Archive for February, 2010
Posted on February 25, 2010 with 3 Comments
Waybright Elementary School in Mass. has recently reopened after a rat sighting caused the school to close for a day. During school, a student saw a rat running down a stairwell. This isn’t the first time the school has had a problem with rats. In December, a construction project disrupted where some rats where living, causing them to go into the school. The school called a pest management professional, sealed off entranceway and set traps. Until they were sure the problem went away, they asked students to not leave food in classrooms and stopped serving hot lunches. They thought the problem was gone until the lone rat was spotted.
There were no signs of more rats being in the school. They didn’t find any feces or rats in traps that would indicate more than the lone rat. During the incident in the winter, there was evidence of burrowing by the rats. However, the building was swept and no burrowing was located this time around. The school reassured everybody that every precaution was taking place to prevent further incidents. They also said this is not an event isolated to just the school. Homes around the area have been having similar problems. The school has spent upwards of $30,000 already clear the rats out of the school, and expects to spend more money in the future.
If you have seen a rat or mouse in your home please contact us for a free inspection. Winter is the most common time to see a rodent in your home.
Wicked Local reported about this story first.
Picture credit: hr.icio
Posted on February 24, 2010 with No Comments
A famous Los Angeles eatery, Philippes, has been shut down for a couple of days, due to a cockroach infestation. Philippes, which has been open for over 100 years and is famous for its French Dip, was inspected due to several complains. The restaurant has always done well during inspections, and when the county inspectors came and inspected it, it did receive a good score, in the low 90s. Even with the good score, the infestation forced a shut down. The restaurant was forced to fix the infestation, and when inspectors returned in a couple of days, they were to look and make sure the infestation was gone. Once they give the ok, Philippes would reopen.
Cockroaches are mainly nocturnal, and leave behind a chemical trail in their feces. Cockroaches are relatively large insects, and some carry about 40 eggs in each egg capsule they lay. Their life span is only about a year, however, in that time span, they lay up to 8 egg capsules. They feed on human and pet food, leave behind a poor odor and have a hissing sound. The fact that they feed on this food is one of the main reasons that they are such a problem for restaurants. Philippes isn’t the only place that has been hit by this pest, and certainly will not be the last.
Don’t let a cockroach infestation ruin your businesses reputation. Contact JP McHale for a free inspection and quote of your establishment. We are also able to service chain restaurants across the country with our partnership with Copesan.
We heard about this story from the LA Times.
Posted on February 23, 2010 with No Comments
A big dream is being threatened by a small creature. Businesswoman Cheryl McIntire and Nancy Magliocchetti have the dream of converting a 95 year old Victorian home in to a showcase, but there is just one problem; termites. They’ve tunneled through the wooden floorboards, headers, support joists and the wall studs. Even little piles of termite dung cover the floors, as these pests have created damages in excess of $15,000. This is definitely not good for Cheryl and Nancy, as it was obviously not part of their plan. “This is a huge impendent in their business plan,” said the women’s Tampa attorney, Pete Cardillo.
The house was built in 1915, and sold a year later. The Eubanks family owned it until 2006 when it was sold to McIntire and Magliocchetti for $178,500. The problem is, there was no termite inspection done. While there are no rules to prevent its demolition, losing the house would be a horrible loss for the two. “We don’t want to sink more money in to it if it’s being eaten alive from the inside…We want it treated so we can at least continue working, and then we’ll deal with the damage claim.”
If you would like a termite inspection for your home or other establishment please contact us!
Picture and story source: Daytona Beach Journal
Posted on February 23, 2010 with 1 Comment
Finding and controlling termites and carpenter ants is no easy task. While they may be crucial to nature, these insects are causing problem after problem in modern homes. Carptenter ants are basically inevitable, they will at one time invade your home, but termites are a different story. They cause over two billion dollars in damage to homes every year.
There are two types of termites common to our area, dampwood and subterranean. These dampwood pests live in wood rather than underground chambers and are more common. The subterranean type feed on wood coming in to contact with soil, and may even create tubes connecting their homes to a nearby wood source. If these tubes are broken and removed, ants could get in and attack them, which is good for the homeowner. Wood should always be kept dry and rot free, and should also never be touching any part of your home. According to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, it takes years for termites to infest your home badly enough for serious damage. If you remove or replace rotted sections of infested wood, it may temporary eliminate the problem.
