N.C. State Examines Why Cockroaches Groom Themselves

Humans and pets aren’t the only things getting groomed.  Researchers at NC State explain why cockroaches spend so much time in the grooming department.  Read below…

Like a self-absorbed teenager, insects spend a lot of time grooming. In a study that delves into the mechanisms behind this common function, North Carolina State University researchers show that insect grooming — specifically, antennal cleaning — removes both environmental pollutants and chemicals produced by the insects themselves.

The findings, published online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that grooming helps insects maintain acute olfactory senses that are responsible for a host of functions, including finding food, sensing danger and even locating a suitable mate.

The findings could also explain why certain types of insecticides work more effectively than others.
Insects groom themselves incessantly, so NC State entomologist Coby Schal and post-doctoral researchers Katalin Boroczky and Ayako Wada-Katsumata wanted to explore the functions of this behavior.

Click here to read the entire article.

Source: Science Daily

Swarm Season

When the season starts getting warm, the termites start to swarm! So what does that mean for homeowners?  If homeowners spot fully grown winged adults (swarmers), then the damage may already be done. If the swarmers are found within the home, there may be an infestation in or around the house. Once termites swarm, they may cause structural damage to your home which can lead to serious issues. Damaged door termites

Why is it that termites may arise unexpectedly and cause damage? Well, that may be because that they usually have nests underground where they thrive, usually in the wood of your home. Southern states are very likely to get termites. In Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina, where we service, the chances are extremely high.

termite map

It’s not just important to get rid of termites, it’s also important to prevent them. Getting rid of the termites you already have may eliminate the initial problem, but will not prevent termite activity in the future. Northwest Exterminating offers liquid pretreatments, borate pretreatments and Sentricon baiting in order to prevent termites from infesting a home.  In addition, these treatments come with a 5 year repair and retreat warranty that guarantees up to one million dollars in structural damage.

Melissa Brown
[email protected]

Source:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/termites/pdf/termiteswarmers.pdf

Trust A Professional – Video

The National Pest Management Association has a short video explaining why is best to trust the professionals when it comes to keeping pests out of your home.  It helps explain why pests can be bad for your home and family, the damage they can do, why it’s better than DIY options, and why more isn’t always better!

If you are looking for an experienced pest company in your area…look no further.  Northwest Exterminating has locations in Georgia and Tennessee that are in prime locations to treat homes and businesses across Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina.

Call us today if you would like more information on our professional exterminating services.  888.466.7849

Fact or Fiction?- Roaches & Nuclear Explosion

Our pest of the month for February is the roach. Sometimes it may seem like no matter what you use against them, whether it is insect repellant or the closest cleaning solution you can find, nothing keeps a roach down! Some claims even say that a nuclear explosion couldn’t even take roaches out. Though we don’t profess to have products stronger than something nuclear physicists can whip up, we do manage to handle roaches and other pests with our natural, green products.

So that leaves the question, are roaches truly capable of surviving nuclear explosions? The answer is – possibly! According to MythBusters, 10 percent of cockroaches exposed to the amount of radioactive gamma rays equivalent to the bomb at Hiroshima survived after exposure. It may be due to their simple bodies and slower cell cycles. Roaches lose their cells about once a week at most whereas some human cells constantly split up. However, just like all other life forms, if the radiation was great enough, roaches would not be able to survive.

As stated earlier, Northwest Exterminating has environmentally friendly products that handle your pest control needs. You don’t have to worry about exposure to harmful chemicals as we treat your home for pests. If you have a pest problem, we’ve got the solution! Call Northwest today.

Melissa Brown
[email protected]

Source:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/cockroaches-survive-nuclear-explosion.htm

Fact or Fiction?- Roaches & Nuclear Explosion

Our pest of the month for February is the roach. Sometimes it may seem like no matter what you use against them, whether it is insect repellant or the closest cleaning solution you can find, nothing keeps a roach down! Some claims even say that a nuclear explosion couldn’t even take roaches out. Though we don’t profess to have products stronger than something nuclear physicists can whip up, we do manage to handle roaches and other pests with our natural, green products.
So that leaves the question, are roaches truly capable of surviving nuclear explosions? The answer is – possibly! According to MythBusters, 10 percent of cockroaches exposed to the amount of radioactive gamma rays equivalent to the bomb at Hiroshima survived after exposure. It may be due to their simple bodies and slower cell cycles. Roaches lose their cells about once a week at most whereas some human cells constantly split up. However, just like all other life forms, if the radiation was great enough, roaches would not be able to survive.
As stated earlier, Northwest Exterminating has environmentally friendly products that handle your pest control needs. You don’t have to worry about exposure to harmful chemicals as we treat your home for pests. If you have a pest problem, we’ve got the solution! Call Northwest today.
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Source:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/cockroaches-survive-nuclear-explosion.htm

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