Pest Control Advice

BED BUG INFORMATION from Harvard University

2007-07-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

Frequently asked questions

Question: Can I bring bed bugs home on my shoes?

Answer: Unlikely, bed bugs are active at night, during the day they are hiding in cracks and crevices. Bed bugs are more likely to be spread via pillows, mattresses, bed linen and bedroom furniture.

Question: Can cold kill bed bugs?

Answer: Yes, although the temperature must drop fast, stay below freezing for several days and the bed bugs must not be too deep inside insulated objects.

Question: How can I determine if my bites are caused by bed bugs?

Answer: Itchy bites can be caused by mites, mosquitoes, fleas and lice. To be absolutely sure, you need to collect a bed bug specimen and have it identified by an expert.

Question: How do you kill bed bug eggs? Do all these spray on products work?

Answer: Most insect eggs are safe inside a shell or chorion which protects them from pesticides. Bed bug eggs hatch in about one to three weeks depending upon the temperature. This would mean a follow up inspection after three weeks would be a good idea. Most residual pesticides last for one month, so theoretically, there should be pesticide still active to kill bed bug nymphs as soon as they hatch from eggs.

Bed bug BBC interview 20th Jan 2007

2007-06-16T12:49:00.000-04:00

Rodenator pest control device

2007-04-17T15:03:00.000-04:00

The Rodenator Pro taking on burrowing pests. Boss of the Burrow, Rodenator is the coolest thing you have seen.

Pest Control at a Small Farm Greenhouse

2007-03-31T18:01:00.000-04:00

Pest control practices and thoughts from a small farm in New England that practices sustainable horticulture. Funded by USDA.

Nontoxic Pest Control for Your Home and Garden

2007-03-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

By TC Thorn

Pesticides are toxic and, while often effective against pests, can be dangerous for your family and pets. Outdoors, sprayed pesticides might drift on a breeze and dust your vegetable garden or your neighbor's yard. Indoors, pesticides can linger in the air, exposing the family to harmful chemicals. For these reasons, many people are turning to nontoxic pest control methods.

Prevention is the best way to control pests, but there are times when even the most thorough preventative measures will not save you from intruders, so this article discusses both preventative pest control methods and nontoxic pest control products.

Preventative Pest Control Methods

Sanitation:

As they say, cleanliness is next to godliness. And it keeps pests out, too. Keeping your home clean is the most effective pest control method. If you don't leave food or dirty dishes lying around the house, animals and insects won't be attracted to the smell. Sweep and vacuum regularly. Remember, just because you can't see crumbs doesn't mean they don't exist. Clean inside pantries and cabinets cabinets, under and around the stove and refrigerator at least once a year.

Screens:

This may seem obvious, but screens on doors and windows are a simple and relatively cheap way to keep insects out of the house. Also, screens on crawlspaces keep rodents from obtaining easy access routes into the house.

Caulking:

By caulking cracks in your house, you can minimize places for insects to hide and nest. Target bathrooms and the kitchen, especially doors and windows.

Nontoxic Pest Control Products

Traps:

There are many kinds of traps available that target many kinds of pests. Some examples are sticky traps for cockroaches, glueboards for mice, flypaper, bug zappers, and traps specifically for rats, gophers, or moles. You can usually pick up traps at your local Home and Garden store.

Pheromones:

Pheromones, essentially insect scent hormones, can be used in traps as bait. By emitting the scent of the female insect, pheromones can be used to lure males into a trap, where they are caught in a sticky glue. Insects are only attracted by pheromones emitted by their own kind, so you need to know exactly what kind of insects you're trying to eliminate and plan accordingly.

Biological Control:

Biological control is more often used in agriculture but can sometimes be used in home and garden situations as well. Basically it means using desirable organisms to eliminate undesirable organisms. For instance, planting certain plants in your garden can deter certain pests. For example, spearmint repels ants. Garlic repels Japanese Beetles. Indoors, spiders eat fruit flies and houseflies, so it may be worth leaving some of those webs around.

Repellents:

There are nontoxic repellents available for pest control. Mosquito repellents are the most popular, but if you look around, you can find repellents that target other pests. Some herbs, like eucalyptus and wormwood, are known for repelling animals and insects.

About The Author

TC Thorn writes for http://www.pestinformation.com/ where you can find more pest control information.

Organic Solutions For Pest Control

2007-03-02T10:56:00.000-05:00

By Anne Clarke

Many people shy away from organic gardening because they believe that their plants will become infested by insects if they do not spray them with the correct “poisons.” The truth is, there are plenty of natural ways to keep bugs off of your plants – that is, there are lots of ways to keep the bad bugs off while attracting the good ones.

· Garlic. We all know that garlic keeps away vampires, but did you know that it also keeps annoying insects like aphids out of your garden? You can create your own insect spray by crushing the cloves. Also, plant a sprouting garlic in the garden to act as an additional repellent.

· Allium Family. Other “stinky” plants besides garlic, like onions, chives, and scallions also repel pests. Plant these throughout your garden.

· Fennel. Attract those beautiful ladybugs by planting this wonderful herb. Remember, ladybugs will kill spider mites and aphids, but they will not hurt plants, people, or pets. Compared to chemical pesticides, ladybugs are much less expensive, and they are self-renewing!

· Other herbs. Dill, cilantro, angelica, and parsley attract ladybugs to your gardens, too. They also attract other beneficial insects.

· Praying Mantis. A praying mantis can be the answer to your prayers… or they can become a bit of a pest, themselves. This insect is a very hungry one, all to happy to eat aphids, fruit flies, grasshoppers, moths, crickets, and house flies… but that is not all that they eat. They also tend to eat those beneficial insects like lacewings and hover flies. It is possible to buy cases of praying mantis eggs, if you want to include this hungry insect in your garden.

· Organic sprays. If adding insects to your garden is not your idea of the best way to get rid of insects, there are some organic sprays that you can use (like neem or pyrethrum). You can also set out sticky traps.

