Jun 17, 2011 | Pest Control
Our call center and service centers have recently received a lot of calls regarding cockroaches. So we thought this would be a great opportunity to educate our readers on the American Cockroach in the event that you are experiencing this nuisance as well!
The American Cockroach, “Waterbug” or “Palmettobug”, as we like to call it in the south, is suspected to have been brought over to North America via ships from Africa. These hideous looking bugs are known to be an inch or longer and reddish brown in color. Both male and female cockroaches have wings but are not good fliers.
The female cockroachwill drop her ootheca, or egg, about 4 days after it is formed. The cockroach eggs are dropped in cracks or crevices of high humidity near a food source, which could mean health issues for you in your home or business. On average, the female cockroachwill produce 9-10 ootheca which will contain 14-16 eggs in each. It takes the eggs on average of 600 days to develop. The life span for female eggs is between 225-440 days, depending on temperature, while males typically live about 200 days.
Although, we have recently seen a growing number of cockroaches in homes, they are more often found in large commercial buildings such as restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, food processing plants, hospitals, etc. They are in search of food in these commercial buildings the same way they are when they are in your home. Cockroaches often enter homes and buildings by being brought in, traveling through sewer systems or mass migration from other structures such as dumps etc.
If you are experiencing problems with cockroaches in your home or business, call Northwest Exterminating and we will be glad to serve you!
Interesting Facts:
- Although they feed on many kinds of food, they show a particular fondness for fermenting food.
- The American Cockroach is the most common species found in city sewer systems in the US.
Treatment:
- Granular bait formulations in attics and crawl spaces
- Dust in attic and crawl spaces
- Perimeter spray treatments
- Perimeter granular bait treatments
- Call the best, call NORTHWEST
Jun 13, 2011 | Community News
Here is a link to a video put together by the Atlanta Area Council regarding the flag placement at the Marietta National Cemetery preparations for Memorial Day.
Over 18,000 Graves were honored by 1,596 scouts, girls and boys, as well as 623 adult scouters for a total of 2,219 on hand. The actual flag placement is over in about 45-50 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA7t20xgh4A
Jun 10, 2011 | Pest Control, Wildlife
Dog fleas are a common problem whether you have dogs or not. The dog flea got their name because of their favorite hosts…dogs, but that doesn’t mean that just because you don’t have a dog, that you don’t have dog fleas. Like other fleas that can be found in the home, dog fleas cause discomfort by biting and can carry several diseases for dogs and people such as plague, tapeworm and murine typhus. Although fall is the most common time for fleas to appear, in many areas they can live year around.
The dog flea is a flat, wingless creature that is brownish black or black, and can have a tint of red when it is full of blood. Female dog fleas lay 4-8 eggs after each blood meal which means up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. Flea eggs are oval, whitish and go through four life cycles which takes 2-3 weeks to complete. The eggs are deposited on or between hairs or in bedding material. When the dog shakes, the eggs fall off which is why eggs are often found where dogs sleep and not on the actual dog themselves.
One common misconception is that you have to have a pet to have fleas indoors. This is untrue. Fleas have a 6” vertical jump which enables them to jump on shoes, pant legs etc. Many people are surprised when they return from vacation or go into a vacant home and find a flea infestation. This is possible since adult fleas can live months without food (except for females who must have a meal before they produce eggs). Only 5% of the flea population is actually on your dog, the rest are in your home. (Source) Dog fleas can also be found on rabbits, skunks, opossums, occasionally on rats and rarely found on cats.
Prevention tips for dog fleas:
- Normal vacuuming – Make sure to vacuum floors, upholstered furniture, where pets rest and under furniture. Immediately empty vacuum bag, seal shut and dispose outdoors for your trash provider to retrieve.
- Treat pets – Treat your pets with flea prevention by taking them to your veterinarian, the groomer, or using over the counter medication.
- Shampooing carpet – Shampooing carpet can be more beneficial than vacuuming alone.
- Keep out wild animals – Wild animals such as rodents and opossums should be prevented from entering the structure and appropriately trapped.
If you are having trouble with fleas, please call the professionals at Northwest Exterminating. We will ensure that the inside and outside of your home is treated properly for the protection of your family and your pets.
Sources:
http://www.dogsonly.org/dog_fleas.html
NPCA Field Guide to Structural Pests
Jun 8, 2011 | Community News
The warmer weather allows us to enjoy the great outdoors. However, we also need to remember the dangers that excessive heat can bring. Heat can be dangerous for everyone especially children and the elderly. Whether you’re enjoying time at the pool or working outside in the yard, check out our tips for staying cool this summer.
- Air conditioning – If air conditioning is available, use it.
- Fans – If air conditioning is not available use overhead or window fans to keep air flowing.
- Windows – Keep windows and blinds shut during the day to block the sun and heat. Opening windows at night when there is a cool breeze will help keep air flowing through your home.
- Water misting fan – Use this hand held, battery operated device that sprays a mist of water while a fan blows to keep you cool.
- Dress accordingly – Wear natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, linen or performance fabric rather than polyester, rayon, or other artificial fibers. Also, be sure to wear light colors.
- Turn off electrical items – Use your oven and stove as little as possible–eat out, eat cold food, or use the microwave. Turn off your lamps, tv and computer when you’re not using them – these items produce a lot of heat when in use.
- Cucumber – Slice a thin piece of cold cucumber and stick it in the middle of your forehead! This feels fantastic on a hot day or when stuck in a hot car, and works almost immediately!
- Water – Water could be one of the most important keys to staying hydrated and cool in the heat. Keep a spray bottle to spray when you get too warm, bathe in cold water, drink, soak feet in ice buckets, or soak a t-shirt. Running cold water over each wrists for 10 seconds each will reduce your temperature for roughly an hour.
- HYDRATE – The key to preventing dehydration is to drink before you are thirsty and avoid caffeine or alcohol. Drink lots of water or sports drinks. Sports drinks replace electrolytes and provide carbs to working muscles.
Signs of dehydration:
Dry lips and tongue.
Headache.
Weakness, dizziness, or extreme fatigue.
Concentrated urine that appears darker than normal.
Nausea.
Jun 7, 2011 | Going Green
You look on the bottom of your cup and there it is…the universal recycling sign with a number 6 in the middle. “Great”, you think, “I can toss this in the recycle bin”. MAYBE NOT. All plastics are labeled, however, not all are accepted from your local recycling company.
Polystyrene, or Styrofoam, is not recycled in all areas of the country. Part of that reason is that much of the Styrofoam we use is contaminated with food or drink. When Styrofoam cannot be recycled it is thrown into a trash can and sent to live in a landfill. The biggest issue with this is that polystyrene does not break down at all. And, although polystyrene only comprises about 2% of the total municipal solid waste stream by weight, it comprises roughly 30% of the total volume in the landfill due to it excessive use in packaging.
Check with your local provider to see if they accept plastic #6. If not, we recommend using another plastic option that can be recycled!
