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| 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/

Grasshoppers and Crickets: Fun Fact Friday

For fun fact Friday today, we have grasshoppers and crickets!  While I don't get called out to treat for these bugs here in Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA.  I still think they are interesting.  One reason (which happens to be our fun fact for the day)?  Some grasshoppers, katydids and crickets actually have ears on their front legs.  The ears are located in the knee joints.  If people were crickets I bet they'd be really careful about what they whispered into an ear.  A knee-jerk reaction would really hurt!

Crickets, grasshoppers, katydids and locusts can really be a problem in some places though.  Here's a video about katydids, called Mormon Crickets, in Colorado, done by National Geographic.



While I don't deal with these bugs, there are plenty that I do take care of.  If you are having pest problems in Vancouver, WA, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and the surrounding area, please give me a call!  I'd be happy to help you out.  Bedbugs, mice, rats, spiders, ants, whatever the pest, we'll develop a custom pest control plan for you.

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

Pheromone Trails | Pest Control | Fun Fact Friday

Have you ever wondered why ants march in a line?  How bees remember which hive belongs to them? How wasps know to swarm when someone or something has been stung? Why rodents and other pests need to be treated regularly and a "one-time" treatment won't be effective? How animals and insects find mates?

The answer (or at least part of the answer) to these questions is pharomones.  By origin, pheromone can be translated to mean to bear (or transport) hormones.  Pharomones are used by many insects and animals including many social pests, including ants, rats, mice, bees, termites as well as many other pests.

Pharomones can be used to mark a trail to food.  With ants it is particularly noticable because they literally march in lines from their nest to a food source.  The trail that the line follows is marked with pheromones.  Rodents such as mice and rats will also leave pharomone trails from the nesting area to the food source.

Another use for pharomones is alarm.  Bees and wasps make the alarm pharomone easy to recognize.  When one bee or wasp stings a potential threat, they also release pharomones to attract other bees and wasps to join them in the attack.  This is especially true if a sting happens near a nest.

Furthermore pharomones are used by many insects and animals to attract a mate.  If you've ever wondered why there is an icky swarm of mating bugs, the answer is pharomones.  They are attracted together by pharomones.

Pharomones have other functions that I am not including in this post, but I just wanted to detail why pharomones are important and give some "fun" facts about them.  If you have ever heard a pest control professional refer to pharomones or pharomone trails and wondered what on earth they were talking about-- here is a pretty good basic idea of the function of pharomones.

This video has a very visual way of showing how ants communicate using pheromones.


For all of your pest control needs, Peak Pest Management has a solution!  If you're having issues with pests please give me, Micah, a call.

Micah Wood
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
Pest Control Portland 503-998-4322
Pest Control Vancouver 360-607-1933
Pest Control Seattle 206-790-8285
We have similar information on our website blog.  Click here to check it out.

Cockroaches | Fun Fact Friday | Creepy Factor Upped

Cockroaches gross you out?  You're not the only one!  In fact it is a rare person who is not put off by roaches.  A cockroach infestation in a restaurant, school, or hospital is a serious problem-- cockroaches can carry and transfer bacteria and contaminate food and cooking utensils. 

Many people find the way they scurry for cover when the lights flip on creepy and disgusting.  But that is not our fun fact today!  Our fun fact today ups the creepy factor and rates right up there with Zombie Ants.

Cockroaches can live for weeks without their head.  Not hours, not days, but actually WEEKS!  Entomologists have actually done labs where they decapitated a cockroach and waited to see how long it lived.  The head of the cockroach is not immediately essential for survival.  They breathe through spiracles along the sides of their body and they can survive for weeks without food.  So a cockroach can move the legs and respond to stimuli without a head.  Because of the type of circulatory system that cockroaches have, their blood clots and they do not bleed out.  A decapitated cockroach will usually either become dehydrated or mold-- and that will be the actual cause of death, not the fact that they are missing their head.

Fair warning: This is NOT a Mickey Mouse video and not for those with a weak stomach/gag reflex!



If you are having an issue with cockroaches in your home or business and need help, please call me, Micah, at Peak Pest Management!  I'll help you get rid of cockroaches and/or other pests.

