Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

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Researchers say that a chemical found on the golden orb web spider silk, has proven to be extremely effective at keeping invading ants at bay, and could one day make a very useful natural ant control agent.

Golden orb web spiders are a common species of spider, discovered all around the world, especially in tropical regions. In most cases, these spiders (and the insects they catch in their web) are seen as potential prey for ants. Therefore, it was very surprising to researchers, that ant predators were never seen foraging for food, on the webs of Golden orb web spiders. The answer scientists believe, is a compound known as pyrrolidine alkaloid, and it appears to be a highly effective method of insect control; against invading ants.

Using bait to attract ants towards the spider’s silk, researchers conducted three different experiments. In one case, the natural silk was used, complete with the pyrrolidine alkaloid. In the second case, all of the chemical was removed from the silk. In the third case, purified pyrrolidine alkaloid that was purchased from a chemical supply store, and placed on the cleaned silk. In the two cases where pyrrolidine alkaloid was present, the ant invaders were unable to cross the spider’s web. When asked to describe the effects of the powerful chemical, experts said that “… it’s a bit like body odour on a cramped bus, on a hot day. It’s not going to kill you, but it’s certainly going to get you off the bus pretty quickly.”

Surprisingly though, pyrrolidine alkaloid it is not a byproduct of the spider’s silk production, but instead is produced by insects; to counter predation. Although it is not known exactly how the spiders produce the compound, experts say that it’s possible that the spiders obtain the compound, by eating insects that contain it. Nevertheless, it is hoped that researchers can reformulate the liquid chemical into a powder, that might be more useful in pest control treatments; against invasive ant species.

As well as unsuspecting property and homeowners, many bugs and insects can be fooled by the misleading appearance and behavior, of some pretty convincing wasps, spiders and scorpions. In fact, here are three examples of some common pests, that can cause confusion for homeowners, when trying to describe their pest control problem; to their local exterminator:

1. Velvet ants, although quite convincing, are actually wasps that are covered with long, and dense colored hair. The female Velvet ant has a stinger, but no wings, which makes her very closely resemble a large (approximately one inch), hairy ant.
2. There are more than one hundred species of ant-mimicking spiders, in the world today. These spider species will employ a wide variety of deceptive strategies, to escape their own natural predators or capture their prey, including mimicking their appearance and behavior; to avoid detection. Typically these spider species will develop slimmer abdomens and false “waists”, to mimic the three distinct regions of an ant’s body. As well, these convincing actors will wave their first pair of legs, to mimic the ant’s antennae and also to conceal the fact that they have eight legs; rather than six.
3. The Whiptail scorpion has a long and thin tail, that is used primarily as a sensory organ, and does not possess a stinger. Surprising to most, the Whiptail scorpion is not venomous, not a true scorpion, and not even likely to cause serious problems; for local residents and homeowners.

Because these deceptive pests will copying the behavior of their prey, and even modify their appearance to closely resemble another species, they illustrate the importance of having a pest management professional properly identify your bug, insect or pest control problem; before you develop an elimination strategy. Failure to do so, could result in the application of an unnecessary treatment, that is possibly harmful and ineffective; and does not solve your pest problem.

If you have recently moved to Phoenix, Arizona, there are some notable insect, bug and pest control concerns, that are prominent in the region. These common pests include a variety of aggressive ants, as well as venomous spiders and scorpions. These dangerous pests, travel from the surrounding arid desert environment, to the shelter of lush gardens and plentiful food and water, that is common in populous Arizona cities; like Phoenix.

Below, is a list of the three Phoenix pest control problems, that I consider to be the most notable, dangerous and (at times) highly venomous:

Number 3: Not to be under-estimated, the Fire ants in Phoenix are highly aggressive, and (without hesitation) will attack anything that disrupts their nest. In fact, it is estimated that more than twenty million Americans are stung by Fire ants, every year. Furthermore, this dangerous pest will swiftly invade homes, yards and fields, consuming (almost) any plant or animal material; including other insects.

Black Widow Spider - Red Hour Glass

Number 2: Honorable mention and runner-up for most dangerous/most venomous pest problem in Phoenix, is the Black Widow spider. When disturbed, this spider will (most often) attempt to escape, rather than attack. Nevertheless, Phoenix pest control professionals strongly advise, that residents exercise extreme caution when confronted by an adult Black Widow spider; as they are highly venomous. How dangerous are Black Widow spiders? Well known prey of this pest include the other two members of this “Most Dangerous” list: Fire ants and scorpions!

