Bug Out Service

Drywood Termites

2012-01-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

(by Robert Holyfield)

Drywood Termites are social insect s that live in colonies in sound wood. They are much larger than our more common Subterranean Termites yet their colony size is much, much smaller. You are less likely to get an infestation of this termite, however the cost to get rid of them can be much larger. They are found more along the coast and the southern part of the state. Older areas of the city are also hot spots for this termite. Downtown, riverside, green cove springs and along most any waterway. They spend their entire life inside the wood they are consuming. The more common Subterranean Termite lives in the ground and makes mud tunnels to get to their food source. Drywood Termites can enter a structure through attic or foundation vents, under eaves and fascia boards, and through cracks and joints of exposed wood. Some of the common places they will start in a home is fake wood shutters that are deteriorating or wooden columns doing the same. These openings provide an easy entry point for the little buggers. Once inside the king and queen start the new colony. After the colony has matured, (usually three years) they produce swarmers to leave the colony and start a new one elsewhere. They usually swarm at night and are attracted to light. Antique furniture is a really good carrier of this termite. Many pieces have a infestation and can spread to your home by way of them swarming from that old dresser you fell in love with that’s now in the corner of your bedroom!! Be on the look out for tiny fecal pellets that they kick out from the wood they are consuming. These pellets are much smaller than a grain of rice and are hard with distinctive groves with six sides. They clean out the area they are eating on a regular base so you will see these pellets lying around the infestation. Drywood infestations are difficult to deal with. Most of the time the infestation is localized as they are near the original entry point. But sometimes the infestation is not found until the colony has grown and spread through swarming to areas you might not detect. Treatments range from just removing the piece of wood that they are infesting, all the way up to fumigation where they put a tent over the entire house and gas them. This is the best surest way of treatment as it penetrates all areas that are accessible and not accessible .

PREVENTION:

Keep a good paint and seal on all exterior wood. If you have wood siding, pay close attention to the base of the siding with sealant and paint. Use fine mesh screening on vent openings to attic and off grade construction. Caulk and seal all cracks and joints around windows and doors. Replace any rotten wood promptly! These are no guarantee you will not get an infestation, but are good maintenance tips that will sure aid in prevention.

As always if you need us give us a call.

Bug Out Service

(904)778-2280

Free termite inspection and estimate on any home. We can provide you with termite coverage for two years with a cost of less than most companies charge you for the initial treatment.

BUG PROOFING

2012-01-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

(by Robert Holyfield)

Cold weather is here and a little house maintenance may be needed this time of the year if you want to stay warmer and keep out unwanted pest! This is the time to do some sealing and pest exclusion. Start by inspecting all your windows and doors. Check the screens for damage and replace or repair if any damage is found. Look for cracked or missing caulk around them also and replace with fresh if needed. Walk around your house and pay close attention to the eaves. Most have ventilation screens that may have rotted away over the years. This can allow a multitude of critters access to your space! Rats, wasp and roaches to name just a few. If you have a crawl space construction, check the ventilation screens around the base of the foundation. Hardware wire is best for these areas. Check all doors for light coming from underneath. Remember if you can see light, you can expect unwanted company as well as a big change in temperature. Pay attention to where water pipes and wiring or cable go into the structure. These areas need to be filled with caulk as well. Keep the chimney flue closed when not in use & be sure to inspect the sides of your large garage door. It may need weather stripping, you would be surprised how many have none at all. Garages that have windows gather a large population of dead insects on the ledges. Vacuum them up to deter spiders from these areas. Don’t forget your dryer venting to the outside. If yours is like mine, it may need replacing. The flap will stick open and with a 3 inch opening you don’t even want to know what can venture in!!!!

Pay attention to these tips and maybe your electric bill will be a little lower and you won’t be chasing or getting chased by critters.

Remember we do lawn and shrub service as well as general pest control and termite control.

As always, if we can help, give us a call.

BUG OUT SERVICE
904-743-8272

2011 Super Service Award

2011-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

Bug Out Service Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

Bug Out Service has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Bug Out Service can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

http://www.angieslist.com/

Don't Fall Behind

2011-11-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

(by Jeremy Maneol)

Fall temperatures are finally here and after the hot and dry summer we just endured, the change is welcome! Our lawns have really suffered from the extended lack of rain this season and some have taken it harder than others. The next challenges we face when preparing are lawns for winter are compounded by the fact that many of our lawns are entering the cold weather months in a weakened condition.

