Preparing for a Flea or Tick Treatment

Preparing for a Flea or Tick Treatment

Prepared by Del Lawson of Modern Pest Control

As with all insects removing fleas from a home is very difficult. There are hundreds of products on the market and dozens of pest control companies that claim they have the quick, easy and cheap way to get rid of them.

The following is a list of things that must be completed by the home owner or tenant before a flea treatment can be performed and most importantly before the treatment will be effective.

Preparations to be completed by the resident:

• All pets and occupants of the house must leave for four hours to allow the treatment to settle and dry.
• Birds should be removed from the home, sensitive fish should be removed or have the aerator shut off and then have the tank covered.
• All pet bedding should be removed and washed in hot water and dried in the dryer.
• All clothes that may have contacted the infested area must be washed as well.
• The home should be neat and orderly as we will have to be able to get around.
• Anything that can be washed in a washing machine should be washed.
• All hard surface floor areas must be swept or vacuumed.
• All cracks and crevices, where the floor and wall meet (Floor Wall Junction) should be vacuumed so as to remove live adult fleas and eggs.
• All carpeted areas must be vacuumed prior to the day of service. This helps the knap of the carpet stand up to accept treatment more readily.
• Toys and pet bowls should be picked up in the back yard to allow for a proper treatment.

What to expect the day of the treatment:

• On the day of the treatment the technician will first come into the home and do a visual assessment.
• He will then begin treating the home
• He will inform you of the time you can re enter the home

What to expect after the treatment:

• Some of the products we use for fleas contain insect growth regulators. These products will kill the adult fleas and sterilize the emerging eggs. That means that you may see fleas from 14 to 21 days after treatment. However, these new adults will not be able to reproduce and therefore will die.
• Re-inspections and treatments may be necessary.
• You should continue to pet bedding as often as possible to facilitate killing of all present adult fleas.

These steps are not mere suggestions but are necessary to get rid of the problem. Remember these problems take time to get under control and help from you the tenant is of the utmost importance. If we do not cooperate and work together the problem may continue or get worse.

The author Del Lawson serves as Vice President of Operations for Modern Pest Control, Houston TX. and can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment

Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment

Prepared by Del Lawson of Modern Pest Control

As with all insects removing bed bugs from a home is very difficult. There are hundreds of products on the market and dozens of pest control companies that claim they have the quick, easy and cheap way to get rid of them.

Well I am here to tell you that getting rid of Bed Bugs is not easy or quick! Below you will see an outline of what the resident of the space with the bugs needs to do to get ready for a treatment and what they can expect before during and after the treatment.

Preparations to be completed by the resident:

• All bedding should be removed and washed in hot water and dried in the dryer, including mattress covers and pillow covers.
• All clothes that may have contacted the infested area must be washed as well.
• Hanging Drapes should be inspected and laundered as per their label if they are found to have bed bugs on them.
• The apartment should be neat and orderly as we will have to be able to get around.
• All items stored under the bed should be removed and inspected for bed bugs, if this stuff can be discarded that is the best policy.
• Anything that can be washed in a washing machine should be washed.
• We highly recommend that mattresses and box springs be placed in an insect proof enclosure. These can be found at http://www.protectabed.com/
• All furniture must be inspected and treated by heat remediation, chemical means or disposed of.

What to expect the day of the treatment:

• On the day of the treatment the technician will first come into the home and do an inspection on the unit.
• He will then get out his vacuum and vacuum the mattress, and everywhere he can find live or dead bed bugs.
• He will then treat the floor wall junction and possibly dust some wall voids with and insecticidal dust.
• The bed frame will be treated with Sterifab or a similar prodcut to kill any remaining insects on the frame.

What to expect after the treatment:

• Bed bugs are not removed from a building over night. It will take time for the treatment to work.
• Re-inspections and treatments may be necessary.
• You should continue to wash all clothes and bedding as often as possible to facilitate killing of all bed bug larvae and eggs that may be deposited.
• The second treatment will be scheduled 14-21 days after the first one.
• In the first few days after the treatment the bed bug activity will appear to increase. This is just the insects that are hidden during the treatment coming out due to agitation from the treatment.