· Maintain proper soil fertility. Start with the soil – use proper waste handling methods as well as good compost methods. Plant a diverse ecosystem (of native species). By maintaining proper soil fertility, you will repel pests, weeds, and fungus.

The type of pest control that you decide to use depends greatly on the type of pest that you have – flies, grasshoppers, fungus gnats, leafminers, leafhoppers, crickets, caterpillars, aphids, bean beetles, etc. The list of insect pest seems to go and on. Luckily, there are some beneficial insects to combat them!

Overall, it is a good idea to invite green lacewings, ladybugs, and praying mantis to your garden. Find ways to attract them, or go out and buy them and bring them by force to your garden!

Besides using insects as pest control, there are plenty of traps and organic pesticides that you can use. Why not try these out first, before you try out pesticides that can be harmful to the environment?

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on gardening and pest control, please visit GardeningAnswers.com

Practicing Safe Pest Control In Your Garden

2007-02-23T11:02:00.000-05:00

By Lee Dobbins

Pests are a problem in many gardens and can ruin your flower bed or a good crop of vegetables. When dealing with pests, and especially in vegetable gardens, you want to use methods that are safe for both plants and humans. Since avoiding the use of harsh chemicals for pest control is a good idea all around, here’s some tips on some gentler methods of getting rid of garden pests.

Physical Pest Control

Time consuming but very natural, this method consists of many things you can physically do to control bugs and other pests. Picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. If snails are a problem, look for them hiding in damp places under rocks and near the base of those plants with straplike foliage.

Biological Pest Control

Get rid of pests by inviting insects in that eat them! Encouraging predatory insects such as dragonflies and green lacewings into your garden can help in your pest control efforts as they eat aphids and other pests that attack your plants. So how do you attract them? Try simply placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially love water and will hover around it. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis can also be used against caterpillars.

Safer Pest Control Recipes

You can mix up some solutions for pest control that are safe - and you probably have the ingredients right in your kitchen! To get rid of green aphids and mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and 1 cup vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.

Organic pest control methods can be successful and are much better for both you and the environment. Sometimes, however you cannot get rid of pests organically and must turn to chemicals as a last resort. If chemical sprays are really necessary you must use the least-toxic. Some of the least toxic pest control includes horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and dehydrating dusts. Make sure that the chemical sprays and solutions you use are made specifically for the pests you are targeting.

Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Patio where you can get more great gardening and landscaping tips.

Ultrasonic Pest Control

2007-02-15T12:27:00.000-05:00

By Kent Pinkerton

Pests have become a menace in every area of human occupation and are a constant cause of damage to property and equipment. Pests such as rats can nibble away anything from soft materials such as paper and cloth to hard substances such as wood and plastic. It is also estimated that rats waste around fifteen to twenty percent of the world's food grain supply. Uncontrolled growth of pests can also lead to the occurrence of various diseases such as plague.

Ultrasonic pest control devices are used to prevent pests such as rats from entering homes, barns, storage houses, and fields. These devices produce ultrasonic sound waves that cause discomfort to rats and forces them to stay away from areas covered by the sound waves. These devices work silently and do not cause any damage to the surrounding environment as compared to other methods of pest control such as pesticides.

A number of ultrasonic pest control devices available in the market claim to produce high-pitched sounds, heard only by pests that are so annoying that pests either leave or die due to the ultrasonic sound waves. These devices do not affect humans and are considered safe for common pets such as gerbils and hamsters.

In spite of the claims made by ultrasonic pest control device manufacturers, their effectiveness in dealing with pests still raises a lot of questions. Scientific studies conducted on some of these devices has indicated that pests share the same hearing range as humans and if humans are not affected, they may as well cause no discomfort to pests.

Customers looking for ultrasonic pest control solutions need to check the efficacy of these devices before actually buying them. They can select a particular brand of ultrasonic pest control device that offers filed testing of its devices and money back guarantees in case the customer is not satisfied with its performance.

Pest Control - Japanese Beetles

2007-02-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

By Stephanie McIntyre and Wendell Bryant

The Japanese beetle is a very destructive insect pest both in its adult and larval stage. It is an alien invader that original arrived in the US about 80 years ago. In its native land of Japan, it is not the threat to plants that it is here because its natural enemies keep it under control. Not so here in the U.S.

When it arrived here, it had no existing natural enemies. The food of it's liking was plentiful and the climate was favorable for it. Japanese beetles have continued their spread throughout the country because they don't have the controls here that they have in Japan. It's a big threat to our agriculture, and to our landscape and garden plants as well.

The adult Japanese beetle will feed on a vast array of trees and plants including vegetable crops, ornamental and fruit trees, agricultural and garden vegetables and shrubs of all kinds. There are hundreds of plants and trees that adult Japanese beetles will eat. They will attack them in great numbers and leave behind skeletons and seriously damaged plants. The grubs attack both lawns and the roots of a wide variety of plants throughout this country. The cost of these uninvited pests totals in the hundred of millions of dollars with untold damage done in the process.

The Japanese beetle is an easy bug to identify; in fact it's a lot easier to ID than to control. Usually they appear in sufficient numbers to give the average person the creeps. They are a shiny metallic green color with bronze colored wings, about ½ inch long. Usually you will see these guys in early summer. The grubs are about 1 inch long and curled up. You find them when you dig in your garden or lawn.

The first step in controlling Japanese beetles on your property is to see what kind of problem you have. For this you need a trap especially designed for them. They are sold at all home and garden centers. They attract the beetles with pheromones and can be used to assess the level of your problem. They are sometimes sold as controls for them but that is not really the case because they will probably lure Japanese beetles from other places to come to your property. But if you leave one or two out it can help you determine the level of your problem (at least with adults). For instance, if after a week you only have a few in the trap then it's probably not worth worrying about.

To check for grubs, dig several 12" x 12" by 3" deep sections of sod in different locations and turn them over. Count the number of grubs both on the turned over piece and in the hole. If you have 11 or more per section then you may need to treat.

