Archive for the Do It Yourself Category
Posted on September 27, 2012 with No Comments
If you can’t find your pest control term below, visit www.nopests.com or Intelligent Pest Solutions.
Acute Toxicity: Effects of chemical will be seen in a short amount of time/immediately.
Bacterial Degradation: Breakdown due to bacteria. This generally refers to the breakdown of chemical barriers or could reference the ineffectiveness of a specific pesticide due to bacteria within the environment.
Calibration: The comparison of desired output and real output; and that adjustments are made so that real output equals your desired output
Carcinogen: Cancer causing agent.
Caution: When used on a pesticide label; chemical should be considered “slightly toxic.”
Chronic Toxicity: The toxic effects of a chemical can be seen to reoccur or is reproduced over an extended period of time.
Complete Metamorphosis: Refers to an insect which contains all four stages within their life cycle that includes, Egg, Larvae, Pupa, and Adult.
Contact Killer: This is used to refer to pesticides that will kill on contact. Over the counter insecticides such as “RAID” may be referred to as a “contact killer.” Typically lacking a residual property.
Danger: When used on a pesticide label; chemical should be considered “severely toxic.”
Defoliants: Chemical that will cause the loss of leaves or foliage.
Desiccants: Chemical that works by causing the extraction of moisture.
Dewebbing: The physical removal of spider webs from the many nooks and crannies around the perimeter of your home.
Fungicide: Pesticide used for the control of plant pathogens.
Herbicide: Pesticide for the control of plant pests.
Hydrolysis: Breakdown due to the effects of water.
Incomplete Metamorphosis: Refers to an insect that has an incomplete life cycle consisting of egg, nymph, and adult. Complete metamorphosis has 4 stages.
Insecticide: Pesticide used to control arthropod insect pests.
Instar: A step or progression in an insects life cycle.
IPM: Integrated Pest Management.
Knockdown: Knockdown pesticides generally refers to contact killer pesticide for aerial pests. Wasp Freeze is an example of a knockdown insecticide.
LD-50: (Lethal Dosage 50) Used to refer to the threshold amount of chemical for acute toxicity where it is shown to have killed approximately 50% of a specific specimen.
LC(t)-50: (Lethal Concentration & Time 50)
Molt: A progression or obtaining a level of maturity where an outward or external difference may be apparent.
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet – Data Sheet explaining chemical make ups, and potential dangers.
Negative Phototrophic: Repelled by light
Odorous House Ants: When crushed emit a coconut like smelling odor.
Ootheca: Cockroach egg capsule.
Pavement Ant: Generally will reside under or around pavement.
Pesticide: Killer of Pests. Chemical used to destroy various pests. There are 8 types of pesticides: insecticides, fungicides, nematocides, bactericides, rodenticides, miticides, herbicides and fumigants.
Pharaoh Ant: Primarily indoors, known for splitting into different colonies, sometimes found in wounds of hospital patients. Common in Las Vegas
Photolysis: Breakdown due to the effects of sunlight.
Phototrophic: Attracted to light.
PCO: Pest Control Operator.
PMP: Pest Management Professional.
PPE: Personal Protective Equipment.
Residual: Resides over a period of time. This is often used to refer to a pesticides ability to remain over an extended period of time.
Rodenticide: Pesticide used for the control of rodent/mammal pests.
Warning: When used on a pesticide label; chemical should be considered “moderately toxic.”
Posted on February 20, 2012 with 2 Comments
Insect foggers provide very little control of bed bugs and may even cause the bed bug population to disperse, making remediation even more difficult. Insect foggers do not effectively control bed bugs. Insect foggers are dangerous in that they can leave unwanted residue throughout the treated area. Most insect foggers contain a flammable propellant and some have been associated with a number of fires. According to the EPA, foggers and bug bombs should not be used as the only method to attempt to control bed bugs.
If you are using insect foggers, the EPA has a list of fogger and bug bomb safety precautions that should be followed.
Posted on February 9, 2012 with No Comments
Bed bugs are on the rise throughout the United States and making headlines are college dorm rooms. At the University of Nebraska several students’ dorm rooms were recently inspected by a bed bug sniffing dog and pest control treatment is under way. If you have a child or if you are a college student we highly recommend that you encase you invest in a bed bug care package, which includes a set of mattress encasements, 4 climb ups which are plastic devices place under each bed leg, and a monitor placed under the mattress that is encased, they will not prevent, but simply alert you to any signs of a bed bugs infestation upon routine inspection.
Whether you reside in a dorm room at a local college like New York University or you have your own off-campus New York apartment, install our bed bug care package and you will be able to inspect and identify bed bugs in the earliest stages before it turns into an infestation.
Posted on February 2, 2012 with No Comments
Sleep Tight Bed Bug Care Package
Finding effective protection from bed bugs is essential to keep you and your family safe from bed bugs. Whether you seek to proactively avoid a bed bug infestation or need to kill bed bugs that have already invaded your bed, one of the best lines of defense is a mattress and box spring encasement set. Bed Bugs are turning up everywhere, especially the New York State Metropolitan area!
