Local Pest Control News

Keystone Virus and Mosquito Control

2018-06-26T16:28:09-04:00

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:

Use a bug repellant that works.
Avoid outdoor areas during the early morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active.
Wear long sleeves and long pants when mosquito habitats cannot be avoided.
Eliminate mosquito habitats by managing how much standing water is present around your home.
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

2018-04-10T10:45:24-04:00

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.

#termite_swarmers #termites

Why You Need a "Clearance Letter" When Buying a House

2017-03-29T13:44:42-04:00

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

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

What is Memorial Day?

2016-05-25T14:00:05-04:00

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?

It turns out, there’s a great place to go to read accounts of soldiers who went above and beyond the call of duty. Here is the account of a soldier that sounds like it was ripped straight out of a blockbuster movie script.

*MAGRATH, JOHN D.

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering fire, killing 2 Germans and wounding 3 in order to capture a machinegun. Carrying this enemy weapon across an open field through heavy fire, he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests; he then circled behind 4 other Germans, killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to this right, he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3. The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company's newly won position. Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with highest traditions of the military service.

You can read more stories of bravery and heroism at http://www.history.army.mil/moh/index.html.

My hope is that this Memorial Day will be a fresh reminder that there are men and women who put our citizens first – ahead of their own interests and safety.

God bless and have a safe and exciting Memorial Day weekend!

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.

---

*MAGRATH, JOHN D.

He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when his company was pinned down by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. Volunteering to act as a scout, armed with only a rifle, he charged headlong into withering fire, killing 2 Germans and wounding 3 in order to capture a machinegun. Carrying this enemy weapon across an open field through heavy fire, he neutralized 2 more machinegun nests; he then circled behind 4 other Germans, killing them with a burst as they were firing on his company. Spotting another dangerous enemy position to this right, he knelt with the machinegun in his arms and exchanged fire with the Germans until he had killed 2 and wounded 3. The enemy now poured increased mortar and artillery fire on the company's newly won position. Pfc. Magrath fearlessly volunteered again to brave the shelling in order to collect a report of casualties. Heroically carrying out this task, he made the supreme sacrifice--a climax to the valor and courage that are in keeping with highest traditions of the military service.

You can read more stories of bravery and heroism at http://www.history.army.mil/moh/index.html.

---

My hope is that this Memorial Day will be a fresh reminder that there are men and women who put our citizens first – ahead of their own interests and safety. God bless and have a safe and exciting Memorial Day weekend!

#memorial_day #pest_control #southwest_georgia #albany_georgia #leesburg_georgia #camilla_georgia #pelham_georgia #cordele_georgia

Why Are Fleas So Hard to Control?

2015-08-11T16:59:04-04:00

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 see, chemical treatments are highly effective at killing the adult flea and the flea larvae, but they don’t have much impact on a flea in its protective pupae case. If you review our flea treatment preparation checklist, you’ll see that we recommend frequent vacuuming before and after treatment. The idea behind this is to stimulate as many adult fleas to emerge as possible so you can go back to living comfortably again as soon as possible.

Fleas may be designed to be difficult to eliminate, but our design gives us the advantage. By partnering with Sims Pest control, you’re telling fleas that their time has come.

#fleas #flea_control #pest_control_albany_georgia #flea_control_albany_georgia #flea_control_leesburg_georgia #flea_control_camilla_georgia #flea_control_pelham_georgia

Africanized Honey Bees

2015-07-27T06:49:00-04:00

AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES

In the fall of 2010, southwest Georgia saw its first confirmed Africanized honey bee (AHB) attack. An Albany man was attacked and killed by a swarm of angry bees. This attack sent shockwaves of fear throughout the community. The thought of AHBs moving into southwest Georgia has pretty much been inevitable, but the reality of it seems to have come far sooner than expected. With this new threat in mind, we wanted to provide some facts and some tips for dealing with this new invader.

Biology

Africanized honey bees were first introduced when Brazilian scientists attempted to breed honey bees better adapted to the South American climate. Some of these bees escaped and began multiplying and spreading throughout the region. Today, they can be found in several of the US's southern states.

These bees are more agreesive than native honey bees, and though their venom is no more powerful than native honey bees, they attack in greater numbers which can result in serious injury including death -- hence the name, "killer bees." The aggressiveness of these bees is evident in the way that they defend their nests. Truman's Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations states that "the defensive zone of attack around Africanized honey bee nests is up to 100 feet." Other species of bees respond defensively to near or direct contact with the nest itself.

