My Blog

Jun 23, 2016 - -ins vs. -oids

QUESTION:

I'm getting ready to add mosquito management to my services. I've been reading the Mr. Pest Control Q&As here on PestWeb. What application method do you consider a barrier treatment? It seems a mist blower is the go-to in the industry, but, in one of your answers, you mention it is only used as a knockdown, not a residual. I intend to use a mist blower to treat shrubs, trees and eaves.

ANSWER:

In previous Mr. Pest Control questions, barrier treatments referred to automatic mosquito misting systems that are installed around structures. These systems tend to use natural pyrethrin concentrates that break down quickly in sunlight, which is why they provide more knockdown than residual. The products used in mist blowers tend to be pyrethroid-based. Pyrethroids are synthetic and longer lasting, so they are able to provide both knockdown and residual.

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Jun 17, 2016 - A Rat's Parting Gift

QUESTION:

What is the best way to manage rat mites inside a residence? Rats have been trapped out and the openings sealed up, but the customers are still receiving bites.

ANSWER:

Even though rat mites were a known issue, still make sure they are present with sticky monitors before you continue helping your customer. Although rat mites don't necessarily disappear when the rats do, it's common for people suffering from parasites to continue to believe the parasites are present after they've been managed effectively.

If not already found and you have an idea where rat nests might be in the structure, that's the best place to start. Remove them if possible and/or treat the area with an appropriately labeled product.

Tropical rat mites tend to like wall voids, especially if there is a heat source. Otherwise, they hide in cracks and crevices near their food source. Pay attention to where your customer says they receive bites. Treat the wall voids of the room(s) and the cracks and crevices around the problematic sitting or resting areas. The approach is similar to a bed bug treatment, except mites are even harder to see.

Here's the good news -- in the absence of rats, a rat mite infestation will not continue to grow like a bed bug infestation. Humans are not their principal host and they do not survive well without rats. They are not known to transmit human diseases, either.


View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

May 10, 2016 - All Systems Go for Systemics

QUESTION:

When is the best time to apply systemics for aphids?

ANSWER:

The best time to apply systemics is when plant roots are most likely to suck up products from the soil. Like growing teenagers that eat a lot of food, plants will take up more water and nutrients from the soil during the growing season, generally spring to fall. Systemic applications are optimal in the spring before pest infestations build. Applications in the fall in preparation for the next growing season may be effective as well.

There are other things to consider in addition to application timing. Healthy plants will take up systemics better than plants stressed by pests or diseases. It may be too late to save a plant after it shows signs of severe damage. Soil conditions can affect systemic uptake. If the ground is frozen, water can't move through the soil and into plants. If the ground is saturated after plenty of rain, plants have had their fill and won't take up more water. Also, plants transpire (move water) more on warm, sunny days than on colder, cloudy days.

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Mar 24, 2016 - Like Oil & Soap

QUESTION:

What products can I apply to tomato plants in order to kill spider mites?

ANSWER:

Believe it or not, malathion, an organophosphate, is still available from hardware stores for spider mite treatment on tomato plants. I'm not sure if you're asking for your own personal tomato plants, but I don't think that's a good risk to take with a customer's tomato plants. There doesn't seem to be a great systemic miticide for tomatoes. Your best bet is probably horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps.

Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps have mechanical modes of action. They either smother target pests and their eggs or disrupt cell membranes, respectively. Both only provide contact kill, so treatments need to coat the leaves, especially the undersides where spider mites tend to group. Multiple applications may be necessary. Under hot, sunny conditions, oils may burn plants and soaps will become ineffective as they dry out.

Two products available from Univar are Ultra-Pure? Oil and M-Pede®. M-Pede® is an insecticidal soap that is OMRI-listed for organic use.

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Feb 4, 2016 - Most Valuable Technician

QUESTION:

Can you give me some pointers on being the best pest management technician in our company?

ANSWER:

In the proper environment that provides technicians suitable amounts of time in their accounts to solve pest problems, the most valuable technicians tend to be the most self-reliant. In order to be self-reliant, a technician must understand both pest behaviors and how the pesticides in their toolbox work in different situations. These two traits allow technicians to make decisions in the field and handle customers on their own because they have a true understanding of what they are doing. They make a supervisor\'s job easier because they solve problems, not cause problems that need fixing.

In addition to self-reliance, flexibility is great. Regulations, pesticides, companies and customers are always changing. A technician that gets stuck in the way things were loses value over time.

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Dec 31, 2015 - Brown-Bandeds Go Everywhere

QUESTION:

I have an apartment with German cockroaches that I\'ve treated many times where sanitation is not a problem. When I check back, she tells me she is seeing them in the living room and bedrooms. I have left sticky traps to monitor and only ever have evidence that they are in the kitchen. Finally, the other day I saw one running the walls in the living room. I am using Maxforce and Arilon. I\'m frustrated. I\'ve been treating this apartment for at least a year and I just can\'t seem to get rid of them. Every time I go back, they are still there. Help!

ANSWER:

I\'d double-check your insect ID. It\'s possible you\'re dealing with brown-banded, not German, cockroaches. The main difference is brown-bandeds will infest all rooms, including kitchens and bathrooms. They don\'t require as much moisture as Germans, but, because they prefer higher temperatures, they tend to occupy the upper third of walls (heat rises). If you\'re monitoring on the floor throughout the apartment, you\'re not as likely to trap them. It\'s better to monitor cabinets, shelves and wall hangings. Brown-banded cockroaches have a dark bell shape on the back of their head instead of two stripes like German cockroaches. Brown-bandeds also have two bands across the back of the abdomen, hence their name. For identification help, check out our online "Domestic Cockroaches" ProTraining course.

