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Pest & Termite Control Blog

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An Elementary School Is Closing Due To Cockroaches That Were Discovered In A Classroom

October 18, 2018mktgAdminAustin Cockroach ControlCockroach ControlDallas Cockroach ControlHouston Cockroach ControlSan Antonio Cockroach ControlAustin Cockroach ControlDallas Cockroach ControlHouston Cockroach ControlSan Antonio Cockroach Control

Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests. While cockroaches are not pleasant to look at, they are not disease vectors, which is a good thing, as several cockroaches have recently been found within an elementary school located in Portage Township, Michigan. Although the roach presence within the school has not reached infestation levels as far as the administration knows, the roaches are, nevertheless, proving difficult to eradicate.

While it is extremely unlikely to fall ill from pathogens that could be carried and transmitted by a filthy cockroach, officials with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences claim that cockroaches are, in fact, the most common allergenic indoor pests. Roach saliva is particularly allergenic, but a cockroaches’ body and droppings also contain allergenic proteins. This is why Melissa Deavers-Lowie, director of communications for Portage Township Schools, wasted no time calling a pest control service upon finding a few cockroaches within a classroom.Roaches

Last Monday, pest control operators treated the classroom for cockroaches, but sure enough, the resilient insects reappeared a mere two days later. According to Deavers-Lowie, the school’s kitchen is free of cockroaches, but pest control professionals will be spraying the entire building on Friday. State law demands that a building should remain free of all inhabitants for a period of 24 hours following an insecticide treatment. Normally this would mean that the students would get a day off, but as it happens, this Friday happens to be an administrative day that students have off anyway.

Although finding cockroaches within any building is not uncommon, the school’s staff are curious as to how the cockroaches accessed the classroom, especially after the insecticide treatment. Several teachers and staff members will continue to investigate how the roaches wound up in the classroom. Classes will be back in session on Monday.

Do you think that a student brought cockroaches into the classroom in order to get a day off?

 

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Caterpillars Employ A Non-Lethal Form Of Defense That Involves Their Vomit

October 17, 2018mktgAdminPest ControlPest Control AustinPest Control DallasPest Control HoustonPest Control San AntonioPest Control AustinPest Control DallasPest Control HoustonPest Control San Antonio

As humans we cannot vomit on attackers as a form of defense. Well, most people surely cannot anyway. However, vomiting as a form of defense during enemy attacks is common in the insect world. For example, caterpillars of the small mottled willow moth will not hesitate to projectile vomit on their hostile enemies. These caterpillars are also known as beet armyworms. Many caterpillars possess defensive hairs that are usually quite effective at fending off enemies. However, the beet armyworm covers enemies in a special vomit that deters enemy attackers. A variety of different ant species are the most common predators to beet armyworms. The beet armyworm vomit is particularly bothersome to ants, but it only deters them from attacking, it does not kill them. This vomit could be thought of as a sort of pepper spray used by beet armyworms.

When a small number of ants approach one or more beet armyworms, the armyworms will promptly vomit their digestive contents onto the nearby ants. The compounds in the armyworm vomit cause ants to frantically clean their heads, at which point their plan of attack fails. The compounds that are contained within beet armyworm vomit act as surfactants. For example, the vomit envelops over ant bodies, including their heads. In order to prevent death by drowning, the ants must frantically clean themselves of the digestive fluids. When the vomit covered ants become preoccupied with cleaning themselves of vomit, beet armyworms make their getaway.

Although this method has proven to be quite effective against ant attacks in laboratory settings, the vomit will obviously not suffice to protect the armyworms from large numbers of invading ants. However, the vomit does protect beet armyworms from a number of different solitary insects. Upon analyzing the caterpillar vomit, scientists found that it acts as a surfactant, which is a fluid that covers an entire object on contact, as opposed to simply dripping off like water. Insects make frantic efforts to remove this surfactant substance from their bodies after being attacked by beet armyworms. Surprisingly, researchers found that beet armyworm vomit acts as a surfactant no matter what the caterpillars eat. This is the first time an insect’s bodily fluid was found to act as a surfactant. But researchers believe that the method of vomiting surfactant substances as a from of defense may be widespread among insects.

Do you believe that surfactants would deter spiders from attacking caterpillars?

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How Long Have Humans Been Collecting Honey From Beehives?

