Time to Think About Ticks

The warm weather is back, and so are the warm weather pests. Among insects of great concern is the tick.

The brown dog tick (also known as the kennel tick) is found through most of the United States This tick feeds on dogs, but rarely bites people. Unlike the other species of ticks, its life cycle allows it to survive and develop indoors. The brown dog tick is found primarily in kennels or homes with dogs where it may be found hiding in cracks, behind radiators, under rugs and furniture, and on draperies and walls.

The adult is reddish-brown and about 1/8-inch long, and usually attaches around the ears or between the toes of a dog to feed. After feeding, a female may engorge to ½-inch long. She then drops off the dog and crawls into a hiding place where she may lay as many as 3,000 eggs. This tick is tropical in origin and does not survive Illinois winters outdoors. The brown dog tick is not an important carrier of human disease.

Preventing and controlling ticks around your home...

• Make sure the property around your home is unattractive to ticks. Because ticks are sensitive to dry conditions and do not thrive in short vegetation, they are seldom a problem in well-maintained lawns. Keep your grass mowed and keep weeds cut. 
• Clean up items that attract rodents which can carry ticks, such as spilled birdseed, and hiding places like old wood piles.
• Free-roaming dogs and cats are much more likely to encounter ticks than those that are confined to the home or yard. If ticks are found on pets, contact your veterinarian for information about an appropriate tick treatment. 
• Remove the occasional tick found indoors by vacuuming, seal the vacuum bag and place it in the trash. Owners of kennels or homes infested with the brown dog tick may wish to contact a professional pest control company for assistance.

If you're concerned that you have ticks in your home or kennel, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Termite FAQs - Part 1

Close-up view of termite swarm

1. What are termites? Termites are wood-destroying insects. Their presence dates back to the dinosaurs. While they play an important role in nature, experts estimate they cause $5 billion of property damage each year.

2. Are there different kinds of termites? Yes, the three major kinds of termites in the United States are dampwood, drywood, and subterranean. Dampwood termites commonly live in heavily forested areas of the country as they prefer wet wood; while, drywood termites, much more rare in the United States, prefer extremely dry wood. Subterranean termites require moist environments, live mainly in the soil and are the most destructive species.

3. How do you recognize termites? Depending on your geographical location, termite swarms should be visible in the early spring. Termite swarms can be confused with flying ants. Telltale signs of termite infestation include soft wood in the home, mud tubes in the interior or exterior of your home (often near the foundation), and darkening or blistering of wood structures.

4. How much damage do termites cause? Termites work 24 hours/7 days a week at damaging the wood in and around a structure. And, while they cause $5 billion in damage each year, there is no reason to think that termites cannot be controlled.

If you're concerned that you have termites in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Amazing Bugs You Probably Didn't Know Exist!

I thought this was fascinating, and so I wanted to share it with you!



If you have an insect in your home or place of business and you're not sure what it is, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Meet The Brown-banded Cockroach

Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two lighter bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. In addition to the distinctive banding, males have full wings, which reach beyond the tip of their rather pointed abdomens, but females have underdeveloped wings, much shorter than their broad, rounded abdomens.

Brown-banded cockroaches often hide their egg cases in or under furniture. These roaches tend to prefer warmer, drier, and higher locations than do any of the other urban pest roaches. They are often found in upper cabinets or in other rooms than the kitchens (food preparation areas) or bathrooms.

Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces.

Recent medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions in inner city children. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.
Prevention:

Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program, and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Stink Bug Forecast

After a brutal winter that sent stink bugs into hiding, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is warning homeowners that these pests will become active again with the warm weather – and that their growing populations are likely to make infestations significantly worse than in previous seasons.

”Findings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the size of overwintering populations support NPMA’s prediction that this season’s stink bug population will be larger than in the past,” says Jim Fredericks, director of technical services for the NPMA. “As the weather warms, stink bugs emerge from overwintering sites and try to exit structures, but sometimes they enter our living spaces instead.”

“Although these smelly pests do not pose serious property or safety threats to homeowners, their tendency to invade homes in high numbers can be a nuisance,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. “Luckily, there are steps people can take to prevent stink bugs from entering their homes.”

NPMA offers the following tips:

* Seal cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, ceiling fans and light switches.
* Replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs, which are less attractive to stink bugs.
* Repair damaged window screens. Also screen attic and crawlspace vents.
* Use a vacuum to eliminate stink bugs indoors. Seal vacuum’s contents in a plastic bag and dispose of it immediately.

If you're concerned about stink bugs in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Did You Know...Plague Triva

Although the plague is often believed to be an historical disease, did you know that about 10-15 people in the Untied States contract this flea-borne illness each year?

The most famous symptom of bubonic plague is painful, swollen lymph glands, called buboes. These are commonly found in the armpits, groin or neck. Due to its bite-based form of infection, the bubonic plague is often the first step of a progressive series of illnesses.

Two other types are pneumonic and septicemic. However, pneumonic plague, unlike the bubonic or septicemic, induced coughing, and was also very infectious and allowed person-to-person spread. Bubonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually 2–5 days after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:

* Chills
* General ill feeling (malaise)
* High fever (102 degrees fahrenheit / 39 degrees celsius)
* Seizures
* Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo, commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the initial infection (bite or scratch)
* Pain may occur in the area before the swelling appears

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net
Call Dave at 1-800-400-6009.

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Termites At Work

Here is an excellent look into the world of termites and the damage they cause, compliments of pest control folks from Down Under. (That's Australia, mates!)



If you're concerned that you have termites in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net