Number 1: Likely the most feared of the local pests, is the Arizona Bark scorpion. Considered the most venomous of all scorpions in North America, the venom from a Bark scorpion can cause extreme and severe pain in adults, typically lasting between twenty-four and seventy-two hours. To the disappointment of local officials and residents, local studies are reporting that scorpion attacks are on the rise in Phoenix; and The Valley.

Just like much of the human population, common pests like Fire ants, Black Widow spiders and Arizona Bark scorpions, prefer the cooler temperatures of Phoenix properties, homes and businesses; over the blazing Sonoran Desert sun. As such, when the temperatures in Phoenix rise considerably, you can be certain that the number of calls for pest control will increase proportionately; as well.

Related articles

• How the Scropion Anti-venom, Anascorp, Saved a Young Boy’s Life (blogpestcontrol.com)
• Scorpion Anti Venom now approved by FDA – Prevent Scorpion Bites (pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com)
• Bulwark Exterminating Pest Control- Scorpion Control (pestcontroltulsaok.com)
• Scariest Spiders (pestcontrolseo.wordpress.com)

Are your pests under control?

Pest control is any process or method used to “control pests”. The once popular terms of exterminator and extermination have become the softer more gentle term of pest control.  Perhaps to become more socially acceptable, but the new term is more accurate.  Exterminating ants in their entirety is not likely.  Controlling ants is achievable.  Keeping pests out of a home with regular pest control service is attainable.  Keeping bugs from infesting a structure is do-able.  Exterminating every roach in the city is not realistic.

History of Pest Control -

Some believe that pest control has its roots in agriculture. (Pun intended) Humans need to keep crops free from pests. Insects can destroy crops. Herbivores will clear the farmer’s field. In order to maximize food production, pest control was implemented to protect the harvest from ants, crickets, moths, grasshoppers, rats, mice, gophers, rabbits, beetles, and the list can go on. But pest control, probably goes back to before agriculture.  A hunter would still need to protect his food from vermin.  Storing food in a sack hanging from a tree to keep raccoon, coyotes, or other prehistoric pests from eating your dinner would be a pest control method.  But at the core, I still believe that man has never wanted to cohabitate with creepy crawling things like spiders, roaches, and scorpions.  So beyond the need to control pests there is simply a desire to live without pests.

Pest Control:

Preventive measures to fortify an area against potential unwanted species .

Ideology of Pest Control Methods

While a majority of people may not want to live with pests, I also believe that most don’t wish total annihilation of the insect kingdom.  Bugs are an essential part of the food chain, and the break down, consumption, and recycling of matter in general.  Eliminating all pests from the world may seem ideal for some, but the re-percussions of such a mass extermination may destroy the world all together. So pest control methods today are used to protect specific areas with an attempt to limit the effects to the target pests.  Others believe the most ideal form of pest control is that of “making your home less desirable to the pests.” They propose that keeping a home clean and  minimizing the potential for providing food and water for pests will keep pests from wanting to invade your home. Unfortunately certain pests will eat just about anything.  Roaches are not picky eaters. A roach will make human hair, fingernails and toenails their staple food if needs be. Little Black Ants survive on plants, so any interior plant make an inviting meal. Termites eat wood. Crickets eat cotton, silk, and wool. Silverfish and firebrats consume glue, wallpaper paste, bookbindings, paper, and photographs. Lice, fleas, and ticks are pests that live on mammals. Human homes are pretty inviting to pests.

Pesticides have been developed to provide structures a force field made of products that are engineered to target pests, not mammals. Pest control products today are checked and tested by the EPA. Strict requirements most be meet in order for a pest control product to be labeled for general use. EcoSmart products are designed to break down over time, to have low impact on the environment.

So if you’d like a pest-free environment, cleaning your home is a good step, but ultimately it won’t be enough once bugs have found your home. Further, once an ant has scouted out a new food source and brought in the ant cavalry, those marked marching lines will remain for up to year. Regular pest control service is intended to prevent pests from infesting a given area. Pest control emergencies can be avoid if homeowners would maintain a bulwark around their home that protects them and wards off insect intruders.  Do-it-yourself pest control methods can be implemented successfully if the individual is consistent and persistent in their treatments. But certain pests will require more.

