KEYSTONE VIRUS: A NEW THREAT EMERGES

It seems like every year there’s a new pest or new vector borne disease to keep an eye on. Two years ago, the world watched the Zika virus spread like a wildfire. This year, we have learned that a virus called the Keystone virus has made the leap from animals to humans.

The Independent is reporting that doctors first believed that a sixteen year old boy had been infected with the Zika virus back in 2016. His symptoms included a severe rash and fever – symptoms common with Zika. However, after developing a test for the Keystone virus, it was determined that the teenager is the first known human to be infected with it.

WHAT IS THE KEYSTONE VIRUS?

The Keystone virus is a vector-borne virus. These diseases are spread among humans and animals by other carrier organisms. Mosquitoes are carriers of many vector-borne diseases such as Malaria, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, and Keystone. This particular virus is understood to contribute to encephalitis which is a swelling of the brain. If you recall, you’ll remember encephalitis being a key symptom of Zika during its spread in 2016.

The teenager patient did not present with encephalitis. He did, however present with a severe rash and fever.

According to Wikipedia, the Keystone virus was first discovered in 1964 in the Keystone region of Tampa, Florida. Since then, the disease has been found in areas ranging from Texas to New England. This particular virus is carried by the Aedes atlanticus mosquito.

HOW TO AVOID THE KEYSTONE VIRUS

Avoiding vector-borne illnesses like the Keystone virus comes down to a handful of factors. If you can avoid being bitten by the mosquito that carries Keystone, you should be okay. Avoiding mosquito bites includes the following steps:

1. Use a bug repellant that works.
2. Avoid outdoor areas during the early morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active.
3. Wear long sleeves and long pants when mosquito habitats cannot be avoided.
4. Eliminate mosquito habitats by managing how much standing water is present around your home.
5. Hire a professional to reduce the nearby mosquito population.

Mosquito control and avoidance takes a comprehensive approach. Using the steps listed above should set you up for success when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. If you are in southwest Georgia and need professional assistance with mosquitoes, we’re happy to help. Call us at 229-436-3215.

WHAT ARE TERMITE SWARMERS?

Termite swarmers (also known as alates) exist with one purpose and one purpose alone: to reproduce. As environmental conditions begin to favor termite reproduction, termite swarmers pack tightly inside exit tubes while they wait for the perfect conditions. Once the perfect conditions arrive, termite swarmers emerge from their exit tubes in numbers that can reach the thousands.

Termite swarmers do not see very well, but they can detect light and they are highly attracted to it. This is one reason why they are commonly found near windows and doors of homes. They fly toward the light in hopes of finding a safe place to call home.

A successful termite swarm will result in a coupling of male and female termite swarmers in an environment hospitable to termite colony success. These areas can be dead trees, wooden baseboards, wooden subfloor, or any other type of wood that a termite can use to eat. The male will go on to become the new colony’s king while the female will become the new colony’s queen. She could lay up to 1,000 eggs per day at her most productive stage.

WHAT DO TERMITE SWARMERS LOOK LIKE?

Termites belong to the order isoptera. They are classified this way because they have wings that are the same length. Termites are closely related to cockroaches and are rugged survivors in the same way that cockroaches are.

At first glance, a termite swarmer looks a lot like a black ant with white or clear wings. Looking a little closer though, one will see that the termite swarmer’s body sections are not as well defined as an ant’s. An even closer look will show that the termite has wings that are the same length while an ant’s wings will be varying lengths.

AVAILABILITY

Our Official Georgia Wood Infestation inspections are available in Albany, Leesburg, Camilla, Pelham, Meigs, Sylvester, Cordele, Lake Blackshear, Americus, Smithville, Bronwood, Dawson, Sasser, Leary, Morgan, Arlington, Blakely, Fort Gaines, Newton, Bainbridge, and Cairo.

You can call our office at 229-436-3215 to learn more.

What is a "clearance letter"?

In Georgia, the term "clearance letter" is often referred to as the inspection report provided by a pest control company that shows whether or not evidence of wood destroying organisms is present in a given structure. The official title of this inspection report in Georgia is the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Report.

Why is a "clearance letter" important?

Many homeowners know how important a traditional home inspection is when it comes to buying a new house. What a lot of homeowners don't know is that most home inspectors aren't qualified to comment on wood destroying organisms like a pest control company is. A qualified pest control company like Sims Pest Control is equipped to identify the presence of wood destroying organisms and prescribe treatment options to eliminate those organisms. We look for things like termites, powder post beetles, and wood decay fungi and we can treat for all of them. 

If you are getting ready to buy a home, don't leave potential wood destroying organism infestations up to chance or to the untrained eye. Call Sims Pest Control when you are ready to schedule your clearance letter inspection.

Availability

Our Official Georgia Wood Infestation inspections are available in Albany, Leesburg, Camilla, Pelham, Meigs, Sylvester, Cordele, Lake Blackshear, Americus, Smithville, Bronwood, Dawson, Sasser, Leary, Morgan, Arlington, Blakely, Fort Gaines, Newton, Bainbridge, and Cairo.

You can call us at 229-436-3215 to schedule your appointment today.

WHAT IS MEMORIAL DAY?

I always have trouble keeping straight the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both days represent a patriotic honoring of those who serve our nation’s military. Both days are great for waving flags and finding decent deals on furniture. I wanted some clarity on what Memorial Day actually is, and I learned that it is a holiday that specifically “honors men and women who died serving in the U.S. military.” There’s also a “national moment of remembrance at 3:00pm local time” on Memorial Day.

As I continued thinking about Memorial Day, I began to get curious about some of the sacrifices made in battle. We have all seen dramatic displays of courage and valor on the big screen in films like Saving Private Ryan or Fury, but what about the men and women who haven’t been acknowledged in film? 

WHY ARE FLEAS SO HARD TO CONTROL?

A lot of people ask me why fleas are so difficult to deal with. After all, it’s 2015 right? We should have that magic wand that gets rid of fleas immediately by now.

Well, fortunately for fleas, their biology insulates them from immediate defeat rather well.  Much like how a caterpillar enters a cocoon prior to becoming a butterfly, fleas enter a protective pupae state.  Once, they’ve reached adulthood, they wait in their protective state until they are stimulated to emerge by vibrations and carbon dioxide – just like a pet walking by.  Because fleas mature at varying rates, it’s easy to experience wave after wave of flea “hatches” even following chemical treatments.

"Because fleas mature at varying rates, it’s easy to experience wave after wave of flea “hatches” even following chemical treatments."

You may have read recently in the news that there is a severe outbreak of West Nile Virus in the Dallas, TX area.   Officials are now attacking the West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes with insecticides dropped from airplanes.  With all of this mosquito commotion going on, we thought it would be a good time to offer up some tips on how to help keep these potentially dangerous and constantly annoying pests from biting you.