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Posts Tagged ‘Spider’

Pest Control Links- Weekly Links Round-Up

June 14th, 2013 No comments

Pest Control Links- Weekly Links Round-Up

 

Pest Test

 

Pest Test

 

The pest professionals at Bulwark Exterminating put together this fun Pest Test. Test your eyes. What is the first pest you see? Is this pest the one you fear the most? Have you ever been bitten or stung by this pest? How many pests can you find?

 

Carpet Beetles

The pest professionals give us some useful information about carpet beetles, including: description, control, controlling larvae, and other characteristics. More…

Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

Yup, it’s that time of year again. All of us must endure those blood-sucking mosquitoes. Here’s a little information as to why they bite. More…

Keeping The Bugs Away: Pest Control Tips Anyone Can Use

Here are a few simple tips anyone can do to help ensure the home and property remain pest free. More…

Carpenter Bees Can Cause A Lot Of Damage! What Can You Do?

They look like small bumble bees, but these flying pests are nothing like regular bees… Especially with their destructive nesting habits. More…

 

Pest Of The Week: The Hobo Spider

 

Hobo Spider Close Up

Grayish brown in color, with dark zigzag stripes, the Hobo spider is an aggressive spider found in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho, and British Colombia). It is suggested that these spiders are so aggressive because they have such poor eyesight. They have to attack things that move, or else they would starve.

With their impressive leg span, these spiders can reach a diameter of 1 ½ inches. They build funnel shaped webs, with oval openings, near the foundation of your home; and will aggressively attack anything that disturbs its web.

Although Hobo spiders aggressively bite, their bites are not as dangerous as once believed. There are many misconceptions out there regarding the lethality of the Hobo spider; comparing it to the more dangerous Black Widow spider and Brown Recluse spider. These rumors have recently been debunked.

 

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Northwest Pests By Season Infographic

May 29th, 2013 2 comments

Did A Spider Bite Kill Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman?

Jeff Hanneman of Slayer at Tuska-Festival

Did A Spider Bite Kill Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman?

The world of heavy metal is mourning the loss of Jeff Hanneman, guitarist and founding member of thrasher band Slayer. While the official cause of death has been listed as liver failure, there is much speculation that it may have been due to complications caused by a spider bite in 2011.

Hanneman almost lost his arm due to a flesh-eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis, which he contracted after failing to seek immediate medical treatment after being bitten by a spider two years ago. Slayer spokeswoman Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald blamed Hanneman’s death on the spider bite.

Flesh-eating bacteria doesn’t cause liver failure by itself; however, strep bacteria can cause streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which can ultimately lead to liver failure. Hanneman, 49, was slowly recovering from complications from the spider bite when he suffered from liver failure.

Can Spider Bites Kill You?

While a spider bite can be extremely painful, it is very rare that people die from one. An average of 6.6 people in the U.S. die each year from venomous spider bites. More people die from bee and wasp stings.

English: Symptoms most common in all types of ...

Brown Recluse Spiders

Rumor has it that the brown recluse spider is one of the most deadly spiders on the planet. However, the fact of the matter is, death from brown recluse spiders have only been reported in children under the age of seven. While the brown recluse spider’s venom is more poisonous than a rattle snake, it only injects a small amount when biting a victim. However, the venom that is released causes destruction to cell membranes, causing damage to the skin. The venom also causes an immune response, which causes secondary effects. It is the secondary effects that actually cause serious side effects to the victim, not the venom itself.

Black widow spider 9854 lores

Black Widow Spiders

Most people are raised with a deadly fear of black widow spiders ingrained in them. While a black widow bite can cause you to be ill, it rarely causes death. Like the brown recluse spider, the black widow’s venom has the worse effects on children and the elderly.

The black widows’ venom affects the victims nervous system. Some people are only slightly affected by the venom, while others have serious reactions. Abdominal pain, weakness, tremor, and respiratory difficulties are typical symptoms following a black widow bite.

If you suspect that you’ve been bitten by a spider, it is vital that you seek immediate medical treatment. While most spider bites aren’t life threatening, secondary effects can cause serious health problems. Jeff Hanneman is proof that a spider bite is not a matter to be taken lightly. No matter how brutal you may think you are, a spider bite can be even more brutal – so do yourself a favor and get yourself to a doctor the moment you suspect you’ve been bitten.

 

About the author: Chris is a blogger for a New Jersey pest control company.

