Waiting for the lights. (Photo credit: kimubert)

Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans was full of twists and turns as the Baltimore Ravens edged the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34-31. One of the most memorable twists to the game happened to be when the power to half of Mercedes-Benz Superdome, including the scoreboard, went dark with 13:22 left in the third quarter. The game was literally stopped as the players, announcers, and fans where all left scratching their heads.

After nearly 35 minutes of head scratching, wondering what had happened to the power, the game resumed. The San Francisco 49ers, who were down 28-6 just before the blackout, staged a monumental comeback, only to fall short in the very end.

The game will be one of the most memorable in years, primarily because of the power outage. What went wrong?

Could Superdome Pests Have Caused Power Outage?

While weather related reasons cause the majority of power complications, it is not uncommon for small animals and other pests to disrupt transformers and fuses; causing temporary loss of power. We also know that pests can infest sports arenas, like Cowboy’s Stadium. What pests could have caused the Super Bowl power outage?

“Nice rats, nasty rats” (Photo credit: ressaure)

Rodents

Rodents are notorious for wrecking havoc on power systems. Could a few squirrels have got tangled in the electrical equipment in a Superdome substation? Could a malevolent rat have chewed through a major power cord?

Rodent caused power outages happen more often than you might think. I was on Arizona State University’s campus a year or so back, when the power went out on half the campus. An apparent rat found its way into one of the substations and shorted out the equipment. It can happen!

Termites

Could termites be the culprit of the Super Bowl XLVII power outage? Termites may have weakened the structure of the power line poles that were carrying the electricity to the Superdome.

Bees & Wasps

Bees or wasps love to build their hives in well hidden, concealed areas; like that of a circuit breaker box or parts of a substation. If a hive was large enough and the infestation destructive enough, a bee or wasp infestation could have brought the power down at Super Bowl XLVII.

Bird Pests

Bird pests, like pigeons, wreak havoc on the structure of buildings. A well placed nest, or a build-up of droppings, can easily cause a circuit to trip; or spark a short in a power feed to the Superdome.

Snakes

Since hurricane Katrina, snakes have been an increasing pest problem in New Orleans. Tree snakes, which are non-indigenous to New Orleans, frequently cause power outages by crawling on electrical lines.

Raspberry Ants

Crazy Raspberry Ants, are usually only found in some 20 counties in Texas, but were recently discovered in Port Allen, Louisiana. These destructive and malevolent ants are so small; they can  easily get through the plastic casing around the electrical wiring. Raspberry ants have caused street lights in Houston, Texas to malfunction.

As a kudeta, these pesky ants may have been looking to take out one of the city’s biggest icons, the Superdome, and to announce their arrival to New Orleans.

Other Theories Behind The Power Outage

The 49ers Were Responsible- Previous to the blackout, the Ravens had just gone ahead of the 49ers by a score of 28-6 with a 108 yard kickoff return. Someone in the 49ers organization knew something had to be done and quick. That’s when they pulled the plug. With their malicious goal achieved, the 49ers rallied to cut the deficit, but eventually fell three points short. The same strategy is extremely effective when you pull the plug on the XBOX when you’re getting blown out in Madden.

Super Bowl Heist- Picture Ocean’s 13, but instead of robbing a Vegas casino, Danny Ocean and his team of professional thieves set their eyes on the Super Bowl box office where the average price of a ticket is about $3,000.

Another Harbaugh Brother- Jay Harbaugh, the often forgotten about Harbaugh brother, was tired of John and Jim getting all the attention. In an attempt to steal some of the limelight away from the two Super Bowl coaches, Jay cut the power to the Superdome.

More Commercials For CBS- Forbes reports that the price for a single advertisement during Super Bowl XLVII was over $4 Million. The extra 35 minutes caused by the delay would have generated hundreds of millions of extra dollars.

Beyonce Did It- Beyonce forgot to unplug her curling iron before she took the stage for her Super Bowl halftime performance. You know that thing had to have been sucking down a lot of juice; getting her hair to look the way it did.

New Orleans Voodoo- New Orleans is well known for the dark arts like voodoo, and the Superdome is built only a few hundred yards away from a cemetery. There are only so many voodoo commercials you can air before New Orleans will strike back.

Buffalo Wild Wings Got Carried Away- We’ve all seen the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial with the football fans wanting an overtime game. They send the signal into Buffalo Wild Wings, and all sorts of mischief happens. Sprinklers mysteriously turn on, preventing an obvious score. Could someone have sent the signal to BWW during the Super Bowl?