There are several routes you can take to control Japanese beetle adults. There are several environmental and potential health issues with the use of chemicals; nevertheless there are quite a few on the market for adults and grubs. A visit to any garden center or home center will provide you with a ready source. Be sure to read and carefully follow all directions.

Safer to use than chemicals, biological controls can effectively manage beetle problems without the potential for environmental and health impact. Following is a list of some types of them.

· Beneficial nematodes
· Milky spore
· Parasitic wasps and flies

Also, there are a host of plants that are less susceptible to Japanese beetle than others. These include hollies, hemlocks, red maples, dogwoods, spruces, pines as well as many others.

Stephanie McIntyre and Wendell Bryant are Internet developers. Visit their site at http://pestcontrolbugfreezone.com/outdoor-pests/

Gentle pest controls

2007-01-22T14:16:00.000-05:00

by Lauren Bonar Swezey, Bud Stuckey

Common garden pests and safe, effective remedies

Warming spring weather means one thing: Pests and diseases are coming out in force, ready to attack tender new foliage and flowers. Before you get mad and reach for a chemical arsenal to do away with the nuisances, consider this: A cautious approach makes sense for the overall health of your garden, not to mention the children and pets who play there. Check the plants' growing conditions-healthy vigorous plants are better equipped to resist pests and diseases.

* Is the affected plant growing in the conditions it requires? Make sure it has plenty of room to grow, the correct amount of light (sun or shade), and sufficient air circulation around it.

* Is the soil healthy? Flowers and vegetables thrive in well-amended soil with plenty of compost. Trees and shrubs don't need soil amendments, but covering the soil around them with an organic mulch such as bark chips helps keep the roots cool and encourages beneficial organisms in the soil.

Does the plant receive the amount of water and nutrients it needs? Water-stressed plants are weak and susceptible to attack. Water early in the morning when the temperature is rising.

If good care isn't enough to keep insects or diseases at bay, identify the problem (the most common are shown and described on these pages), then choose the correct control method from the chart on page 108. Give the control a chance to work before trying something stronger.

APHIDS. Soft-bodied insects from 1/16 to 1/4 inch long, aphids can be found in a range of colors from black to pink to white and pale green. They usually cluster on the new growth of perennials, roses, and woody plants. Adults and nymphs damage plants by sucking out sap. In small numbers, aphids do little harm. But they can rapidly build up to destructive numbers.

MITES. These tiny, eight-legged pests of black, green, red, or yellow are nearly invisible. They destroy plants by sucking juices from the leaves, giving the leaves a stippled, bleached, or spotted appearance. Mites are most severe in hot, dry weather.

SCALES appear as clusters of crusty, waxy, or smooth bumps on leaves, branches, and the bark of trees and shrubs. There are numerous types varying in size, color, and shape. They spend most of their lives immobile, sucking nutrients out of their plant victims. Black sooty mold fungus may cover parts of the plant; heavily infested twigs and branches may die. Scales have protective coatings that help prevent sprays from affecting them; young crawlers are most susceptible to sprays.

WHITEFLIES. These tiny, winged insects appear in large numbers, typically on the undersides of leaves; vegetables and ornamental plants are favorites. Both the adults and wingless, transparent nymphs suck sap from plants. Affected leaves may be stippled yellow and covered by black sooty mold fungus. When the infested plants are disturbed (by humans, pets, or the elements), whiteflies scatter.

SLUGS AND SNAILS are mollusks, not insects. Snails have brown shells; slugs do not. Slugs come in many colors and sizes, but the 1-inch-long brown garden slugs are the most common pest of plants. Both snails and slugs rasp large, ragged holes in leaves and flowers.

Have you seen beneficial insects in your garden?

Ladybugs, green lacewings, and other "good" bugs can keep aphids, scales, and other "bad" bugs in check. Encourage them to stay in the garden by setting out plants to feed and shelter them.

Mix annuals and perennials that bloom over a long season. Favorites of beneficial insects include coreopsis, corn cockle, cosmos, sweet alyssum, and yarrow. Avoid indiscriminate spraying, which kills good bugs too.

One way to be certain that beneficial insects inhabit your garden is to introduce them yourself. You can order them by mail or on-line from the following sources.

Harmony Farm Supply, Box 460, Graton, CA 95444; (707) 823-9125 or www.harmonyfarm.com.

Natural Pest Controls, 8864 Little Creek Dr., Orangevale, CA 95662; (916) 726-0855 or www.natpestco.com.

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, Box 2209, Grass Valley CA 95945; (888) 784-1722 or www.groworganic.com.

ANTS. These small six-legged insects live in colonies in the soil, under rocks, or in crevices between paving stones. Newly hatched ants have wings; adults can be distinguished from termites by their narrow midsections. Ants encourage and protect sap-sucking insects such as aphids and scales.

POWDERY MILDEWS. These white or gray fungi attack the foliage and flowers of many kinds of plants, turning infected leaves yellowish green to brown, and stunting and distorting new growth. Mildews thrive when cool nights are followed by warm days--particularly in fall.

BLACKSPOT, fringed black spots on leaves, is a fungus disease that can defoliate a plant.

RUSTS are orange-yellow to rusty brown fungi that attack many plants. Powdery pustules appear on the undersides of leaves, but the first sign of infestation may be a yellow mottling on the upper leaf surfaces.

Pest Control Tips For Maintaining Your Greenhouse

2007-01-07T10:47:00.000-05:00

By Holly Masters

Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to a variety of different plants and flowers which is why they are a perfect target for insects. There are numerous types of insects which will want to live in your greenhouse and feed off of the wonderful plants and flowers which you have put so much time and effort into maintaining. The information below will provide you with tips and guidelines to follow in order to ensure you are doing everything in your power to ward off any unwanted pests.