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

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

Box Elder Beetles | Nuisance Pests

Sometimes in my profession I learn about trends in pest control on the job.  Sometimes a trend is obvious in my every day life aside from my profession like this weekend. We attended a birthday party at a family friend's home.  When we got there, I noticed a few box elder beetles around.  Then, the back door had 20 or so box elder beetles on it.  Because pest control is what I do, I asked about them.

Come to find out, at times during the day there are literally thousands of them that come and cover one side of the house almost entirely.  Our friend said "Yeah, they are a real nuisance!"  I hear this statement often.  Not only about box elders, but ants, spiders, mice, rats etc.  I think this is why there is a whole category of pests in pest control called "nuisance pests."

Box elder beetles outside, in warm months, often go unnoticed.  They don't cause problems for people outside and during the summer.  However, as the temperatures drop, box elder beetles often try to move indoors-- in homes and businesses to overwinter.  Typically they move in such large numbers that they can actually cause damage by staining things like curtains and walls etc. with their excrement.

Box elder beetles don't bite or cause structural damage.  It is often the fact that they collect in such large numbers that causes concern.  A huge mass of box elder bugs moving in to overwinter just in time for the holiday season in typically not the type of guest most people welcome!

Along the same line of trends in pests, I have also noticed it seems to be a big year/season for spiders. Spiders are a pest that I help people out with year round.  People often ask me to take care of spiders at the same time as other pests.  If I'm out for another pest whether it is ants, mice, rats, fleas etc, I will give a good discount for taking care of spiders at the same time.

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

Mice | Fun Fact Friday | Mouse means:

The English word for mouse is derived from a Latin word that is derived from a Sansrit word... or so I've read in multiple places.  I'm not going to bore you with the details. For one thing, I like people to read my blog.  Another? Oh, I don't really remember the details because it was kind of boring to read through. But I waded through boring word derivitives all to bring you this:

The word mouse means theif.  Why yes, this is in gold!  Why?  Oh because I thought this little nugget of information was golden!  Or because I wanted to spice things up by changing the color of the text for a little while.  I heard somewhere it helps keep people interested in what you're saying...  How's that working for you?

Anyways, yes, mouse means thief.  It is a very fitting name for a mouse, because they get into things, steal food, steal materials to make their nest etc.  Perhaps the worst thing they steal? Sanity and peace of mind!  Okay maybe not really sanity, but peace of mind? Yes!  Mice are disconcerting little creatures that cause people, who otherwise behave normally, to shriek and jump onto chairs... And not only in cartoons or on tv...  This happens in real life too, I have witnessed it.  And no it was NOT me.  I do not shriek and jump onto chairs-- in my line of work (you know, helping other people deal with these and other pests), that would probably not go over well.  I may or may not have family members who shriek at the sight of a mouse... and they may or may not also sprint away as fast as they possibly can.

Mice in the home cause people to lose more than a little peace of mind because they can contaminate food, ruin clothing and materials, carry fleas and disease and scurry quite quickly under doors and furniture.  A mouse nest in my home would not be well tollerated and not just because pest control is my profession.

Just for fun here is a National Geographic clip on rats. 1 mating pair can have up to 15,000 decendents in a year.  This video is from India, where most people will not kill rats...  But still, undisturbed, this is how rats multiply!



For trouble with mice, or rats, give me a call.  I'll help you out.

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

Rodents of Unusual Size | Fun Fact Friday

The idea of rodents of unusual size (or ROUS) from The Princess Bride did not originate in the imagination of film makers.  There are in fact rat like rodents of unusual size.  These rodents are called nutria, or coypu, beverat (beaver rat), river rat, ragondin or castorino depending on where they are seen.  In North America we refer to them as nutria. 

Nutria are found around the world and mostly near water.  They are herbivores-- eating mostly stems and wasting large portions of the plants they feed on.  Although nutria are not the only rat like large rodent, they are possible the most widely known.