I got a call from the office one late afternoon to go to this customer’s house where there was a spider on her ceiling.  She said she couldn’t leave the house until we got rid of the spider.  So I hurried up and got over there to take care of it for her. Well when I got there the door was open, so I announced myself and I heard her say “come in quick he’s getting away!” I entered quickly and she was pointing at the ceiling showing me where it was. She looked to be very frightened and upset about this spider. I looked at where she was pointing and saw what appeared to be a female wolf spider with about 200 babies on her back! She had every right to be scared.  If those babies were to leave their mom while they were in the house, the whole house would become infested. So I quickly ran out to my truck and grabbed a can of d foam and ran back inside. The spider had stopped moving and the babies were still intact. So I crept up on it until I was about three feet away ready my can, took close aim and sprayed. My plan had worked. They were covered in foam and unable to flee. So I quickly gathered them up with a paper towel that was in my other hand. Needless to say her problem was solved.

She said I was her Hero! …I was her hero! Feels good to be considered a hero.

Adam MacFarlane
Las Vegas

2009 will be a Bad Scorpion Year.

Recent reports in Phoenix indicate a rise in scorpions stings being reported to the local health facilities.  Online traffic to scorpion related pest control sites, like Austin Scorpion Control.com and Las Vegas Scropion Control. com have seen a large increase in visitors.  And local pest control companies in Las Vegas, and Phoenix confirm that scorpion calls are up.  All signs point to a bad scorpion year.

What’s the cause?

Scorpion sitings and stings are likely on the rise due to colder wetter weather.  The wetter weather produces more vegetation, more pests, and in turn more food for scorpions.  Scorpions are arachnids and like spiders they feed on other insects. So when the insect population booms, so does the scorpion population.  The reason a colder winter generates more scorpions stings and calls is because the scorpions are heading indoors.  Scorpions can go inactive for the winter, but if the weather changes from cold to warm and back to cold, or if the ground freezes early, then the scorpions that have not gone inactive or the inactive scorpions that become active again with the changes, immediately look to find better warmer harborage.  And what better place to find constant warm weather then your home?

So the scorpion rise is due to the wetter weather and the general rise in pests.  The scorpion stings and calls are due to more scorpions moving indoors. Most scorpion stings occur indoors.

Can you control scorpions?

That all depends on who you ask.  Many people say you can’t control scorpions.  Many pest control professionals will tell you that in order to get rid of scorpions you have to kill off their food supply, i.e. the other bugs. So what they are saying is that they are only willing to give you a generic pest control treatment and nothing specific to control scorpions.  With that approach they are probablly right in that they can’t really control scorpions.  But some companies believe they can and do control scorpions.  They call it Scorpion Control Science.

Are Scorpion Stings Dangerous?

Scorpion stings can be very dangerous.  The toxins are rarely fatal in humans and for most the sting isn’t much worse then a bee sting.  However, scorpions stings can be fatal to those that have an allergic reaction.  It is estimated by the American Athsmatic society that up to 5% of the population could have an allergic reaction. It is advised that if you experience any severe reactions to the scorpion sting that you call your local poison control for assistance.

Hopefully you enjoyed my tribute to the 90′s. One of the “Things that make you go hmmmm” I think are common misnomers that not-to-careful pest technicians utilize. This is probably a good reason why you may want to either learn about taxonomy, or use the vague word “pests” when referring to the “all too easily mistaken for insects” category.

These are the top “non-insects” labeled insects:

1. Spiders: Not an Insect…Arachnid.
2. Pill bug: Not an Insect…Crustacean/(Malacostraca)…more closely related to shrimp or crayfish.
3. Millipede: Not an Insect…diplopod of diplopoda.
4. Centipede: Not an Insect…Chilopod of Chilopoda.

Hopefully this will help you impress a customer next time she tells you that she was gardening and had been frightened by the many roly-polys, millipedes, or centipedes under the large rock she had just moved. If you really want to impress her you could tell her that pill bugs (roly-polys), relatives of the shrimp and crayfish need lots moisture and actually breathe through gills.

