There is plenty of insect food in the natural environment, but when we clear a house lot and build a home, we remove much of the natural food supply and replace it with a built environment.  Just like you Carpenter ants would rather live in a nice warm home rather than a cold wet log. With a little thought, we can limit the potential for insect infestation. Preventive practices include:

• Remove wet or decayed building elements.
• Fix and inspect for moisture problems: roof, walls, appliances and plumbing leaks
• Remove all wood that is in contact with soil in and around home.
• Separate all wood from the soil around perimeter and in crawlspace by at least 18″.
• Inspect around heat ducts and all heat producing appliances in crawl space annually.
• Do not bury wood and tree stumps on the building lot.
• Move or rotate firewood, scrap wood, and lumber away from the home.
• Remove vegetation and mulch from area next to house and out buildings.
• Avoid using rail road ties or cherry logs for landscaping.
• Avoid using foam insulation on foundation walls when possible.
• Schedule quarterly inspections, and treatments using non-replant insecticides.

Physical Differences:

First off, the Wasps, apparently are the super model of the stinger family. They have a slender body with a narrow waist, and long slender, cylindrical legs,  and appear smooth-skinned and shiny.  The boldfaced hornets, paper wasps, and the more fashion forward – Yellowjackets,  are the most common types of wasps encountered by people.

Bees- They are more of your hard working uncle Vinnie type of the stinger family. They are robust-bodied and very hairy compared with wasps. Their hind legs are flattened for collecting and transporting pollen. Although not as sleek as their wasps cousins they are  very important pollinators and play an important roll in our eco-system.

Wasps and the Picnic Basket

During the late summer and into the fall when people are trying to squeeze that one last family reunion, or vacation in before its back to school, yellow jackets become aggressive scavengers and frequently disrupt outside festivities where food or drink is served.
Control of this Diva like behavior is difficult, as there are no insecticides that effectively repel or discourage them.

The best strategy is to minimize attracting them. Wait to serve food and drink until people are ready top eat. Promptly put away food when done and throw garbage into a container with a tightly fitted lid. I also recommend to pour all pop from cans into a cup as well, to reduce the visual blocking the can lids provide for wasps when they slip into your pop can and you try taking another drink just find their antennas tickling your lip before you get stung by one for unknowingly trying to drown it! If a wasp flies into your food, wait until it flies away or gently brush it away. If you crush them , they will give off an alarm sent that will attract other wasps. Not to mention how attractive a squashed wasps looks in Aunt Ethel’s apple pie she just made for you.

The Cycle of Life

Wasps have annual colonies that last for only one year. The colony dies in the fall with only the newly produced queens surviving the winter. With the exception of honey bees which are perennial insects with colonies that survive more than one year. Honey bees form a cluster when hive temperatures approach 57 degrees  Fahrenheit. As the temperature drops, the cluster of bees become more compact and consume honey and generate heat so that those in the cluster do not freeze. Hmmm, they might be on to something, ….stop shaving and eat sweets for the winter? Uh…ok guess not. As long as honey is available the colony can withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees or lower for extended periods. Honey-cicles…hmmmm, not bad guys.

If any of these interesting facts still don’t make you feel comfortable with your flying friends, feel free to call Interstate Pest Management for more detailed info or options in thwarting our little pollinating buddies from being too much of a nuisance in your back yard. DO NOT try removing a yellow jacket nest on your own as they can be extremely aggressive at times. Let a protected professional give those guys an eviction that is safe for you and your family. Call 1-888-844-4476 for more information or free quotes.

Can’t you picture them all bundled up in a nice fluffy batch of your sub-floor insulation?

Well they could, and maybe doing just that if your home isn’t properly sealed for the winter.

Rats ~ Mice ~ Oh My!