These steps are not mere suggestions but are necessary to get rid of the problem. Remember these problems take time to get under control and help from you the tenant is of the utmost importance. If we do not cooperate and work together the problem may continue or get worse.

The author Del Lawson serves as Vice President of Operations for Modern Pest Control, Houston TX. and can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Bed Bugs

Know what to look for

Bed Bugs

Prepared by Del Lawson of Modern Pest Control, Houston Texas

We have all heard it, “Sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite”. Up until about five years ago having bed bug bites was relatively unheard of. In fact, many people especially if they were born after 1965 had never seen a bed bug. However over the last few years bed bugs have made resurgence in North America. There are many theories behind this resurgence but these are generally just that; theories.

Here is what we know for sure:

• Though in North American Bed Bugs have not been a real issue for the last 45 years, they never really went away in many parts of the world. Especially in developing nations.
• It is suspected by many that bed bugs made their way back into our society in part due to overseas travel.
• Bed bugs can build a resistance to some commonly used insecticides in a very short period of time. (This basically means that as the bed bug colony reproduces, the offspring will develop an ability to resist the effects of certain insecticides.)
• Generally colonies range in size from double digits up to several hundred; however, there can be multiple nesting sites in one home, office, hotel or other establishment.
• Bed bugs can live for a very long time without a blood meal. At Modern Pest Control we had a sample live for six months in a bag without food or fresh oxygen.
• Just like German cockroaches fleas and ticks, bed bugs can travel from one location to another and a person’s clothing, luggage, coats, shoes, and ladies purses just to name a few.
• As their name suggests they are typically found in bed room areas but can be found anywhere people sit and rest.

The reason bed bugs are often times found in areas where people sit and rest is; like mosquitoes they are attracted by Carbon Dioxide. When a human lies in bed, the amount of carbon dioxide in the room goes up. This is the signal to the bed bug that it is time to eat. However, they are commonly found in couches, chairs and other furniture as well as beds. Bed bugs have been noted in larger infestations in urban areas. With internet technology we have new ways of tracking public opinion and concern, one interesting way is to analyze search term trends on your favorite internet search engine. In the case of Google, searches for the term “Bed Bug” have more than doubled since 2005. Search engine analysis also indicated where most of the searches are being entered.

Google notes that the regions of the world are searching Bed Bugs in this order.

Regions

1. Canada

2. United States

3. Australia

4. UK

5. India

Cities

1. Cincinnati, OH.

2. New York, NY.

3. Winnipeg, Man.

4. Newark, NJ.

5. Waterloo, Ont.

6. Reston, VA.

7. Denver, CO.

8. Toronto, ON

9. Vancouver, BC.

10. Philadelphia, PA.

So you may ask “How can I tell where the bed bugs are”? Well the short answer is you likely cannot. You have to really look for them. There won’t be much you can do about seeing them in stores, and offices. However, you can keep an eye on your own home, and thoroughly check hotels rooms as soon as you check in.

Places to check for bed bugs.

These are the steps for inspecting a room for Bed bugs.

Know what you are looking for.

• Bed bugs are mahogany in color and range from 1/8” to about ¼” in diameter.
• Bed bug evidence looks like little specs of blackish grey matter. It will be stuck to the walls and other place where bed bugs gather.
• Small spots of the grey to black matter under the piping around the mattress, under the folds of the box spring and possibly where the bed touched the wall

1. Remove the sheets and bed coverings
2. Pull the bed out from the wall
3. Inspect around the piping of the mattress
4. Inspect behind pictures above beds, and behind head boards that are fastened to the wall.
5. Inspect along the floor wall junction, being sure to look under the base board as much as possible.