Marketing Campaign by Oreo- A few minutes into the blackout, Oreo sent out a tweet that read, “Power out? No problem. You can still dunk in the dark.” This tweet was retweeted over 15,000 times, giving the cookie company even more exposure.

Bane Did It- This has been one of the most frequent conspiracy theories floating around out there. Bane, of The Dark Knight Rises fame, looked to take over Gotham… I mean New Orleans… by interrupting the big game.  Bane has publicly denied any involvement in the Super Bowl blackout.

Statement Issued Regarding Power Outage:

The following statement was issued in regards to the Superdome power outage:

“A piece of equipment that is designed to monitor electrical load sensed an abnormality in the system,” the statement said. “Once the issue was detected, the sensing equipment operated as designed and opened a breaker, causing power to be partially cut to the Superdome in order to isolate the issue. … Entergy and SMG will continue to investigate the root cause of the abnormality.” 

Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens

By edging out the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens are your Super Bowl XLVII champions. Congrats on the great season!

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This Week’s Pest Control Links

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Greenville / Spartanburg Falls Into The Top 50 Cities With Bed Bug Activity

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The Importance of Having a Board Certified Entomologist on Staff

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Tips to Halt Spring Termite Infestations

Spring is rapidly approaching and there are some steps you can take now to help prevent possible termite infestations. More…

The Importance of Moisture Control

Moisture and pests go hand and hand, but what can you do about it? Here are some pointers. More…

Bulwark Exterminating Featured On Flipping Vegas

Bulwark Exterminating recently got a call came from the producers of A&E’s hit show “Flipping Vegas,” and were happy to help out with a very dangerous scorpion problem. See the pictures here.

Pest Of The Week: Yellowjackets

English: Yellowjacket by the pool (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most common types of predatory wasps in North American is the yellowjacket. These wasps, often times confused with bees, are given the nickname yellowjacket because of the black and yellow stripes on their abdomens. All female members of the species are able to sting multiple times, causing incredible pain to anyone, who has been stung.

Yellowjackets build nests in trees, shrubs, or in protected places such as inside human-made structures (attics, hollow walls or flooring, in sheds, under porches, and eaves of houses), or in soil cavities, mouse burrows, etc. These nests can provide dangerous conditions for homeowners; conditions that need to be treated with pest control.

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Keep Santa Safe From Chimney Pests

Tonight is Christmas Eve. That jolly old elf named Santa Clause will be making his way from rooftop to rooftop, down chimneys, delivering toys to all of those good girls and boys. Are your chimneys free of pests so Santa can safely make his deliveries?

Imagine poor Santa getting stung by swarms of bees, bitten by rabid raccoons, or attacked by nesting squirrels!

The truth is chimneys are a favorite hiding place for pests like rodents, bees, wasps, birds, and bats. Here’s everything you need to know about chimney pests; so you and Santa can have a safe, pest free Christmas.

Common Chimney Pests

Raccoons– are a common chimney invader. They frequently use chimneys for the birthing of their litters. Raccoons are very territorial and will compete with other raccoons for your chimney. When another raccoon enters, and kills the mother and her litter, it is very loud and scary. Raccoons can carry rabies, something Santa doesn’t want to contract.

Birds— are the some of worst offenders when it comes to invading your chimney. They love making their nests inside. When Santa comes down your chimney, you may have a scene straight from an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Honey Bees—are very selective when building their hives. If you seldom light a fire throughout the year, you will find bees building hives in your chimney… Santa could be stung!

Chimney Pests

Africanized “Killer” Bees—are not as selective when building their hives. All they need is an open space, sheltered by a wall with a small opening they can use for an entrance. Killer Bees are the most dangerous of chimney pests because they are very aggressive, are easily agitated, and attack in swarms. SCARY! Santa could be killed. Learn more about Africanized “Killer” Bees by clicking here.

Mice—commonly fall down chimneys while looking for food on your rooftop, but usually won’t live inside. Santa could get the Hantavirus or plague if bitten by one of these guys.

Bats– occupy chimneys during daylight hours grooming, sleeping, and resting; waiting for nightfall when they emerge to hunt insects. They carry rabies and other diseases Santa doesn’t want any part of.

Wasps—build paper nests in places they find secluded; like your chimney. Some wasps like yellow jackets can be aggressive; and may attack poor old Saint Nick. They’ll head for Santa’s mouth, nose, and eyes first.

