharp sales increase this week.

Spiders and other insects will crawl into an ear looking for harborage, moisture, and heat. I recently watched as my brother-in-law had to have a tick removed from his ear canal. Like the women in China, my brother-in-law complained about an ear ache. After dealing with the pain for a couple of months he decided to seek medical attention. At first, the doctor thought he saw a sack of worms inside his ear canal. He poured hydrogen peroxide inside his ear and to their shock, a huge tick came crawling out instead of a sack of worms. The tick’s body had been mistaken for an egg sack and its legs for the worms. It was later determined that the tick made its way inside his ear while he was swimming in a nearby pond.

As a pest control operator, what has been your biggest pest related horror story? Please comment below!

Source: Huffington Post

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Mosquito Alert (Photo credit: Travis S.)

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) is growing more and more concerned about the level of mosquito control as state budgets shrink. Cash-strapped states face financial hardships due to the extensive wildfires this summer, leaving many mosquito control districts with a bigger job to do and fewer financial resources.

Mosquito Control Districts

Mosquito Control Districts are government agencies that promote health and well being by protecting the public from disease and annoyance caused by mosquitoes. Districts are governed by a Board of Trustees, each representing one of the incorporated cities or counties within the District’s boundaries. Each Trustee is appointed by a City Council Member or by a County Board of Supervisors.

West Nile Virus

The frightening increase of West Nile cases across the country is major reason the AMCA is alarmed about the lack of state’s financial resources for mosquito control. West Nile Virus cases are at their highest levels since 2004, with 241 documented cases across the country. Of the 241 cases, 26 people have died as a direct result of their West Nile infection.

“It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years,” said Marc Fischer, a CDC medical epidemiologist. “Regardless of the reasons for the increase, people should be aware of the West Nilevirus activity in their area and take action to protect themselves and their family.”

 

For more on The West Nile Virus spikes: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/15/dallas-mayor-declares-emergency-as-west-nile-virus-spreads/

What it means for the Pest Control Industry

With the increase of West Nile activity, and the lack of funding for government sponsored mosquito control districts, the general public must rely on the pest control industry to help with the crisis. Marketing efforts must increase in the 42 states West Nile cases have been documented, along with educating the public about the dangers of the deadly virus.

Help get the word out!

For more information visit Mosquito.org

Image via Flickr

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced, that it has plans to ban 20 rat and mouse control products, because they use “loose” bait. The EPA claims that the products are especially dangerous, because they are sold for use in homes where unsupervised children or pets, may come into contact with them.

“There is no question these rodenticides can cause harm in someone who misuses them, but are we prepared to ban them entirely and allow rodents, mice, and other vermin to destroy 25 percent of our food stocks; the way they do throughout the rest of the world?” asks a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Those who have studied the effects of the EPA’s proposed ban, say that the agency’s plan could also have a profound effect, on the public’s health and safety. They warn that the ban may force people to rely on products, from an alternate class of rodenticides, which may have no known antidote. The proposed plan could also force consumers to avoid treating their homes, unless they can afford to hire a pest control professional; to deal with a rodent invasion. Because some families do not have the addition income, that would allow them to afford an exterminator, they may have to endure a rodent outbreak; without treating it. You can imagine how this would eventually lead, to serious health concerns.

Opposition to the EPA ban says that the agency is formulating it’s decision, on a data that was relevant between 1993 and 2008. The report said that the American Association of Poison Control Centers, received 12,000 to 15,000 reports of rat and mouse poison exposures each year, regarding children under 6 years old. Improper use or lack of parental supervision, the opposition says, is not a good enough reason to ban such useful product; from the marketplace.  They fear is that the people living in poverty, will be the ones most adversely affected by the proposed ban. With professional exterminators likely being too expensive for them to hire, there is a higher propensity for them to be afflicted by rodent problems, and the most likely candidates for serious health issues.

Related articles

• NPMA Estimates 21 Million Rodents Are Seeking Food & Shelter (blogpestcontrol.com)
• How much of a Pie Chart Looks Like Pac-Man per Matt Cutts? (dreamsystemsmedia.com)
• The Key to Great Rodent IPM, presented by Dr. Bobby Corrigan (bugoffpest.wordpress.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Don’t invite these pest over for Thanksgiving!

The National Pest Management Association continues to warn homeowners, that when the temperatures outside turn cooler, an estimated twenty-one million rodents will begin their search for warmth, water, food and shelter; to wait-out the long and cold winter months. Ideally, they will be looking to the cozy homes, offices, buildings and structures, across most of the United States and North America.