These are the common places where bed bugs will hide. However, they can rest anywhere that is within a few feet of common resting places for humans. The best protection is sanitation, and be aware of the area around you. If you see a small red mark on your skin after sleeping, don’t automatically blame bed bugs. It is possible it is a rash or mosquito bite but, you are your own advocate when it comes to bed bugs. Look for them and if you find them, please please please call a professional to eradicate them. When you do, get references from them and be prepared to pay for it. Most companies will treat bed bugs in a single family home starting at $400.

Factoid: In the 1950’s the Walt Disney Co. partnered with a chemical manufacturer to produce DDT impregnated wall paper. It was available with Mickey Mouse and Friends designs, intended to be used in nurseries.

Factoid: A common practice in the 1930’s was to submerge the legs of the beds in saucers full of kerosene. This acted as a moat, keeping the bed bugs out. (They can climb on the ceiling and drop off though)

Factoid: Another common practice for eradicating bed bugs in the 20th century was treating the seams of mattresses with kerosene.

The author Del Lawson serves as Vice President of Operations for Modern Pest Control, Houston TX. and can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Weevils Tip Sheet

Weevils

The rice weevil and granary weevil are pests of stored grain and seeds. They develop inside whole grain kernels as small, white, wrinkled, grub-like larvae. There is generally no external evidence that the larvae have been eating and growing inside the seed until after about one month when the adult weevil chews through the seed coat and emerges. The adult weevils are 1/8th inch long and have slender, hard-shelled bodies that appear pitted or scarred with tiny holes. They are brown to reddish brown in color. The rice weevil has four faint yellowish spots on the back of the abdomen. The granary weevil is uniformly colored with no spots.

Presence of rice or granary weevils inside the home usually indicates there is infested whole grain or seeds. This may be food seeds or beans in the cupboards, popcorn, saved garden seeds, dried seed decorations, decorative Indian corn, "bean bags," old grain-based mouse bait, or other stored seeds. The best course of eradication is inspection of the above mentioned areas. If activity is located remove the infested package immediately. Chemical treatments are not necessary as once the source is removed the problem will be solved. However, it may also be necessary to vacuum the area, and if desired apply a topical solution of pesticide to assist with long term control.

Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place.


Del Lawson the author of this article can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.
 

Treatment protocol for Springtails

Treatment protocol for Springtails.

1. All moisture sources in the home must be eliminated.

• A dehumidifier and floor fans can be used to reduce moisture in the air.
• The windows and doors should be kept closed and the air handling equipment should be used to aid in the dehumidification process.
• Drain plugs in sinks and bath tubs should be kept in place at all times while sink is not in use.
• All house plants should be inspected for Springtails. If they are found to be in the plant the best thing to do is remove the plant from the home.

2. Excessive moisture outside should be controlled.

• Mulch should be allowed to dry out between watering.
• Mulch should not be more than 2-3” deep around house.
• Ground around home should be allowed to dry out between watering.

3. Physical treatments should be utilized.

• The homeowner should vacuum the entire home (especially along baseboards and in moist areas). This vacuum treatment should be completed once daily, until the population begins to be less obvious. Further vacuum treatments can be completed as needed.
• It is important to remove the vacuum from the living area of the home while it is not in use. The springtails that are removed by the vacuum will not survive in the bag without moisture so there is no need to treat the bag with any insecticides.

4. Chemical treatments can be used.

• Any product labeled for springtails can be used in the yard, and on the exterior surface of the home, however, Talstar One (Bifenthrin) has been proven to be successful.
• Simple solutions of soap and water can be useful in knocking down great numbers of these insects on contact, but will have no residual effect.
• Insecticidal soaps can also be used in the same manner as the soap and water solution.
• Insecticidal dusts can be used as a last resort. Deltamethrin is labeled for Springtails and should be applied to the weep holes and entry points of the home.

Del Lawson the author of this article can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment

Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment

Prepared by Del Lawson of Modern Pest Control

As with all insects removing bed bugs from a home is very difficult. There are hundreds of products on the market and dozens of pest control companies that claim they have the quick, easy and cheap way to get rid of them.

Well I am here to tell you that getting rid of Bed Bugs is not easy or quick! Below you will see an outline of what the resident of the space with the bugs needs to do to get ready for a treatment and what they can expect before during and after the treatment.