The first step in learning how to prevent and eliminate insects from entering into your greenhouse is to understand and become familiar with the types of insects which are likely to reside there. The following is a list of the most common types of insects which you will likely find in your greenhouse:

● Aphids
● Fungus Gnats
● Flies (many forms)
● Bloodworms
● Thrips
● Caterpillars
● Mites
● Slugs and Snails

Now that you are aware of the different types of bugs and insects which may have taken up residence in your greenhouse, it’s time to learn how to prevent and/or eliminate them from remaining there.

Here are a number of things to keep in mind in order to ensure there are no bugs in your greenhouse:

1. Always keep all doors, screens and windows shut when not being used for specific purposes.

2. Inspect all new plants to ensure there are no bugs on them to begin with. Bugs have the ability to multiply quickly and can potentially cause a huge infestation in your greenhouse.

3. Make sure there is no water lying around whether it is in jugs, cups or in a puddle on the floor. Insects are attracted to wet areas.

4. Keep your greenhouse in good, clean condition. Not only do insects like water but they like to disguise themselves under areas of clutter. This also means keeping the lawn around your greenhouse mowed and neat at all times. Many pests reside in weeds, if you keep your lawn cut there will be no weeds for the insects to reside in.

5. Bright colors such as yellow and red attract insects. Try not to wear or display (other than on the flowers themselves) any bright colors which may attract unwanted insects.

These guidelines will provide you with the basic knowledge you will need to ensure there are no unwanted insects in your greenhouse. Now you can relax and enjoy all the hard work which went into creating such an amazing atmosphere.

About the Author:

Holly Masters loves to garden and takes pride in her greenhouse. She has spent much time learning about greenhouses and serves as a contributing writer for http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com – a site that offers information about everything from sunrooms to greenhouse kits.

Lady Bugs Are Your #1 Natural Pest Control

2006-12-26T09:38:00.000-05:00

By James Ellison

First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names are:

lady bugs
ladybugs
lady beetle
asiatic lady beetle
Asian Lady Beetle
Asian Lady Bugs
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

The Ladybird Beetle is the correct name for a Lady bug and are not bugs but are beetles. Worldwide there are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs of which 400 are found in North America. The Convergent Lady Beetle is the most common beneficial species of Ladybird beetle in North America.

The life cycle of all Lady Bugs are mainly the same. The eggs are laid in the spring. When they hatch the larvae will feed for a couple of weeks and then pupate into adults. During the winter they will hibernate or will have died in the fall. Springtime they awake to feed and lay more eggs again.

As a form of biological pest control Lady Bugs are widely used and are the best known. Besides eating their favorite food aphids they also eat mites, scales, whitefly, mealybugs and most other soft insects. They are known to eat cabbage moths, bollworms, tomato hornworms and broccoli worms. These bugs will eat up to 1,000 aphids in it's lifetime in both their larvae and adult stages.

The most common complaint against the Lady Bug is that when they are released they will fly off and let the aphids have their feast with your roses and tomato plants. But really only a part of your release will venture off, the rest will eat all the aphids they can find and then maybe fly off.

-There are a couple of tricks you can do to keep your Ladybugs-

1. Only release the ladybugs in the evening since they are not known to fly at night when it is cooler.

2. Take a can of soda and mix it with equal amounts of water and spray on the Lady Bugs just before you release them. The sugar will make the wings sticky for just a couple days so they will hang around at least for awhile and eat the pests. Since Lady Beetles claim certain areas home they will stay in your yard and make it their home and the females will start laying eggs in and around your garden.

-What about Lady Beetles in the house-

We are glad to have these beetles hang around and control the pests just like mother nature intended.If they stay at your place over winter they will look for a nice cozy place to stay and that is where your home comes into the picture.

These bugs don't seem to have any logic to picking a house they just have found yours and they like it there. In the yard and garden they were welcome guests, in your home not so welcome. What we want to do is ask the lady bugs to leave. They don't speak our language.

-So a few suggestions to try-

1. Get out your vacuum cleaner and find the hose attachment.

2. Get a nylon stocking and place it inside the hose with the top of the stocking overlapping the end of the hose and place the hose attachment end nozzle on this to keep the stocking on.

3. Start the vacuum and get the bugs cleaned up. This will keep the bugs alive and then you can take them outside and release in another area away from your home. Refrigerate for next spring or give them to a friend with a green house.

The ladybugs may be a problem outside the house also, help them relocate by:

1. Spray water at them with the garden hose.

2. Use your leaf blower and blow them away.

3. Upset the lady bugs and eventually they will move on to another location.

Needless to say they are a very beneficial bug, but for some people bugs are not their favorite. They can be helpful and at the same time create a problem. What we need to do is learn to live with our tiny friends and make sure they stay around.

Pest Control - Fleas

2006-12-22T10:29:00.000-05:00

By Stephanie McIntyre

If you have a cat or a dog, there's a good chance that at some point, you've had to do battle with fleas. These tiny, almost impossible to see insects that are usually a pet irritation, can also become a major problem for your home.

With fleas, like many infestation problems, an ounce of prevention can be worth a ton of cure. Treat pets regularly for fleas (and ticks) before they can gain a foothold and to stop them from developing into a larger problem.

If you've let your pet's flea problem go untreated, you will find that they're not the only ones scratching. Fleas can irritate and cause itching to humans as well. It's irritating enough when they crawl on you, but the worst of it is when they bite. How can anything so small deliver such a potent bite? And bite they will because they feed on blood and that's how they can get it. But the fun part is trying to catch one when you see it or if it bites you. They're so small that you can't swat them, and it's almost as difficult to pick one up (not only are they small but they seem to be able to jump across an entire room).

But the itchiness and biting is only the tip of the iceberg. Fleas can transmit diseases to both people and animals.

Because they carry blood-borne diseases, fleas were responsible for the bubonic plague that wiped out a large part of Europe in the 14th century. These rat fleas would feed on the blood of a rat that carried the bacteria, then bite a human, and regurgitate the infected blood into the bite wound. This lead to one of histories greatest natural disasters.

Fleas can transmit worms from animal to animal (though usually not people). For example, cat fleas carry and transmit tapeworms to dogs.