So what do we do now to prepare them for what might be another very cold winter? Will the lawns survive? How much damage will occur? These are all great questions, but there are many other factors to consider when evaluating plant heartiness.

Believe it or not the turf grass as well as shrubs have already begun preparing themselves for the cooler months. You may have notice a slow down in growth of all plants right now. This is because the plants are beginning to put more energy into the root system and also beginning to store vital nutrients in the root system for the winter.

So now that we know the plants are doing there part, what do we do to help?

Fall Tip #1: Keep watering your lawn.

The days are cooler and shorter. So your lawn probably won't show quite the same distress it would have during the summer if you let up on your irrigation. Try not to over-water… about once every 10 -14 days will probably be sufficient with out rainfall. It’s best to set your irrigation to the manual position.

Keep up the watering, though, because the better condition your lawn is in when it becomes dormant during the winter, the better condition it will come back in next spring.

Fall Tip #2: Spray for perennial broad leaf weeds.

These pesky weeds, of which dandelions are a particularly common and particularly annoying variety, can be hard to treat. You might be tempted to spray them in the spring when they are in full bloom. Waiting until fall, however, is your best choice.

As the weather cools, the weeds transport nutrients from their leaves to their roots in anticipation of the winter ahead. Spray them now, and they'll take the herbicide down to the roots along with the nutrients. You will see much better and longer lasting result from the herbicides.

Fall Tip #3: Fertilize your lawn.

Spring can be a tempting time to fertilize - you'll see fast results and who doesn't want that? But patience is the winner when it comes to fertilizing, and although you'll have to wait months for the payoff, fall fertilizing will strengthen your lawn's roots, not just cause top growth (which is what spring fertilizing does). With stronger roots, you'll have a thicker healthier lawn for the entire growth season to come.

Fall Tip #4: Put the mower away.

This is probably the hardest thing to do, but if you allow the turf to grow a little higher than normal it will be better protected through the winter months. Basically the higher turf will act like a blanket or insulation for the root system. Now if you are in area where mowing is an absolute must, then try to mow as high as your mower will let you. Whatever you do try not to go out and mow it a little shorter thinking it will keep you from having to mow for a while. These are the lawns that generally will receive the most winter injury.

There are no special chemicals or fertilizers out there that can guarantee against winter injury, but when proper fertilizers and proper cultural practices are followed then at least your lawn will have a fighting chance.

As always if you need us, give us a call!

904-743-8272
For a limited time: free initial charge for lawn or pest control service when paying for the year up front!

Bed Bugs Spreading

2011-10-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

(By Robert Holyfield)

As this article is being written, we have two representatives from our company attending a Bed Bug summit in Chicago. Bed bugs are becoming a major problem across the country and are spreading at an alarming rate. We are now getting calls daily and finding homes infested where only a few years ago it was only a bedtime saying. A lot of people get very emotional thinking they are dirty or have done something wrong when they get an infestation. This is far from the truth. Due to world wide travel, bed bugs can come from 5 star hotels. Their great hitchhiking ability has led to them being found in movie theaters, department stores, airplanes, buses, just about every where people travel or meet. Some studies say there is about a 25% chance that apartments that have a bed bug infestation will infest the ones next to it also. Lawsuits are springing up everywhere. Financial problems are arising for property owners or managers having to pay high fees for treatments that were not budgeted for. Used furniture can be a good way to introduce your home to these pests. Even taken delivery of a new mattress that was transported to you with a truck that has just picked up a discarded mattress from the previous customer loaded with bed bugs can cause you future problems for sure. To date, there are no silver bullets to get rid of the problem. Early detection and treatment is the best course of action. Inspect regularly for bedbugs or evidence of them. You will see actual bedbugs or fecal blood spots and stains along the seams of the bed mattress. Framing and head boards are very important to inspect also. The first thing my wife tells the kids when we stay in a hotel is let daddy check the room for bed bugs. She has heard the stories and wants no part of these little monsters. Several companies have developed whole house heat treatments that heat up the entire home to around 140.degrees. This kills all stages of the bed bug, however there have been several homes burned to the ground doing this treatment and all areas must reach around 113 degrees temperature or you could have a failure with surviving bed bugs. Pesticides treatments have not provided very good results due to resistance from bed bugs. There are a number of preventative products being marketed and sold. Bed mattress encasements work well to prevent the mattress from becoming infested. There are also disks that can be placed under the legs of the bed or furniture to keep them from climbing up. Glass cups work well also as bed bugs cannot climb due to the slickness of glass and their feet not having suction ability. We currently offer whole house fumigation to rid the entire house with one shot. The Jacksonville Bed Bug task force will be holding a meeting December 13th bet 1:00 and 5:00 and is free to the public. They will have some great info and suggestions for the public or businesses that could be affected by this critter.