October 16, 2018mktgAdminAustin Bee RemovalBee RemovalDallas Bee RemovalHouston Bee RemovalSan Antonio Bee RemovalAustin Bee ControlDallas Bee ControlHouston Bee ControlSan Antonio Bee Control

Has there ever existed one single individual in history who claimed to not like the taste of honey? As far as most people are concerned, honey is a universally beloved edible substance. Imagine the excitement felt by our ancestors once they discovered honey. Given the undeniably delicious taste of honey, you would think ancient humans wasted no time collecting as much of the sweet substance as possible. But when, exactly, did humans start collecting honey from honey bee combs? How long have humans been constructing beehives for efficient honey collection? Given the danger involved with collecting honey from honey bee nests, how did early beekeepers protect themselves from swarms of stinging honey bees? According to experts, even our pre-human ancestors collected honey for their own personal consumption.

Bees

Bees first began producing honey as far back as 200 million years ago. The primate relatives of humans, such as chimpanzees and monkeys, poke sticks into beehives located within trees and below the ground in order to extract sweet-tasting honey. It has been theorized that the earliest humans in Africa extracted honey by resorting to the same method. When humans first migrated out of Africa, they continued to search for honey in unknown regions. Archeological evidence shows that humans used baskets and gourds for honey collection in what is now Europe all the way back in 8,000 BCE. The Egyptians may have been the first people to have practiced modern beekeeping as they built beehives out of clay before selling the resultant honey to consumers. During this time, bees were raised professionally within hundreds of beehives located on large farms. These farms were owned by the Egyption government, and beekeepers were skilled slaves. Ancient Egyptian commoners were able to purchase honey from stores, and honey was also gifted to small-time government leaders by powerful Egyption politicians. By the seventeenth century, wood became the material of choice for beehive construction. The first wood-constructed beehives were octagonal in shape as the inventor of wooden hives believed that bees naturally preferred octagonal shapes that are similar in appearance to honeycombs. Octagonal beehives were eventually replaced by modern box hives in 1851.

Have you ever tasted pure honey straight from the hive?

 

 

 

 

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Parasitic Flies Can Save Your Garden

October 15, 2018mktgAdminAustin Pest ControlDallas Pest ControlHouston Pest ControlPest ControlSan Antonio Pest ControlPest Control AustinPest Control DallasPest Control HoustonPest Control San Antonio

Parasitic Flies Can Save Your Garden

Gardeners are always looking for new ways to protect their cherished plants from hated insect pests. Many gardeners will try to create conditions that are conducive to the survival needs of particular beneficial insects. Insects that prey upon plant pests are always welcome into people’s gardens. One of the most beneficial types of insects to have hanging around your garden are parasitic flies. In fact, with the exception of parasitic wasps, no insect kills a larger variety of insect pests to plants than parasitic flies. There exists twelve known fly families, and they contain thousands of species. Some of these fly species are parasitic, but the parasitic fly family that is most beneficial to garden health is known as Tachinidae.

Most Tachinidae species are endoparasites, which means their larvae infect the internal bodies of their hosts. This fly larvae, or maggots as they are more commonly known, will eat their prey from the inside out. Female Tachinidae species will resort to various tricks in order to make sure that their offspring successfully parasitize other insects. Obviously, female flies want their developing offspring to be exposed to a large amount of food, therefore females will strategically place their eggs in certain areas so that other insects can eventually become infected with parasitic maggots. Some female Tachinidae flies will place their eggs on leaves in order to trick caterpillars into eating them, which will only infect them with the parasitic larvae once the egg hatches within the caterpillars body. Sometimes the females will even forcibly implant her eggs into their insect prey. In other cases, Tachinidae females will simply place their eggs on a host’s body. Once the egg hatches, the maggots will then bore into their host’s bodies where they will complete their development. Parasitic flies most often prey on insects that are in their early life stages. The most common forms of parasitic fly prey include beetles, butterflies, moths, earwigs, grasshoppers, sawflies, and true bugs.

Did you have any idea that flies were so beneficial to the growth of plant life, and the eradication of insect pests?