Skin inflammation (dermatitis) in pets can be caused by fleas. This is the most common skin problem that veterinarians treat. Pets develop an allergy to the saliva from bites and scratch to the point of irritation. Occasionally, in some pets, this excess scratching can lead to infection.

A heavy infestation of fleas has been known to cause anemia in some pets. Because each swallows a small amount of blood, a large number of fleas can consume a significant amount. Anemia can make pets become lethargic, and possibly lead to other medical problems. This is an especially dangerous problem for puppies and kittens because it can kill them.

Fleas are normally at their worst, or at least easiest for pets to pick up, during warm weather months. This is when the most diligence in protecting your pet is needed.

To determine whether your pet is infected, you can do the following: · Watch for any excessive scratching and/or irritability. · Comb through your pets hair. Watch closely for the fast moving, high jumping little buggers. · Inspect your pet's sleeping area. Look closely, and if fleas are there you'll see them (of course if pets sleep with you, you'll feel them as well). · Wear white socks and walk around any areas you think might be infected. They'll either be on the soles and in some cases you'll see them jump on your foot or ankle. · If you feel a flea's bite or see a tiny speck appear and then disappear on you, you've got fleas.

If you find fleas in any of these places, you will have to treat them and/or your pet to rid your environment of them. Don't let down your guard for a bit else fleas will quickly gain a foothold.

There are very effective products available now to treat animal flea problems. The best ones are available from your vet. There are also flea powders, dips, collars, and shampoos available over-the-counter that can do a pretty good job of eliminating your pet's fleas.

To get rid of fleas in the home, there are foggers, carpet powders and sprays, and yard sprays. These will kill and control fleas in the home or yard.

You can't ignore fleas for very long. The problem can become overwhelming if not handled promptly. Again, prevention is the very best course of action, but if that's not possible, attack the problem as quickly as you can.

Pest Control - Houseplant Pests

2006-12-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

By Stephanie McIntyre

If you are a gardener, you know what a challenge it can be to keep unwanted bugs from making a meal of your prize plants. It's a never-ending battle, whether your approach is organic or chemical. And while they're usually less insect problems to deal with on indoor plants, they can still develop infestations on occasion.

Even healthy-appearing houseplants can come home with some insects on them that you might have missed during the in-store inspection. It helps if you can quarantine them for a week to ten days at home, but a few hearty individuals can still sneak through your.

The best way to prevent harmful bugs from harming your plants is to catch them early in the game, before any real damage is done. If you can do this, then you can identify the culprit and deal with it promptly and accordingly. But often the first indication of an infestation is after the plant has been affected. If your plant shows signs of stress like color change, leaf drop, or wilting - you may have insects.

There are of course other reasons for these problems, such as over-watering, under-watering, temperature, lighting, etc. So if you see any of these symptoms, a careful inspection is in order to see if you can find bugs.

If do find insects, then the next step is to ID them. There are many resources, many on the Web, to help you to do this. Here are some of the bugs that you may come across on your plants.

Whiteflies: These are among the most difficult of all houseplant pests to control. They are hard to see when young and once they mature, can rapidly infest a whole houseful of plants. Whiteflies look like tiny white moths. They are related however, to scale insects. Like scale, they feed by sucking plant juices. With a heavy infestation, the plants yellow and eventually die. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to another problem, sooty mold fungus. This too can lead to leaf drop. When choosing a product for whiteflies, you have to select one for the specific stage of development they're in. Insecticidal soaps and oil sprays get rid of nymphs while yellow sticky traps can help control adults.

Scale: Scale look like tiny bumps along a plant's stems. Unless you are looking for them or some kind of insect, it's pretty easy to miss them. They're often mistaken as part of the plant. They come in a variety of colors including, tan, black, brown and gray. The scale part of the insect that you see is actually a hard protective covering. The two stages of scale are the adult (hard shell) stage and the crawler stage. The crawlers are the easiest to kill with insecticides, while adults may be very difficult to control. They damage a plant in much the same way as whiteflies, and also leave a sticky excretion that can result in sooty mold.

Spider Mites: these tiny red bugs are not really insects as they have 8 legs and no wings. They are related to arachnids (spiders). With this pest, you'll most often see damage before you see the bug, unless you happen to be looking for them. These guys also leave webbing, which they use with air currents to spread to other plants. Both the nymph and adult stage of spider mites damage plants. The damage is usually seen as speckled coloring, color loss and droopiness. They are difficult to control. Often several integrated steps are needed (including destroying those plants that are heavily infested) for success.

Aphids: These are small (1/16 - 1/8 inches), six legged bugs that pierce plants and suck their juices. They come in a variety of colors including light green, red and black. Aphids can multiply into great numbers quickly, and spread from plant to plant. Damage from aphids includes leaf curling, stunted growth, and distorted leaves. They also produce honeydew, which causes sooty mold. Use insecticidal soap, or if possible, take plants outside and spray with a fairly strong jet of water to remove them.

Stephanie McIntyre has been a Platinum eBay Powerseller, an eBay Trading Assistant as well as an Educational Assistant trained by eBay. Her company, eSales Unlimited Inc. specializes in training small business owners in using eBay as an additional revenue stream. She maintains a site with information on selling on eBay.

Selecting a Pest Control Company

2006-12-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

By Aldene Fredenburg

If you have a problem with unwanted pests in your home, and you've exhausted all the self-help remedies you know, you may be considering hiring a commercial pest control company to deal with the problem. Hiring a professional might be exactly the right solution for you; but you need to do your homework.

First, how do you locate a company? Checking the yellow pages of your local phone book might be a good start; doing a keyword search on the Internet for your area could also work, and you have the added benefit of seeing what information the company provides, on itself and on pest control generally. Ask friends and coworkers for recommendations

After you've developed a list of pest control services, and before you call these companies, start asking more questions of your friends and coworkers. Have any of them used these companies? What was their experience? Did the company in question solve their pest infestation issues? Were there any problems dealing with the company? Any problems in the home after the company performed their services?

