Moisture In The Air
August 10th, 2012
It appears we are moving into monsoon season as the air yeilds more humidity and we are blessed with a thunder shower here and there. I am originally from Minnesota and no stranger to humidity or rain, but when it rains here, unlike back in Minnesota, I am at my happiest. I’m sure a number of you also welcome the rain due to the vicious heat that plagues us through the summer, but my happiness also involves a pest related aspect. All that moisture welcomes to the surface our little buddies, the termites. Well, likely not YOUR buddies, but I can’t help but cheer for them a teeny bit. This installment will touch on termite biology, some of their habits, and conditions that promote their population.
A termite colony is divided between three castes; workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The role of the workers is to nourish the remainder of the colony, care for the young, groom, construct tunnels, colony repairs, and will help defend the nest. The workers are the caste that eat the wood or any other material that contains cellulose, such as cardboard and newspaper. They then digest the wood, and break it down into nutrients that the soldiers and reproductives feed on by way of secretions from either the mouth or anus.
The soldiers are a relatively small group within the colony, not nearly as numerous as the workers. They are called soldiers because their duty is to defend the colony. Visually, they are much different than the workers, having a large head and large mandibles. They depend on the workers for food.
The last caste are the reproductives. They continually reproduce and directly promote colony population. They also rely on the workers for food. A termite colony will have a King and Queen, both are called primary reproductives. However, if one or the other dies, secondary reproductives can take his/her place. Secondary reproductives are also responsible for the high rate of population growth in a colony. When environmental conditions are right, a colony will populate itself with alates. Alates are primary reproductives that leave the colony to establish a new one. These are what create termite swarms. Once they leave the existing colony, survival is not likely. I have read that maybe 1% of the tens of thousands in the air live to attempt a new colony.
Keep in mind that termites are very soft bodied. That means they are affected by temperature and exposure. If it’s too hot or too cold, it will destroy the insect. That is why in the summer here termite activity is relatively low. When it becomes cooler, termites come to the surface to feed more readily. Higher temperatures also mean less moisture, and moisture is absolutely essential to termites. Since the valley is so dry, termites have to stay further under the soil during the toasty months to retain adequate moisture.
So keep a keen eye on your homes from September through the end of the year and be sure to look for the mud shelter tubes that subterranean termites create. Often times you’ll find them on the stem wall of your home just beneath the lip of stucco. Other problem areas are any expansion joints in your garage. Also, look at your interior walls, behind paintings and any large furniture that you keep against the wall like an entertainment center or armoire.
I’ll touch more on termites and identification of activity in the next posting. And yes, I am well aware that I was late with this one…tsk, tsk. To make up for it, I’ll try to squeeze one in even before this month is over. Thanks for stopping by, I’ll speak with you soon.
Yours in Small Business
Nathan
It appears we are moving into monsoon season as the air yeilds more humidity and we are blessed with a thunder shower here and there. I am originally from Minnesota and no stranger to humidity or rain, but when it rains here, unlike back in Minnesota, I am at my happiest. I’m sure a number of you also welcome the rain due to the vicious heat that plagues us through the summer, but my happiness also involves a pest related aspect. All that moisture welcomes to the surface our little buddies, the termites. Well, likely not YOUR buddies, but I can’t help but cheer for them a teeny bit. This installment will touch on termite biology, some of their habits, and conditions that promote their population.
A termite colony is divided between three castes; workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The role of the workers is to nourish the remainder of the colony, care for the young, groom, construct tunnels, colony repairs, and will help defend the nest. The workers are the caste that eat the wood or any other material that contains cellulose, such as cardboard and newspaper. They then digest the wood, and break it down into nutrients that the soldiers and reproductives feed on by way of secretions from either the mouth or anus.
The soldiers are a relatively small group within the colony, not nearly as numerous as the workers. They are called soldiers because their duty is to defend the colony. Visually, they are much different than the workers, having a large head and large mandibles. They depend on the workers for food.
The last caste are the reproductives. They continually reproduce and directly promote colony population. They also rely on the workers for food. A termite colony will have a King and Queen, both are called primary reproductives. However, if one or the other dies, secondary reproductives can take his/her place. Secondary reproductives are also responsible for the high rate of population growth in a colony. When environmental conditions are right, a colony will populate itself with alates. Alates are primary reproductives that leave the colony to establish a new one. These are what create termite swarms. Once they leave the existing colony, survival is not likely. I have read that maybe 1% of the tens of thousands in the air live to attempt a new colony.