Our package includes a set of mattress encasements, 4 climb ups which are plastic devices place under each bed post, and a monitor placed under the mattress that is encased, they will not prevent, but simply alert you to any signs of a bed bugs infestation upon routine inspection.
All mattress encasements are Hypo Allergenic and reduce Dust Mites, protects against Bed Bugs, are Waterproof, stretchable with a zipper hook and will also Protect Mattresses from stains. We have pillowcases as well available upon request.
Contact us today if you are interested!
Posted on December 22, 2011 with No Comments
Does Lysol Kill Bed Bugs?
Similarly to common insecticide spray, Lysol itself will kill the bed bugs only if you sprayed directly on the bugs with it. Areas sprayed and treated with this disinfectant will only keep bed bugs away while it is still wet otherwise once it dries, the bed bugs will return again.
Does Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs?
Alcohol will kill bed bugs on contact and can be apply similarly like a bed bug spray. While it can be use temporaily as a bed bug repellent, it need to be used often to control an infestation since it does not remain long enough on the surfaces to continue killing the bugs. As such, it is not a very effective way to get rid of bed bugs permanently.
Does Bleach Kill Bed Bugs?
While bleach does kill bed bugs, the method is not recommended. Bleach will ruin carpet, furniture, mattresses and paint as well as also cause irritation to your skin. It is best to limit its use for killing bed bugs in items you can launder and hard surfaces that are bleach safe.
Does Boric Acid Kill Bed Bugs?
Boric acid is often used as an insecticide and repellent for the control of cockroaches, termites, fleas, silverfish, and many other insects. However boric acid is a stomach posion and the commerical attractants maunfactured in it to attract common insects will not work on bed bugs since bed bugs are attracted by carbon dioxide and will only feed on blood. Furthermore, boric acid is especially toxic to small children and animals and can cause serious kidney damage when accidentally consumed.
Bottom line, bed bugs are resourceful, opportunistic and are a very hardy pest and currently, there are no known medically proven bedbug-proof repellent that will work 100 percent to repel them or their bites. Creams or lotions for the skin will not stop their growing populations which can escalate into a full blown bed bug infestation within the house or apartment.
Posted on December 9, 2011 with No Comments
Live Science reports that a recent scientific discovery has revealed that in Africa sleeping mats or mattresses made out of bug repelling plants were made and being slept on to ensure a good night’s sleep. The bedding consists of thick layers of compacted stems and leaves of sedges and rushes collected from the banks of a nearby river.
The finding, published in the journal Science on Friday, comes from plant bedding that is 77,000 years old and was found in a cave in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province.
The insect-repelling capabilities of the bed suggest that ancient humans, almost 80,000 years ago, were well aware of the chemical and medicinal properties of some plants. “The leaves contained chemicals that repelled mosquitoes and other insects, so we know that they understood medicinal plants,” said Lyn Wadley, an archaeology professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The bedding would have helped reduce insect-borne disease, although early humans would not have made any connection between mosquitoes and malaria, she told Reuters.
“It was for comfort. They would have known that those leaves kept away insects and maybe other pests as well,” Wadley said.
Posted on November 8, 2011 with No Comments
Do it yourself bed bug pest control can be hazardous! JP McHale Pest Management has successful integrated pest management programs to treat bed bugs including the use of cyronite and heat treatment. Many people are turning to bed bug sprays, cans of raid and completely soaking their belongings and beds. Bed bugs are not currently known to transmit disease but the amount of chemicals that people are using can create a health risk. Even the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued a nationwide warning about do-it-yourself bed bug treatments.
If you live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and have or suspect you have bed bugs contact our office at 800-479-2284. We offer eco-friendly bed bug solutions.
Posted on November 2, 2011 with No Comments
Underside of a Bed Bug
Looking for a picture of a bed bug to identify the bug that you found?
Here is a picture of the underside of a bed bug to aid in your pest identification.
Posted on October 21, 2011 with No Comments
Bed Bug Fecal Matter & Stains: Look for stains from blood or fecal matter that bed bugs leave behind. These signs can sometimes be found on bedding. Staining does not always mean that you have bed bugs but further investigation should be conducted.
Bed Bug Exoskeleton, Cast or Shed Skins: Bed bugs often leave their dried-up cast skin as evidence! They often appear to look like dried-out bug shells.
Bed Bug Eggs: Bed bug eggs are often difficult to see with the untrained eye. You should use a magnifying glass and a flashlight if looking for these rice-sized eggs that are clear to milky in color.
Bed Bugs: Obvious signs of a bed bug infestation is to find the bug, which is often hard to do since they typically feed at night and then go into hiding.
Bed Bug Bites: If you have unexplained bite marks it may be an indicating factor that you are being bit by bed bugs. Bed bug bites often cause skin reactions, but finding the evidence is key. Many people do not have a reaction to bed bug bites at all.
Posted on October 14, 2011 with No Comments
Looking for a bug or pest related science fair project for your child? Need some fun ideas to keep your kids busy on the weekend? Pest World for Kids has lots of great science projects and they even provide everything you need to get started, from forming a question to communicating results of your experiment. The site also has pest games for kids, lesson plans for teachers and a great section on report writing!