Once you've narrowed down your list to a few potential providers, call them on the phone, and ask some more questions: does the company offer a free home evaluation and estimate of costs? Does it give you advice on what you can do to deal with the problem yourself? Is the company willing to answer questions readily?

Specific questions to ask: what kinds of chemicals are used? (If possible, have them provide written information on the chemicals.) What sorts of side effects or potential dangers do these chemicals have on family members, adults and children, and on pets? Do your family and household pets need to vacate the premises during the pest control treatment?

Make sure you ask whether the company offers nontoxic, natural pest control. The company should be willing to at least discuss the options; if its representative just dismisses the notion of nontoxic pest control without intelligently discussing the pros and cons of the natural remedies available, but just wants to get into your house and spray, beware!

With written information (or your own notes) in hand, do your own research on any chemicals that will be used - their effectiveness, their possible side effects, their potential toxicity. (The Internet is a great place to start for this.) If you have family members with serious health issues, particularly asthma or other respiratory ailments, make sure you know what the potential effect of sprayed compounds could have on them.

Finally, if you have any questions about the company's reliability, and you can't find anyone you know and whose judgment you trust to vouch for them, contact your local or state Better Business Bureau or Consumer Fraud Division, to find out whether there have been any complaints lodged against them.

Once you've hired a company, make sure you know who is going to be showing up at your home and when. Make sure they have proper I.D., and ask if you can be there to supervise the process or if you have to leave, and for how long. And while you've got access to the professional treating your home, ask what you can do to avoid pest control problems in the future, particularly those involving destructive carpenter ants and termites. The guy (or gal) who actually does the work probably has insights into the subject that the office staff doesn't have.

All About Bed Bugs

2006-12-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

By Nat Price

Bed bugs are a hardy and resilient pest, despised by most who have encountered them. Getting rid of bed bugs has been a problem documented as early as medieval times in Europe or during the time of Aristotle in Greece. Bed bugs are smart creatures that choose to move when the target least knows it, often attacking when a person is fast asleep, unaware of their silent assailant. Every person will have his own version of a bed bug story and most likely it will be bad.

Further information about this charming creature tells us that bed bugs are scientifically known as “Cimex lectularius”. They are wingless with a brownish, ultra-thin body. Various studies indicate these creatures originated from Asia but unfortunately, they can now be seen in all parts of the world. Bed bugs thrive in areas with a warm and dry climate but they have been able to invade the northern regions because of the proliferation of heated buildings. So there is something to be said about living in a cold house. Heating keeps you and your family toasty; so too the bed bugs!

The adult bed bug is ј to 3/8 in length when it is unfed but its size will expand considerably after a hearty meal. (Much like a human after a buffet dinner!) A starving bed bug looks far more different compared to one that is well fed. Young bed bugs or nymphs resemble the adults but have a yellowish color after molting. A nymph can develop into a fully grown bed bug as fast as one month depending on how much it is able to eat, which is not the most pleasant of thoughts.

When they become a pest

Bed bugs start to become a problem when they become hungry for blood, though frankly they will never be a particularly desirable resident in your house. They typically stay in their homes in between meals and are only forced to go out if they are starving. The warmth of a nearby body is what attracts them they can detect a food source up to approximately 5-10cm away.

Bed bugs use their highly developed mouthparts to bite and suck blood from the skin of an unsuspecting person. Engorgement time can last as long as seven minutes or as short as one minute. An adult bed bug can absorb around seven times of its own body weight in blood. The bed bug immediately retreats to its hiding place after feasting and then lays eggs again.

A person will only realize that he has been bitten by a bed bug once he discovers the large wheals in the affected part of the body. These wheals eventually develop into a tiny read mark that will stay for at least two to three days.

Bed bug bites can also be distinguished by the orderly way the wheals are formed, unlike mosquito bites that have a random pattern. It is always advised that the affected area should never be scratched to avoid infection and immediately washed with soap and water.

Bed bugs do prefer any part of the body that has good blood flow so, sorry to say, the reproductive organs will always be included in their list of target spots.

Solving 'em bugs

Treating bed bug bites is only a small part of solving the problem, as the next step is actually getting rid of these unwanted visitors. Those often traveling to areas with a tropical climate are very susceptible to bed bug infestations, as the luggage they carry might become their new home. Seeing bed bugs crawl into boxes, suitcases and belongings is very difficult, as they are tiny, agile and cryptic. Homes not yet infested could inherit this problem from the use of second hand furniture, couches or beds.

Those that want to get rid of bed bugs in beds will have a difficult task at hand. Fabrics with holes and tears are perfect locations for them to lay eggs. During the 40s and 50s the use of DDT, which was developed as the first of the modern insecticides early in World War II, was popular, as it helped minimize the spread of bed bug infestations but was eventually outlawed due to concerns over their effects to humans.

Pest control firms have a wide array instruments to help get rid of beg bugs ranging from pesticides, aerosols and other chemical agents. Beds in poor condition or heavily infested should be automatically discarded. Regardless if the bed is thrown out or not, encasing the box spring and mattress is very helpful especially if the bugs are still there.

Vacuuming could also help in getting rid of bed bugs and some pest control experts even use portable steam machines to treat beds. Whether the infestation is minor or major, bed bugs are always a pest especially for those that want to get a good night’s sleep. Perhaps, the most effective way to avoid a bed bug problem is to practice good hygiene and observe cleanliness.

