IDENTIFY YOUR PEST

 Subterranean termites live in underground colonies and feed on buried wood. When the initial wood supply is depleted the colony may be extended through "shelter tubes" to above ground wood. This is when damage to structures is done. Shelter tubes are made from soil particles and thus are the color and texture of the local soil. The tubes are built on foundation walls, posts, pilings, in other words anything that spans between soil and wood. Look for termite shelter tubes during annual inspections for insect and water damage and if tubes are found it is an indication that subterranean termites may be active. Because the "root" of the colony is always in the soil, termite treatments usually involve applying insecticide to the soil. Post- Treatments are performed by injecting insecticide into the soil or by digging a trench around structures and treating the soil directly.  

 The species of cockroaches that invade dwellings: enter buildings in search of food and water. Almost any food can attract and support these scavengers, and infestations can grow very quickly. While roaches do not cause structural damage their presence often indicates unsanitary conditions that may be unhealthy. There are also concerns about them directly causing allergic reactions and spreading disease by contaminating food. Roaches do not form true colonies the way termites and ants do but they often live in groups. They prefer warm and damp areas in out-of-the-way protected places, called harborages. Roach activity is usually highest at night. In fact, any activity in the open, during the day typically indicates very high populations with individuals actually pushed out of harborages because of overcrowding. Therefore, seeing cockroaches during the day means that the infestation is probably large. Getting rid of roaches in a single-family home is relatively easy but getting an infestation under control in a large apartment building, or commercial building, is much more difficult. The difference is that homeowners can clean and treat every room. On the other hand, in large multi-family and commercial buildings there are often areas that are not treated for a variety of reasons.   

Though most prolific and diverse in warm habitat, scorpions have adapted to a wide range of environments, including plains and Savannah, deciduous forests, mountainous pine forests, rain forests and caves. Scorpions have been found at elevations of over 12,000 feet in the Andes Mountains in South America and in the Himalayas of Asia, as well as the Alps. In snowy areas, they hibernate during the cold months of the year. In drought areas they may aestivate (pass the summer in a dormant or torpid state). Scorpions are nocturnal and hide during the day. Some species will hide under rocks, logs and in cracks, other species will dig and hide in burrows.   

Scorpions typically eat insects, but their diet can be extremely variable—another key to their survival in so many harsh locales. When food is scarce, the scorpion has an amazing ability to slow its metabolism to as little as one-third the typical rate for arthropods. This technique enables some species to use little oxygen and live on as little as a single insect per year. 

 A very common call that we receive is about finding ants in the kitchen, even if no food or water has been left out. Ants are among the most prevalent pests in households. They are also found in restaurants, hospitals, offices, warehouses, and other buildings where they can find food and water. Monthly sprays will help cut down and dramatically reduce the amount of ants being seen. Bait traps can be used to control this pest the best!  : A very common call that we receive is about finding ants in the kitchen, even if no food or water has been left out. Ants are among the most prevalent pests in households. They are also found in restaurants, hospitals, offices, warehouses, and other buildings where they can find food and water. Monthly sprays will help cut down and dramatically reduce the amount of ants being seen. Bait traps can be used to control this pest the best! 

There are approximately 900 species of crickets and they are believed to have originated from Asia. Crickets and grasshoppers are distant relatives. This family is known as Gryllidae. Most crickets and grasshoppers have a cylinder bodies with round heads and lengthy antennas. The chirping you hear from crickets comes from their back wing covers rubbing together. 

Crickets may originate from a warm region though they can with stand the cold. They burrow into buildings, barns, dumps, homes and more. It is important to follow up with your next scheduled appointment for future treatments 

 Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish color. Bedbugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs may lay hundreds of eggs, each of which is about the size of a speck of dust, over a lifetime.
Bedbugs may enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items. Their flattened bodies make it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card.  Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but tend to live in groups in hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night. Over time, however, they may scatter through the bedroom, moving into any crevice or protected location. They may also spread to nearby rooms or apartments. Because bedbugs live solely on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of dirtiness. 

Most bedbug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy welts. Unlike flea bites that are mainly around the ankles, bedbug bites are on any area of skin exposed while sleeping. Also, the bites do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites do. People who don't realize they have a bedbug infestation may attribute the itching and welts to other causes, such as mosquitoes. To confirm bedbug bites, you must find and identify the bugs themselves.
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Detecting Bed Bugs
Bed Bug Informati

 House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray in color. An adult is about 5 to 7 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail. Droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks indicate areas where mice are active. Mouse nests are made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material, usually in sheltered locations. House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence. Mice are active mostly at night, but they can be seen occasionally during daylight hours. Because house mice are so small, they can gain entry into homes and other buildings much more easily than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. Sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures. When a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is almost always necessary.  

  There are approximately 200 different types of mosquitos in the United States. Each with their own way of breeding, attacking and lifestyle. Here are two that reside in Arizona, Aedes Vexans, the pest mosquito and Psorophora Columbiae, the Dark Ricefield mosquito. A more vicious mosquito. 

You will note these mosquitos are most bothersome at sundown and when there is standing water. They attack in swarms surrounding animals and humans a like. 

The housefly is the most common fly and it is believed to have originated in the Middle East. The housefly is also known to be part of the Cyclorrhapha family. The females are known to lay up to 100 eggs in one batch. Once the maggots hatch and transcend thorough their remaining stages, the flies can become a health risk to humans.  

The now adult flies soften their food using their saliva to help them consume solids into liquids. Including saliva and feces, flies carry pathogens that are harmful to humans on their body’s. In addition, bacteria and viruses can periodically be spread from person to person. 

 Bees are very important and very hard working insects but we understand that having them around your home can cause a scare. We usually ask for you to see if you can see the hive. If not then we will try our best to find it. In several cases hives have been found inside of the walls of homes. We are able to go in a kill the bees, but afterwards you will find honey. Therefore we are also able to go in a remove the whole hive as well.  

 Roly Polys also known as pill bugs are part of the Glomerida family. There are about 280 species. They can be found in the Northern Hemisphere. Spreading from South East Asia to United States. This insect has 12 sections to its body. This allows the Roly Poly to roll into a ball in which to protect itself.  

One of many common beetles you may see around your home. These in particular may appear intimidating though they are quite harmless to people. You can find them near the roots of a Palo Verde trees for the first three years of its life as a grub. They eat the root of the tree, but only of the trees that are in distress. Once the grub has matured into a beetle, they come above ground. 

This takes place in early evening during summer months. Light attracts them therefore it may be helpful to avoid light until the beetles have been remedied. Make sure your Palo Verde and other nonnative trees are sufficiently watered and have fertilizer.