Pest management experts and industry professionals have identified garages and basements, as ideal targets for rats and mice, looking to invade homes and businesses. Smaller rodents like mice, require only a quarter of an inch, to enter a home, structure or dwelling. This means that determined rodents can gain entry through cracks in the foundation, air conditioner and dryer vents, pipes; or gaps in electrical wiring. In fact, some mice can even push their way through tiny openings, the size of a pencil.

Once inside a warm dwelling, it will not take long for a very serious pest control problem, to develop. Females rodent invaders can give birth to a litter of five to ten mice, every thirty days, and they breed all year-round. Furthermore, because some rats and mice are carriers of disease, like salmonella and hantavirus, the real danger comes when rodent droppings begin to collect; and must be safely removed from the home.

Using a vacuum (Shop Vac or like appliance), homeowners must collect all of the rat and/or mouse droppings they have discovered, and discard them outdoors; far away from the dwelling. Pest management officials warn that whoever will be responsible for collecting and disposing of the rodent droppings, should wear a protective mask, to avoid breathing in the associated fumes. This precautionary measure is especially important, if anyone who is coming into contact with the rodent droppings, suffers from asthma; or any other kind of related respiratory issue.

Related articles

• 9 Cheap Ways To Keep Your Home Pest-Free This Winter (businessinsider.com)
• DIY Pest Control to Prevent Pest Control Problems This Fall (blogpestcontrol.com)
• Limitations of lab mice reveal limits of science (caritasestveritas.wordpress.com)
• Infestation nation: Why Britain is being overrun by pests (independent.co.uk)

Cuban scientists believe they have discovered a major breakthrough in the fight against Cancer.  Vidatox, a homeopathic product derived from the venom of “Red Scorpions” (Rhopalurus junceus), has shown promising results from 15 years of research.  The medication is designed to be an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent, and has been effective as such on more than 15 various cancer cell lines.  Over 5,000 Red Scorpions have been used to develop and produce Vidatox.  Now that manipulation of the natural scorpion venom has been perfected, researchers plan to explore synthetic versions of the toxin.

The Rhopalurus junceus or “Red Scorpions” are indigenous to Cuba and known to have moderate toxicity levels.  While people are regularly stung in Cuba and Haiti, very few deaths have been reported due to negative, allergic reactions.  The Red Scorpion is also one of the few scorpion species that is known to make an audible sound when disturbed.

Vidatox Medicine Made of Scorpion Venom

Where to buy Scorpion Venom as Medicine AKA Vidatox?

We haven’t quite discovered this out yet, but Vidatox is already a registered product and shipments are set to go out to countries in Europe and South America.

Can I Sell Scorpion Venom?

Maybe.  Considering that the market price of scorpion venom is at $38 million per gallon, it would certainly be nice.

The most venomous and dangerous scorpion in the United States is the Bark Scorpion and is primarily found in the southwestern, desert regions of the country.  The Bark Scorpions is also commonly known as the Arizona Bark Scorpion.  Because of the extreme heat, Phoenix scorpion control companies battle numerous scorpion cases for the better part of six months every year.  Maybe these little critters can start working for us from now on.

Scientists are also exploring various ways scorpion venom can be used in common, every day life.  For example, venom is being altered and tested as an actual pesticide to combat household pests.  Venom is also being developed into variations of morphine that may potentially be used in the medical field.  That almost makes a trip to ER worth it.

“Nurse!  I need 50 CCs of scorpion venom, STAT!”

Bed Bug feeding on human

Today is the start of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Bed Bug Summit in Washington DC. The government sponsored 2-day event will discuss regulation, research and prevention on a national level for multiple industries. This is the EPA‘s second such conference in two years, as the first was held in 2009 in Virginia.

Bed bug summits have become an event of high demand lately. In September of 2010, the first ever North American Bed Bug Summit took place in Chicago. With a more traditional summit atmosphere, bed bug experts and professionals gathered to discuss the ever-growing problem that continues to plague major cities and small towns across the county. Consider these summits to be the Super Bowls of bed bug extermination.

So what’s in the playbook? ABC News reported the agenda in Chicago consisted of seminars focused on detection and treatment. Vendors from all over the nation were on site with their anti-bed bug products. For example, on display was an air tight bag designed to seal your laundry during travel, after-which dissolves in the washer, eliminating the risk of opening the bag and letting those little critters escape. Seems like a good idea!

If you haven’t experienced bed bugs first hand, count yourself lucky. ABC also reported that at least 5 states have actually solicited help from the Department of Defense, which gives a whole new meaning to “national security”. I would love to be there for that mission. “Lock and load! Weapons are hot!” right before they bust down the doors to little Jimmy’s room and secure the area. We have veterans here in the company, so our respect goes out to all the men and women that keep us safe.