Nat Price is the owner and creator of http://www.superzyme.com/ He is a veritable expert on bed bugs and, more importantly, how to get rid of them

Innovative Pest Control Tools Help the Professional

2006-12-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

By Chris Robertson

Today, a pest control technician has several pest control tools in his arsenal. Increasingly, pest control technicians are using an integrated approach in combating a wide variety of pests that range from mice, ants, and spiders to termites, cockroaches and beetles.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pest control technicians "increasingly use a combination of pest management techniques, known as integrated pest management. One method involves using proper sanitation and creating physical barriers, for pests cannot survive without food and will not infest a building if they cannot enter it. Another method involves using baits, some of which destroy the pests, and others that prevent them from reproducing. Yet another method involves using mechanical devices, such as traps, that remove pests from the immediate environment."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics continues, "Integrated pest management is becoming popular for several reasons. First, pesticides can pose environmental and health risks. Second, some pests are becoming more resistant to pesticides in certain situations. Finally, an integrated pest management plan is more effective in the long term than use of a pesticide alone."

The reality, however, is that pesticides remain the cornerstone of the pest control technician's arsenal. Today, what's most notable in the field of professional pest management is the innovation taking place in pest control tools such as the dust applicator, wands, tips, and accessories.

The most advanced dust applicators are battery-powered units that are capable of applying both granules and dust. As such, they are so versatile that pest control technicians can use them for the majority of their work. These dust applicators have wands that allow for precise application to cracks and crevices - as well as large voids - without making a mess, and have enough power to blow dust up a 30-foot bee pole. The lightweight nature of these pest control tools belies the fact that the batteries will last a full day on the job, and require less than an hour to recharge.

Another refinement in innovative dust applicators is that they do not clog in humid areas and that they have clear canisters that can efficiently switch pesticides without contamination. Further, there are a variety of accessories available for dust applicators, including wands and tips, tip extensions, hose extensions, bee pole kits, belt hooks and carrying cases.

Just as pest management techniques have changed over the years, so have pest control tools. Today's dust applicator gets the job done efficiently and effectively.

Control Pests In Your Perennial Garden

2006-12-11T15:34:00.000-05:00

Author: B. Keith Johnson
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Have you ever wondered if what you know about Pest control in the garden is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Pest control in the garden. One of the many advantages of growing perennials is the ability of these beautiful flowers to return to full bloom season after season. While this ability to bloom repeatedly is one of the things that makes perennials so special, it also introduces a number of important factors into your gardening plan. One of the most important of these is a proper pest control regimen. While a garden full of annuals starts each season as a blank slate, the perennial garden is essentially a work in progress. The fact that the plants stay in the ground through winter makes things like proper pruning, disease management and pest control very important. If the garden bed is not prepared properly after the current growing season, chances are the quality of the blooms will suffer when the next season rolls around. One of the most important factors to a successful perennial pest control regimen is the attention and vigilance of the gardener. As the gardener, you are in the best position to notice any changes in the garden, such as spots on the leaves, holes in the leaves, or damage to the stems. Any one of these could indicate a problem such as pest infestation or a disease outbreak. It is important to nip any such problem in the bud, since a disease outbreak or pest infestation can easily spread to take over an entire garden. Fortunately for the gardener, there are a number of effective methods for controlling both common pests and frequently seen plant diseases. You can see that there's practical value in learning more about Pest control in the garden. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far? Some of these methods are chemical in nature, such as insecticides and fungicides, while others are more natural, like using beneficial insects to control harmful ones. While both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, many gardeners prefer to try the natural approach first, both for the health of the garden and the environment. There is an additional benefit of the natural approach that many gardeners are unaware of. These days, it is very popular to combine a koi pond with a garden, for a soothing, relaxing environment. If you do plan to incorporate some type of fish pond into your garden landscape, it is critical to avoid using any type of insecticide or fungicide near the pond, since it could seep into the water and poison the fish. Fish are extremely sensitive to chemicals in the environment, especially with a closed environment like a pond. As with any health issue, for people or plants, prevention is the best strategy to disease control and pest control alike. The best defense for the gardener is to grow a garden full of the healthiest, most vigorous plants possible. Whenever possible, varieties of plants bred to be disease or pest resistant should be used. There are a number of perennials that, through selective breeding, are quite resistant to the most common plant diseases, so it is a good idea to seek them out. You can't predict when knowing something extra about Pest control in the garden will come in handy. If you learned anything new about &keyword% in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

Pest Control Measures For Effective Flea Prevention

2006-11-29T09:35:00.000-05:00

by Michael Jason

Fleas: The unwanted guests in your home.

Fleas are a common cause of irritation and infestation in your home. These unwanted guests can be found in your home and in large quantities. Out of the total flea population found in your home, about 80% of the fleas are still at the egg or larvae stage. These fleas can be found attached to your furniture, carpet, mats and anywhere in your home. The adult flea contributes to just 2% percent of the total flea population in your house. The remaining 18% of the flea population thrives in pupae stage. During this stage fleas are not harmed by any of the pest control products. Pest control products only affect fleas once they get out of the pupae stage. Wonder how many fleas you have at home!

Pest control against indoor flea influx
Fleas are a notorious cause of irritation and disease in your home. They also affect your pets. Fleas are the menace that you would like to get rid of forever. For this purpose there are various pest control products which are available for prevention as well as elimination of indoor infestation by fleas. Though there are numerous flea control products available, all are not safe. One must choose a product that is safe for children and pets. Moreover a good pest control is also water safe for fabrics.

Majority of people and even professionals use flea spray for flea prevention and elimination. The reason behind flea spray is its safety factors. The safest flea or pest spray is labeled as "indoor flea".

A flea spray solution contains two types of substances: an adulticide, it is an insecticide which kills fleas; the other substance is the insect growth regulator (IGR). An average insecticide would not help you in getting rid of the fleas. An IGR inhibits the maturity stage of the fleas by not allowing them to grow.

Pest control measures also include treating your carpets with Nylar. Nylar is an effective pest control measure against roaches and fleas. It inhibits the growth of fleas and leaves residual for up to 3-6 months. Nylar is available in aerosol formulations and liquid concentrate.

Nylar is among the best flea prevention methods. It rids your home of visible adult fleas.

An effective pest control measure for fleas can be buying electronic flea traps. These are an effective alternative to pesticides. A flea trapper kills adult fleas prowling for a pet. The trap emits attractive heat, light and infrared from the light bulb. The fleas get attracted to it and are killed as soon as they touch the screen. It is one of the permanent and safest pest control measures for your home, especially against fleas.

