FUN FACTS & FAQ's
Clean everything really well before we spray. You need to clean out all of your cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Set everything in the center of the room, and replace your things in the cabinets after the spray has dried completely, usually 3 to 4 hours. Only clean the areas after we spray with a dry paper towel. It is extremely important for pets and people to avoid treated surfaces until they are completely dry.
Fun Facts About Cockroaches!
• Cockroaches have been around since the time of dinosaurs, more than 280 million years ago!
• A cockroach can live almost a month without food.
• A cockroach can live about two weeks without water.
• Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life!
• There are approximately 4,000 living species of cockroaches in the world. About 70 of these species are found in the United States.
• A cockroach can live for a week without its head. Due to their open circulatory system, and the fact that they breathe through little holes in each of their body segments, they are not dependent on the mouth to breathe. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can't drink water & dies of thirst.
• A cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes, and can even survive being submerged under water for half an hour. They hold their breath often to help regulate their loss of water.
• Cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour, which means they can spread germs and bacteria throughout a home very quickly.
• Newborn German cockroaches become adults in as little as 36 days.
• A one-day-old baby cockroach, which is about the size of a speck of dust, can run almost as fast as its parents.
• The American cockroach has shown a marked attraction to alcoholic beverages, especially beer. They are most likely attracted by the alcohol mixed with hops and sugar.
• The world's largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan.
Spiders!
There are about 3,000 species of spiders roaming around North America, but only two in the southern and western United States can cause serious harm when accidentally disturbed – the black widow and the brown recluse.
Black widow spiders are most recognized for the red hourglass shape under their abdomen. This spider gets its name from the popular belief that the female black widow spider eats the male after mating, although this rarely happens.
Brown recluse (fiddleback) spiders have a characteristic brown violin marking their back. These spiders often infest cedar shake roofs and spin irregular webs, which are used as a retreat.
The common house spider is usually the spider most often encountered indoors. It is a nuisance pest, probably more because of its webs than the spider itself.
About 300 species of jumping spiders are found in the United States and Canada. Unlike most spiders, jumping spiders are active during the daytime and seem to like the sunshine.
Long-bodied cellar spiders are commonly referred to as “daddy-long-legs” because of their very long, thin legs and as their name implies, are found in dark and damp places like cellars and basements.
Unlike most spiders, wolf spiders don’t hunt with webs. Instead, they chase their prey using their fast running ability. These spiders are often big and hairy which alarms some people, but they are primarily nuisance pests.
Tips:
• Keep garages, attics and basements clean and clutter-free.
• Avoid leaving clothing and shoes on the floor.
• Shake out all clothing that has been in a hamper before wearing or washing.
• Seal any cracks or crevices around the home.
• Seasonally, inspect window screens & siding. Repair any defects.
• Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags placed on the driveway while unloading before going inside.
Fleas and Ticks
FLEAS transport themselves on rodents and other mammals, and usually remain on their hosts at all times.
Fleas do not fly. Instead, they jump from one place to another. In fact, fleas can jump as high as 8” vertically, which is 150 times their own height
Fleas are parasites that feed on blood. Fleas can live on any warm-blooded animal, but seem to prefer to live on humans, cats, dogs, opossums, rats and other rodents. They can also be found on shoes, pant legs, or blankets, hitching a ride.
Fleas are best known for spreading the Bubonic Plague. Their saliva is an allergen that can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. Fleas can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets. Flea bites cause painful, itchy red bumps.
Prevention: Clean and vacuum frequently. Keep your yard clean of garbage and pet droppings. Protect pets by keeping them on a leash when outside, give them lots of baths, give them monthly flea and tick treatments and take them to the vet at least once a year to make sure they haven’t been infested.
TICKS are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than insects. There are two main types of ticks: hard and soft. Hard ticks are found in the woods. Soft ticks have tough, leathery skin. They can be found in caves, cabins and on birds. Ticks live in tall grass or shrubs. They do not jump or fly, although they may drop from their perch and fall onto a host. Some species of ticks actually follow a host by foot until they can climb aboard!