Avoiding Attacks

Knowing where AHBs live and how they attack is important in avoiding attacks. AHBs are not as picky when it comes to finding a place to nest as many domestic bees are. They will inhabit "a variety of natural and man-made objects , including hollow trees, walls, porches, sheds, attics, utility boxes, garbage containers and abandoned vehicles." (DesertUSA) Keep a lookout for places around your home that have bee activity. You can also listen for the sounds of bee activity in walls and other areas.

Sometimes, when AHBs are behaving defensively, a couple of bees may fly by the threat and bump the threat. If you notice this type of behavior, you have attracted the attention of the bees and may be in danger of an attack. Remove yourself from the area and call a beekeeper or pest management professional.

Responding to an Attack

If you are attacked, it is important to cover your face and head. Injuries sustained to the rest of your body will be less serious than those sustained to your head and face. AHBs have a reputation for chasing victims long distances before giving up on the attack. With this in mind, you need to find shelter as soon as possible. Look for a building or vehicle with closed windows and doors for safety. If no shelter is available, keep running until the bees give up chase. Another thing to note is that AHBs have been observed waiting on a victim to surface after jumping in water for refuge. So, if you have a choice between jumping in a pool and running, it is probably the safer bet to run as far as you can as fast as you can.

Summary

AHBs have earned a reputation for being fierce attackers. They attack with large numbers and with persistence. However, it is possible to keep the AHB threat to a minimum around your home and avoid dangerous attacks. If you keep a vigilant, watchful eye on your surroundings, you'll be able to identify when bees are active in your area. Then, with the help of a pest management professional or a beekeeper, you can make sure that bees do not feel welcome in and around your home.

Resources

For more information on Africanized honey bees, feel free to consult the two sources we used to help write this article.

1) Truman's Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, Sixth Edition

2) DesertUSA.com (http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html)

#bees #africanized_honey_bees #Georgia #attack

Fleas : Good For Nothing Blood Suckers

2015-07-01T06:32:00-04:00

One of the most fascinating insects that we encounter in southwest Georgia is the flea. Most commonly, we encounter the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). They can be a real nuisance and a health hazard. Not only do fleas bite and cause itching and irritation, but they commonly carry diseases and parasites. Various flea populations have been known to carry and transmit plague, murine typhus, and tapeworm.

The flea's strength lies in its biology and reproduction which means effective control and elimination means using what we know about flea biology to our advantage.

A flea experiences four stages in its full life cycle:

1. Egg

After being laid on a host mammal such as a dog or a cat, most flea eggs fall off of the host and wind up remaining in carpet, pet bedding, or other areas that the host spends most of its time. This egg can be ready to hatch in as little as two days.

2. Larvae

What emerges from a flea egg is a flea larva. This stage of development takes on a worm-like form. During this stage, the larva is growing and feeding on organic debris nearby. The flea larva thrives most on adult flea feces as it contains partially digested blood from the flea's host so we can expect a flea larva to be most healthy in an area highly populated by healthy adult fleas. This stage can last as little as a week.

3. Pupae

The third stage of flea development is the pupa stage. In this stage, the larva spins a cocoon in which it will continue its development. This is much like what happens when a caterpillar spins a cocoon prior to emerging as a butterfly. While the flea in is this pupa stage, it is developing into an adult flea.

4. Adult flea

The final stage in a flea's life cycle is adulthood. After at least a week in the pupa stage, the adult flea is ready to emerge. Upon emergence, the flea will be starved and looking to feed on a host immediately. This explains how vacationers can return home only to be attacked by an army of hungry fleas looking for a meal.

Understanding the flea's life cycle will help the control and elimination of flea populations immensely.

Break the Cycle

Successful flea control depends on a number of factors.

Flea Host Treatment

The first step in eliminating a flea population is identifying the source of the infestation. Adult fleas rarely leave the host mammal, so if there are pets or stray animals in the infested area, then steps must be taken to treat the pets with a veterinarian-recommended flea treatment.
Pupa Stimulation & Surface Preparation

The second step in eliminating a flea population is exposing as many fleas to an insecticide as possible. Since insecticides rarely impact flea eggs and pupae, it is important to stimulate as many pupae as possible to emerge from their protective cocoons before treatment. Fleas in the pupa stage of development wait in their cocoons until they are stimulated to emerge by mammals walking by them. This sensation can be simulated by vacuuming the areas where fleas are suspected to be present. So before vacuuming begins, it is important that as much floor space as possible is free from debris and clutter -- this should always includes closets. Also, sweeping wood floors, mopping other flooring types, and washing or discarding pet bedding will help with this process. When vacuuming is complete, it is important to discard the contents of the vacuum away from the home.
Professional Treatment

When vacuuming is complete, the home is ready for treatment. This is where a professional is needed. When a Sims Pest Control service technician treats a home for fleas, he will use extensive training and several tools to complete his mission of flea eradication. The service technician will treat all affected areas with a residual insecticide. This is important for a couple of reasons. 1) The residual insecticide is designed to kill adult fleas and flea larvae. 2) The residual insecticide keeps working even after it has dried. If more adult fleas emerge from their cocoons over the course of the following couple of weeks, they will come in contact with this residual insecticide and succumb to its effects.