As always, if we can help, give us a call.

904-743-8272

SILVERFISH

2011-08-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Silverfish

(by Robert Holyfield)

When you think of silverfish, you might be picturing something you pull up on the bank after your fishing pole just bent over. Silverfish and firebrats are often referred to as bristletails because of the three , tail-like appendages that protrude from their abdominal. They look like something from the dinosaur age having their bodies covered in scales and shaped like something you might see embedded in rock dug up in Egypt. They are silver to pearl-gray in color and have a carrot- shaped body. Adults can live up to 3 years and are about ½ in long. They live in cracks and voids and can be found throughout the home. They can be found where books, paper, boxes or old clothing are stored. Their food sources consist of protein, sugars and starches. They will eat cereals, starch in book bindings, paper on which there is glue or paste. They will damage wallpaper by eating holes through it to get to the paste. Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and feed on mold in these areas. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are a hot spot to find these little buggers roaming about. You can sometimes find them in the sink or tub because the sides are slick and they cannot climb out after falling in. Bookshelves are another good location as well as stored boxes in attics. They can also live outdoors and can be found in mulch, under tree bark and under siding on houses. They are active at night and usually hide during the day.

CONTROL:

You can reduce their numbers by correcting moisture problems. (Ex: Drying out damp areas with a fan or dehumidifier, repairing leaking pipes, ventilating closed rooms, & repairing leaking roofs) Use the ventilation fan when using the shower or tub. You can also reduce hiding places by removing old papers, books, boxes and other clutter. Wherever possible, seal up potential hiding places with caulk. Remove leaves and other debris around the home to decrease the chance from an outside invasion.

MAKE YOUR OWN TRAP:

A very simple trap can be made by taking a glass jar and scrubbing it clean and covering the outside with masking tape to make it easy to climb. Put it in an area where you have been seeing the little buggers and they will climb up and fall into the jar, but cannot escape due to the smooth interior walls. Moist cotton or starchy foods will work as bait. Sticky traps normally used for roaches and other insects work also.

As always if we can help, give us a call.

904-743-8272

*****NEED TERMITE COVERAGE ON YOUR HOME*****

Get a complete termite liquid treatment as well as the Sentricon baiting system AND pest control service for only $99.00 to start with a new service agreement if your house is less than 5 years old. Expires 12/31/11

Wasps & Bees (By Robert Holyfield)

2011-07-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing and I’m sure you are having your fill of a wide variety of little buggers. Most insects are a nuisance at best; however some wasps and bees can put a painful hurt on you. There are several different types of bees and wasps you can encounter.

Paper Wasps are one of the most common stinging insects you will encounter. They build paper nest anywhere from the eaves of your home to the bushes in your yard. They are social insects and will attack in numbers when they feel their colony is in danger. So be careful when pruning bushes. Shake them first and be prepared to MOVE!

Yellow Jackets are another social stinging insect that can be dangerous when encountered. They usually build their nest in the ground and when walked over or mowed over they will come out in large numbers looking to get revenge! Both Paper Wasps and Yellow Jackets can sting you multiple times making them more dangerous because of the amount of venom you could receive.

Honey Bees are usually not very aggressive and you usually will not have a problem with them, however their cousin The Africanized Honey Bee (Killer Bee), is much more aggressive and can really hurt or even kill you. They are much more persistent in attacking when disturbed. The normal European Honey Bee will usually defend its nest at around 150 ft where the Africanized Bee will defend its nest upwards of 400 ft. They can only sting one time and loose their stinger.

Carpenter Bees don’t usually pose a problem in regards to stinging you. They are very large and resemble a bumble bee. They have a shinny and smooth abdomen where the bumble bee has a fuzzy abdomen. The female is the only one that can sting you sense the male lacks a stinger. He will be the one darting all around you acting so bad. So when you see him flying all around and hovering in front of you, just smack him, he’s bluffing! The Bumble Bee however can put a hurting on you! They usually make a nest in the ground under things and can sting you multiple times. They are one of the best pollinators of plants and flowers around making them a very beneficial insect.