Tips: Use tick repellent when outdoors and wear long sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light in color, so ticks are easier to detect. Use preventative medicine on pets, as prescribed by your veterinarian. Once indoors, inspect clothing and your entire body. Check family members and pets that have been outdoors. Keep grass cut low, including around fences, sheds, trees, shrubs and swing sets. Remove weeds, woodpiles and other debris from the yard. If a tick is found on the body, remove it with a slow, steady pull, then wash hands and the bite site thoroughly with soap and water. Ticks should be flushed down a toilet or wrapped in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle.
Ants
There are more than 700 ANT species found in the U.S., although only about 25 species commonly infest homes. Ants are social insects that typically live in underground colonies, made up of workers and a queen. Ants will eat practically any kind of food, but are especially attracted to sweets. Ant identification is relatively simple due to their three distinct body regions: head, thorax and abdomen, as well as antennae. Despite similar construction, ants vary in overall appearance. Small or large ants and brown or black ants are common nicknames for different species.
Odorous House Ants
This ant gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smells it gives off when crushed and the fact that they commonly nest in or around houses. Native to the United States, these ants are very social, living in colonies of up to 100,000 members.
Size: 1/16" to 1/8"
Shape: Segmented, oval
Color: Brown or black
Legs: 6
Wings: Varies
Antenna: Yes
Odorous house ants like to eat dead insects and sugary sweets, especially melon. Typically living for several years, these ants commonly make their homes in exposed soil, under stones, logs, mulch, debris and other items. They will also nest in wall and floor cracks. Odorous house ants do not pose a health threat, but they can contaminate food by leaving waste behind.
Prevention:
• Avoid using other individuals' combs, hats, towels, etc.
• Eliminate standing water. Pests, such as ants, mosquitoes and termites, are attracted to moisture.
• Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house.
• Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house.
• Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Earwigs
Habits:
Earwigs hide during the day and feeds on leaves, flowers, fruits, mold and insects at night.
Habitat:
These insects live together outdoors in large numbers. Earwigs can be found under piles of lawn debris, mulch or in tree holes. They gain entry to a structure through exterior cracks.
Threats:
Contrary to folklore, earwigs do not crawl into ears and eat peoples' brains at night. They do not spread diseases, but their menacing appearance can be alarming to a homeowner.
Looking to get rid of earwigs or prevent an infestation in the home?
• Remove harborage sites such as leaf piles, mulch piles or other vegetation.
• Seal cracks and crevices well to prevent structural entry for optimal earwig control.
Pill Bugs & Web Worms
Did you know? The pill bug is the only crustacean that can spend its entire life on land.
Pill Bugs
The pill bug is the only crustacean that can spend its entire life on land. Their shells look like armor and they are known for their ability to roll into a ball. Sometimes children call them rollie-pollies. Most pill bugs live for up to two years. They are most active at night.
Pill bugs mostly eat rotting vegetation like vegetables and live in wet locations. They are found under damp objects or in organic garbage. If pill bugs enter a building, they will often dry out and die.
Pill bugs do not spread diseases or contaminate food. Keep your homes and the areas around your home clean and dry. Eliminate food sources such as vegetable or plant debris.
Web Worms
Many people wonder what to do about webworms. When controlling fall webworms, it’s useful to analyze what exactly they are Webworms, or Hyphantria cunea, usually appear on trees in the fall (while tent worms appear in spring), causing unsightly nests and severe leaf damage.
Webworms are caterpillars that weave loose webbing around the tree’s foliage whilst munching on leaves, resulting in plant stress and leaf loss. This larval “nest” may cover single leaves or leaf clusters, but more often entire branches covering several feet across.
Webworms overwinter as pupae in cocoons found in the bark of the tree or amongst leaf litter. In the spring, adults emerge and deposit eggs, often creating large numbers of these caterpillar laden webs in a single tree.