Keep in mind that termites are very soft bodied. That means they are affected by temperature and exposure. If it’s too hot or too cold, it will destroy the insect. That is why in the summer here termite activity is relatively low. When it becomes cooler, termites come to the surface to feed more readily. Higher temperatures also mean less moisture, and moisture is absolutely essential to termites. Since the valley is so dry, termites have to stay further under the soil during the toasty months to retain adequate moisture.
So keep a keen eye on your homes from September through the end of the year and be sure to look for the mud shelter tubes that subterranean termites create. Often times you’ll find them on the stem wall of your home just beneath the lip of stucco. Other problem areas are any expansion joints in your garage. Also, look at your interior walls, behind paintings and any large furniture that you keep against the wall like an entertainment center or armoire.
I’ll touch more on termites and identification of activity in the next posting. And yes, I am well aware that I was late with this one…tsk, tsk. To make up for it, I’ll try to squeeze one in even before this month is over. Thanks for stopping by, I’ll speak with you soon.
Yours in Small Business
Nathan
Cockroach Treatment Ensures Safety for Your Family
June 14th, 2012
Cockroaches…yuck. I cannot name one customer that thinks cockroaches are cool. Truthfully, they are pretty fascinating, but there is no doubt they incite fear and can exacerbate unsanitary conditions and lead to severe infestations due to high egg survival rates. Fortunately for our customers, they have us to keep cockroaches at bay.
Most of the pain associated with cockroaches comes from the assumption that if there are cockroaches, it is unsanitary. Many homeowners are concerned about diseases associated with the pests. Most commonly, cockroaches are associated with allergens that affect humans. Severe cockroach infestations can trigger asthma in people susceptible to cockroach created allergens. Here in the Mesa, AZ area we often encounter American cockroaches within our customers’ homes. And to be honest, seeing one American roach in the home does not warrant an infestation. In fact, it’s possible the homeowner doesn’t even have a problem. American roaches will find their way into the home through windows and doors quite often and at night. However, should a regular sighting of live roaches go untreated, the homeowner puts the home at risk of becoming infested.
Professionally treating cockroaches will ensure the safety of the customer by designing a specific treatment method utilizing very deliberate applications and safe products. Homeowners put themselves at risk by frequently setting off bug bombs that can expose them unnecessarily to heavy amounts of pesticides by simple inhalation or drifting of the insecticide to food prep surfaces. Using these products continuously will not control the problem and can be potentially harmful. Most of these bug bombs are only contact kill insecticides and will only kill what pests it comes in contact with at the time of release, there is no residual. Professional treatments implement safe procedures with the proper residual and a plan to address the problem at its core.
Homeowners can alleviate cockroach pressure by removing excessive moisture and food sources and, of course, maintaining a sanitary environment. Pet food and water, leaky pipes, infrequently used drains are all areas of potential activity. Addressing these issues with the proper application of baits and residual products will yield extremely positive results in cockroach control.
Cockroaches…yuck. I cannot name one customer that thinks cockroaches are cool. Truthfully, they are pretty fascinating, but there is no doubt they incite fear and can exacerbate unsanitary conditions and lead to severe infestations due to high egg survival rates. Fortunately for our customers, they have us to keep cockroaches at bay.
Most of the pain associated with cockroaches comes from the assumption that if there are cockroaches, it is unsanitary. Many homeowners are concerned about diseases associated with the pests. Most commonly, cockroaches are associated with allergens that affect humans. Severe cockroach infestations can trigger asthma in people susceptible to cockroach created allergens. Here in the Mesa, AZ area we often encounter American cockroaches within our customers’ homes. And to be honest, seeing one American roach in the home does not warrant an infestation. In fact, it’s possible the homeowner doesn’t even have a problem. American roaches will find their way into the home through windows and doors quite often and at night. However, should a regular sighting of live roaches go untreated, the homeowner puts the home at risk of becoming infested.
Professionally treating cockroaches will ensure the safety of the customer by designing a specific treatment method utilizing very deliberate applications and safe products. Homeowners put themselves at risk by frequently setting off bug bombs that can expose them unnecessarily to heavy amounts of pesticides by simple inhalation or drifting of the insecticide to food prep surfaces. Using these products continuously will not control the problem and can be potentially harmful. Most of these bug bombs are only contact kill insecticides and will only kill what pests it comes in contact with at the time of release, there is no residual. Professional treatments implement safe procedures with the proper residual and a plan to address the problem at its core.