Cicada Killer is a very large wasp some people encounter in their yard. They make a Bumble Bee look like a sissy. They dig small mounds tunneling in the ground. The Argyle area usually has a problem every year with them. Their main purpose is to go out and seek a Cicada to sting and bring back to their nest so the young developing wasp have something to feed on. Due to their large size, we get calls from people deathly afraid of them. You can actually walk right through the area where they are nesting and they will not bother you. (I would not suggest this though) they are not aggressive at all unless you look like a Cicada.

Mud Daubers are another wasp you generally will not have a problem with in regards to stinging you. They are not aggressive will not defend their nest. You will usually find their nest on your exterior walls, eaves, even attached on your light fixture. They construct their nest of mud or clay. They mainly feed on spiders and sting them to paralyze them where they pack them in sections of this mud home for their young to feed on.

You can always find more information on the University of Florida feature creature web site at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/

**Always be careful when attempting to treat for any wasp or bee infestation. Serious harm or death could occur when taking this route. Consult a professional who is equipped to handle these treatments with specialized suits!! **

As always, if we can help, give us a call.

904-743-8272

FLEAS

2011-05-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

By: Robert Holyfield

The warm weather is here and so are the flea calls! There’s nothing more frustrating than having fleas and not being able to get rid of them! The cat flea is the most common flea you will encounter. Adults are 1-3 mm in length, reddish brown to black and their bodies flat vertically so they can easily glide through the hairs of cats or dogs. Have you ever picked a flea off you or your pet and tried to kill it between your fingers by squeezing? Good luck! They usually spring right off back into the depths of your carpet. If you have finger nails, put him in between them and slice. That usually does the trick. Fleas are capable of jumping 8 to 13 inches horizontally. That’s a gold medal jump of 450 feet for you or me! Their life cycle from the time they lay their eggs to a newly hatched adult can be as little as 3 weeks. Depending on when the eggs were laid, you can have a hatch out every day so it looks like a treatment that was preformed is not working when really it is. They just have to come into contact with the product. The life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa and adult. The pupa stage is the stage where they can lay dormant for months until they feel vibrations alerting them that a host is nearby and they hatch out right away to get a blood meal. I have had realtors call me in the past stating that they showed a house that had been vacant for months and before they left they were covered with fleas. A trick I had often suggested was to lay a boom box (if there is still such a thing) face down on the floor and turn the volume up so the vibration will signal there is a host and cause them to hatch out when no one is around. They come in contact with the treatment that was rendered and better control was obtained. You can also place a pan of water with dish detergent in it on the floor just below a night light and see if you have a infestation. If you have pets, you use vinegar instead of dish detergent.

Things to do before treatment:

Vacuum the entire house and put the bag or contents in a plastic bag and throw it away. Vacuuming will remove some adults and eggs and stimulate new adults to hatch out from the pupa state as we mentioned above forcing them in contact with the insecticide residual on the floor. Pick up all items off the floor so a good coverage can be obtained.

Finally call a professional to do the treatment as they have products and the knowledge to apply them in a safe and effective manner.

As always if you need us, give us a call. 904-743-8272

Electronic Billing - The Right Thing To Do

2010-09-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

by Matt Bickford

A few months ago we announced a billing policy change that will go into effect in January, 2011 that will impose a $2.00 fee for statements sent via pony express (aka snail mail). The notices we've been including with billing statements offer incentives for early adopters to alternative electronic billing methods. We're pleased that positive responses have been overwhelmingly more plentiful than calls from customers unhappy with this policy change, but we are concerned about the nature of some of the complaints. It's my hope that this post will clear up some concerns for some readers that may still be curious about the reasons for the change.

Going Green When John F. Sessions started Bug Out in 1963, he established the foundation on which our culture of conscientious applicators stands tall. Although the term "Green" as it's used today to indicate environmentally sound practices wasn't likely used in the mid-late 60's, I'm fairly certain that they referred to it by what they knew it to be at the time, "common sense".

Fast forward to an age of unprecedented electronic access to collective intelligence when anyone can be an expert on anything in as little as a 3 seconds after a Google search, and a policy that effectively reduces the amount of paper that a business consumes is just plain common sense. It's the right thing to do.