Rats– may carry a number of pathogens, which can result in the spread of disease. This is something that causes major concern for home owners, and Santa. They usually fall down your chimney on accident while scavenging for food.

Squirrels– build a type of nest, known as a drey, commonly found in forks of trees. However, they may also build nests in your chimney or in the exterior walls of your home. Santa could catch Lassa fever, and other diseases, if he comes in contact with their droppings.

Flies—will make their way down your chimney looking for food, warmth, and harborage… Just like any other flying insect.

Santa Gets Attacked By Chimney Pests

Here’s a rather humorous account of Santa being attacked by chimney pests on Christmas Eve: http://www.bulwarkpestcontrol.com/community/chimney-pests-attack-santa.htm

Dangers Of Chimney Pests

Small rodents like rats, squirrels and mice, can easily get trapped in a metal chimney liner by accident. Once a rodent falls down your chimney, they will be forever trapped until a professional remove the critter. This is because chimney liners are not made for animals to grab on to with their claws… They will continue to slide back down to the bottom. Here are the dangers:

• If left inside, they will die and cause quite an unpleasant odor throughout your home.
• Dead animals in the chimney will attract maggots and flies.
• Open fireplace dampers may allow wild animals and dangerous insects to enter your home.
• Some wild animals like squirrels and raccoons can be very defensive and dangerous when trapped.
• If inside, they can also cause damage to your home as they try to escape.
• Wildlife can bring in fleas, infecting the family pets.
• Can carry rabies and other diseases like Hantavirus, Lassa fever, and plague can be contracted simply by coming in contact with their droppings.

Keep Out Chimney Pests

How To Keep Pests Out Of Your Chimney

Installing a chimney cap is the first preventative step that needs to be taken. It should include a wire netting that wraps around the sides of the cap; and serves as a barrier to animals that may like to make a home in your chimney.

Preventative treatments, like pest sprays, should be applied around the chimney top. Most pest sprays will work for flying insects like bees, wasps, and killer bees. When a bee detects a poison, it’ll return to the hive and report the bad conditions; thus choosing a different chimney or location to start a home.

How To Get Rid Of Chimney Pests

If pests do happen to make their way inside your chimney, it’s best if you contact a pest control professional as soon as possible. This is for your own safety. Seek the help of a wildlife removal company, or a bee removal company in your area.

If you discover you have a beehive in your chimney, the last thing you want to do to get rid of the bees is light a fire. Upon doing so, the bees will simply gather at the top of the chimney for as long as the fire lasts. The heat from the fire will melt the honey down the sides of the chimney causing a more permanent honey smell, attracting more bees each year.

It’s also important to note that the beehive is not always in the chimney flu itself, but in-between the flu and the chimney wall. In this case lighting a fire is pointless. Also, if it gets hot enough the heat may still melt the honey.

Merry Christmas From Bulwark Exterminating

The bug buys here at Bulwark Exterminating would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. May your chimney be pest free, clear for Santa to deliver all of his goodies; and may your Christmas be pest free!

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Weekly Links For Pest Control News

What To Do If You Are Stung By A Wasp

One of our biggest fears as pest control operators is being stung by a yellow jacket or wasp while on a service call. If such a thing happens, there are some steps that can be taken to help with any the affects. Be careful about possible allergic reactions. More…

Hurricane Sandy And Its Aftermath

Many Americans have been affected by hurricane Sandy, and the aftermath is leaving residents with pest and mold problems. More…

Pest Control Tips for Checking Signs of Termite Damage

Many houses are at risk of getting damaged by a variety of pests. There are many kinds of pests that are possible hazards at home. One of them is the termite. Here’s how you need to check for signs of termites on your property. More…

Can You Kill Bed Bugs on Your Own?

With the severity of bedbugs these last few years, and many of us traveling during the holiday season, the likelihood of bringing these blood-sucking pests home is high. So. What do you do if you do? More…

Pest Control Bombs Cause House Fire

Want more proof that bug bombs are a bad idea, and that pest control is better left to the professionals? A woman setting off bug bombs in her basement has burned down her own house. See the picture here.

Pest Of The Week: The Brown Rat

Brown Rat – Rattus norvegicus 1a (Photo credit: Dluogs)

The Brown rat, also known as the Common rat, Sewer rat or Wharf rat, is one of the best known; and most common of the rat species.