These rodents can be up to two feet long (not including the tail which can be as long 18 inches) and weigh in at 20 pounds!  While they don't compare to the gigantic rodents in the movie The Princess Bride, I can't say I've met a lot of people who would be comfortable around a 2-foot-long-20-pound rodent.

Nutria have been a pretty big problem in the Northwest because they are non native and invasive.  There have been issues with nutria in urban areas and parks-- and the issue is some times exacerbated by people feeding the nutria.

It is best not to feed or try to take care of nutria as they pose a risk to natural wildlife, water quality and can be a danger to people in situations where people have been feeding them.  Here is a short clip on youtube about nutria.



I don't really see a lot of nutria here in Portland and Vancouver or up in Seattle, and because they don't typically invade homes and businesses-- they are outside of my area of expertise.  I do deal with a full range of rodents that do infest homes and businesses in our service areas.  For pest control for Rodents in the northwest, give me a call, drop me an email or check out our website for coupons.

Micah Wood
www.peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
360-607-1933
503-998-4322
706-790-8285

Beetles | Fun Fact Friday | So Many Beetles!

There are more types of beetles than there are types of plants.  In fact, beetles make up 1/4 of the known species of plants and animals!  Incredible? I think so!  These beetles range from harmless to helpful and cute to down right creepy!  Below is a youtube video of the more creepy type!



Carpet beetles are another creepy one as are powder post beetles.  Carpet beetles will destroy your clothes and materials made of organic matter.  Powder post beetles will destroy wood (like parts of your house).  If you are dealing with creepy beetles in your home, please give me a call.  I'd love to help you out.  At Peak Pest Management we offer a full range of Pest Control Services for beetles and other pests.

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

Rats, Bedbugs, Fleas, Bees | A Day in the Life

A Day in The Life of a Pest Control Technician

 

Any given day can hold endless possibilities of the various pests I'll run into on the job.  I'll tell you the truth, I like variety in my day.  If I didn't, this wouldn't be the job for me.  There is nothing mundane or boring about driving out in my pest control truck and saving the day.  Yes, that's right, saving the day.  Not in the same way as a super hero, or law enforcement, doctors, emergency workers and military, but still-- I do save the day.

 

On a relatively busy day I might go out on up to seven or eight calls. Sometimes in pest control I'll have a trend for the day-- like 3-4 of the same sort of job and maybe one or two other pests.  But other times my day is completely varied.  Because typically I might see four or five different pests on a busy day, I'll run through a list of pests that I see regularly.

 

• Rats and mice are a common call. This is the call I most often take early in the morning and late at night. People do not like rodents! Understandably so, because rodents can carry a number of diseases as well as fleas. Rodents can really contaminate a home or business and people are often anxious for a solution when they see one.  Often I will fill my early morning time slots with rodent jobs.
• Bees (well, really mostly wasps and yellow jackets but the call is often for "bees") are kind of a specialty.  Up until I said to a customer "I almost never get stung,"  it had been a really long time since I was last stung.  The day I said that I got stung 6 times.  I'm not really complaining, it's just a hazard of the job-- from time to time stings happen.  When I don't get stung, I can take care of a basic "bee" call pretty fast.  During the summer and early Autumn I can have 3-4 calls in one day-- all for bees and wasps.
• Bedbugs are another call that can come in the middle of the night or early in the morning.  Bedbugs creep people out.  The thought of being bitten while you sleep can cause a person to lose more than a little sleep.  People who call in about bedbugs and end up having a flea infestation are some of the happiest and most relieved customers I have ever met.  Although the number of bedbug cases I see is on a steady rise, I do encounter many people who suspect bedbugs but are relieved to hear it is something else.  Although bedbugs and fleas are very different, both bite and I do see both bedbugs and fleas on a regular basis.
• Fleas and pets go hand in hand.  It makes sense that customers with a flea infestation in the home are often concerned about the health and safety of their pet.  At Peak Pest Management, we are also concerned about the health and safety of the pets and people in the home.  We choose the safest and most effective products available.
• Spiders are one of the pests that make me feel like I'm saving the day.  Spiders are a very real fear for many people and although we do have relatively few poisonous spiders here in the northwest, the ones we do have (namely hobo spiders) can be aggressive.  A happy customer is a customer who no longer has to worry about spiders invading their home.
• Ants and termite calls come in on a regular basis as well.  Ants can be a nuisance, or they can be a structural pest depending on the type of ant.  Carpenter ants and termites (not an ant) are structural pests that cause real and expensive damage when left untreated.  People sometimes confuse carpenter ants, termites and even powder post beetles.  All three cause structural damage and it can be hard for a person to differentiate which pest is causing problems.  A Pest Control Professional, like myself, is trained to recognise the differences in these pests, not just by what they look like, but by other evidence that is left behind by structural pests.