We think about the ways to make our home weather proof this time of the year as temperatures drop below freezing. And maybe even opening the crawlspace to wrap and fix those old pipes under the house. Pest control is often over looked during this time, when we don’t see the usual insects. But failing to properly seal that crawlspace back up could be just the break outdoor pests need to make them selves at home for the holidays! A few steps to ensure security can be checked to keep pests out:

• Monthly inspection around the exterior.
• Repairing any holes or gaps in the foundation vent screens.
• Sealing cracks and gaps in the foundation.
• Having a properly fitted crawlspace access door that is kept closed.
• Sealing gaps around and under doorways and holes in walls from outside from cable wires, pipes, etc.
• Remember, if a mouse or other rodent can fit their head through, they can fit the rest of their body as well.
• Keep all pet food or bird seed stored in a sealed plastic container.
• Keep all feeding devices for birds & squirrels away from your home or yard. They are a huge buffet sign for unwanted pests to take advantage of as well.
• If there are signs of chewing, digging or scratching around the outside of your home, set out tamper proof bait stations around the exterior to bait or catch any unwanted pests before they get in.

Contacting a local pest control company such as Interstate Pest Management, to do a limited inspection is always a good idea to ensure your home security against pests. Interstate implements safe pest control, such as tamper proof containers for any necessary baiting, protecting your children and pets and barrier techniques for prevention.

Call now for a free quote!

They get into everything! Multiply rapidly and can survive for several months with out food and up to two weeks with out water. They love to travel, often climbing into luggage and hitching a ride home from college with an unsuspecting student, only to make them selves right at home at mom and dads house. There are a couple types of these “exchange students”, German, American, brown banded, oriental and the smoky brown. They range is size and color from under ½ an inch to almost 2 inches long.

Although many of the reasons roaches are attracted to certain homes are due to sanitation, or the lack there of, a lot of the times they are brought in. They can hitch a ride on a sofa, microwave, chair, television, box of stuff, brought in from the garage, a garage sale find, storage unit, or any area that might be a roach habitat.

They are extremely messy, leaving there droppings everywhere, and at times, their egg casings as well, that look like a brown tic-tac. A few things you could do to discourage roaches from hanging out at your pad is to:

• Discard any old boxes and piles of papers where they can hide.
• Use waste bin or trash cans with a tight fitting lid and keep trash in a closed plastic bag overnight.
• Fix leaky drains and faucets; roaches can live on water alone.
• Clean kitchen appliances thoroughly
• Empty pet food containers at night, or place them on the back porch or in a plastic bag.
• Vacuum regularly, and restrict food consumption to one room of the house. This will help keep roaches and other pests from spreading into other areas such as bedrooms.
• Thoroughly inspect any objects that you bring into your home, that might have questionable previous storage.

During my recent study on line for great roach tips, I came across a hilarious but truthful letter that was once posted on Craigslist( shortened for space),  …..Enjoy!

I tried to be reasonable with you. At first, we had a stable relationship. I knew you were there, and every now and then I’d see one of you, but in general you kept quiet and had the good sense to scurry for hiding when I turned the lights on. One of you periodically stepped out of line, and had to be squashed, and then everything went back to normal. If you had just continued in that manner, we could have lived this entire year in peaceful coexistence.

But no, you had to get greedy. I began to see you more frequently, and in larger numbers. Your lights-on scurry grew slower and slower and became more of a relaxed trot, then a walk. Eventually, you had the audacity to sit right where you were and shake your head feelers at me. You had gone too far. It was time for war.

However, you continued to defy all logic and reasoning, and to multiply and grow bolder. Three of you ran across my foot once; I killed two, but left one alive (but severely maimed) to tell the tale… clearly, you were beginning to affect my sanity, and I needed to up the ante in order to regain the upper hand in the battle for control of my apartment. So, I added the roach spray to my arsenal. This had little effect and made my apartment smell extremely questionable; I guess you vermin won that round.

I had no alternative; I had to buy the roach poison traps. The way these are supposed to work is this – the cockroach smells the tasty poison/food, wanders into the trap, eats, returns to his/her hiding place, and then dies. The practical result is that they should appear to vanish from your home like magic. However, you at my apartment had grown not only bold, but complacent. After eating, you all just kinda decided to hang out for a while, and as a result died in an odd sort of corpse constellation across my kitchen floor.

