Mosquito Eaters- The Truth Is Out

Mosquito Eaters: The Truth is Out.  They Do NOT Eat Mosquitoes.

Mosquito Eater, Mosquito Hawk, Crane Fly, Giant Mosquito...  Did you grow up calling them mosquito eaters?  I did.  And it wasn't until I began learning more about pests and pest control that I found out the truth...  They do not eat mosquitoes.  In fact, the larva, often called leather backs, can be a pest that chomps down on the roots of plants.  Have you ever noticed brown patches in the lawn?  It could be caused by crane fly larva destroying the root system of the lawn.

Do Crane Flies Bite?

No.  Crane flies, unlike their tiny look-alike, do not bite. They really don't do much of anything.  They don't live very long, they don't eat your yard or other plants, they just mate, deposit eggs and die.  The depositing of eggs is the problematic part.  Because as the eggs hatch into larva and the larva begins to eat, the root systems of your lawn could be at risk.

Are Crane Flies Helpful? 

Crane flies are not actually helpful as far as eating other pests etc.  Crane flies do not eat mosquitoes, they do not kill mosquitoes, they don't eat or kill any other bug.  So all those years of people telling you, leave that mosquito eater alone, he is going to eat mosquitoes.  Yeah, not true.  You could have killed those suckers and it wouldn't have made one bit of difference as far as mosquitoes are concerned.

Are Crane Flies Going to Hurt Me?

 
 Well.  They are a nuisance pest if they flock indoors.  To keep crane flies out, keep screens in good repair, and keep the screen doors shut.  If they come in, they are not going to hurt you.  They won't bite you.  They may flap and flutter around in your face and annoy you, but they won't hurt you.

Pest Control Issues?

Are you dealing with a pest?  I'm not just talking about crane flies at this point.  Ants, Bees, Fleas, Spiders, Mice, Rats, Bedbugs, Carpenter Ants, Termites, Flies, Wasps, Yellow Jackets, Hornets?  For all of your pest control needs, Peak Pest Management offers the affordable local option. 

Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management LLC
503-998-4322
360-607-1933

 

Caterpillars That Look Like Snakes! Need a New Phobia?

Snakerpillaphobia- the fear of caterpillars that disguise themselves as snakes.

 Yeah, I totally made that up, but who's with me, these guys are a little more than slightly creepy.  I mean look at them!  Go ahead, watch the video.




This video appears to be of the snake mimic hawkmoth caterpillar.  They are not really found in our part of the world, so if these guys are keeping you from a picnic, rest assured, you'll not likely find one here in the greater Portland area.  The picture below is identified as a snake mimic hawkmoth caterpillar over on Mail Online.

Now I do have to say, as a pest control professional, in my research of this creepy crawly, I found far creepier caterpillars that can do things like spray acid and hook poisonous barbed hairs into a person (or predatory creature).  

I know you won't be calling me for these guys, but if you're having issues with other pests give me a call. The typical summer pests include bees, spiders, fleas, wasps, yellow jackets, ants and rodents.  Plus bedbugs are still bugging people around Portland, Vancouver, and surrounding areas.  I'd be happy to help with any pest issue you might be dealing with.

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management LLC

503-998-4322

360-607-1933

Zombies, Mind Control, Zombification Antidote-- On a Pest Control Blog?

Zombies are walking the Earth as we speak.  Their minds are overtaken and they are driven for the purpose of creating more zombies.  Sounds like science fiction, but it is just plain science and it's a fact.  The Zombie Antpocolypse is upon us.  And nope, that wasn't a typo.  I'm not talking about human zombies, I'm talking about ants... Of course!

You may remember that I've written about this before, but it just so happens that I came across an article (to read it, click here) of hope for Zombie Ants.  Okay, well the truth is there isn't hope for those already overtaken-- but there is hope for their colony.

If you read my previous post about Zombie Ants, you may remember that the zombification process is started by a parasitic fungus that takes over the ants brain causing strange and unexpected behaviors. Scientists believe this is caused by the release of neurotoxin that disrupts normal ant behaviors.  Ants that typically march in rows will stumble, walk circles and then at around noon, clamp their mandible on a leaf stem or branch, where they will hang (and die) until the fungi sprout out of the ants head and release more spores into the soil below for unsuspecting ants marching by.