Because I am just talking about "a Day in the Life," I won't go into detail about these pests or list out everything I have ever treated for-- or even everything I've done this week.  Honestly that would probably be pretty long and it would eventually get boring.  Maybe another day I'll write about my experiences with ridiculously smart squirrels and funny and unusual calls.  But for today, there's just a sampling of what I might do in a day-- at this time of year.

 

I'm here, any time, for all of your pest control needs.

 

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management

www.peak-pest-management.com

micah@peak-pest-management.com

503-998-4322

360-607-1933

206-790-8285

Termites | Oregon | Pest Control

Termites | Oregon | Washington

Are Termites a Pest Control Problem in the Northwest?

 

Termites are a problem infesting homes in the northwest.  Subterranean termites are common in Portland, Vancouver and Seattle.  We at Peak Pest Management LLC are trained to look for the signs of termite infestations.

 

Some facts about termites:

• Termites are a structural pest.  This means that they are a real threat to the structural integrity of a building because they digest and destroy wood.
• Termites are generally white- light brown.  Although termites are NOT ants, they are often refered to as "white ants."
• When there is a termite infestation present in a building, you may or may not notice the telltale signs of mud tubes depending on their location.
• Termites digest wood.  Unlike Carpenter Ants, who excavate wood to build nests and trails, termites actual food source is wood.

Some myths about termites:

• Although I am not able to pinpoint the source of this myth, there are people who believe that termites cannot survive in the northwest.  This myth is unfortunately not true, termites are alive and well and causing problems in the northwest and the rest of the united states.
• Termites and carpenter ants are one and the same.  Termites and carpenter ants are very different.  Although both are structural pests, they are completely different.  Termites are not an ant.  Biologically, termites and ants are very different.  One key difference is that termites eat wood and carpenter ants excavate.
• Termites have short lives.  A royal couple can live upwards of 50 years.  And a termite colony can grow to over one million individual termites.  Although, most worker termites do have much shorter lives than the queen and king.

Termite Treatments

If you suspect that you have a termite problem in your home or business, Peak Pest Management LLC has a custom, affordable pest control plan for you.  At Peak Pest Management we strive to have the latest research and information on effective treatments for termites and other pest control issues.  If you're having an issue with termites or other pests please feel free to give us a call.  Our service areas include Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA and Seattle, WA and surrounding areas.

 

 

Micah Wood

503-998-4322

360-607-1933

206-790-8285

micah@peak-pest-management.com

www.peak-pest-management.com

Ants are the Prey of Doodle Bugs | Fun Fact Friday

Ever heard a person call a baby doodle bug as they wiggle, crawl, and wriggle around a room?  There is a reason for that!  Doodle bugs, the larval form of ant-lions (or antlions), make a path that looks like a doodle in the sand (or soil) where they crawl while searching for a suitable spot to dig a pit and wait for prey (small insects and arthropods-- usually ants) to fall in.  The path that babies use when they first start moving is similar to that of a doodle bug.  So that some what common nickname (I've heard it more than a few times), is a reference to an actual bug!  The funny path is pretty much the only thing doodle bugs and babies have in common!

Doodle bugs are actually a pretty fierce predator, babies are not.  Doodle bugs are NOT cute, babies are cute. Etc. Etc. I could go on, but you get the point!
I found a blog with an incredible photo succession post for an ant-lion (doodle bug) in action. Click here to see it.  The blog is done by biologist and photographer, Alex Wild.  I was hoping to find a picture I could put in this blog-- these photos are better than what I was hoping to find!