That understood, it's certainly not the only good business reason for the deployment of such an initiative, nor is it necessarily the top reason considering that paper is a replenishable resource. (It comes from trees - I Googled it)

Stabilization Of Revenue Uh oh, now you're going to get all biznezzy on us, Mr. Bloggerman! Well ok, maybe a little. Decades of empirical data collected internally has revealed that clients with accounts set up to auto-pay electronically stay on the books longer and maintain a healthier payment history on average compared to accounts that do not.

Why is that, smarty pants? What are you implying? I'm glad you asked! It's not because people that pay their bills from a traditional invoice received by mail are a bunch of deadbeats. On the contrary, we know full well that our clients are hard-working, very busy people. We're in your homes and at your workplaces, believe me--we know you. We understand fully that the pest control bill is just another piece of paper in the stack. Therefore, offering a payment method that makes your lives just a little bit simpler is another example of an act of common sense. It's the right thing to do.

Offer? You're making me do it! How's that an offer? You got me there. Yes, we're nudging our clients just a bit knowing full well that a very small number of you will unfortunately choose to take your business elsewhere. Considering that the technologies that enable the safe and secure digital transfer of money were proven and available to consumers and businesses well over 2 decades ago, this change is well past due. We like to think that the delinquency is because we opted to observe trends and monitor the marketplace for acceptance and adoption before we decided to "nudge", but it's just as possible that like you, we've just been very busy.

Preservation of Capital Aha! Now we're getting to it! You profit monger, you! Vilification of for-profit organizations is a common practice in the media today. Some of it is even justifiable. There have been, currently are and always will be some bad companies out there, but profit itself is not evil, it's why businesses exist and it's probably why you're employed. That understood, profit has little to nothing to do with this new billing policy. It does relate directly to operating capital, however.

During periods of economic recession, good companies, much like the average family, must exercise creativity and maybe even eat a Spam sandwich or two in order to survive. Many companies take the "easy route" by raising prices or adding fuel surcharges to their invoices, which makes about as much sense as a government-imposed tax increase on its citizens to combat a bad economy. Some companies reduce employee benefits and maybe even reduce the number of employees. No matter what tactics are utilized, survival during tougher economic times is a challenging fiscal gladiatorial bout. Ultimately the market is the Ceasar that will deliver the live or die thumb up or thumb down. That's business.

For many years Bug Out Service has invoiced its clients by mail as a courtesy at no additional charge. The ever rising costs of this practice compared to the growing level of acceptance of electronic payment methods by the market we serve make this expense impossible to ignore. We estimate that annual savings could top 6 digits and have already realized savings of thousands of dollars per month in the form of current-customer conversions to electronic billing.

This cash is operating capital that is being used to continue to provide the high quality of service that our clients have grown accustomed to and rightfully expect. It's money that we've been able to secure during an economic period when our expenses are growing at a rate exceeding that of our rate of growth, and we did it without raising prices. It was and is the right thing to do.

"Pony Express" photo by Cotaroba and "Cash Photo" by AMagill are used herein under the guidelines of the Creative Commons Attribution License

5 Beautiful Bug Photographs From Flickr

2010-08-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

by Matt Bickford

At Bug Out Service we really love bugs. What’s that? We kill bugs? Yes, in the interest of health and property, we do indeed kill a few bugs, and as much as we’d love to take off and nuke ‘em from orbit (it’s the only way to be sure), we devote a tremendous amount of effort and resources toward actually reducing the impact of our pest management activities.

Product formulations, modes of action, application methods,

applicator training and client education are but a few items that we [Bug Out Service and the professional pest control industry at large] address daily as components of our operation.

We do all of this so that we maximize adherence to our prime directive; protect health and property while targeting only those bugs that would otherwise do harm; pests. So relax Coccinella Septempuctata, ♪ ♫ It means no worries for the rest of your days ♫ ♪ We’re only after the “bad bugs”.

To perhaps improve your appreciation for bugs as things of beauty, this post features 5 Beautiful Bug Photographs From Flickr

Note: All images are licensed for and are used herein under the guidelines of the Creative Commons Attribution License

Attribution information in order of appearance: the_tahoe_guy lukjonis Critter Seeker Abhishek Jacob _-=Dreemreeper=-_

2010-07-22T12:08:00.001-07:00

Sod Webworms
(by Jeremy Maneol)

Have you ever woke up one morning and looked out the window to see areas in the lawn that appear to have been mowed? Well you just became the victim of the sod web worm.

During summer months it is not uncommon to see the little white moths darting about a foot or two above the turf – especially in the shady areas and at night. These lawn moths do No damage to your lawn – Yes they are a nuisance but they absolutely do no damage to the lawn in the adult stage.