While we do no target bed bugs specifically, we do advise proper prevention and detection before hiring a professional to service your residence. Bed bug sniffing dogs are a unique and effective way to determine the presence and severity of any infestation.  To our Arizona neighbors and businesses, we recommend AJ and his trusty dog Marcie, over at K9 Bedbug Inspections.

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of having to make an emergency stop into a tire shop during the middle of a very busy day. No, it wasn’t for white wall weevils infesting the new Good Years just shipped in but my tires were showing severe wear & I was afraid to go one more mile before having them changed. Now it was a very interesting day let alone expensive but as with everything that comes along in my life I try to learn something positive so at the very least I can count all things a ‘plus’ for me and not a negative. This is what my day at the tire store revealed to me.

While waiting for my service I went through 15 cups of coffee and about an hour and a 1/2 of the ‘How thing’s were made’ marathon on the eh emm, free TV in the lobby. The first was how fortune cookies were made and let me just say there are more lottery winners with fortune cookie numbers than anything else so I may just try and forget what I know about bugs and Chinese restaurants to get some of that action. The rest of what I watched was how to make a cheeseburger and the show took you through each ingredient from start to finish and I found it fascinating. What struck me the most was the amount of thinking that goes into even the simplest things and the technology to ensure that each onion, burger pattie, bun and even ketchup was PERFECT and has no varying characteristic in it so that each time you bite into a burger, it’s always the same. A quick example was the ketchup testing lady who measures the viscosity of every batch that gets made. YES that’s right, I said viscosity, determined by the ketchup’s velocity- I mean there’s nothing worse than runny ketchup on a burger is there? This of course got me to thinking about pest control products- I mean isn’t that a normal transition? (well maybe just for me)

Why is it that every pint of Suspend SC or bucket of Boric Acid you buy is exactly the same every time? Much like the ketchup lady there are years of testing and millions of dollars that have gone into getting every detail exactly right and making it duplicatable. Now let’s go one further because we all know the ‘cide’ at the end of any word means to kill and if any aspect of pest control needs to be scrutinized, logic would say this would be the most critical area of concern. To begin with not any old pesticide can just be made up in the garage and put out on the market. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is in charge of setting standards for testing pesticides under the FIFRA Act (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide) and Toxic Substance Control Act, TSCA. Now the EPA doesn’t do all the said testing per se but sets what is called “Good Lab Practices” which the firms testing a pesticide must adhere to and any deviation or failed test is always met with lengthy, expensive retesting which averages out to about 10 years for final approval and a registration number. Now I tried to do due diligence with research on this subject to give you what I could but found the whole subject ruled by braniac’s far to smart for me. These are of course the same types of smart people who write our labels for how to properly use the final product and I have a pretty strong opinion on that you can read here, but I digress. Here are just a few things which the pesticides you buy and use are tested for and the purpose or goal of such testing.

Acute Oral Lethality, Acute Dermal Lethality, Acute Inhalation Lethality, Primary Dermal Irritation, Dermal Sensitization, Primary Ocular Irritation, Acute Delayed Neurotoxicity, 21 Day Dermal Exposure, 90 Day Dermal Exposure, 90 Day Feeding Study, 90 Day Inhalation Exposure, 90 Day Neurotoxicity Assessment, Chronic Feeding Study, Oncoginicity Study, Teratogenicity Study, Reproduction Study, Gene Mutation, Chromosomal Aberration Studies, Other Genotoxic Effects, General Metabolism and Domestic Animal Safety.

Now these test do not include the barrage of environmental studies but it took over 485 pages to just explain the scope of this list so I think you get the picture here. The goal of the testing is just as lofty in it’s explanation.

As defined by Hayes (1975), toxicology is “the qualitative and especially the quantitative study of the injurious effects of chemical and physical agents, as observed in alterations in structure and response in living systems; it includes the application of the findings of these studies to the evaluation of safety and to the prevention of injury to humans and all useful forms of life.”

So while this is all pretty impressive what does this mean to you and to I? While the world screams foul and greed to the big chemical companies of the world, insecticides are perhaps the most tested substances known to man. This does not ensure 100% safety because it does come down to the applicator but it should at least put to rest some fears that these products in and of themselves are not evil or oozing contamination and injury just by existing. Pair up these pest control products with a professional technician who undergoes rigorous testing of another kind and you have the makings of a very uniform, reliable and effective service that will keep you and your family bug free. Pesticides are made to benefit mankind and have been so for many years and are only getting better. So the next time you’re waiting for that ketchup to slowly pour out of the bottle you can thank the ketchup velocity lady for that very predictable result and just as well, the next time you have a serious pest control issue and pesticides need to be used. You can thank your chemical manufacturers and the tech who applied it professionally to kill those bugs.

Jerry Schappert

The Bug Doctor

*Thoughts and ideas expressed in this article are that of the author.