 

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Live Roach Cam

May 1st, 2013 2 comments

Live Roach Cam

 


Live video by Animal Planet L!ve

 

Have you ever wondered what pests like scorpions, ants, spiders, and roaches do when we’re not watching them? Well, wonder no more! I bring you the live roach cam. It’s a 24-7-365 live feed of cockroaches living in a miniature apartment, aka a dollhouse.

Watch the roaches eat, mate, crawl around, and just hang out.

It’s like watching an episode of The Jersey Shore, except more exciting and with less disease.

The window in the apartment looks to be a green screen that’s playing something on a loop. Today it happens to be the Ellen DeGeneres Show; yesterday it was cars driving by. Watch closely, and you can see the roaches crawling around on top of the furniture and under the fridge… Much like a roach would do in a standard apartment.

What’s next, a live feed of penguins, sea nettles, or leafcutter ants?

Yup! You guessed it!

You can watch about any critter you want on a live cam nowadays. All of these live feeds of living creatures, including the live roach cam, come to you via Animal Planet, and their new website APL.TV.

If you’re interested in watching something with a few less legs, check out the live kitten or puppy cams… You won’t feel quite as itchy afterward.

There are also live feeds for Beluga whales, calves, osprey, chicks, wild birds, and the Pacific Reef.

Roach

Roach (Photo credit: Are W)

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of this country’s most hardy pests, and maybe the most disgusting. They come into our homes in search of food and water, spreading disease as they go. Cockroaches will eat almost anything. In fact, cockroaches have been known to eat blood, hair, wood, glue, leather, and fecal matter.

Cockroaches in the home spread diseases like: polio, typhoid fever, leprosy, and bubonic plaque. They have also been shown to cause allergic reactions in humans, and are linked to asthma. Other unpleasant side effects roaches can cause are food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, parasitic worms, and urinary track infections. In addition to all of those, cockroaches also carry over 40 different types of bacteria.

Did I mention cockroaches are disgusting insects? Roaches are better left to watch on a live roach cam, and are definitely not something you want in your home. If you do have them in your home, get Bulwark Cockroach Control.

 

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5 For Friday: Link Round-Up

April 26th, 2013 No comments

Pest Of The Week: The Brown Recluse Spider

 

English: Adult male brown recluse spider dorsa...

English: Adult male brown recluse spider dorsal view. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Brown Recluse spider is also known as a Violin spider because of the violin markings found on it’s back. Because of its extremely venomous and deadly bite, the Brown Recluse is one of worst spider pests. These bites are extremely dangerous. There have been reports of lost appendages and even death because of these painful bites. Spider control efforts must be taken to keep these spiders out of your basements, attics, and garages.

While the Brown recluse is dangerous, it’s a rather shy spider that will only bite when it feels threatened. Bites occur when a hand is placed unknowingly on a spider while moving boxes for instance; or when a spider is inadvertently trapped against a person’s body while getting dressed or crawling in bed.

The Brown Recluse spider is tan in color. Adult spiders are about the size of a U.S. Quarter. The spider has a violin marking on its back, long legs, and is covered with short hairs. They are common in the lower Midwest and the Southeast U.S. They are nighttime hunters that do not use webs to catch insects.

 

5 Pest Control Links For Your Friday

 

Cluster Flies are a Real Pest to Deal With

Have you ever been enjoying the outdoors, when suddenly you’ve been swarmed by a hoard of tiny flies? More often than not, those are cluster flies and they can be more than a simple annoyance for some homeowners. More…

Buying Property? Approach With Eyes Wide Open

If you are in the market to buy a home, make sure pests haven’t moved in first. Here’s what you need to know. More…

Introducing the Rugose Spiraling Whitefly

Spiraling whiteflies are a landscaping nightmare. The pesky flies chew their way though trees and plants, leaving them yellow and wilted. For a free download about this relatively new pest, click here.

Bulwark Exterminating & Earth Day

Monday was Earth Day! Bulwark Exterminating has made efforts go green by going paperless. More…

Take Back Your Yard With Mosquito Control

With the warmer summer months almost upon us, mosquitoes will be out in full force. While they can be annoying, they can also be dangerous. Take back your backyard with these mosquito tips. More…

 

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Celebrities In Need Of Pest Control

April 15th, 2013 No comments

Pests love celebrities too.

Halle Berry, Howard Stern, Queen Elizabeth, Renee Zellweger, Bradley Cooper, Maya Rudoplh….

What do these famous people have in common aside from money, fame and paparazzi camped outside their homes?