 

 

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Keep Spiders From Spooking You This Fall

October 12, 2018mktgAdminAustin Spider ControlDallas Spider ControlHouston Spider ControlSan Antonio Spider ControlSpider ControlAustin Spider ControlDallas Spider ControlHouston Spider ControlSan Antonio Spider Control

It’s the time of year when spiders are on the hunt for a warm, secluded place to build a web and catch their next meal. Certified Termite & Pest warns that basements, attics and garages serve as the perfect refuge for these creepy crawlers and encourages homeowners to take proper precautions to avoid being spooked by them this fall.

Spider Control Dallas

With nearly 3,000 spider species found in North America, alone, it’s no surprise that homeowners occasionally encounter spiders in their abodes, especially as the colder weather forces them to seek shelter indoor. While most spiders are harmless, Texas is home to Brown Recluses, and Black Widows, which can pack a mean and venomous bite. Pest-proofing the home is key to preventing a startling encounter with these wily critters.

Certified Termite and Pest Control  recommends the following spider control tips:

  • Keep garages, attics and basements clean and clutter-free.
  • Install screens and weather stripping on windows and door sweeps on doors.
  • Fix any cracks in siding and walls, especially where pipes or wires enter the home. Use a silicone-based caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.
  • Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.
  • Wear heavy gloves when moving items that have been stored for a long period of time.
  • Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
  • Store clothing inside plastic containers and check shoes before putting them on, as spiders often hide in these items.
  • If you suspect that a spider has bitten you, contact your primary care physician for medical advice.
  • If you have a spider infestation in your home, contact us today!

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Ant Prevention Tips!

October 11, 2018mktgAdminAnt ControlAustin Ant ControlDallas Ant ControlHouston Ant ControlSan Antonio Ant ControlAustin Ant ControlDallas Ant ControlHouston Ant ControlSan Antonio Ant Control
  • Seal cracks and crevices around the home using a silicone-based caulk.
    Ants

    Ants

  • Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
  • Ensure downspouts and gutters are functioning properly so that water flows away from the home’s foundation.
  • Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed away from the home.
  • Wipe down counter tops and sweep floors to remove crumbs and residue from spills.
  • Store food in sealed containers and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator.
  • Routinely check under sinks for areas of moisture and repair any leaky pipes.
  • Dispose of garbage on a regular basis.
  • Keep pet bowls clean and wipe up any spilled food or water around them promptly.
  • Store dry pet food in a sealed plastic container rather than the paper bags they often come in.

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Brutal Arctic And Subarctic Mosquitoes Are Becoming A Serious Problem For Wildlife, The Ecosystem And Humans

October 10, 2018mktgAdminAustin Mosquito ControlDallas Mosquito ControlHouston Mosquito ControlMosquito ControlSan Antonio Mosquito ControlDallas Mosquito ControlHouston Mosquito ControlSan Antonio Mosquito Control

While anybody would love to vacation in a tropical paradise, there is no getting around the much dreaded mosquito population. Mosquitoes are well known for thriving in moist and hot conditions. This is why the recent Zika virus outbreaks were most devastating in tropical locations, such as the Caribbean and Central and South America. If there is one good thing about the winter season, it is that mosquitoes cannot possibly survive in the bitter cold climate. However, there are many mosquito species that have been documented by researchers, and not all of these species require a tropical climate in order to survive and reproduce. For example, in the arctic and subarctic regions of Alaska, Siberia, and Greenland, blood-sucking mosquitoes can be truly horrifying.

Many westerners who have traveled to Siberia during the spring season have experienced the surprise and terror of being overwhelmed by swarms of biting mosquitoes that suck blood, leave horrible red welts and cause the skin to itch for days afterward. What is particularly notable about the unbelievably dense mosquito swarms in the arctic far east is the fact that they often swarm around and attack people in large cities. Luckily, the species of mosquito that dwells in the arctic circle is not a vector for disease, but that does not mean that they do not like the taste of blood.Dallas Mosquito Control

The reason behind the pronounced aggression and bloodthirsty behavior demonstrated by arctic mosquitoes has to do with a lack of food. Since very few humans and animal species exist in arctic regions, arctic mosquitoes are always hungry for blood. When an arctic mosquito swarm spots an animal or a human they attack without hesitation, taking as much blood as they possibly can. Mosquitoes in the arctic have been known to completely cover both humans and animals within a matter of seconds. Although arctic mosquitoes do not spread disease, they are still causing ecological damage by harassing wildlife such as reindeer and caribou. These animals know to run when they find a mosquito swarm headed their way. Since arctic wildlife are always running from mosquito swarms they literally do not have time to eat. Studies have shown that as arctic mosquito harassment increases, caribou and reindeer species in the arctic decrease. In other words, caribou and reindeer are willing to starve to death if it means avoiding a mosquito attack.