But that is only half of the story.

The moths are laying eggs, Eggs that hatch out into little caterpillars. These small caterpillars, the larvae stage of the sod webworms, feed on the turf grass blades.Sod webworms can be serious pests of home lawns, sports fields, golf courses and other turf grass areas. They seem to prefer new, vigorous lawns and they increase in importance when many new lawns are being established.

The sod web worm larvae are a gray green color and have brown spots and can reach ¾” to 1” in length. To check for sod webworms part the grass in suspected areas and closely examine the soil surface. Look for chewed leaves, webs, green excrement, and for the worm itself.

Sod webworm damage starts to become visible from June to August, but I have seen activity all the way through October. The larvae primarily feed at night and stay rested in a curled position at the soil surface during the day. The damage from the sod webworm is easy to see. They feed on the grass and leave notches along the sides.

Fear not however, they are easily controlled and do no permanent damage. Affected areas generally recover in a couple of weeks. Although several products are available for purchase at your local home and garden store, it is usually best to contact a professional when dealing with turf damaging insects.

Adults may be visible and active for several days after a pesticide application, but rest assured that the larvae are dining on treated turf. That’s bad for sod webworms, but safe for humans and pets.

As always, if we can help, give us a call!

Receive initial service free with any new Lawn service paid in advance for the year by mentioning this ad .

Fleas

2010-06-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Fleas
(by Robert Holyfield)

Even though we had a pretty hard winter, the bugs have come back with a vengeance. Fleas are no exception. If you ever had a bad flea infestation, you know the difficulty you can go through trying to rid your property of them. There are over 2000 species of fleas worldwide. The most common flea is the cat flea. Adults are 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, dark reddish brown to black. Their bodies are flattened vertically or side to side allowing them easy movement between the hairs of their host. They can jump 13 inches horizontally. That’s about a 450 foot jump for you or me. Their life cycle from egg to adult can be as little as 3 weeks. This consists of egg, larva, pupa and adult. The pupa stage is the final stage before adult and fleas can remain in this stage for long periods of time. Vibration and or carbon dioxide lets them know when there is a host so they hatch out of this stage into adulthood and FEED. Cat fleas unlike other fleas like to remain on the host. Their eggs are laid on the animal and roll off into the carpet or floor area. This is why growth regulators work so well when applied on your pets. The eggs come in contact with them and their development is interfered with. The use of growth regulators along with products such as Advantage or Frontline will kill adults and help prevent development of immature fleas. We have a product called Petcor we use or sell at cost to our customers when they have a bad flea infestation. It kills the adults and leaves only the residue of precor ( insect growth regulator) for any future eggs that are laid.
Fleas can transmit diseases such as plague and murine typhus to humans. The bubonic plague or black death that killed so many people years ago came from the fleas feeding on the rats and then transmitting the disease to humans. This is where the popular nursery rhyme “Ring Around The Rosie” is thought to have come from. LOOK IT UP.
When you call a pest professional for a flea problem, before the treatment, remove all items off the floor and thoroughly vacuum the floors. This will allow the pest professional to be able to get a good coverage of product through out the structure. Don’t forget to throw out the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag immediately when finished due to all the eggs, larva and adults you will have vacuumed. Be prepared, you may need to vacate the structure along with the pets while the treatment is drying. Outside infestation in the yard you will need to mow the lawn if the grass is high, again this will allow the product to reach the soil more easily than if the grass is thick. Watering before and/or after a treatment, may be a necessary, if in a drought situation.

Be patient, a heavy flea infestation can call for several treatments before control takes place. Working together with your Pest Control Professional, you will be able to get a flea infestation under control.
Receive initial service free with any new pest control service paid in advance for the year by mentioning this ad.

WARM WEATHER IS HERE

2010-04-09T07:03:00.001-07:00

Warm weather is here! All it takes is a couple warm days and our insects are off and running.
To prepare now for your spring Pest Prevention, follow these simple tips.