They have been overrun with bugs!

The only advantage a celebrity might have in conquering bugs is that instead of cleaning and treating everything, they just replace it!

English: Actress Halle Berry at the 2010 New Y...

Halle Berry Forced Out Of Home By Spiders

Halle Berry, who is deathly afraid of bugs, was forced to evacuate her Hollywood home a few months back when her gardener uncovered a nest of Black Widow spiders. The deadly spiders where living underneath a lawn chair near the actress’ pool. The Academy Award winning actress and expectant mother said:

“There were hundreds under this lawn chair that we would all sit on around the pool every other day.

“We found out there was a whole village, a colony of black widows… One of the gardeners decided he should clean it and when he looked under it it was like, ‘Argh!’

“I just left… I said, ‘I’m gonna leave and you’re gonna have to handle that because I can’t stand spiders…’ I don’t even like Daddy Long Legs.” 

 

Black Widow Spiders

The Black Widow spider is the most dangerous North American spider. They inject a neurotoxin when they bite which can be serious and even fatal. A bite results in extreme pain and cramping that can take several days to diminish.

Queen of United Kingdom (as well as Canada, Au...

Queen Elizabeth Overrun With Silverfish

Even the Queen of England must deal with pest infestations. It was well reported last year that the Queen’s Scottish home was overrun with “embarrassing swarms of wingless insects.”

Those wingless insects just happened to be silverfish, which commonly feed on discarded food, human hair, wallpaper, and clothing fabric. Silverfish thrive in humid or damp conditions. The only way to completely eliminate them is to remove the source of the problem.

Pest control professionals in Scotland helped advise the Queen’s staff, and ended up removing all the wood surrounding the pipes which were causing the damp conditions the silverfish love.

Silverfish

Silverfish are flat, gray, scaly insects that have the ability to squeeze into tiny cracks. They have an uncanny ability to hide or to gain entry into homes. They are extremely quick, and will dart away when you turn on the lights. Silverfish prefer to live in damp, cool places such as bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms.

Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky Stern

Howard Stern Battling Multiple Bug Infestations 

 

Ants 

The popular shock jock Howard Stern has had the misfortune of battling pest infestations multiple times. Over the holiday, Howard Stern and his wife Beth Ostrosky were forced to flee their luxury resort vacation in Turks and Caicos when the villa they rented became infested with ants.

Stern paid $5800 a night for a little time away with his wife, in a private 3 bedroom villa with ocean access. It wasn’t long into his vacation before they found themselves itching to get back home. A few minutes after they settled in to relax with some transcendental meditation, they found themselves covered with ants.

Howard Stern reported:

“We’re talking covered in ants. They’re swimming over you-in a sea of ants–encapsulating you. They’re not even looking like normal ants. If they were normal ants I could handle it. They looked like flying fish.” 

Multiple pest control fumigation efforts were performed on the property, in hopes the famous couple would stay, but new ant infestations continued to swarm.

Beetles 

Upon returning home from their unfortunate vacation, the couple found their Manhattan penthouse apartment infested with beetles. A colony of dead beetles was found in their oatmeal, while other containers in his pantry had been overrun with live beetles.

Bedbugs 

Howard Stern has also reported on his Sirius XM Radio show that he has been “scratching every minute,” since his New York apartment and limousine have been infested with tiny, bloodsucking bedbugs.

 

bedbug (Cimex sp.)

Celebrities Attacked By Blood Sucking Bedbugs 

In addition to Howard Stern; celebrities like Renee Zellweger, Bradley Cooper, Maya Rudoplh, Aubrey Plaza, Lauren Hildebrandt, and President Bill Clinton have dealt with bedbugs.

Bedbugs can be a common occurrence for celebrities, who do a lot of world traveling for both work and leisure.

President Clinton’s bedbug infestation may be more of a case of having too many guests in his bed.

To read more about celebrities being attacked by bloodsucking bedbugs, click here.

Pests Don’t Play Favorites 

It goes to show you that bugs play no favorites. Even famous celebrities, with lots of money, are susceptible to their malevolence. Black Widow spiders, beetles, silverfish, bedbugs, and ants can affect anybody. Get pest control!