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Dec 18, 2015 - Have Mandibles, May Bite

QUESTION:

I was told that ladybugs (beetles) bite. Is this correct?

ANSWER:

They can bite but that doesn\'t mean that they will. Ladybug larvae and adults have chewing mouthparts and most are predators of plant-eating insects like aphids. They can bite with these chewing mouthparts as a defense, but, considering their size, their bite might not be felt or even cause damage

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Dec 3, 2015 - All They Can Eat

QUESTION:

Do smoky brown and American cockroaches eat live plants?

ANSWER:

These cockroaches are generally omnivorous scavengers that eat a wide variety of foods. How much plant damage they cause probably depends on what food is available. If there aren\'t a lot of options in their environment, as in a greenhouse, then I\'d expect they\'d cause a fair amount of plant damage. I wouldn\'t be surprised to find them nibbling on a house plant, either.

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Vermin & Insect Control

Vermin And Insect Control in Chattanooga call (423) 708-4247

There are great deals of pests in this world, and at some time everybody will discover themselves fighting a bug. Bug can invade our garden, our home, structures; the list continues. Pests can be bugs, plants or animals. Simply the reference of fleas, cockroaches, dandelions, mold, mice and rats can generate strong emotions. Insects present a health threat to your family, pets, and garden.

It is very important to know ways to effectively control these insects that invade our lives. It is almost impossible to remove bugs, but it is important to manage these invasive pests. There are different techniques of controlling bugs; these can include chemical control, biological control, mechanical techniques, or a mix thereof.

Mechanical pest control is typically the most cost reliable and if executed before a large problem happens can produce desired outcomes. Mechanical methods include hand picking (such as pulling weeds) and traps (such as a mouse trap). Mechanical approaches of pest control are normally the most environmentally friendly.

Biological pest control consists of insecticides that are originated from plants or other naturally happening substances such as bacteria.

Chemical bug control consists of the use of more toxic synthetic pesticides. Chemical insect control is not environmentally friendly and is never thought about as a natural approach of control.

"Integrated Bug Management is the coordinated use of insect and ecological info together with available insect control approaches, consisting of cultural, biological, hereditary and chemical methods, to prevent undesirable levels of bug damage by the most cost-effective means, and with the least possible threat to people, home, and the environment". (Proceedings of the National Integrated Pest Management Forum. 1992. American Farmland Trust).

Integrated Insect Management stresses using complementary methods of pest control such as the introduction of natural predators. This approach of pest control is a lot more ecologically sound than counting on chemical techniques.

The primary step in insect control is to recognize the problem. Particularly when plants are included, the issue may include bad growing conditions instead of an attack from an invasive bug. In some cases identifying the pest is evident, if you see a mouse scampering across the floor it is evident you have need for insect control. The next step is to identify how significant the problem is, or is this just one mouse that has actually found its way into your home, or exists a household of mice that has actually used up habitation in your house. One mouse can typically quickly be eradicated utilizing a mouse trap or perhaps the family feline. Nevertheless if you have a huge problem of mice, you might have to resort to more powerful chemical approaches or find it required to work with a professional pest control specialist to rid your house of the bug issue.

http://youtu.be/LrXPkJhelsc  



Pest Control Pros Chattanooga
711 Signal Mountain Rd PMB 118
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 708-4247

Finding a quality pest control contractor in chattanooga, tn

There are great deals of insects in this world, and eventually everybody will find themselves fighting a bug. Bug can invade our garden, our home, buildings; the list continues. Bugs can be bugs, plants or animals. Just the mention of fleas, cockroaches, dandelions, mold, mice and rats can generate strong emotions. Insects present a health hazard to your household, pets, and garden.

It is necessary to understand how to correctly manage these insects that attack our lives. It is almost difficult to get rid of insects, however it is essential to control these intrusive pests. There are various methods of controlling pests; these can include chemical control, biological control, mechanical methods, or a combination thereof.

Mechanical insect control is generally the most cost reliable and if carried out before a vast invasion takes place can produce desired outcomes. Mechanical techniques include hand selecting (such as pulling weeds) and traps (such as a mouse trap). Mechanical approaches of insect control are typically the most environmentally friendly.

Biological bug control consists of insecticides that are originated from plants or other naturally occurring substances such as bacteria.

Chemical pest control includes using more hazardous synthetic pesticides. Chemical bug control is not eco-friendly and is never ever thought about as an organic approach of control.

"Integrated Insect Management is the coordinated usage of pest and ecological details together with available pest control methods, consisting of cultural, biological, hereditary and chemical techniques, to prevent inappropriate levels of insect damage by the most affordable methods, and with the minimal hazard to individuals, home, and the environment". (Procedures of the National Integrated Insect Management Forum. 1992. American Farmland Trust).

Integrated Bug Management stresses the use of complementary methods of pest control such as the introduction of natural predators. This approach of bug control is far more environmentally sound than counting on chemical techniques.

The initial step in insect control is to recognize the issue. Specifically when plants are included, the problem may involve bad growing conditions rather of an attack from an invasive insect. Sometimes identifying the insect is obvious, if you see a mouse scurrying across the floor it is obvious you require for pest control. The next step is to identify how major the problem is, or is this simply one mouse that has discovered its method into your house, or exists a family of mice that has actually used up habitation in your home. One mouse can frequently easily be eliminated making use of a mouse trap or possibly the family feline. Nevertheless if you have a big problem of mice, you may need to turn to stronger chemical techniques or discover it required to work with an expert pest control operator to rid your house of the insect problem.

http://youtu.be/dL3OU2KqtFs   video

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