The destruction was horrific. The ravages of war are never pretty, and being a gentle person, part of me felt a little bit of remorse.

But now you know that it is, as they say, “on”, and I’ll push you BLEEPS all the way back to apartment 601 if I have to…

Sincerely, Fellow Apartment Dweller/Agent of your Doom “

This by far was one of the best true life scenarios I have read, and know the feelings this author has so creatively and truthfully conveyed. If this story has been a real life encounter in anyway, call Interstate Pest Management, and let them be your “Agent of Doom” against roaches!

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are the monster trucks of the ant word in the Pacific Northwest.  Big- (.25 to 1 inch long), black and noisy even. People have reported to hear them moving about in the walls at night.

Like a termite they can have wings. Swarming queens and kings have wings which they loose after mating. So they get mistaken as termites often, when winged queens are present. Remember, if its winged, black, and has a bent or “elbowed” antenna,  its a Carpenter ant. Carpenter ants are know to swarm twice a year in the Northwest, so they will be seen all over outside, or crawling in your homes during these times.

Carpenter Ant Infestation?

Seeing them during a swarm does not mean  that you have a infestation, but it is very important that you are taking steps to make sure your home is protected from them.

They have also been known to bite! Ouch!! Their powerful jaws can make quite a pinch and they release a formic acid into the bite which causes a burning sensation. But they are NOT venomous.

Carpenter ants do not eat wood, unlike termites, but they burrow and carve causing major damage to wood structures.  Carpenter ants forage for food during the night and return to the colony in the early morning hours.

Carpenter ants will cut “galleries” out, which are like little roadways or tunnels for them to move about from one section to the other of the nest. Galleries are smooth and very different from their termite counterparts, which leave mud behind in the hollowed out areas. Carpenter ants leave a sawdust like material called  frass which can help locate the nest area.

Moisture and Carpenter Ants

They are attracted to areas in or around a house that is susceptible to moisture, such as around window sills, roof eves, decks, porches, rail road ties used for landscaping, bathroom ceilings and walls. These are all areas that come in contact with moisture and often contain wood rot which is very attractive real-estate for Carpenter Ants.

Keeping your home protected from moisture damage and pests is a great way of detouring Carpenter ants from your home. Interstate Pest Management has several different programs that could be tailored to your needs, for protection and also eradication of any present Carpenter ant infestation that you may have.

Calls to local pest control companies are on the rise. And Interstate is getting a jump on the season. In an effort to bring you the best possible service and knowledge IPM sent head technician and company co-owner, Dwayne Clement to Trenton, New Jersey to the Bed Bug “University”, Bed Bug Central for an intense week of courses both in the class room and hands on training on identification and treatment. Also learning the latest in techniques and the latest chemical applications.

Thus making IPM, a Certified Bed Bug Service Provider and having someone who specializes in this increasingly common pest!

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are wingless and cannot fly or jump, but are able to enter into extremely small locations in the home because of their flattened bodies. Bed bugs can live for several weeks to several months without feeding, depending on the temperature.

Bed bugs can go without feeding for 80 to 140 days; older bed

bugs can go without feeding longer than younger ones. Adult bed bugs have been known to survive for as long as 550 days (over a year and a half!) without feeding.

Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but will also bite mammals and birds. Bed bugs typically bite at night, but if hungry enough have been known to bite during daylight. After feeding, bed bugs turn dark red and become bloated

If you feel like you may be experiencing Bed Bugs in your home, call Interstate Pest Management, Inc. for a thorough inspection and quick response! Toll Free: 1-888-844-4476

Its been great BBQ and picnic weather lately here in the greater NorthWest!  Perfect for outdoor concerts, mountain biking, swimming and many more of those fun outdoor activities we do up here and nothing could ruin a great day  with friends and family faster than a sweet little bee sting! (Or flipping your bike upside down..you know who you are)

Yellow jackets and misc. wasp calls have been on the rise this last week or so. So in honor of our poky little friends, we are giving you some ideas on keeping your family and home/yard area “sting” free!