The Brown rat’s fur is coarse, and usually brown or dark grey; while the underside is a lighter shade of grey or brown. The length of this rodent can reach 10 inches, with the tail measuring an additional 10 inches; or roughly the same length as the body. The adult Brown rat’s average body weight, can be 12 oz (females) to 19 oz (males).

Likely originating from the plains of Asia, Northern China and Mongolia, the Brown rat was introduced to other parts of the world; sometime in the Middle Ages. Today, the Brown rat has spread to all continents; with the exception of the Arctic, Antarctica, isolated islands and Calgary AB Canada. This rodent species is considered the dominant rat in Europe and much of North America, as it is often discovered living wherever humans reside; especially in urban areas.

Brown rats that do find shelter in human habitations, will not wander about. Instead, these rodents will (most often) remain within 20 meters of their nesting area, if a suitable supply of food is readily available.

It has been said that there are as many rats in cities as people, but this notion varies from area to area; depending on climate, living conditions, etc. In New York City there is great debate over the size of the rat population, with estimates from nearly 100 million rats; to as few as 250,000. Experts suggest that NYC’s aging infrastructure, high moisture and poverty rates; will continue to contribute to the city’s rodent pest control problem.

Brown Rat (Photo credit: Nikon Ranger)

Brown rats are most often active at night, and considered excellent swimmers (surface and underwater). As well, Brown rats are great excavators, and will construct elaborate burrow systems; to provide safety and shelter. However, unlike the related Black Rat (commonly referred to as Roof rat), the Brown rat is a very poor climber.

Similar to other rodents, Brown rats may carry a number of pathogens; which can result in the spread of disease. This is something that causes major concern, in many tenants and home owners. As such, the first sign of a rodent invasion often prompts an immediate pest control response.

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Tiny Dive-Bombing Parasitic Wasps

How cool is this?

A teeny, tiny wasp hunts it’s unsuspecting prey by hovering half an inch above the ground; and attacks by diving-bombing into it’s target.

This newly discovered species of parasitic wasp, Kollasmosoma sentum, is a natural born assassin in the insect world. The tiny wasp will cruise along looking for an ant to assault and deposit an egg into.

When a poor unsuspecting ant is located by the miniature wasp, it will quickly dive and inject an egg into the ant. The ant’s only defense when it realizes it’s being attacked, is to roll over and try to fight back with it’s mandibles and legs. The entire egg laying process only takes a mere 0.052 seconds, and is deadly to the ant. Once attacked by the parasitic wasp, an ant will house the wasp’s larvae and provide the unborn with food until they hatch.

The wasp’s impressive attacks have been filmed and can bee seen below.

Watch Them Attack!

Parasitic Wasp Makes The List of Top 10 New Species 2012

Every year, the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) puts together a list of the top 10 newly discovered species. This year, the parasitic dive-bombing wasp (Kollasmosoma sentum) makes the top 10 list according to Arizona State University.

The top 10 species are chosen from a committee of experts, entomologists, and scientific journal editors that evaluate hundreds of entries every year.

Oh, and if you are having problems with wasps of any kind, contact Bulwark Exterminating!

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Listen Here:

Popular Bug Songs Playlist: 

Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band

Spiderwebs—No Doubt

Day of the Locusts–Bob Dylan

Honey Bee – Blake Shelton

Spider– They Might Be Giants

Fireflies– Owl City

The Spider—Weezer

Butterfly—Mariah Carey

Ticks– Brad Paisley

Boll Weevil — Presidents of the United States of America

Attack of the Giant Ants—Blondie

Bugs – Pearl Jam

Boris the Spider–The Who

Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle

Spiders– System of a Down

Butterfly—Crazy Town

Earwigs to Eternity–Alice Cooper

The Spider Bite Song – Flaming Lips

Junebug – The B-52′s

Gnat Years—Absofacto

Mosquito Song—Queens Of The Stone Age

Red Mosquito—Pearl Jam

Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter–Ike & Tina Turner

Honey And The Bee—Owl City

Fly Trouble–Hank Williams

The Wasp—Thee Doors

Bee of the Bird of the Moth — They Might Be Giants

The Black Widow – Alice Cooper

The Spider And The Fly – The Rolling Stones

Butterfly in Reverse—Counting Crows

La Cucaracha–A.B. Quintanilla y los Kumbia Kings

The Itsy Bitsy Spider—The Music Makers

– Compiled by Bulwark Exterminating

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