It appears that there is an antidote.  It is a parasite to the parasite that works to neutralize the fungus before it can release spores to infect more ants.  The parasite to the fungus is a secondary fungus that effectively coats the first fungus, preventing it from releasing spores to infect more ants.

For your viewing pleasure, we have created pictures of what really happens vs well, you know-- what you imagine the Zombie Antpocolypse to be like (please excuse the missing "e" in the second picture... apparently it has fallen victim to the zombies!!!)...  And then finally, a video made  by the BBC on Zombie Ants.

What is Killing the Monarch Butterflies? Surprising Answer!

I was reading over on the Kentucky University's Blog, The Daily Entomologist and came across a really interesting blog post by Chip Taylor, director of Monarch Watch.  The title, We're Starving the Monarch Butterflies, caught my attention.

I was thinking this post would be about deforestation but it wasn't.  There was a link to this press release.  Which talks about Mexico's protection of the Monarch Butterflies and their sanctuaries.  The problem lies within the united states and Canada.  And we aren't starving them by deforestation-- we are starving them by planting crops.  Surprisingly the crops are not for consumption but rather for the making of "GREEN" bio-fuel.  The environmental cost, (not even considering the cost of competing for crop space with crops grown for food) of bio-fuel may just be higher than people once thought.

The reason the bio-fuel crops of soy and other crops grown specifically for fuel are harming the Monarch Butterflies is because they now occupy once overgrown fields which held the naturally growing milkweed on which the Monarch Butterflies rely to survive.  Here is an article on bio fuel by John Perritano on HowStuffWorks.

So in our ever expanding quest to be green and reduce our carbon foot print, we are expanding our impact on the Monarch Butterfly and we can only imagine what other species will be adversely affected by the crop space (and processing) required to make this "green" fuel.  We are in a sense doing some de-grasslandation and it is apparently having a very profound and negative affect on habitat of the Monarch Butterfly.

Here is a short youtube video produced by National Geographic about the Monarch Butterfly's Migration.  Be warned there is a rather graphic (for insects) scene with a Praying Mantis.



Although this post isn't about pest control, Peak Pest Management is happy to help you with any pest control questions or needs.  Please contact me via phone call or email if you have pest control needs.

Micah Wood
micah@peak-pest-management.com
www.peak-pest-management.com
Portland 503-998-4322
Vancouver 360-607-1933
Seattle 206-790-8285

Bedbugs Live Where?!?! Fun Fact Friday

When you hear the term bedbug, if you assume that bedbugs infest and live in beds, you are like most people.  But guess what? Bedbug infestations reach further than the bed.  In having a conversation with a friend of the family, I came to the realization that people as a whole are very misinformed as far as where bedbugs live and what they can infest.

Something I've commonly heard- "Oh, if I get bedbugs, I will burn the bed!"

Guess what happens when you bring your brand new bed into the house?  The brand new bed gets infested and here's why: Bedbugs do not just infest beds.  Some places that bedbugs commonly infest:

• Dressers
• Bedside Tables
• Head and Foot Boards
• Wall Voids
• Base Boards
• Debris Near Beds (Laundry, Books, Toys, Garbage, etc)
• Couches
• Chairs
• Etc

If bedbugs can/do infest all of these places, getting rid of an infested bed does no good at all.  Getting rid of a bed and buying a new one is often more costly than pest control measures to treat for bedbugs, and it is far less effective considering the fact that the new bed will become infested with bedbugs without proper pest control measures.

Something else I have commonly heard is people relating bedbugs to lice.  People's homes can be infested with bedbugs but a person does not have bedbugs infesting their person.  That does not mean that a person who's home is infested will not take bedbugs to other places, it is entirely possible and even likely to happen. Bedbugs can hitchhike on clothing, shoes, luggage, briefcases etc.  But a person will not have bedbugs crawling about on them throughout the day as they go about their business.