 

 

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Links Round-Up: 5 For Friday

April 12th, 2013 No comments

Links Round-Up: 5 For Friday

 

Weekly Links RoundupRasberry Ants Spreading Through Texas

The Rasberry ant (not raspberry) was first discovered in Houston, TX in 2002, but has now spread to 24 different counties in the state of Texas. They are now also found in North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. More…

NPMA Legislative Day in Washington – Clark Pest Control

Clark Pest Control participated in NPMA Legislative Day sending two executives, Here’s what they learned. More…

Bulwark Scorpion Control Makes The Evening News

With the scorpions making an earlier than usual appearance in Arizona this spring, residents were in need of some answers. CBS 5 News in Phoenix called Bulwark Exterminating for some those answers. Watch the video here.

Wolf Spiders: Pests or Diamonds

We’ve all had an experience with a wolf spider at least once in our lives. Here’s EnviroTech’s experience with the hairy looking spider. More…

Spring is Bee Season

Aww, spring is finally here… For some of the country anyway. Be on the lookout for hives popping up on your property. Here are a few tips on what to do, and what not to do, if you have a bee hive(s). More…

 

Pest Of The Week: Black Widow Spider

 

Female black widow spider guarding an egg case...

Female black widow spider guarding an egg case – Species Latrodectus mactans (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most recognizable, and perhaps the most feared, spiders in the United States is the Black Widow spider. This distinction comes from the female’s notoriously venomous bite. While the female Black Widow spider is generally shy in nature, she can become aggressive and bite when she is provoked, or when she is protecting her young. Her venom is one of the most potent venoms found on the planet. Only female Black Widows will bite humans. The males, who are brown and white in color, cannot bite because of their size.

The female Black Widow spider measures about 1/2 inch in length, with a shiny black body, long thin legs and large oval abdomen with a red “hourglass” pattern on the underside. Black Widows make their webs wherever there is water or other insects. They are common among the garages, patios, sheds, and storage areas of a home. Professional spider control methods are successfully used to eliminate them from around the home.

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10 April Fools Pranks Involving Bugs

April 1st, 2013 1 comment

It’s April Fools Day and all of us are on high alert; making sure our family, roommates, friends and coworkers don’t pull one over on us.

For all of you pranksters out there, there’s no easier prank to pull off than a classic bug prank. Whether you’re going to dump a jar of crickets on your buddy as he takes a shower, put a fake fly in somebody’s spaghetti, or put a tarantula on your boss’s desk; a creepy bug can be the cornerstone of any successful prank. Here are a just a few April Fools pranks involving bugs:

Scorpion Prank

Thumbs up for scorpions! Watch what happens when a massive Emperor Scorpion is let loose on this poor girl in the bathroom. “Get it away; it’s going to KILL ME… HE WILL KILL US ALL!!!” You may want to turn down the volume on your computer for this one.

Bug Exterminator Prank!

Note to pest control professionals everywhere… Here’s how you don’t spray for cockroaches. While technically the prank doesn’t involve any actual bugs, a bug exterminator is equally effective.

Spider Prank

Don’t get startled this April Fools Day if a spider mysteriously lands on you from the sky.

The Cockroach Prank

This cockroach prank was featured on one of our previous blogs entitled A Roach Is Not A Love Bug. It is too good to not share again. Enjoy!

Cricket Prank – Infesting Your Coworker’s Truck

I just found another definition for the word MADNESS… The sound of 2000 crickets chirping in unison inside your truck.

Drive Thru Bug Prank

As if fast food employees didn’t have it bad enough already, now they have to put up with giant cockroaches on there hands. Let’s just hope the only cockroaches found at your favorite drive thru are fake– just like the one in this prank.

Giant Hairy Spider Dropped On Boyfriend

It’s easy. It’s a classic. It’s a simple spider on a string, and this poor sap lets his girlfriend get the best of him.

Mixed Nuts and Worms Prank

One thing we know for sure, food and worms don’t mix. Watch what happens when a bag of meal-worms is placed in a unsuspecting woman’s favorite snack.

 

Roach Prank

Why haven’t I ever though of this before… A giant plastic roach tied to some fishing line. The possibilities are endless! It can definitely go a long way in making most anybody squirm.

 

Big Scary Spider Prank

Who knew dogs were just as scared of spiders as we are? My dog just eats them! I guess when the spider is as big as a domesticated cat, even a dog will run.

 

All of us bug guys here at Blog Pest Control and Bulwark Exterminating would like to warn you to be on the lookout this April Fools Day for scorpions, roaches, crickets, and spiders. Have a safe April Fools Day. Happy pranking!