Preparations to be completed by the resident:

• All bedding should be removed and washed in hot water and dried in the dryer, including mattress covers and pillow covers.
• All clothes that may have contacted the infested area must be washed as well.
• Hanging Drapes should be inspected and laundered as per their label if they are found to have bed bugs on them.
• The apartment should be neat and orderly as we will have to be able to get around.
• All items stored under the bed should be removed and inspected for bed bugs, if this stuff can be discarded that is the best policy.
• Anything that can be washed in a washing machine should be washed.
• We highly recommend that mattresses and box springs be placed in an insect proof enclosure. These can be found at www.protectabed.com
• All furniture must be inspected and treated by heat remediation, chemical means or disposed of.


What to expect the day of the treatment:

• On the day of the treatment the technician will first come into the home and do an inspection on the unit.
• He will then get out his vacuum and vacuum the mattress, and everywhere he can find live or dead bed bugs.
• He will then treat the floor wall junction and possibly dust some wall voids with and insecticidal dust.
• The bed frame will be treated with Sterifab or a similar prodcut to kill any remaining insects on the frame.

What to expect after the treatment:

• Bed bugs are not removed from a building over night. It will take time for the treatment to work.
• Re-inspections and treatments may be necessary.
• You should continue to wash all clothes and bedding as often as possible to facilitate killing of all bed bug larvae and eggs that may be deposited.
• The second treatment will be scheduled 14-21 days after the first one.
• In the first few days after the treatment the bed bug activity will appear to increase. This is just the insects that are hidden during the treatment coming out due to agitation from the treatment.

These steps are not mere suggestions but are necessary to get rid of the problem. Remember these problems take time to get under control and help from you the tenant is of the utmost importance. If we do not cooperate and work together the problem may continue or get worse.

Please visit us on the internet at: http://www.modern-pest.com/

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Fruit Flies and Fungus Gnats

Pest Management Tip sheet: Fruit Flies and Fungus Gnats

At Modern we use a combination of approaches that are specifically tailored to the needs of each client. Along with that approach we produce and provide a tip sheet that will help our client realize the full potential of the treatment

Generally in office and retail settings there are two kinds of gnats that are prevalent. They are fruit flies and fungus gnats. The following are some tips for the occupants of infested areas to consider when these problems present themselves.


Fruit Flies

• A source pest generally found in one of the following areas

• Food debris in trash cans, garbage disposals, clogged drains.
• Spoiled or spoiling fruit
• Recycle bins, especially those with soda cans

• Old mop water

Once the source is located and removed the rest of the adult flies can be caught using glue boards or other types of gnat traps.

Fungus Flies

• Also a source pest however this one is harder to find.

• Typically in an office setting fungus gnats can be found

• In the soil of over watered potted plants
• Bags of potting soil intended for plants
• Soil in Atrium areas
• Wet ceiling tiles
• Any type of moldy area

• Old cleaning materials such as mops

As with fruit flies the treatment for eradication of fungus gnat is to eliminate the source of the flies.

If plants are the problem, allow them to dry out. Turning over the soil often to promote drying. If the plant has a drip pan below, empty it. This is just a breeding area for the gnats.

These steps should be taken first, before a pest control company is contacted. Ensuring you are using these methods will accelerate the eradication of your Gant issue.

Please visit us on the internet at: http://www.modern-pest.com/

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ant

A thorough inspection MUST be completed prior to treating for any insect however; in the case of Carpenter Ants this is especially important. The use of flushing agents is helpful in a Carpenter Ant inspection.

• Inspect interior and exterior of structure to determine location of infestation.

• Place insect monitors throughout the house to aid in future inspections.

Interior

If the nest is located on the interior:
• Once located, treat area around the nest with an ant granule, (Advanced Carpenter Ant bait) if possible.
• Treat the attic of the home with the same granule if accessible.
• A crack and crevice / Spot treatment using Phantom is allowed on the interior, if needed.