Does it surprise you to learn that mosquitoes that do not spread disease can still be indirectly responsible for the death of wildlife?

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Does There Exist Any Surface Material That Insects Cannot Vertically Climb?

October 8, 2018mktgAdminAustin Pest ControlDallas Pest ControlHouston Pest ControlPest ControlSan Antonio Pest ControlAustin Pest ControlDallas Pest ControlHouston Pest ControlSan Antonio Pest Control

It is hard to keep an insect down, literally. As you have certainly noticed on several occasions in the past, insects have a real talent for scaling vertical surfaces by using nothing more than their uniquely adapted six legs. For those who have ever found themselves curious as to how insects scale vertical surfaces, or if there exists any type of surface that insects cannot scale, then researchers from Kiel University in Germany have you covered. For the past several years, several researchers have studied the adhesive organs that allow insects to scale a variety of surfaces. These studies were conducted with the hope of developing a new type of material that insects would not be able to adhere to in order to scale vertical surfaces. Several types of materials have already been developed that purport to be specially made to prevent insects from sticking to them. However, these materials have not stood up to their claims and some contain toxic substances, but luckily a non-toxic and non-sticky bio-inspired material has been developed that effectively repels crawling insects.

Amazingly, insects are able to climb just about any surface, whether natural or manmade. Insects typically have no problem scaling any vertical surface. The most slippery surfaces possess the perfect mix of smoothness and roughness. A surface that is too smooth can be scaled by insects through the use of adhesive pads on their feet, and surfaces that are too rough can be scaled by insects through the use of their interlocking claws. In order to create a surface that cannot be scaled by either of these two methods, researchers developed a nanostructured surface material that is too slippery to be scaled by insects. In fact, the dimensions of the nanostructure can be altered to prevent only certain types of insects from climbing vertically upwards. These surfaces can be used in areas where insects access high-up locations, such as air conditioning vents or air ducts.

Would you like to know what types of surfaces can be scaled by spiders?

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TEXANS SEE TERMITE SWARMS YEAR ROUND

October 5, 2018mktgAdminAustin Termite ControlDallas Termite ControlHouston Termite ControlSan Antonio Termite ControlTermite ControlAustin Termite ControlDallas Termite ControlHouston Termite ControlSan Antonio Termite Control

For termite researchers, understanding how termite swarms function and when and where they occur is a necessity. Alates are the adult reproductive termites of the colony and they are responsible for perpetuating the species. Alates must be genetically diverse in order to keep the species healthy, but alates can sometimes reproduce asexually. If too much asexual reproduction occurs, then genetic abnormalities could result. These abnormalities could perpetuate to the point where the species would eventually become extinct. This is why termite alates must limit their asexual reproduction.texas termite control

Termites are extremely old organisms, as they have been on the planet for hundreds of millions of years. When it comes to subterranean termites, reproductive swarming alates are produced by the colony’s queen just like any other termite colony. However, subterranean termites can also produce secondary and tertiary reproductives that can reproduce without going through the swarming process. These secondary and tertiary reproductive start out as workers or nymphs. Eventually, if more reproduction is needed, the queen’s pheromones can be released in order to prompt workers and nymphs to mature sexually. During their sexual development, these workers and nymphs never grow wings for swarming; instead the reproductive workers and nymphs reproduce asexually within the nest. This asexual reproduction has its advantages for the whole colony, but this reproduction must be limited in order to protect the genetic integrity of future colonies.

The state of Texas sees many termite swarms throughout the year, as there are four different termite families that exist in the state. During late winter and early spring, native subterranean swarms occur. Later on, during the month of May, Formosan subterranean termite swarms commence. During late spring and summer, drywood and dampwood termite swarms begin. Lastly, desert and agricultural termites swarm in the fall. This means that termite swarms in Texas occur nearly year round and with much overlap.

Do you think that nearly every adult Texas resident has spotted at least one termite swarm during their lives?

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