1. Clean up any debris around the foundation. (Especially if it was there all winter)

2. Seal and caulk any openings going into the home. A tight house is a bug-free house.

3. Keep all bird seed feeders a good distance from the house. (Draws ants and rodents)

4. Pick up any fruit lying on the ground from the fruit bearing trees. It also draws rodents and flies.

5. Do not leave any water standing near the house. This draws unwanted mosquitoes.

6. Keep trash cans away from inside the attached garage.

7. Vacuum window tracks with dead insects laying in them.

8. Check all irrigation heads to direct the water away from the house.

9. Rake old mulch back from up against the foundation and don't pile new mulch too high. (no more then 2 inches)

10. Pets should be on a flea program now, do not wait until you see a flea!Thank You and Happy Spring Fever!

Linda PrenticeAssociate Certified Entomologist

WARM WEATHER IS HERE

2010-04-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

2010-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

EPA honors National pest management association with
National pesticide program partners award
NPMA is the first and only industry group to receive an EPA Honors Award
December 17, 2009 (Fairfax, Va.) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) with its National Pesticide Program Partners Award on Thursday, December 17, 2009. The award was given as a part of EPA’s Office of Pesticide Program’s first-ever Honor Awards Ceremony, which aims to highlight core values and principles of EPA and encourage their widespread practice.

The National Pesticide Program Partners Award was the only award at the ceremony honoring an organization outside of EPA. The award recognizes the work of NPMA’s GreenPro program, the largest green certification program for pest management professionals in the world.

“NPMA is honored to receive this award from EPA in recognition of our GreenPro program,” said Bob Rosenberg, senior vice president for NPMA, who accepted the award on behalf of the association. “EPA and NPMA share a commitment to the protection of public health and the environment, and NPMA’s GreenPro program is one way in which we strive to preserve our planet and increase consumer awareness for environmentally responsible initiatives.”

As the most widely-recognized certification available in the pest management industry, NPMA’s GreenPro certification verifies to consumers that their pest management provider complies with many qualifications designed to ensure they receive eco-effective service. In addition to requiring participating companies to submit independent audits, GreenPro certified companies must have their service technicians, salespersons and managers trained, tested and recertified. In addition to green pest management service standards, participating companies are also evaluated on business operations, such as criminal background checks, reference checks, drug screening and more, prior to being able to participate in GreenPro.

In addition to receiving this award, GreenPro has also been recognized by organizations inside and outside the pest management industry, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) and is designed to satisfy the needs of green-conscious consumers like buildings seeking a LEED certification.

What is Green Pro?
Eco-Effective Pest Control, Protecting Your Family, and Preserving the Planet.
As individuals across the world make great strides to preserve our planet and increase consumer awareness for environmentally responsible initiatives, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is excited to offer the world’s largest and most credible green certification program for pest management professionals – Green Pro.
The Green Pro certification means that your pest management provider must comply with a multitude of qualifications to ensure that you receive a safe and effective service each time they arrive at your door.

Green Pro is the most widely recognized certification available to companies in the pest management industry.

It has the most comprehensive standards of any available program.
Requires companies that participate to submit to independent audits.
Service technicians, salespersons and managers must be trained, tested and recertified.

Call Bug Out Service for your Green Pro experts.

What is green pest management? When hiring a Green Pro company for your pest management needs, understand that the technician sent to your account must meet tough standards to ensure that you receive an environmentally responsible service. This kind of service is frequently called integrated pest management (IPM), though Green Pro standards go beyond the requirements of traditional IPM.
Bug Out Service was one of the first companies to offer a customized program called “Green Solution”, which started in 2007.

2010-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

REASONS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE DAMAGE
Article By: Terri Mathis

Our temperatures have been going up and down like a yo-yo!
We have experienced some early freezes and frosts in the months of October, November and December. Some say we are headed for an extremely cold winter.

Most warm season turfs, including St. Augustine, have a cold tolerance rating of poor to very poor. Cultural and environmental factors that tend to favor cold injury include: Lack of rainfall or irrigation, poor drainage, soil compaction, excessive thatch, reduced lighting, and close mowing height. Turf species and cultivar variations will also show different levels of injury.

Depending on the weather pattern this winter, possible numerous frost and hard freezes could occur. There may be mild, moderate, and up to severe damage to turf. Mild damaged areas can be encouraged to fill in through proper fertilization; moderately damaged area will need to be plugged with the appropriate St. Augustine cultivar, and severely damaged areas with wide spread death to the turf will require resodding with the appropriate turf species and cultivar. Early Spring is the best time to evaluate how much damage your turf has experienced.

Watering should be reduced to once every 10 to 14 days in absence of rain. In the winter, our air temperatures and soil temperatures will drop. This means our soil will hold moisture for longer periods of time which means we can reduce our watering days.

Need Help? Call a professional. Call Bug Out Service!