In the Pacific Northwest, carpenter ants are much more frequent and do not feed on wood. Although they can be dangerous because their nests are difficult to locate, but will hollow the wood out, leaving behind frass (sawdust). One way to see if you ave carpenter ants is if these is frass or sawdust located on the floor. The NCAP recommends repairing any leaks, keeping shrubbery clear of exterior walls and foundation vents, and maintaining at least 12 inches of clean concrete between wooden siding and surrounding soil. Also, no wood should be kept underneath the home and gutters should be kept clean and clear. Follow these to save yourself from the hassle of termites and carpenter ants.
If you think you have a termite infestation or carpenter ants, please contact us. Both of these pests are covered under our Guardian Program.
Posted on February 23, 2010 with No Comments
If you think you aren’t going to be affected by bed bugs at one time or another, you’re probably wrong. Bed bugs infestations are on the rise and they don’t care who they are disturbing. In Franklin County, Ohio especially, where bed bugs have affected not only those low-income renters who originally were thought to be the only ones affected by these pests.
“We’ve had reports from schools, churches, bowling alleys, dialysis centers, and vets offices,” said Paul Wenning, with the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force.
These bugs don’t care where they are and what kind of furniture their in, as they’ve been found in private residences, couches, and beds as of late. More incredibly, a map including every ZIP code has been created and filled in only two years since the bed bug task force was born. Apartment complexes have been cited in creating certain areas to throw out furniture that has been infected by bed bugs for their residences. The only way to get rid of these pests is to hire a licensed professional, attempting to get rid of these yourself can be frustrating and nearly impossible.
If you think you have bed bugs, or would like to have your home inspected by our K9 Bed Bug Inspection Dog, please contact us today!
10 News in Ohio brought this story to our attention.
Posted on February 23, 2010 with 1 Comment
On the northwest corner of 54th street and Fifth Avenue, pigeons are creating a pretty crappy situation. City pigeons have become such a problem the owners, managers, and members of the University Club, established in 1865, want to make a change. A pretty serious change in that, well, at least according to animal activists like New York Bird Club founder Anna Dove who says “It’s a shame they’re trying to get rid of all these pigeons…After the pigeons, they’ll want to get rid of the starlings, then the sparrows and the squirrels.”
The change that is desired is to install “full height bird netting to protect the architecture from the pigeon “poo”. This sort of change would have to be approved by the Landmarks Commission, because it deals with a “visual change to the exterior.” The net would be designed to keep the architecture safe and clean, along with the club members who have been heading to the dry cleaners for years due to the pigeons. It will be interesting to see who’s side the city Landmarks Commission decides on.
If you own a building and feel that pigeon “poo” is a problem, JP McHale offers a bird control service that will relocate the birds in an environmentally and discreet way. Please contact us if you are interested.
The New York Post wrote first about this issue.
Picture credit
Posted on February 19, 2010 with 3 Comments
We all know about the devastating earthquake and after shocks that occurred in Haiti. JP McHale is proud to donate cases of Mosquito dunks to the relief effort. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus and Malaria. These dunks will be placed in any stagnant water (where mosquitoes love to breed) and will assist in the prevention of mosquitoes. The last thing that any residents of Haiti, or any relief workers need is West Nile Virus or Malaria while they are helping to rebuild the country.
If you would like to donate to the relief afford please visit the Red Cross’ website.
Tags: announcements, haiti, malaria, mosquito dunks, West Nile Virus
Category: Company Announcements, Flying Insects, Hard Times, Mosquitoes, Mosquitoes, Summer Pests, West Nile Virus
Posted on February 18, 2010 with No Comments
In New Jersey, a bill is in play that will change the protocol when it comes to tenants, landlords and bed bugs. As of now, Landlords have to treat for bed bugs, however, after treatment is done, the costs can be passed along to the tenants. The problem with this is simple; most tenants can’t pay for the treatment, as well as follow-up treatment. So, instead of reporting the problem, they would rather not tell the landlord, and live with it. This in the long run costs the landlord more money, as they have to treat it later. The bill, however, would change that. When notified of the bed bug infestation, the landlord has to treat for it, and at their own expense. If the landlord doesn’t treat the bed bugs, they will be fined. Also, a local health board will come in, treat for the bed bugs, and then bill the landlord.