Even Better?  I found a video on youtube by national geographic.  Originally I intended to write a nice post about how the antlion "doodles" in the sand, but after more research and watching these videos-- I found that writing about them as a fierce predator was much more interesting!



The adult antlion looks similar to a dragonfly, and may eat pollen and nectar, but some adult antlions stick to the diet of their youth.

Have a problem with ants?  You could employ the doodle bug!  But a faster, more effective route to getting rid of ants would be calling Peak Pest Management for ant pest control service!

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

Pets, Fleas, Flea Medication, Flea Free Home

In the spring and especially summer months pets tend to spend more time outdoors.  Being outdoors creates the possibility of bring in fleas.  Many pet lovers treat their furry family members for fleas and then experience an influx of fleas inside the home.  This is normal.  Because the flea medicine protects the pet from fleas, the fleas that would normally be on the pet are now in the house and occasionally jumping on and biting people.

Many people are embarrassed to call about fleas, thinking that people can "have fleas."  Fleas will not infest a person like they infest a pet, but they will bite and rapidly multiply in a home.  Flea eggs take a few days to hatch and are often in carpet, pet bedding etc. not just on the pets. Flea larva are blind remain hidden in dark areas while feeding on organic matter (including dead insects, plant matter and fecal matter).  After various stages as larva, fleas will move into a pupa stage and finally emerge as an adult flea.  It is only after a meal (of blood) that this parasitic insect is able to lay eggs.

Fleas are nothing to be embarrassed about.  Fleas are all over the place, and our enviroment during the spring and summer months is pretty much the perfect climate for fleas to thrive.  If you treat your furry family members for fleas and then start seeing larger numbers of fleas in the home, it might be a good time to call Peak Pest Management for an affordable, pet and kid safe flea treatment for the home.

Besides fleas, the warm summer months also tend to bring out the ants, bees, spiders, mice, rats, wasps and yellow jackets! If you're having pest problems this summer let me help you out! I'll get rid of your pests so you can enjoy the great weather while it's here!




Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
www.Peak-Pest-Management.com
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

Pest Control | Fruit Flies | It Was Once Widely Believed That They Spontaneously

Fruit flies are a very common kitchen pest.  Fruit flies are probably more common than ants, spiders and mice.  Fruit flies can come in on fruits and veggies from the local supermarket, farmers' market, farm or anywhere else you might get fruit!  Because fruit flies are so prevalent in produce, it is no wonder that it was once commonly believed that fruit flies spontaneously generated in overripe produce!  Another reason for this belief might be related to the amount of time fruit flies spend in various egg/larva/pupa stages vs the time they spend actually living as a fly.  The average fruit fly lives 12-15 days. Only 1 or so days of their lives are actually spent as a fly.

Fruit fly eggs/larva/pupa can be hidden in moist areas with ready food supply.  Pantries and kitchens boast plentiful places for fruit flies to breed, grow and infest.  There are a number of ways to prevent or minimize fruit fly infestations in your home or commercial kitchen and pantry.

• Wash fruits and veggies before bringing them into the kitchen.  A garage wash basin is a good place to do this.  At the very least wash produce in the kitchen before putting it away.
• Store produce in the refrigerator whenever possible.
• Keep fruit that is left out covered.
• Ripen unripe fruit in a paper bag on the counter.  This aids in the fruit ripening while also helping to prevent fruit flies.
• Compost or throw away overripe or rotten fruit immediately.
• Frequently take out the trash.  Also wash garbage cans and make sure not to leave moisture and or potential food sources in the bottom of the garbage can.
• A little household bleach (NOT TO BE USED WITH ANY OTHER PRODUCTS) down the drain with hot water will help keep it from becoming a breeding ground for fruit flies.  also giving drains a good scrub with a brush to clean out any built up residue that could serve as food source is a good idea.
• Do not leave dishrags in the sink.
• A cup of water with fruit scented dish soap suds will also help control fruit flies.
• Running a fan near garbage cans or fruit that is out can help prevent fruit flies from landing on fruit and or garbage cans.