Homeowners can alleviate cockroach pressure by removing excessive moisture and food sources and, of course, maintaining a sanitary environment. Pet food and water, leaky pipes, infrequently used drains are all areas of potential activity. Addressing these issues with the proper application of baits and residual products will yield extremely positive results in cockroach control.
6 Factors that may Lead to Ant Infestation in your Home
June 12th, 2012
Out of approximately 12,000 identified species of ants, there are relatively few species that are considered pests. However, of these pest ants, there are ants that can cause damage to infrastructure, spread disease, and bite and sting. Arizona has been environmentally accommodating to many ant species, and only a handful which are determined invasive. Most commonly, we get calls for ants invading patios and ants finding their way into the home. Beginning in May, ant populations in Fountain Hills and surrounding areas begin to stir and they become much more active in growth. Some species will interconnect colonies creating very large infrastructures. Such large numbers can be difficult to control in short periods of time. Ant species may also change their feeding habits depending on the time of year and the short term goals of the colony. This can pose a challenge for pest management professionals when previous baits were desirable to the colony, but now seem to be ignored.
According to the Tenth Edition of the Handbook of Pest Control (2011), these factors contribute to ant populations:
1. Poor Sanitation
2. Excessive moisture and the resulting damage
3. Cracks in the foundation of the structure
4. Excessive mulch
5. Stacked tile, lumber, bricks and various debris
6. Ornamental plants infested with homopteran insects (honey dew secreting insects that ants tend to for food)
Homeowners should be aware of these factors and they should be addressed accordingly. Rectifying these issues will aid in the control when coupled with a professional treatment.
Out of approximately 12,000 identified species of ants, there are relatively few species that are considered pests. However, of these pest ants, there are ants that can cause damage to infrastructure, spread disease, and bite and sting. Arizona has been environmentally accommodating to many ant species, and only a handful which are determined invasive. Most commonly, we get calls for ants invading patios and ants finding their way into the home. Beginning in May, ant populations in Fountain Hills and surrounding areas begin to stir and they become much more active in growth. Some species will interconnect colonies creating very large infrastructures. Such large numbers can be difficult to control in short periods of time. Ant species may also change their feeding habits depending on the time of year and the short term goals of the colony. This can pose a challenge for pest management professionals when previous baits were desirable to the colony, but now seem to be ignored.
According to the Tenth Edition of the Handbook of Pest Control (2011), these factors contribute to ant populations:
1. Poor Sanitation
2. Excessive moisture and the resulting damage
3. Cracks in the foundation of the structure
4. Excessive mulch
5. Stacked tile, lumber, bricks and various debris
6. Ornamental plants infested with homopteran insects (honey dew secreting insects that ants tend to for food)
Homeowners should be aware of these factors and they should be addressed accordingly. Rectifying these issues will aid in the control when coupled with a professional treatment.
Is Your Home Safe From Bark Scorpions?
June 8th, 2012
Dating back approximately 380 million years, scorpions are recognized as the oldest arachnids on the planet. As a result, they have evolved to become highly adaptable, 
found on every continent save Antarctica, discovered high in the mountains, and well below sea level. There are around 1,300 species in the world and 90 of them reside in the United States.
In Arizona, the most commonly feared scorpion is the bark scorpion. Bark scorpions are unique because they curl their post abdomen (tail) to the side and flat on the ground while at rest. The bark scorpion is relatively small, generally reaching around 2 inches in length from the head to the tip of the stinger and possessing a very thin tail. Bark scorpions are solitary creatures, but can live next to other bark scorpions, mistakenly suggesting a scorpion “nest.” Scorpion infestations are rare, but often in the summer months valley homes are susceptible to high scorpion pressure.
These scorpions will try to find their way into more moderate temperatures, thus actively seeking entry into the home. In the yard, scorpions will look for preferably moisture rich areas, but take refuge under rocks and other shelter bearing debris such as stacked tile or dead palm leaves. Further, scorpions are hunters and look for other insects to eat. If other pests are not managed, it is possible to attract hungry scorpions. Here are some tips for preventing scorpion issues:
1. Remove any debris or harborage sites from the yard that may attract scorpions
2. Make sure there are no leaks or excessive moisture issues
3. Remove any trash or organic matter that may attract scorpion food source
4. Implement professional pest control methods to manage scorpions and their food source
5. Seal any breaches in the home’s envelope that risk scorpion access or have the home professionally sealed
6. Regularly use a black light to find and remove scorpions
We provide general pest control, specific scorpion control methods, home sealing, and black lighting. Following the aforementioned steps will help to greatly reduce scorpion populations around your home. If you have questions, please give Cummings Pest Control a call at 480-994-9599 for service in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and surrounding areas.