Wasps, such as yellow jackets, do serve a useful purpose. They aid in the pollination of flowers and eat small insects around our property. For most of us, however, the bad outweighs the good. Yellow jackets, are black and yellow striped, and have long abdomens.  Yellow jackets love sweets and meat. For this reason, you’ll see them hovering around picnic tables and garbage cans, making people nervous about approaching these areas. They’re also quick to sting and don’t always need a reason. Yellow jackets are social insects. Hundreds of these insects can live in one nest. If the yellow jacket feels threatened it will aggressively defend its nest and call in reinforcements to help. Unlike the bee, yellow jackets don’t die after stinging and will sting repeatedly if they feel threatened.

OOOOUCH!!!

• In the beginning of the season, have your pest technician treat bushes and plants with an environmentally safe pesticide. This will cut off the yellow jacket’s food supply forcing them to look for a more profitable bit of property in which to do their hunting.
• Keep trashcans tightly covered. Yellow jackets are attracted to food smells.
• Throw away empty food and beverage containers and don’t leave used paper plates and cups lying around.
• Keep barbecue and picnic food covered.
• Try not to wear perfume, hairspray or any other sweet scent that can attract yellow jackets to your property. Smelling “like a flower” may not be the best idea in all social gatherings.

If you want to rid your area of these pests, you must first locate the nest. If you’re not sure where the nest is located, try and observe the yellow jackets from a safe distance. These wasps usually build their nest in crevices in porches and decks or in the ground. For your own safety, don’t approach the nest.  Leave that to trained professionals with adequate protective gear. Think of Sting’s song…”Don’t stand so, Don’t stand so close to me!”

When facing a large army of yellow jackets, it’s best not to take any chances.

Don’t pour gasoline or other chemicals into underground nests. This is dangerous, illegal and not very smart. If the nest is in the cracks of your walls, don’t use caulk or foam (or anything else) to seal the crack. Yellow jackets can gnaw their way through sheet rock, wood and many other substances and may find their way into your home. It’s best to at least keep them on the outside of the house where they present less of a threat. If you have yellow jackets in the walls of your home, call an exterminator.

With the exception of some queens, the yellow jackets will die off once the weather gets chilly. They almost never reuse their nests. Don’t let a few yellow jackets force you to spend summer time indoors. Following a few precautions can discourage these backyard pests from paying your family a visit. Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the warm weather outdoors?

If you need professional assistance or have additional questions about Yellow Jackets or other stinging insects, please feel free to call our office for a free quote for wasp removal at 1-888-844-4476.

SPIDERS! IPM has had a surge of spider related calls this past month. It is unknown as to why the spiders have been on an incline this year, with reports of larger than normal amounts of webs, in door ways, vents, eves, bushes , windows, to finding many, creeping around the interior of homes.

The most common being brought into our office in jars and spotted in homes is a garden, funnel weaving spider that is native to the NorthWest:

Species Tegenaria domestica - Funnel Weaver

Other Names; Common House Spider (in the Pacific Northwest), Barn Funnel Weaving Spider, Drain Spider (becomes stuck in sinks and can’t crawl out)

Coloration of the domestic house spider varies from grayish-brown to dark chocolate brown. Most domestica appear at first glance as smaller, darker spider (when compared to its cousins). It has banding or stripes on its legs (which can be very faint), but will distinguish it from the hobo spider.

Habitat : Often darker areas, such as flower beds, wood piles, and areas where it can weave a funnel-web. When it is found in homes, it often is found in the basement, in the darker recesses such as closets and corners. It is a nocturnal spider, so generally it is discovered when the lights are turned on and the spider darts for cover (and/or its web). These spiders are not seasonal, but rather, can be found year round (if in a survivable environment). They are generally more scared of you than you are of them, but will show aggression if cornered or feels threatened. This spider is not dangerous to people, but is often confused with the T. agrestis (Hobo Spider), which may or may not be dangerous. If you are unsure of the exact species, just be mindful of this confusion, and use caution when dealing with the spider.

Which brings us to T. Domestica’s bad boy cousin:

Tegenaria agrestis – Hobo Spider

Aggressive house spider (incorrect name, but commonly used). Please see below.