A little prevention goes a long way!  If you find that you have persistent fruit fly problem there are a number of areas to check.

• Drains.  Check the drains for nof fruit flies and also for build up.
• Garbage cans.  Garbage cans that are not regularly washed can be a major source of fruit fly infestations.
• Under damp mops.  Any time there is moisture and some place that might have a ready food source (like a kitchen, or pantry) it is important to be thorough in checking for all stages of life of fruit flies.
• Under things-- boxes, totes crates...  Anything on the floor should be moved, checked, cleaned or thrown out as needed.
• Be thorough in checking for fruit fly larva because larva become flies and lay eggs.  If you can find and get rid of the larva, your chances of clearing up the infestation improve greatly!

There are things that pest control professionals, like myself, from Peak Pest Management can do to help restaurant, commercial and residential kitchens and pantries control fruit flies.  Often when working along side a pest control professional to clear up a fruit fly problem will make task move along much faster.

For all pest control needs whether, fruit flies, house flies, mice, ants, silverfish or any other common pantry pest (or other household or business pest) please 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

House Flies | Tasty Feet | Fun Fact Friday

House Flies are obnoxious!  Open the doors during summer to let in a breeze and you're almost certain to get one or two (or even more) flying through your house!  NOT FUN!  Okay but there is a fun fact about flies: 

Flies can "taste" with their feet.  Their feet are 10,000,000 times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.

Seriously!  I read this information at http://www.pestworldforkids.org/flies.html which is kept by the national pest management association and also cross checked it on the website of the Smithsonain Department of Systematic Biology.

So...  Now that you have the fun fact, you might be thinking, awesome.  Great!  So glad they can taste with their feet, Micah, now HOW DO I AVOID OR GET RID OF THEM?!?

Tips to Avoid Common House Flies:

• Use mesh screens on windows and doors.
• Take out the trash regularly.
• Clean up pet messes immediately (as these are a major breeding ground for flies).
• Keep a clean home.

Tips to Get Rid of House Flies:

• Follow the "tips to avoid."
• Find, clean and sanitize areas where flies are known to be.
• Eliminate food sources for flies, which is anything warm and damp.  Disgusting as it is, flies are particularly drawn to pet waste because of the strong odor.
• For common house flies in homes, rarely is it necessary to use professional pest control, unless it is an extreme infestation.

For any pest control questions or for pest control service for flies, or other pests (common summer pests include ants, bees, wasps, fleas, yellow jackets, hornets, mice and rats) please give me a call!

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management

503-998-4322

360-607-1933

www.Peak-Pest-Management.com

micah@peak-pest-management.com

 

Carpenter Ants | Bees | and Carpenter Bees?

I was making coffee: I do this every day, some times more than once (french pressed, dark roast, 100% arabica for those of you who share my love for coffee).  I looked out the window while I was making it to see a large, bright yellow, fuzzy bee.  At first I thought,"It is a honey bee..."  But a closer look revealed that it was not.  Then I had settled on bumble bee-- specifically the Bombus Mixtus.  But I wasn't convinced because of the size and then I remembered another fuzzy bee--  The Carpenter Bee.


After a quick look though photos of carpenter bees and another glance back at the Bombus Mixtus pictures, I decided it was probably a (click the link to see a picture) Bombus Mixtus.  Fuzzy bees don't bother me, they are less inclined to sting than others (I'm including wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and anything with a stinger as I'm thinking about creatures that sting). Fuzzy pollen carrying bees are highly beneficial to my garden and other plants and really they are kind of cute (at least that is what my wife and daughters say).  Anyways I enjoyed my encounter with the Bombus Mixtus Bumble Bee but I got to thinking (so now I'm writing) about carpenter bees.


I wanted to talk a little bit about Carpenter Bees though, because they are really quite interesting as well.  Much like carpenter ants, they are a potential structural pest.  Carpenter bee females "drill" holes in the wood, by chewing through it.  Unlike termites, they do not digest they wood.  They excavate, more in line with carpenter ants (which probably explains the similar name).  They drill about 8-10 inches down and then they build the nest area.  Carpenter Bees tend NOT to move into pressure treated and/or painted woods, so in many cases, homes will be left alone in favor of more natural wood.