The service technician will also employ the use of an insect growth regulator (IGR). An IGR is typically mixed in with a residual insecticide and applied at the same time. The job of an IGR is to disrupt the life cycle of the fleas. An IGR can do several things. It can: 1) stunt growth by disrupting the molting process 2) deform mouthparts or parts in the digestive system in insects 3) prevent the hatching of eggs.

Now we see how understanding how fleas grow can help us be effective in eliminating their populations. The IGR can help keep eggs from hatching, and the residual insecticide will kill flea larvae and adult fleas once they have emerged from their cocoons.

Once these steps are completed, and due to the nature of flea pupae, it is possible that fleas may continue to emerge from their cocoons for 2 to 3 weeks after the initial treatment has been completed. These fleas will likely be eliminated by the remaining residual insecticide from the initial treatment, but a re-application of residual insecticide may be needed.

Glossary:

Egg: the first stage of the flea's life cycle. These are laid by the adult female flea and can be laid at a rate of up to 300 eggs per single adult female flea over a 3-4 week period.

Larva: the second stage of the flea's life cycle. Larvae are worm-like and translucent in appearance. They feed on organic debris and thrive on adult flea feces.

Pupa: the third stage of the flea's life cycle. Pupae exist in a protective cocoon. During this stage, they transform into what we recognize as an adult flea.

Adult flea: the fourth and final stage of the flea's life cycle. Adult fleas are the only stage that actively feed on mammals. They never leave a host mammal unless forced to do so.

Residual insecticide: a product that is used in the control and elimination of insects. These products remain active for an amount of time even after drying.

Insect growth regulator (IGR): pesticides that are used to prevent or disrupt the progression through an insect's life cycle.

#fleas #diseases #parasites #eggs

5 Steps to Mosquito Freedom

2015-06-16T15:56:00-04:00

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.

The good thing (for you) about these tips is that for most of them you don’t even need the assistance of a pest management professional such as myself.

Step 1: Eliminate Mosquito Nurseries

You may not know this, but mosquitoes live 3 of their 4 life cycle stages in water. The adult female mosquito deposits her egg is still water or areas that are frequently flooded. These eggs hatch and the mosquito larvae mature into pupae. Finally, the pupa emerges from the water as an adult, and in many cases, waits around for a mate to emerge. These stages can be completed in as little as 7-10 days.

The trick is to do a thorough inspection around your home. Standing water is the perfect place for a mosquito to safely lay her eggs. During your inspection, look for items that hold water easily. These can be pots, tires, buckets, toys, bird baths, full gutters, and much more. When you locate these water collectors, make sure and empty the water immediately. In the event that your gutters are full, get them cleaned as soon as possible. Also, if you have a bird bath, it is a good idea to refresh the water once a week.

Step 2: Eliminate Mosquito Resting Places mosquito

When mosquitoes aren’t flying around looking for some poor sucker to feed on, they are usually resting on nearby vegetation. Weeds in flower beds and in the areas surrounding your home provide a vast amount of surface area on which these mosquitoes can rest safely. Remove these weeds and deprive those blood-suckers of vital resting space.

Step 3: Dress to Resist

Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evenings. These times of day are still pretty hot here in southwest Georgia, but if you are going to be in an area that you know has mosquitoes during these times, it makes sense to dress yourself defensively. Long sleeves and long pants will go a long way toward protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

Step 4: Use Mosquito Repellants

Mosquito repellants can be very effective in reducing the number of bites you receive from mosquitoes so if you can’t dress defensively or you want to protect other parts of exposed skin, this is a very useful approach. A good rule of thumb is to use a repellant with DEET that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. As always, make sure and use the repellant, just like any chemical, in strict compliance with its labeling.

Step 5: Eliminate Adult Mosquitoes

This final step in mosquito bite prevention and population reduction is the only step that really requires the expertise and care of a trained professional. Adult mosquitoes can be eliminated by using a wide variety of insecticides with varying degrees of environmental impact and non-target organism toxicity. A trained professional will be able to determine what product to use to eliminate the disease-carrying pests and how to use them safely.

If you follow these 5 steps, you can make sure that your friends and family have the best chance to avoid mosquito bites when they are around your home.

#mosquito #west_nile_virus #water