Archive for January, 2012

Pesky your pet can bring inside

Did you know in less than the blink of an eye a single flea is actually capable of jumping more than an entire foot? That’s almost 200 times the actual length of the flea’s entire body. Most of my life I’ve been an indoor-cat person. That all …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 26, 2012

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Farmers reporting mice outbreaks – ABC Online

Farmers reporting mice outbreaks
ABC Online
The pests normally do not start to become a problem until autumn. Greg Mutze from Biosecurity SA says it is unlikely farmers can do much to tackle the issue directly. "No-one has actually tried controlling mice in mid-summer to prevent problems in …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 26, 2012

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UNESCO to help N. Korea’s pest control efforts at ancient tombs – BusinessGhana

UNESCO to help N. Korea's pest control efforts at ancient tombs
BusinessGhana
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Tuesday it will help North Korea eradicate pests at forests near ancient tombs. The relics, along with murals inside the tombs, became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 26, 2012

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Jan 24, 2012 – Beetles Above Us

QUESTION:

What would be the best product to use on powder post beetles that are in the living area on the ceiling? The ceiling is tongue and groove boards that look like they were sealed years ago.

ANSWER:

Well, this presents a problem, but start by making certain there is an active infestation. I don’t want to be picky, but the True Powderpost Beetles in the genus Lyctus feed only on hardwoods, and a tongue and groove ceiling, it would seem, would more likely be pine of some kind. This doesn’t mean you could not possibly have an ongoing beetle problem in the wood, but a more likely culprit might be Lead Cable Borer. Other WDO beetles could be ambrosia or deathwatch, but these beetles much prefer wood with a high moisture content, and unless there is a moisture problem in that ceiling it should not be either of those. If there are exit holes how big are they? Perhaps this could be some non-reinfesting beetle that would not need to be treated. 

Just out of curiosity, what is the evidence you are seeing that indicates an insect infestation there? Carpenter ants are one insect that just loves tongue and groove ceilings, as they have all those narrow channels already provided for their travel. If something is falling from the ceiling to tell you it is bugs, examine it closely using magnification. If it is beetles it would be very fine fecal material – powdery for Powderpost and gritty for deathwatch. Lead cable borers do not have fecal material falling from their exit holes, as all of their fecal matter is stringy and shoved into the feeding channels behind the larvae. Carpenter ants expel tiny pieces of wood chips and other junk they don’t want in their galleries, so it would be fine sawdust with possibly some insect parts included. 
Now to get down to your actual question, but hopefully the first two paragraphs were useful, and mistaken identity of beetles in wood is pretty common. One problem is that the ceiling does likely have a finish on it, and this can limit what you can apply. One of the few products that actually can penetrate into the wood itself to kill beetle larvae living within is Bora-Care, formulated with solvents that move the active ingredient into the wood. But, it cannot be used over finishes on wood, but on bare wood only. All other surface treatments for beetles in wood are essentially that – surface treatments, and they do not penetrate the wood and the beetle larvae will continue to feed inside. What you may achieve would be to kill adult beetles as they exit if the residual is still on the wood, but this is iffy. 
There also are many products labeled for injection into the wood for WDO beetles, but I have some concerns that this might not work. The products, to my knowledge, do not travel in the wood beyond the point where they are injected, so beetles feeding nearby would not be affected. They would be killed if they managed to eat into the treated wood, but now we are talking about poor odds. However, this may be your only option if it turns out to be an ongoing infestation of beetles capable of reinfesting that wood. Of course, there also is complete structural fumigation as well as remove and replace the wood, but I would verify exactly what pest is present before going to those expensive options. 
If it turns out to be carpenter ants you have plenty of good choices, including many aerosols that can be injected into the galleries the ants are using for travel or making themselves. These can be injected by drilling very small holes in inconspicuous places until you feel the drill bit enter a hollow space, suggesting that ants could be using that for a nest or for travel. Even puffing a little residual dust into those galleries would be effective. 

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Pest QuestionsJanuary 26, 2012

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UNL Frat House Checking For More Bedbugs

LINCOLN, Neb. — Bedbugs have been found in at least one fraternity house at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where the have been reported in at least two dorms. Phi Delta Theta has called in experts to check out the premises on Thursday.

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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Citizens speak to council about pest control, fluoridation – Prince Albert Daily Herald


Prince Albert Daily Herald

Citizens speak to council about pest control, fluoridation
Prince Albert Daily Herald
When Prince Albert's city councillors met yesterday at City Hall, the first two items of their agenda were in regards to issues raised by concerned citizens–those issues being, pest control and fluoridation of the city's water supply.

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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Rodents Invade Homes Across U.S. as Winter Chill Lingers – EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)

Rodents Invade Homes Across U.S. as Winter Chill Lingers
EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
While rodents are unwelcome houseguests for any homeowner, the real concern is that these pests can cause property damage and spread disease. Rodents such as mice serve as vectors of many common diseases, including salmonella and Hantavirus, …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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Anderson Pest Solutions Donates $5000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank – PR Web (press release)


PR Web (press release)

Anderson Pest Solutions Donates $5000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank
PR Web (press release)
Anderson Pest Solutions fulfills its pledge to donate $5000 to the Northern Illinois Food Bank despite not reaching its stated goal of hiring 25 new employees before the end of 2011. "Giving something back to the community, particularly in this tough …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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Expect more insects this spring? – Dairy Herd Management

Expect more insects this spring?
Dairy Herd Management
With the winter of 2012 turning out to be mild so far, many are beginning to question whether the warmer weather will lead to increased populations of insects this spring. As far north as Minneapolis, nighttime temperatures are only dipping into the …

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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Man posing as pest control employee arrested for jewelry theft

The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office announced Monday that they have arrested a man they say took jewelry from area homes after he used his former employment as a pest control worker to gain access.

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Pests in the NewsJanuary 25, 2012

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