Additionally I have heard bedbugs being related only to poor housing or low quality hotels/motels.  While a bedbug problem can and sometimes does become bigger in these places because the cost of treatment can be a deterrent when finances are tight, bedbug infestations happen across the board.  Bedbugs are often brought home by people who travel for business. Doctors who may have patients bring them in to hospitals/offices can take bedbugs home. Any professional that is inside of peoples homes is at a greater risk for bringing bedbugs home.

In order to maintain better control of bedbugs, people need to be informed.  There is plenty of misinformation available on the web.  I recently read on a popular and well trusted site that bedbugs are no longer a problem in the United States.  This information is just not true.  There was a time when bedbugs were almost unheard of here, but they are on the rise in a serious way.

If you are having trouble with bedbugs, spiders, fleas, ants or other pests, give me a call.  I'd be happy to help you out.  Mention this pest control coupon and blog post when you call to schedule your (free) inspection for $50 off a full bedbug treatment by Peak Pest Management.

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management LLC

www.peak-pest-management.com

micah@peak-pest-management.com

Portland 503-998-4322

Vancouver 360-607-1933

Seattle 206-790-8285

Ants | Largest and Smallest | Fun Fact Friday

Tomorrow we'll see if the groundhog sees his shadow.  Then, we'll know whether we're in for more winter weather or mild spring like rain!  Or something like that anyways. The number of people calling about ants is on the increase as we get closer to Spring.

Because ants are known as Spring pest because the rains of Spring (also Summer, Autumn and Winter too here in the northwest) can drive some species of ants indoors.  Other species of ants come inside for reasons outside of the weather.  But considering  it's Fun Fact Friday, we're not going to get into the details of why ants come indoors.  We're going to talk about two specific ants.  The very largest species of ant and the very smallest species of ant (according the the Encyclopedia Smithsonian).

The smallest known species of ant is the Sri Lankan Ant.  It is 1/30 of one inch in length.

The largest known species of ant is the Driver Ant of Africa.  The worker reaches the length of 1 and 1/3 inches.

So unless you're travelling to Sri Lanka and Africa, you won't see the largest or the smallest species of ants.  You get the average every day American varieties including carpenter ants, ghost ants (pretty tiny), odorous house ants, sugar ants, picnic ants, etc.

Here is a video by National Geographic on fire ants in the south.

If you're having a problem with ants, give us at Peak Pest Management a call.  We'll be happy to help you out!

Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management LLC
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
Portland 503-998-4322
Vancouver 360-607-1933
Seattle 206-790-8285

Carpet Beetles | Eating Habits | Fun Fact Friday

Carpet beetles are an interesting little pest.  They have a larval stage and an adult stage.  In their adult stage, they are a small beetle, as larva, they are more worm like.  The larva cause the most damage, and by the time you find adult beetles, the damage has already been done.

So what do carpet beetles eat?  Well, they eat organic matter and animal products, including skins, furs, hair, yarn, materials etc.  They will also consume cotton and wool/synthetic blends.  What does this mean?  Well, they won't just gobble organic matter from your carpets, as the name might suggest.  If they find a nice wool sweater or even a wool blend, these bad boys are going to gobble holes in that.

They will eat away at your sheepskin rug.  They will gnaw on your cotton t-shirts, socks and clothing.  They will happily munch holes in your wool winter socks, they will gobble holes right through your natural fabric stash.  They will also happily munch on pet hair and debris that are often readily available in carpets.

Because of the damage they cause, you'll want to get rid of these guys if you find them in your home gnawing holes in your best wool slacks (or you know-- whatever your find them eating).

There are several different species of carpet beetle: some are black and some are brown.  They are all grouped together in the same category as pests though, because they act, and can be treated for, in the same way.

Many people find holes in clothing and they assume that the problem is moths.  Often, it is not moths, in cities, it is more likely that you are going to find a carpet beetle infestation.

If you are having trouble with carpet beetles, bed bugs, ants, mice or other pests, give us a call, we'll help you out.

Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management LLC
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
Portland 503-998-4322
Vancouver 360-607-1933
Seattle 206-790-8285