A common misconception is that agrestis means “aggressive”, giving it the name “aggressive” house spider. This spider is not aggressive, and would rather flee than fight, unless it feels threatened without the option to escape. (This misconception is often used to help fuel fears about the potential hazards of this spider.)

Size: All measurements are for only the body, and do not include the legs.
Female: 11-15 mm (1/2 – 2/3 inch);
Male: 8-11 mm (1/4 – 1/3 inch).

Identification: Very difficult to ID from photos. The actual spider (not a photo) needs to be examined by an expert for a definite identification. Often your local university extension office, agricultural office or Interstate Pest Management, will have resources to assist you (with identification and control).

There is no dimorphism in color or markings. The appearance of hobo spiders is not unattractive, but their coloration is rather subdued, being a mixture of brown and rust earth shades. They have a herringbone pattern on the top side of their abdomens. Although most Agelenidae have very “hairy” looking legs, the legs of this spider are fairly smooth.

Often, it is easier to determine if the spider is not a hobo, rather than determine with certainty that it is a hobo. Both have been identified by our office to be fairly common in the Portland, Clark County and Cowlitz County areas. Although, Tengenaria Domestica is much more common than the actual Hobo Spider.

If you are having a concern about keeping these furry friends out of your home or have seen recent activity, IPM would be happy to give you a free estimate today! There is a one time treatment option that comes with a limited 3 month warranty available or a Eco-Science program that covers all of your standard nuisance pests including the spiders, that has an initial set up fee and a minimal charge quarterly. All in-between calls are no charge!

Call TODAY for prices and appointment availability!

1-888-844-4476

PS. This is what troops face in IRAQ….

Camel Spiders….Gotta love the USA!

Attraction

Some homes are more attractive to Boxelders than others, while neighbors may have fewer numbers. This usually depends on the amount of sun exposure your home receives.  Boxelders like warm areas and find buildings with a large southern or western exposure most appealing. Colors of buildings don’t seem to be a factor as they can be found on all color homes. As the weather cools, Boxelders squeeze into cracks and crevices around your home. They often end up inside. They are often found along window sills. While you may see them for longer periods, individually they only survive for a few days to up to a week. Other boxelder bugs end up in sheltered walls, attics and similar areas where they can hangout until it warms up to their liking.

Identification

Although shaped much like their cockroach cousins (long, oval shape) they are snazzier dressers. They are black or dark brown in color with red or orange markings and three stripes on their prothorax (the area right behind there head). Their wings lay flat over their bodies, over lapping each other in an “x” fashion. They have 3 legs on each side and med.-long antennas.

Feeding habits & “hook-ups”

Box elder bugs emerge from over wintering sites during spring as the weather starts to warm up. Adults feed on low vegetation and ground seeds during the spring and early summer and a couple weeks later, they look for a romantic prospect, and the rest is well, not for a family article. In mid July, they move to female seed-bearing box elder trees (thus the name) where they lay eggs on trunks, branches and leaves. Box elders bugs may also feed on maple or ash trees. Box elders love a good kegger. They have piercing-sucking mouth parts and feed mainly by sucking juices from the box elder tree.  In late summer months, box elder bugs leave the trees from where they were feeding to find a nice place to snuggle in for the winter.

Management

Prevention is the key to success. And if that doesn’t work, bust out the shop vac until your exterminator gets there. Smashing the bugs is not recommended as they are quite odorous. There are steps you can take to keep them from entering your home from the start.

• Repair or replace damaged window, door, soffit vents and roof screens.
• Repair or replace bathroom and kitchen fans.
• Install door sweeps for all exterior entry doors.
• Seal areas where cable TV wires, phone lines and other utility wires, pipes, dryer vents and similar objects enter buildings with caulk.

You may want to have your home treated by a professional exterminator around the exterior of your home and around window sills and doorways on the interior if you have a history of invasions and /or large numbers are present. Interstate Pest Management would be happy to help “shut down the boxelder party” or at least give you immediate relief of a home invasion.