Got Bugs? News

Don’t Pick Up Hitchhiking Bed Bugs During Holiday Travels

got-bugs — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:02:12 +0000

December 6, 2010 (Fairfax, VA) Over the next several weeks, with images of vacations, family reunions and time off dancing in their heads, millions of Americans will be hitting the roads, skies and rails, traveling to various holiday destinations. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) advises travelers to take some simple precautions to avoid the most unwanted holiday present â€” an encounter with bed bugs.

“Whether going to grandma’s house or a hotel, travelers should be on the lookout for signs of bed bugs. Parents whose children are returning from college should also inspect their belongings before bringing laundry and packed bags inside, as infestations have been reported on campuses across the country,” said Missy Henriksen vice president of public affairs for NPMA.

“However, there is no need to be alarmed or alter travel plans. With a few simple steps, travelers can diminish their risk of dealing with bed bugs,” added Henriksen.

Travelers should remember the following tips from NPMA:

Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking. Don’t put luggage on the bed.

Pull back bed sheets and inspect mattress seams, particularly the corners, for telltale brownish or reddish spots. Bed bugs can also be found in box springs and behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, wallpaper, in upholstery and furniture.

If changing rooms within the same hotel, ensure the new room is not adjacent to the possibly infested room.

If staying at a residence, inform the homeowner immediately of a suspected bed bug problem.

Use a large plastic bag to store luggage.

Upon returning home, inspect and vacuum suitcases before bringing them into the house.

Wash all clothes â€” whether worn or not â€” in hot water or take them to a dry cleaner.

If you suspect an infestation in your own home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect the property.

Tips For Safer Roach Control

got-bugs — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:28:24 +0000

Nobody likes roaches, but roaches are a common problem. How can you prevent a roach problem? If you do have roaches, how can you get rid of them? This publication contains information on these and other questions on how to prevent and control cockroaches more safely.

How to Prevent a Roach Problem

Don’t invite roaches into your home:

Caulk, weatherstrip, and repair holes around water pipes, baseboards, doors and windows. This is important in apartments, where roaches can move from unit to unit along pipes.

Put screens over windows, vents, floor drains and ducts. They can be roach highways and hideaways.

Remove old boxes and papers. The fewer places roaches can hide, the better.

Keep areas outside your home free of trash, wood piles and leaves.

Use sticky (glue) traps to find areas where roaches may be hiding.

Don’t feed roaches:

Store food in sealed containers. Never leave food, crumbs or trash uncovered anywhere in your home. Do not leave uneaten pet food out overnight. If you must leave dirty dishes out overnight, put them in the sink and cover them with soapy water.

Use a trash can with a tight lid. Avoid placing your trash can under the sink. Empty the trash can often. Put garbage in closed plastic bags.

Rinse beverage and food containers before you recycle or throw them away.

Don’t give roaches water:

Fix leaky faucets and drains.

Original publication was produced by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Publication Number 904-F-97-902, October 1997

Don’t Gamble with Your Atlanta Home Purchase.

got-bugs — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:51:35 +0000

If you are purchasing a new home, request a professional Termite Inspection from a licensed pest management company. If you don’t it could cost you thousands of dollars.

As long as I’ve been in the pest management industry, these inspections have been required to complete a real estate transaction. Recently, changes were made to the Standard Georgia Real Estate Contract making these all too valuable inspections discretionary. It’s a Buyer Beware contract.

A large number of the homes purchased in Atlanta today are by transplants from other areas of the country. They are not aware that because of our humid southern climate, Georgia is one of the most highly infested termite and wood destroying insect states in the nation. Every year termites cost Georgians tens of millions of dollars in damages, repairs and control cost.

Don’t let this happen to you. Have a professional pest management company inspect your new home prior to closing. The cost of this inspection is negligible compared to finding out you have an infestation after the fact.

Recent article from the National Pest Management Association regarding termites

got-bugs — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:12:22 +0000

The Heat is On… And so is the Termite Pressure

As summer begins and the temperature rises across the country, homeowners should be attentive to termite pressure – a potential problem that can impact their single greatest investment. As termites can feed on wood, sheetrock, wallpaper and fabric, an infestation can possibly affect the structural dependability of one’s home.

“Termites cause over $5 billion in property damage every year,” said Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Warm weather combined with the increased moisture, which we experience in summer months, may increase termite pressure. Although termites do not pose as health threat like mosquitoes, ticks and rodents, they do pose a threat to your home. Summer is a perfect time to both inspect your property for these hard to detect pests and take proactive steps to try to prevent infestations.”

NPMA experts offer these tips to help homeowners prevent termite infestations:
• Avoid any moisture at the foundation of your home.
• Divert water away from your property through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation.
• Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from becoming overgrown and covering vents.
• Remove old form boards and grade stakes, which may have been left behind after a home was constructed.
• Eliminate any wood that comes into contact with the soil; maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood.
• Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of termite damage.

“Just as parents wouldn’t prescribe medicine for their children, homeowners shouldn’t attempt to remedy a termite infestation in their own home,” advises Mannes. “If you suspect termites in your home, contact a licensed pest professional whose expertise and technology can best rid your home of these unwanted pests and prevent future infestations.”
For more information regarding termites and other pests or to find a pest professional in your area, visit: www.pestworld.org.
The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 5,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

got-bugs — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:08:39 +0000

The months of May and June are typically filled with calls from clients on Carpenter bees. The female nests in wood and creates a distinctive gallery for her eggs. The opening will be a one-inch diameter hole and will take a right turn and go for about 4 to 5 inches within the wood’s grain. The evidence of holes and yellow staining from both the female’s frass and pollen will indicate such an infestation. Decks, rafters, stairs, barns, banisters and windowsills are all likely areas to be infested. Carpenter bees are very territorial and even though the males cannot sting, they will aggressively defend the gallery, while females can sting, but it is rare to be stung by one. Carpenter bees will continue to return year after year to areas where they have previously nested or emerged from a nest as young adults. Unless the wood is sanded down and painted well, females will continue to drill in the same area. Applications of dust or liquid insecticide labeled for the carpenter bee can be placed within the gallery. After a day or two the gallery can be sealed and plugged with wood putty or caulk.

Hello World

got-bugs — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 02:47:41 +0000

First post coming soon.