Portland Pest Control: flies

Showing posts with label flies. Show all posts

Friday, August 3, 2012

Fun Fact Friday : Bees

Bees are fun right? Generally, no they are not, especially with kids (and I have 3 kids). Bubble bees are relatively harmless and cute, but with kids everything gets "lumped" together as a bee, whether it is a bubble bee, honey bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket, Africanized honey bee (killer bee), whatever. If it flies and has a stinger, or even looks like it has a stinger it is, to a child, a bee. In fact most flies are considered bees by my younger daughter-- even fruit flies.

Well here is a fun fact about BEES, real bees. A bee may fly up to 60 miles in a day while gathering food. That would be the equivalent to running more than 2 marathons through the grocery store while gathering food in one day.

That is all I have for Fun Fact Friday, but here is an interesting video clip by national geographic about killer bees in the amazon rain forest.

If you're having a problem with bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, paper wasps, etc. in or around your home please give me a call. I'd be happy to help!

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

Department of Systematic Bilogy, Entomology Section, National Museum of Natural History, Bug Info Sheet Number 177. www.si.edu

Friday, July 6, 2012

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

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

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!