Spiders Called Goliath: Goliath Bird-Eating Spider

You know when something is called Goliath it is going to be big.  Well, when it is the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider, this translates to dinner plate sized.  Not dessert, not salad, nope full on dinner plate sized folks.  That is one monstrous spider.

Although research shows they rarely eat birds and mainly focus on insects, these spiders are capable of making a meal of rodents, frogs, lizards, bats, birds and even some snakes.  The Goliath Bird-Eating spider will not seek to attack a human, although they will bite and/or throw nasty barbed hairs.  I hear the bite is similar in affect to a wasp sting.  The hairs cause an itchy rash on the skin and can damage eyes and mucous membranes.

With inch long (give or take) fangs these spiders make a formidable foe and despite being nearly blind they're pretty good on the defense too.  Check out this youtube video by National Geographic.

   

From a pest control stand point, these guys aren't an issue.  In fact some people choose to keep these and other tarantulas as pets.  The Goliath Bird-Eater is native to northern South America, so we North Americans should not run across one of these guys in the wild.  Pet stores? Maybe. Backyards? Unlikely- unless your neighbor had a pet and turned it loose in your yard!

If you're dealing with pest spiders as unwelcome guests in your home, give me a call and I'll be happy to help you out.  In fact we, at Peak Pest Management, are running a summer special.  $99 for inside or outside spider treatment.  Same deal with ants.  Bees, wasps and yellow jackets are also typical summer pests.  We'll remove a nest for $99 or you can get a full treatment with a guarantee and not have to worry about these stinging pests in your yard!

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

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

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

High Flying Bugs : Fun Fact Friday

For fun fact Friday I'm straying away from pests like ants, bees, spiders, wasps etc.  To bring you a fact about one of the most beautiful insects.  The butterfly!  Here it is:  Some butterflies have been observed flying as high as 20,000 feet altitude.

Here is a youtube video on mutant butterflies from near Fukushima.  Scientists believe that when insects are strongly affected by radiation, humans will be even more affected.  Insects are highly resistant to the effects of radiation.


If you are having trouble with pests like mice, rats, ants, bees, fleas, wasps, termites or other pests and need pest control service in Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA or Seattle, WA.  Please give me a call!

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

---

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Most Incredible Insects www.si.edu

Wasps, Bees, Yellow Jackets, Hornets! Stinging Summer Pests

I've been up on rooftops a lot lately!  Not just because it's fun either!  I've been taking care of yellow jackets and paper wasps!  We've also been taking care of ground nests and nests that are not high up in the eaves of houses.  Bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are some of the least favorite and most feared pests of summer. 

I have been asked a number of questions regarding pest control for bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets.  Here are a couple of the questions and my answer.

• How do you manage to avoid being stung?  I have, but often do not use, a special bee suit.  Mainly it is a matter of knowing the pest, knowing my products, timing and method of treatment.  I manage to avoid stings most of the time.  I do occasionally get a sting which I treat with benedryl (if there is significant swelling), baking soda mixed with water to help draw out the venom (or the membrane of an egg if baking soda is not available).  If ever I were to have trouble breathing after a sting, I would dial 911.  I had to add that because for me, most bee and wasp stings are a minor irritation, but for some, bee and wasp stings present serious allergic reactions that require immediate emergency medical attention.

• What is the worst time for bees?  Late summer and early autumn are the time of the year here in the northwest when bees and wasps are most aggressive.  This is the time of year that bees are more inclined to sting and aggressively defend the nest. 

And to close, here is a video by national geographic on paper wasps.  I think this particular video takes place in Costa Rica, but it was really interesting to see.  I hope you enjoy!



I'm here for all your pest control needs!  Give me a call or send me an email.

Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management LLC
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
206-790-8285
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

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

Yellowjacket-- Fun Fact Friday

It's Friday!  And I've decided we need to start some sort of celebratory Friday tradition.  So today I have for you, a fun fact about yellowjackets!  Who knew there was anything fun about yellowjackets right?  I mean other than maybe a yellow RAIN jacket-- then maybe I'd have a fun fact about jumping in mud puddles with the kids.  I am sure my family could give all sorts of fun facts about fashionable yellow jackets, but I'm talking about the wasp (some people call it a bee, but it's a wasp and no, this is not your fun fact).  Here is your Friday Fun Fact:

• You can lessen your attractiveness to yellowjackets if you forego the use of hairspray, perfume, or aftershave and don’t wear bright-colored clothing, especially bright yellow, light blue, red, or orange. Good choices are white or light tan fabrics which are unattractive to them.

Here is a link to more fun facts:  http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com/2009/09/yellowjacket-fun-facts.html

This fun fact was discovered on Farmer Fred Rant written by Fred Hoffman, lifetime master gardener and garden radio host in California. 

In some online and experience based fact checking, the perfumes and scents are a bigger deal than color, although it seems if you wear black and are near their nest you may be perceived as a threat because of natural predators.  Some experts say that yellowjackets do not see the color red and even suggest using a red lens on flashlight when looking for an entrance to a yellowjacket nest.    

Here is another one just for fun because it reminded me of watching Tom and Jerry cartoons.

• If chased by these angry insects, run away in a zig-zag pattern, and seek shelter in a building or automobile. Do not jump in water...they WILL wait for you to surface.

Because yellowjackets tend to fly in straight lines, this seems to be sound advice, as far as the zig-zag run, however, I was not able to determine if yellow jackets will actually wait for you at the surface of the water.

Bees- Spring Has Sprung, Don't Get Stung!

It's spring and spring means flowers and trees start to bloom bringing allergies, bees, wasps and a number of pesky pests we said goodbye to for winter back into our lives!  Here in the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR and the whole northwest, spring rain welcomes buds and blooms to flowers and trees.  Buds and blooms attract bees, caterpillars, aphids, and plenty of other pests to be sure.  If your backyard veggie patch or prize winning roses are attracting bees, here are a few tips to keep you from getting stung.

• Know your bees and wasps!  It doesn't hurt to have knowledge about the local bees and wasps so you know how to respond when you encounter them.  Bumble bees are fuzzy, lonely, cute and relatively harmless: yellow jackets (technically a wasp not a bee) are bare, travel in colonies, ugly and readily sting repeatedly.
• Don't panic!  Becoming fearful and swing your arms at bees makes you and those around you more likely to be stung.  If one person has been stung and it appears that bees are swarming move away from the area and indoors if possible.  When a bee or wasp stings, it releases a pheromone that can attract other bees and wasps to come to their aid to protect the territory.
• If you notice a bee nest in, on, or near your home or business, contact a pest control professional.  A pest control professional will be able to identify the bees/wasps and help you get rid of them.  A pest control professional will often have contacts in bee keeping for relocating honey bees and other beneficial bees to a safer place for the bees and for your family.  A trained professional is also skilled in getting rid of bees and wasps that are invading your home or business and nesting in areas that encroach on peaceful family life.

Here are some helpful safety tips for kids:

• Don't throw rocks at bees nests, even if they appear to be empty.
• Do not climb trees with bees nests in them.
• Don't swat at or flail your arms at bees.
• Don't panic and run around in circles when you see a bee.
• Avoid playing near garbage cans that are swarming with bees.

Remember a bee sting is painful to some and medically serious to others.  If you have a known bee allergy please follow your doctor's safety advice and carry the appropriate medications during the spring, summer and fall months.  If you have been stung and have significant swelling consult your doctor.  If you have severe swelling and/or difficulty breathing call 9-1-1 immediately.

Micah Wood

503-998-4322

360-607-1933
Micah@Peak-Pest-Management.com
peak-pest-management.com