Bugs
STINK BUGS
Brown marmorated stink bugs are an invasive species from Asia that arrived in Pennsylvania in 1996. The stink bug earned its name from its tendency to release an odor when disturbed or when crushed. Many other insects have these same characteristics, including some species of ants, beetles and other bugs.
Habits: In general, adult stink bugs feed on fruits and nymphs feed on leaves, stems and fruit. Stink bugs search for overwintering sites in late fall to find shelter from the winter weather. They reemerge in early spring and become active.
Habitat: Adult stink bugs occasionally enter homes and other structures when searching for overwintering sites. During warm months, they often congregate en masse on the sides of buildings.
Threats: Stink bugs have the potential to spread throughout the country, which could be harmful to the agricultural industry, as they destroy crops. Although stink bugs are not known to bite humans, their tendency to invade homes in high numbers can be a nuisance.
To prevent stink bugs from entering homes and buildings, seal cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings. Use a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Damaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced.
If you need to get rid of stink bugs that have already entered a home or building, a vacuum cleaner can aid in the removal of live or dead stink bugs. The bag must be discarded to prevent odor from permeating the area.
Moths
Indian meal moths like to feed on dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dog food, powdered milk, dried red peppers and candy. Attracted to the light, these bugs are found worldwide in areas where food is stored, such as grocery stores. Indian meal moths infest foods and can contaminate food products.
Dried food products should be inspected thoroughly for signs of moth infestations. Discard infested foods in outdoor trash bins. Clean infested cupboards thoroughly with a vacuum and soap and water. Store food in sealed containers.
Mice
• Despite their tiny bodies, mice eat between 15 and 20 times a day.
• A house mouse produces between 40 and 100 droppings per day.
• Mice are good jumpers, climbers and swimmers.
• Mice can live in a lab for up to two years, but usually only live for about 5 months in the wild, mostly because of predators, such as cats, snakes and foxes.
• Mice typically enter our homes between October and February, looking for food, water and shelter from the cold.
• While these rodents may look cute, mice spread more germs than most people realize.
• Mice can actually carry as many as 200 human pathogens!
If you spot a mouse the house, it is safe to assume there are more or there will be soon. Female mice can give birth when they are two months old and are able to have babies 6 to 10 times per year.
Did you know? A RAT can swim for three days before it drowns.
• An adult rat can squeeze into your home through a hole as small as the size of a quarter.
• Rats can live for up to 18 months, but most die before they are one year old.
• Rats have strong teeth that allow them to chew through glass, cinderblock, wire, aluminum and lead.
• Smell, taste, touch and sound help direct them to their food sources.
• Rats are also responsible for spreading bubonic plague, also known as the "Black Death".
• Although fleas are primarily responsible for infecting humans, they were originally infected with the plague by feeding on the blood of rats.
• Rats are scavengers. They have an excellent sense of taste and a good memory.
• A rat can identify certain substances, including rat poisons, after just a tiny taste of it.
Carpenter Ants
According to the OSU Extension
Carpenter ants rarely cause structural damage to buildings. Although most carpenter and damage is cosmetic. The ants are nevertheless considered serious pests by homeowners. under natural conditions, carpenters in life and dead trees In rotting logs and stumps. However, they will also construct their nest in houses, telephone poles, and man-made wooden structures. nests are begun in deteriorating wood which has been exposed to moisture. often, the colony will extend its nest to adjacent, sound wood. are commonly found in porch pillars roofs, window sills, and wood contact with soil.
The colonies of carpenter ants are often long lived. Each colony is founded by a single fertilized queen. She establishes a nesting site in a cavity in wood. She then rears her first blood of workers, feeding them salivary secretions. She does not leave the nest nor feed herself throughout this period. The workers which are reared first assume that of gathering food with which to feed the younger larvae. as the food supply becomes more constant, the colony population grows very rapidly. A colony does not reach maturity and becomes capable of producing young queens and males until it contains 2,000 or more workers. It may take a colony from 3 to 6 years or more to reach this page. each year thereafter the colony will continue to produce winged queens and males, which leave their nest and conduct mating flights from may through july .