Maybe you will be better prepared for the customer’s home that you go to who has a bug collection who wants to test your knowledge. Believe me, there out there. I know customer’s ask questions, but this guy had approximately 300 bugs on a poster board in his garage of pests caught around his yard and wanted to see if I could name them all. Good thing I could name most of them…thank goodness for the PCT insect guide I kept in the glove compartment!

Well now you are armed with even more knowledge about insects and non-insects…..Go Get emmmmmmmmm Tiger.

KT

PEST CONTROL MYTH #4
An important part of your pest control treatment is dewebbing.  Dewebbing is the physical removal of spider webs from the many nooks and crannies around the perimeter of your home.  Some technicians believe that it is best to remove spider webs or deweb at every service.  This is quite alright depending on the expectations of your customer; who may not want to see any spider webs around the house; although you should inform the customer that there is a better way to handle his spider issue.  Pest Control Myth # 4 is that it is always better to deweb at each service.
The best way to deal with spider webs, especially new spider webs, is to dust the web and leave it intact; then schedule a callback service for dewebbing the following day or as soon as possible.

The problem with removing the web is that the spider will be quick to relocate, or possibly recreate his/her web.  Ultimately you decrease the likelihood of removing the root problem.  By lightly dusting the web you leave a gift for “spidey” when he/she returns home.
Part of what makes this effective is a thorough inspection of your customer’s premises and adequate notes and history about each customer.  This technique and the maintenance of an adequate pest barrier will ensure that your home is spider free.

If you would like to learn more about the spiders/pests in your area, please click here.

KT

While sitting in front of my computer screen thinking about what I was going to write about next; I watch a small little row of ants walk along the edge of my desk. Instinctively, the first thing I do is try to identify the pest. When dealing with ants it can be very hard to determine the specific type of ant based on its different physical characteristics unless you have a magnifying glass available or have the “eye of a hawk” as me and my cousins used to call it. I have read many books that would say this ant is this color, and that ant is this color, etc; but I have found that in the real world trying to distinguish based on color is quite a dreadful task as different types of ants can be within the same color ranges. Here are some characteristics about different ants that may help you identify your home’s native ant-lings. (Did I go there…yes I did; Ant-lings…LOL.)

Pharaoh Ant: Primarily indoors, known for splitting into different colonies, sometimes found in wounds of hospital patients.

Carpenter Ant: The largest, Biggest, humongous, enormous fellers. (Exaggeration)

Harvester Ant: Known for producing mounds with entry points that are at least approximately 2 inches in diameter.

Pavement Ant: Generally will reside under or around pavement.

Argentine Ant: Also a very popular ant, known for producing super colonies…these infestations can grow rapidly.

Odorous House Ants: When crushed emit a coconut like smelling odor.

Red Imported Fire Ant: These ants are very aggressive and secrete a toxin when biting. These ants are what we refer to as a “quarantined” species; so if you think you have come across them contact your local department of agriculture etc for removal. Each case is required to be documented and handled in a specific fashion.

For More Information please click here.

The busiest time of the year for the Pest Control Industry is mostly during the summer months. Pest activity increases in the spring and peaks in the summer months. Pest Control Myth #3 revolves around the assumption that Pest Control is only needed during these times. Of course the premise of my position excludes tropical and sub-tropical habitats that may be considered conducive for pests year-round.

The major reason why Pest Control is going to be needed more and more year-round in areas where there exists an “off-peak” season for pests is because of Human Intervention.

The decrease in pest activity or an off-peak season is primarily due to pest life cycles. These life cycles are developed in harmony with the earth’s seasonal changes. Although it is true that there will be a decrease in pest activity during colder times, experience has revealed that the human element of warmth in naturally cold times has been conducive to pest activity.

Most human homes provide enough food, water, and shelter for pests to coexist during the winter/colder months. If we have learned anything of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection/Evolution; we should recognize the significant ability of insects/pests to adapt to their environment (natural/artificial). Empirical evidence supports the notion that our homes provide adequate harborage for pests/insects year-round.

I have seen on a warm winter day an influx of ants, silverfish, adult sized spiders, raspy roaches, rats in a jacuzzi set up, earwigs with the morning cup of coffee, the infamous scorpion in its glory, etc… All within the confine of the human habitat…The well heated, well watered, well fed, artificial harborage, with vegetative decor to boot…Does anything say “MOVE IN” better than the human home on a winter’s cold night?

KT

Bulwark Pest Control