You should use a vacuum cleaner at home. It is the worst enemy of fleas. When used regularly it ensures that your furniture, carpets and sofas remain flea free.

Flea Stoppers is an effective pest control measure against fleas. It is a formulated mini granular orthoboric acid specially made for fleas. Just sprinkle this flea stopper freely on your carpet and to kill fleas and their larvae in the carpet. Flea stoppers are effective even when the carpet is washed or soaped.

Pest control for pets
Fleas mainly breed on mammals. Pets in your home provide as a haven for them. You should check and clean your pets for fleas too.

You should flea comb your pets regularly. Dip the comb in an enzyme cleaner and then comb your pet. You should restrict the entry of the pet in your bedrooms. Wash all pet beddings and rugs to ensure good pet hygiene as well as preventing the fleas spreading. You should bathe your pet too, to prevent fleas from settling on it.

Pest control measure act as an effective flea prevention measures. You should always check your home for fleas and take immediate steps to eliminate them.

Pest Control and Termite Control - 10 Common Myths & Some Outright Lies!

2006-11-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Author: Bruce Gow

Pest Control & Termite Control Myths 1. "Electronic pest control systems actually work". This is one of the biggest myths of the industry and lots of people still believe it without any valid scientific evidence. The only ones that work are the ones that emit a spark, barbequing the unfortunate cockroach. How could you place a solitary ultrasonic device in one room of a house, pointing in one direction and expect it to protect your whole home from pests? Even if it did annoy a rat when it crossed through the rays, wouldn't it just hide somewhere else in the house, close to the food and shelter? Why on Earth would it run outside the house? 2. "Make the poison a bit stronger so that it will work better." This is just dangerous and a waste of chemical. You can't kill a cockroach twice by doubling the strength or make the residue last longer. All you do is make the residue more dangerous to humans/environment and waste money on something that isn't necessary. 3. "Black widow spiders eat their male companions after mating." Female black widow spiders rarely eat their male companions after mating. But females are the most treacherous of the black widow spiders. Typically black, the body of female black widows is approximately one and one-half inches long, including the legs. The female back widow spider can be identified by the red hourglass shaped marking on the abdomen. Male back widows are one-half the size of the females and lack the red hourglass marking. The Black Widow is a close relative of the Australian Red Back Spider. 4. "Rat poison is "secret stuff" that keeps rats from smelling in your home". The truth? There is no such rodenticide. If you are baiting rodents, you can rest assured that they will die in areas where they normally frequent: their nesting site, their food source, or in between. Most rat and mouse baits are simply anti-coagulants, blood thinners. Any mammal's blood clots naturally. An anti-coagulant (Talon, Bromakil etc.) stops the clotting to an extreme, causing the rodent to die from internal bleeding. This is why you sometimes find a dead rodent that has blood showing in its nostrils or ears. The first commercial anti-coagulant rodent baits contained Warfarin, which is still in use today by medical professionals to help prevent unwanted blood clots. Rat and mouse baits being used today are mainly third and fourth generation anti-coagulants. These newer materials kill rodents faster, requiring less bait to kill targeted rodent pests. To lessen the chances (or amount) of odour, incorporate glue traps or snap traps into your baiting program. You will then have dead rodents that can be removed before there is an odour. 5. "If you see one cockroach there are always 100 more where it came from." myth. But it is true sometimes. If you see cockroaches in your kitchen every day, or every night when you turn on the light, you have a real problem. 6. "Cockroaches clean themselves; therefore they are one of the cleanest animals on Earth." Try eating one........only kidding! They inhabit the dirtiest places such as sewers and rubbish bins. They also urinate and defecate on your food. Still think they are clean? 7. "If your neighbour gets their cockroaches sprayed, they will all run into your house." Cockroaches don't crawl up to an invisible barrier and back up and go elsewhere. They run over it and pick up poison then die. 8. "Only dirty houses need pest control or being very clean will stop you having pests" Hygiene is a very important factor in pest control as it reduces the food supply of pests and increase the hiding places. Pests can be introduced to your environment via cardboard boxes from stores or by having them fly in on hot days from the street or other buildings close by (especially food preparation sites). Places like MacDonalds which clean everwhere on the hour are less likely to have them, but there are lots of ways cockroaches can come in. The key is to make sure they killed or are put back outside quickly! 9. "Termites are white-ants" They are more closely related to cockroaches biologically speaking, although they look a little like "white ants." In Australia sometimes they are commonly called "white-ants," but they are really termites. 10. "If you surround your home with timber, termites will eat this and stay out of your home." Termites will love plenty of food supplies, and if they are stacked around your home they will breed like crazy. This will result in lots of termites and new colonies foraging around the perimeter of your home. Think that they will be satisfied with staying outside? Outright Pest Control Lies 1. "Without pesticides the world would be a better place." Love the idea, but up to a third of the world's population would starve to death if pesticides didn't exist. In saying this, I would like pest control managers to be more informed and better trained than what they are right now. Way too much pesticide is used and a lot of it ends up where it shouldn't be, like in waterways and killing non-target pests. ALWAYS ask for accreditation and license details before committing to getting any treatment done at your place. 2. "Twelve monthly termite control treatments are necessary to protect my home against termites." This is just a con job and used to be a normal practice years ago, before people woke up to the fact that termiticides (insecticides that kill termites) last for years. Twelve to six monthly inspections are necessary in high risk termite areas, but treatments aren't required yearly. 3. "All pest control firms/treatment/protection are the same." Do your homework before committing to a company or treatment and ask for references from happy customers. Remember: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten." In Australia, call the Termite Experts on 1300 131 449 or visit our sites for more information on Termte Control at www.termiteexperts.com.au or go to www.bestpest.com.au for Pest Control advice.

Pest control advice

2006-11-27T18:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog where I will provide pest control advice.