Carpenter Bees can nest in areas like fence posts, barns, unpainted wood, trees, etc.  They are beneficial to plant pollination.  Females have stinging apparatus and are able to sting, while males often lack the stinging apparatus and do not sting.  I read on an entomology blog that some entomologists refer to the male carpenter bees as teddy bears because of their yellowish brown fuzzy appearance and lack of the ability to sting.  


There are many types of bees that can do damage to your home by nesting in areas where they should not, but carpenter bees are actually able to drill into the wood, set up colony and damage structure, while still being beneficial in other ways.  The carpenter bee is a real multi-tasker!  For suspected structurally damaging pests whether bee, ant, beetle, or termites-- Peak Pest Management is ready to develop an affordable, custom pest control plan to suit your needs and budget.


Hope you've all had a great monday!  And Enjoy the holiday!  Happy Fourth of July everyone!  So thankful for all of the men and women over the years who have served our country and paved the way, defended, and upheld the freedoms we all enjoy!


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

Yellow Jackets, Bees, Wasps, Hornets | Summer's Least Favorite Pests

Stinging pests are some of the most common pests that bother people during the summer.  Part of this is because people are outside more often in sunny (and partially cloudy but not torrential downpours) weather. Another part of this is that bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets tend to die off and/or overwinter and emerge again in spring and summer.

Bees and Wasps alike play important roles in their natural environment.  Bees help to pollinate plants and wasps help to keep down other insect population numbers.  They are, none the less, a pest when they enter into our living space.  Wasps and bees alike can sting and/or bite-- making them a pest that is most feared by children (and adults alike).

Often the behaviors of people who are afraid of these stinging pests encourage a sting.  Some good ways to avoid being stung include:

• Avoid slapping at bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets.
• Avoid flailing your arms trying to keep the stinging insect away, this actually encourages a sting.
• Avoid sitting at picnic tables that are right next to garbage cans where yellow jackets and other wasps tend to scavenge for foods-- especially if you are afraid of stinging pests and prone to slapping at them.
• Generally leave the bees and wasps alone and stay away from their nests.
• If there is a bee or wasp nest in or around your home call Peak Pest Management to help you out!

(If you have a bee allergy or suspect you have a bee allergy this advice does not replace any that the doctor has given, it is simply a list of suggestions based on observation.)

For bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and other common summer pests (like ants, spiders, box elder beetles, fleas, flies and more) please give Peak Pest Management a call or email!  We will help you get rid of or prevent pest problems!

Micah Wood

Peak Pest Management

www.Peak-Pest-Management.com

micah@peak-pest-management.com

503-998-4322

360-607-1933

Ants Herding Aphids? Is It True? |Fun Fact Friday

Have you seen the moving Bugs Life?  Well, I have kids and work in pest control, so I have absolutely seen the movie with my kids!  And in the movie, the queen ant has a pet aphid. I know that there are several species of ant that eat honeydew, a sticky sweet secretion, produced by aphids.


I had heard that there are ants that "farm" aphids.  I went looking around to see what the research says and came across a really interesting article.  Apparently ants not only bite off the wings of aphids to subdue and keep them close, but they also have a chemical that is released from their feet.  This chemical was once thought just to mark territory, but the new research has found that it blocks aphid wing growth and slows them down-- allowing the ants to herd the aphids and keep their food source near by.


Here is a link to the article-- it's a little on the dry side, but if you can get past that, it is very informative. 


Herding Aphids: How 'Farmer' Ants Keep Control Of Their Food


Insects are very interesting!  For all of you gardeners out there, if you have ants and aphids together...  Now you have an idea of why they're both there!  The ants are keeping the aphids-- it's like an ant aphid ranch.


If you have plain old ants in your house that come in after rains to feast on your kitchen sugars because their aphid honeydew has been washed away, please contact Peak Pest Management.


Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
peak-pest-management.com
micah@peak-pest-management.com
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
Text a Tech 503-369-4623