Exterior

• Treat and band of 1’ up the foundation and 1’ out from the foundation with a .06% solution of Termidor.
• Treatment of 1’ around any entry point into the house is allowed if the technician feels it is necessary.
• Treat all visible trailing ants with a .06% solution of Termidor.
• A topical treatment using an approved Carpenter Ant granule is allowed, but do not treat with Termidor and Granules in the same area.


Tree Located Colonies

• Treatment with Granules around the base of the tree is acceptable. Make small piles of the granules where the ants are present.
• Treatment of Ant trails using Termidor can be done in conjunction with the granules.
• Do not treat any trails within 6’ of the colony.

Remember to follow label directions on all products.


Del Lawson the author of this article can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.

Pest Birds… What’s the worry?

Prepared By Del Lawson of Modern Pest Control, Houston Texas.

Ants, Roaches, Crickets, Termites and “Birds”?? Are birds really a pest? Let’s begin by figuring out what a pest really is. Webster’s defines a Pest as “A person or thing that is unwanted or causes trouble”. So I guess the answer to our question is yes! Birds are a pest. Sometimes…

The fact is that Birds can cause a significant amount of damage and distress for property owners and managers. Roosting birds leave unsightly droppings, fleas, mites and sometimes ticks. They can also make the people around them feel very uncomfortable because as many of you have experienced these pest birds are very bold. Bird droppings can also cost you money for building repairs and maintenance. The largest issue that many people overlook is the Bird dropping can also carry harmful pathogens that frequently make people sick or worse in some extreme cases. So what is the solution to this menacing pest bird problem? Get rid of them… Right??

As with all types of pest management the key is to be responsible to the environment around the issue, while solving the problem to the customer’s satisfaction. Pest Management companies often find themselves between the proverbial “Rock and a Hard Place” when they are hired to resolve and issue. The client wants the problem gone overnight, and for a minimal fee. After all they are just birds. Well yes they are birds, but there are a number of options for reducing and removing a bird population.

There are many products on the market that are very useful for removing birds or deterring them from nesting or roosting on your property. The most popular products are Netting, Spikes, Gel’s, Baits, Ultra Sonic Devices, and trapping just to name a few. As you can well imagine each of these has their own specific application and uses. In fact often times when the wrong product is used to prevent or eradicate a pest bird problem it can exacerbate the issue, causing you more money and more time to get the problem under control.

Along with selecting the proper bird control product and Bird Control Company goes being patient and allowing the product to work. For instance, if bird spikes are placed on a ledge to deter pigeons from landing there, it may take a week or even longer for the pigeons to understand that this area is no longer suitable for them to roost. This will cause the flock to move on to another area, hopefully not on your property. This brings up another valid point, just because you place a bird deterrent in one area, that does not guarantee that you will not see any more birds. Getting rid of these pests is a process that may take weeks to fully complete. Another example is if you are using a product like PignX. PignX is a gel that is put out in areas where the pigeons are roosting and causing a problem. It had capsaicin extract as an active ingredient, which is what makes hot peppers hot. Once the pigeon lands in the PignX it gets the gel on its feet. This causes some mild discomfort for the bird and it flies a short distance to another location. Once it lands there it will try to clean its feet with its beak. This transfers the gel to its face and it caused additional discomfort. This relays to the bird that the area is unsafe and it will vacate the area. This is a perfect example of getting the right product in the right place. If the PignX is not placed in the right area then the birds will never contact it. Therefore rendering it useless.

In summary there are four major points you must consider when dealing with a pest bird issue. You must use the right product, in the right place at the right time and above all else use a pest management firm you can trust. Just because they do regular pest control does not mean they have ever done any type of bird control. Ask for references and ask to go see a similar job that they have completed. If you follow these simple rules you should have no problem ridding your property of the pesky pest bird issue.


Del Lawson the author of this article can be reached at dlawson@modern-pest.com.

For more info visit http://www.modern-pest.com/.

Modern Pest control has provided pest control in Katy, Sugar Land, Pear Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Houston and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.