Ants| You Are What You Eat| Fun Fact Friday

Ants are an interesting pest. Are they unpleasant in a home?  Of course they are!  They're creepy-crawly-tickly-itchy-stinky creatures, and depending on species, they can cause structural damage.  I still think it's a good idea to take care of an ant infestation, even though I find them interesting.

Something I recently read at http://www.biokids.umich.edu was about how ants position in the colony is determined by how much and what they are fed in their infant stages.  Food source and amount determines not only the size of an ant but the caste within the society.  So a queen ant, or the workers (depending on the age of the colony) will feed the various larva different foods and in different amounts to raise more workers, soldiers, males, queens, etc depending on the needs of the colony.

Within an ant colony, there are many different types of ants.  All of the ants are (generally speaking)the same species, but they look different, their purpose to the colony can be determined based on what they look like. An ant with a larger head and jaw is likely a protector/soldier of the nest and may also be a forager.  Smaller ants are likely to be in-nest workers, digging and caring for the young.  Ants with wings are reproductive, the smaller winged ants are general male and the larger are female. Before reading about it, I didn't realize that this position is determined as they develop, and is based on quantity and type of food.

Here is a fire ant video by national geographic.  Not exactly on theme, but about ants and pretty interesting.



If you're having a problem with ants, whether they are moisture ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, big ants, small ants, or any other pest give us, at Peak Pest Management a call, send us an email or check out our website for more information!

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

Biokids: University of Michigan (2002-2013). Ants, Formicidae. http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Formicidae/

Roaches Again | Fun Fact Friday | Pregnant for Life

First of all, I want to give you this little gem: There are cockroaches in Central and South America that are 6 inches long. 1/2 a foot.  I'll let that sink in for a moment before I move on to today's fun fact.  Not all cockroaches are pests, in nature they serve important roles (otherwise why would they exist? right?).

Okay, moving on to today's fun fact.  In some (I didn't check this for ALL) species of cockroaches, females mate once and then are pregnant for life.  That's right. Pregnant for life.  I can't pretend to understand this, but I know that my wife would not enjoy being pregnant for life.  It's not that they WHOLE process was miserable-- there were miserable moments to be sure.  It's just at the end of 9 months she was ready to be done.

Cockroaches don't get that (although let's be realistic, they also don't have all of the feelings and emotions that people do).  But nevertheless, they have some babies and then are STILL pregnant, with the next batch of cockroach babies.

Here is a video about the topic of cockroaches:


If you are experiencing a cockroach infestation, I understand that cockroaches are not a laughing matter.  Cockroaches and transfer a number of diseases that are harmful to people, by contaminating food sources.

These speedy pests can be really upsetting.  I am not just going to throw this information out there, if you are having a problem with cockroaches and would like some help, I'd be happy to help.  Peak Pest Management offers a wide range of pest control services for all of your pest control needs.  Cockroaches, mice, rats, fleas, ants, carpet beetles, and bedbugs are just a few pests that we see and help people get rid of all the time!

Give us a call, we'll help you out.

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

Mice | World's Most Famous Mouse | Fun Fact Friday

The world's most famous mouse is none other than Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.  Mickey Mouse was first introduced in 1928 after a less than amicable break up of the first Company Walt Disney was a part of founding.  With a handful of loyal employees Walter "Walt" Elias Disney bounced back creating Mickey Mouse and his famous crew of companions with the help of Ub Iwerks.

Walt Disney originally named the character Mortimer Mouse and was convinced by his wife to change the name to Mickey Mouse.  I think this was a wise move.  I can't imagine a mouse as famous as Mickey with the name Mortimer.  But who knows, maybe we all would have loved Mortimer just as well-- after all he was the same design.

Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to receive a Hollywood star of fame, which happened in the 70's.  Mickey mouse has been the character of comic strips, comic books, movies, short films, books etc.  One of the main character attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well, is the world's most famous mouse.

Why the Mickey Mouse post on a pest control blog?  Because it came up as I was searching for fun facts about  mice and because I have kids, I thought it was interesting.  Also worth noting?  Mickey Mouse's voice was done by Walt Disney for his first couple of decades.

And because this was about Mickey Mouse, here is a classic Mickey Mouse clip instead of the usual National Geographic clip.



Although I would never try to oust Mickey Mouse, I am a pest control professional and would love to help you get rid of other less famous (and considerably less entertaining) mice and/or other pests.

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

Caterpillers, Moths and Jumping Beans | Fun Fact Friday

Have you ever seen a little novelty item box of jumping beans for sale and wondered what the trick is that gets them to jump around in that little box?  No trick needed.  Inside of the beans are actually the caterpillars of bean moths. 

So if your kids are begging for pets and you're just not ready to get them one, you could go with a pet bean.  You could even ease your way into jumping beans by starting with a regular old every day bean (provided that your children are either quite young--or old enough to laugh about it.)

That is all for Fun Fact Friday today!  Hope everyone has a fun, safe, pest free weekend.  If it isn't pest free and you'd like it to be-- give me a call!  Spiders, bees, ants, fleas, mice, wasps or any other pest control need-- give me a call!

Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
360-607-1933
503-998-4322
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com

Ants? This Pest Control Coupon for Portland is for YOU!

After all of the time spent eating outdoors, sitting on the lawn, enjoying the beautiful and uncharacteristic for the northwest 4th of July weather, I realized (ok truthfully I already know but for the sake of the blog, it's more of a second realization...) it is high season for ants.  If you noticed any ants marching away from your backyard picnic with bits of chips or watermelon (or just marching along checking out the spread),  What better way to celebrate ant season then with a seasonal pest control coupon for ANTS!

Need to get rid of ants? Go ahead, send those ants packing and marching down around and through the town looking for a new home with this coupon!  Indoor ants? Not a problem!  Outdoor ants?  I've got you covered!  Both?  Ask me about a discount for both indoor and outdoor- I've got one for you too.  

Portland, Vancouver, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, St. Helens, Battleground, Aloha, where ever there are ants, we'll be there (well, if you call us and let us know)!

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management

360-607-1933

503-998-4322

www.Peak-Pest-Management.com

micah@peak-pest-management.com