It is up to the tenant to notify the landlord. The landlord has up to 10 day to start treatment. This forces the landlord to be proactive and be on top of the process. Then the tenants must give the landlord access with 48 hour notice to inspect and treat the area. However, if the tenant fails to do so, they then become liable for the cost of getting rid of the bed bugs. Also, if bed bugs are present when the tenant moves out, the cost of getting rid of them will be taken from the security deposit.
There are some flaws to the bill. For instance, landlords are only responsible for one treatment and one follow-up per year. This is less than most treatments require. Additional treatments that maybe needed would be placed on the tenant. Also, the 48 hour notice maybe too little. Making a person who works everyday clean all their clothes and bag everything, in the span of 48 hours in which they work the majority of them, might be unrealistic. This is not to mention the burden it would be on those who are seniors or need assistance. Regardless of the flaws, this bill does improves the laws that are in place. If it would be put into effect, it would have a great benefit to all those effected, landlords and tenants alike.
If you are a landlord or a tenant, and think you have bed bugs, please do not hesitate to contact us. Let us get a K9 Bed Bug Inspection Dog out to see if in fact your really do have bed bugs present.
Our friends over at Bedbugger.com informed us of this story.
Posted on February 18, 2010 with 2 Comments
Canadian downhill skier, Manny Osborne-Paradis, wanted to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. So far during his stay, he has won something. Unfortunately he won bed bugs. Osborne-Paradis is staying in private condos with his fellow Canadian skiers and he is the only one who has been bitten by bed bugs. His roommate, Robbie Dixon, sleeps 5 feet away, yet, he is unaffected by the bed bugs. Manny woke up and was itchy from the morning until he got to the starting gate for training. Manny has washed his sheets in hopes that it will get rid of the bed bugs, even though this is not how to get rid of bed bugs. A pest management professional must be called in, and we recommend a Bed Bug K9 Inspection Dog.
Bed bugs live in your bed and can bite you. However, it is very rare that a bed bug will actually pass something on to its host. Instead, one will get an itching sensation. It is rumored in Vancouver that there is a link between being promiscuous and bed bugs, which hasn’t been verified as true or not. However, there is a very good chance that those who are in Vancouver will bring some sort of bed bugs back with them, leaving them with a problem at their home. It must be known too that if you are bitten by bed bugs, you may not always feel it. There is a chance that the symptoms will appear in a week, a month, or never. Olympic athletes need to have their minds on other things other than bed bugs when they are ready to compete. But, for now, they hold they will sleep tight and not let the bed bugs bite.
Posted on February 18, 2010 with No Comments
Scientists at Vanderbilt and Yale University have been working a proposed “Mosquito Nose Transplant.” What they do is take the nose of a mosquito, which is the center of their antennae which is filled with nerve cells and “odor receptors” that react to different compounds and transplant them to either frog eggs or fruit flies. The scientist have done a great job, successfully transplanting most of the nose. The key to this whole operation, however, is that these mosquitoes carry malaria, the deadly disease that affects 500 million people. They transplant these cells and put them into frog eggs or fruit flies. By doing this, they are trying to combat this disease that is crippling and killing millions of people.
Mosquitoes are notorious for carrying the West Nile Virus
The two strategies have produced similar results, but are different in the set up. The process of transplanting the odor receptors to the frog eggs complex. DNA is injected into the eggs, while the odor receptors are put on the outside of the egg. The process with the frog eggs is rapid, very sensitive and you get a precise measurement. The fruit fly takes up to 3 months to engineer with the odor receptors in their antennae. However, despite the length, there are advantages to the fruit fly process. You can study compounds that don’t dissolve in water as well as detecting chemicals in the receptors rather than exciting them. The result of these studies have been encouraging. There are some compounds that will attract the mosquitoes more than humans do and also compounds that will repel the mosquitos. These developments are encouraging in the prevention of the spreading of malaria, a disease that kills millions.
US News wrote first about this story
Picture Source
Tags: fruit flys, malaria, Mosquitoes, nose transplant, vanderbilt, West Nile Virus, yale university
Category: Diseases, Mosquitoes, Mosquitoes, Summer Pests, West Nile Virus