Dating back approximately 380 million years, scorpions are recognized as the oldest arachnids on the planet. As a result, they have evolved to become highly adaptable, found on every continent save Antarctica, discovered high in the mountains, and well below sea level. There are around 1,300 species in the world and 90 of them reside in the United States.
In Arizona, the most commonly feared scorpion is the bark scorpion. Bark scorpions are unique because they curl their post abdomen (tail) to the side and flat on the ground while at rest. The bark scorpion is relatively small, generally reaching around 2 inches in length from the head to the tip of the stinger and possessing a very thin tail. Bark scorpions are solitary creatures, but can live next to other bark scorpions, mistakenly suggesting a scorpion “nest.” Scorpion infestations are rare, but often in the summer months valley homes are susceptible to high scorpion pressure.
These scorpions will try to find their way into more moderate temperatures, thus actively seeking entry into the home. In the yard, scorpions will look for preferably moisture rich areas, but take refuge under rocks and other shelter bearing debris such as stacked tile or dead palm leaves. Further, scorpions are hunters and look for other insects to eat. If other pests are not managed, it is possible to attract hungry scorpions. Here are some tips for preventing scorpion issues:
1. Remove any debris or harborage sites from the yard that may attract scorpions
2. Make sure there are no leaks or excessive moisture issues
3. Remove any trash or organic matter that may attract scorpion food source
4. Implement professional pest control methods to manage scorpions and their food source
5. Seal any breaches in the home’s envelope that risk scorpion access or have the home professionally sealed
6. Regularly use a black light to find and remove scorpions
We provide general pest control, specific scorpion control methods, home sealing, and black lighting. Following the aforementioned steps will help to greatly reduce scorpion populations around your home. If you have questions, please give Cummings Pest Control a call at 480-994-9599 for service in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and surrounding areas.
Safely Remove Honey Bees from Your Home
November 25th, 2010
A large honey bee colony will sometimes divide itself, and a swarm may leave the hive. The new swarm will send out scout bees to search for a suitable place to build a new home. Usually scout bees will find a hollow tree, but sometimes they will find an opening in your home’s outside walls or foundation. Bees may nest in the walls, ceiling, basement or attic; often some distance from where they entered the house.
If you suspect you may have a colony of honey bees in your house, try to observe and note the opening in your outside walls being used by the bees. Look near the foundation line of your home, under your deck, in your attic rafters, any other areas that may provide a way for honey bees to get into your home.
Removing honey bees from inside any of the above spaces is a time consuming process that is best to have done by professionals. You can do it yourself, but only if you know what you are doing and use extreme caution.
It is important that all honeycomb and its contents be removed. Bits of wax left behind give off highly attractive odors that will attract other bees looking for a new home. If the nest is not removed, the wax cells may melt and seep through interior walls and ceilings, leaving permanent stains.
Contact us or give us a call and we’ll promptly be at your property with the industry’s leading products and methodologies to neutralize any threat that the bees may pose.
A large honey bee colony will sometimes divide itself, and a swarm may leave the hive. The new swarm will send out scout bees to search for a suitable place to build a new home. Usually scout bees will find a hollow tree, but sometimes they will find an opening in your home’s outside walls or foundation. Bees may nest in the walls, ceiling, basement or attic; often some distance from where they entered the house.
If you suspect you may have a colony of honey bees in your house, try to observe and note the opening in your outside walls being used by the bees. Look near the foundation line of your home, under your deck, in your attic rafters, any other areas that may provide a way for honey bees to get into your home.
Removing honey bees from inside any of the above spaces is a time consuming process that is best to have done by professionals. You can do it yourself, but only if you know what you are doing and use extreme caution.
It is important that all honeycomb and its contents be removed. Bits of wax left behind give off highly attractive odors that will attract other bees looking for a new home. If the nest is not removed, the wax cells may melt and seep through interior walls and ceilings, leaving permanent stains.
Contact us or give us a call and we’ll promptly be at your property with the industry’s leading products and methodologies to neutralize any threat that the bees may pose.