 

 

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Weekly Links To Pest Control Articles

March 29th, 2013 No comments

Weekly Pest Control Links Round-Up

 

Weekly Links RoundupTop 10 Ways To Kill A Spider

When you see a disgusting spider in your home, you better have a sure-fire action plan to get rid of it! Thanks to Bulwark Exterminating, we can all be prepared with these ten ways to kill a spider. More…

Are Mosquitoes Becoming Immune To DEET?

Interesting stuff here. A new study on mosquitoes and DEET revealed that exposed mosquitoes were mostly immune to the smell of DEET after briefly being exposed to the chemical. Three hours later, the previously exposed mosquitoes were attracted to human skin which contained DEET. More…

Nevada Bedbug Laws

Many tourists and residents alike worry about Las Vegas bedbugs. Here are Nevada’s bedbug laws, just in case you experience the misfortune of a bedbug infestation. More… 

Pest Control Tip: Beware of Mites!

There are several different kinds of mites… the most notorious is the House Dust Mite. Mites can cause mild to severe skin irritation on you and your pets. More…

Protect Yourself From Ticks This Spring

Like many other pests, ticks will be re-emerging this spring; sucking the blood of unsuspecting victims. Know how to protect yourself. More…

Cockroach Sensitivity

Does the cockroach have a sixth sense? The answer might surprise you. More…

 

Pest Of The Week: The Gallinipper

 

Gallinipper - Psorophora ciliata

Gallinipper – Psorophora ciliata (Photo credit: Lynette S.)

Believed to have gotten its name from its ability to drink a gallon of blood, the gallinipper (Psorophora ciliata) is the largest bloodsucking mosquito in the US. These mosquitoes are about the size of a quarter, and are almost twenty times larger than the average mosquito. The have hairy legs marked with a zebra-like pattern.

Gallinippers can inflict very painful bites that can even pierce the skin through clothing. The female gallinippers feed on human and animal blood; and are even known to eat fish. Unlike common mosquitoes, gallinippers will feed all day long—not just during the dawn and dusk hours. The good news is these gallinippers do not spread diseases like West Nile Virus.

During the very wet rainy seasons, Gallinippers can be found in areas of Central and South Florida. Gallinipper eggs lay dormant in the Florida soil, until heavy rains will cause the eggs to hatch. After hatching, gallinippers will survive about a week. Just like the common everyday mosquito, gallinippers require pest control strategies to control.

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Links Round-Up: Pest Control Links For The Week

March 22nd, 2013 No comments

Links Round-Up: Pest Control Links For The Week

 

Weekly Links RoundupSpiderman Can’t Fight Spiders, Man

Although spiders can assist in keeping our homes free from pest control issues with other insects, they do in themselves pose a creepy and unnerving feeling in home owners and their guests. More…

Cockroach Control Tips for Maryland Homeowners – Inside, Outside – Where To Start

Here’s an excellent checklist of things to do to keep cockroaches out of the home. More…

Ants Are A Potential Danger To Your Home

Carpenter ants are a serious danger to a house, and, if these are found, a professional ant control company should be called. Learn more about these dangers by clicking here.

Why You Shouldn’t Be Alarmed By Daddy Long Legs Spiders

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the daddy long leg spider. Some of the most common myths are that the spider is deadly, dangerous, poisonous, but can’t puncture your skin with its short fangs. Do you really need to be afraid of this spider? More…

Atlanta Yellow Jackets Exposed

With spring finally here, now is the time to start treating yellow jacket nests. If you wait until summer, the problem will have escalated, and you will get stung. More…

 

Pest Of The Week: The Crazy Rasberry Ant

 

Also called the Crazy Hairy ant or Tawny ant, the Crazy Rasberry ant is a common ant invader in states like North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. The Rasberry ant (not to be confused with raspberry) was discovered in 2002 by Tom Rasberry in Houston, TX. Currently, the State of Texas is dealing with Rasberry ant infestations in some 20 different counties.

Crazy Rasberry ants are described as “crazy,” because of the rapid and random ways in which they move. The almost look like they are confused or lost. These ants are also hairy. Their bodies are covered with fine fuzz. They have slender bodies, and are reddish-brown in color.

Rasberry ants are hazardous, to electrical equipment; and to homeowners. They are also difficult to control. I you kill a Rasberry ant, a pheromone be released that summons other Rasberry ants to attack. In fact, it has been demonstrated that if you kill a hundred thousand Rasberry ants, millions of others will show up to their funeral. Scary! This characteristic makes Rasberry ants dangerous, and a serious pest control problem.

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