Eco-friendly Pest Control Archives

Affulent Homes, Do They Have Less Pest Problems?

Bigger Homes Do Have More Bugs!

In a survey of indoor arthropods, the most common house spider (arthropods) was a common and repeat tenant. Now, the scientists report that wealthier areas have a wider variety of arthropods.

In wealthy neighborhoods, the houses have a varied palate … of spiders and flies. The interiors of these homes are populated by a more diverse array of arthropods than those in less prosperous neighborhoods, a new study indicates.

The explanation for this abundance actually lies in the exterior of the home. Typically, nicer neighborhoods are also richer in species. Scientists have discovered this “luxury effect” before, in plants and outdoor animals such as lizards, bats and birds. For plants, the connection is very direct; affluent tenants have more funds to direct to landscaping, or live in lusher communities. In turn, a diverse collection of plants offers more food and habitats for animals.

Previously, the team explored 50 houses in and around Raleigh, North Carolina, and determined that more than 100 arthropod species dwell within the average home (most of these tiny occupants aren’t pests). Using data from this “arthropods of the great indoors” survey, the scientists have now investigated how landscaping and socioeconomic status can affect indoor bug diversity.

“There is a general perception that homes in poorer neighborhoods are refuge to more indoor arthropods,” the team wrote August 2 in Biology Letters. Their work indicates that this perception is off-base.

Most arthropods that show up inside are actually outdoor species that made their way in by accident. The majority of indoor arthropods were flies, spiders, beetles and ants, although the scientists also unearthed some more human-dependent critters such as dust mites. Houses in neighborhoods with an average annual income of about $33,000 had denizens from about 74 arthropod families. In neighborhoods with an average yearly income of about $176,000, a given house was likely to carry arthropods from 105 families.

The entomologists expected to find more types of arthropods in big houses with more surrounding plant cover and diversity. But in affluent neighborhoods, even houses with sparse vegetation carried a wide variety of arthropod families; simply being near other, more verdant homes gave them a boost.

Though intriguing, the survey doesn’t represent bug diversity everywhere; the scientists only sampled freestanding houses in one city. But it does show how connected the interiors of our homes are to the world outside. “The management of neighborhoods and cities can have effects on biodiversity that can extend from trees and birds all the way to the arthropod life in bedrooms and basements,” the team concluded.

If worries about insects living inside your home have you down, contact Rosie’s Pest Control for a free evaluation of your needs.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:38:26+00:00January 5th, 2017|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Tips For Pest Free Summer BBQ

Now is the the perfect time of year for barbeques, picnics, and tailgate parties. Attracted by the smell of delicious food and drinks, uninvited pests are known to invade outdoor parties and send guests running. Before you start firing up the grill, consider taking some preventative measures to contain the summer pests in your area. We’ve gathered a list of tips that you can use to enjoy an insect-free setting for your next outdoor entertaining.

To Do Before the BBQ

Check screen doors, screen windows, and screen coverings for any holes or tears that could allow entry to unwanted insects and repair them.
Certain types of light bulbs will attract insects, so use low pressure and sodium vapor lights outdoors.
Many insects are attracted to fragrances, so avoid using sweet-scented items like candles and instead use candles that are scented to repel insects or use citronella oil in your outdoor torches.
Make sure your lawn is mowed short, your flower beds are weeded, and your shrubs are groomed to prevent snakes and a variety of insects from moving in.
Use a homemade garlic spray on plants, shrubs, flowers, and grassy areas to repel insects.
Create an ant-free zone by sprinkling a border of baby powder or corn starch around your picnic table. Ants won’t cross the line!
Remove any pet food or any fruit that has fallen from trees that might attract insects.
Thoroughly inspect for wasp nests under porches, patios, decks, eaves, grills, playground equipment, etc. and get rid of them.
Consider hiring a professional pest control company like Rosie’s Pest Control to come out and spray the area you plan to use for guests.

To Keep on Hand During the BBQ

Use covers on your food until just before it is time to eat in order to limit the smells that insects are drawn to.
If possible, use cups with lids or bottles with twist off caps so that sweet, sugary drinks aren’t left open to attracts wasps and flies. Or at least try to provide clear plastic cups for your guests to use as aluminum cans and open bottles that you can’t see through are good hiding spots for flying insects.
Keep your trash can near enough so that you can regularly dispose of trash, but also far enough away from guests as trash bins can attract flies and other bugs. Additionally, be sure to continuously clean up any trash, crumbs or spills from the area.
Use box fans to not only cool the area for your guests, but because flying bugs hate breezes.
Pour some red wine into a few cups and place them surrounding your gathering area to attract any lingering fruit flies and keep them away from the actual glasses of wine that your guests drink from.

Keep Rosie’s Pest Control’s number on hand. Rosie’s will wage war on your bugs and help keep your home and yard enjoyable. 901-567-3800

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T21:46:34+00:00June 29th, 2016|Memphis Insects, Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control|Comments Off

Animal Safety Tips

This weekend is Memorial Day, complete with barbecue and fireworks. It’s important to remember, fireworks and dogs don’t mix.
Unlike people, dogs won’t associate the loud noise, flashes, and burning smell of pyrotechnics with a celebration. Fireworks will likely cause panic and anxiety in dogs. Dogs panic at the sound of fireworks and flee into the night, often winding up lost, injured, or killed.
In order to prevent your celebration from turning into a tragedy, here are our top Memorial Day pet safety tips.

1. Keep your Pet Indoors at All Times
It may seem obvious, but even if your dog is used to being outside, the resulting stress resulting from fireworks or other loud noises may cause him or her to break their restraint or jump a fence in a frenzied attempt to find safety.

2. Use Pet-Friendly Insect Repellent
The same tip applies to applying “people” sunscreen on your pet. What isn’t toxic to humans can be toxic to animals. The ASPCA lists the poisonous effects of sunscreen on your pet as, “…drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.” Meanwhile, DEET, a common insecticide in products for humans, may cause neurological problems in dogs.
3. Don’t Give Dogs Alcohol
It may seem obvious, but alcohol is extremely dangerous to dogs. Just small amounts of alcohol can cause your dog become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma, or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure. Yes, even beer is toxic; fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs (and cats).
4. Going to a Fireworks Display? Leave Your Pet at Home
The safest place for your dog is at home, not in a crowded, unfamiliar, and noisy place. The combination of too many people and loud fireworks will make your beloved pet freak out and desperately seek shelter. Locking him or her in the car is also not an option; your pet may suffer brain damage and heat stroke.
5. Have Your Dog Properly Identified
Without proper identification it is extremely difficult to retrieve a lost dog. Consider fitting your dog with microchip identification, ID tags with his or her name and your phone number, or both. It is also a good idea to have a recent picture of your dog in case you have to put up signs.
6. Keep Your Dog Away from Glow Jewelry
It might look cute, but your dog could chew up and swallow the plastic adornments. The ASPCA states that while not highly toxic, “excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.”
7. Don’t Use Fireworks Close to Dogs
While lit fireworks can pose a danger to curious dogs and potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws, even unused fireworks can be hazardous. Some fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as arsenic, potassium nitrate, and other heavy metals and we all know how curious dogs can be.
8. Don’t Give Your Dog ‘Table Food’
If you are having a backyard barbecue, you may be tempted to slip some snacks to your dog. But like beer and chocolate, there are other festive foods that could harm your pet. Onions, coffee, avocado, grapes and raisins, salt, and yeast dough are all possible hazards for dogs (and cats).
9. Lighter Fluid and Matches Are Harmful to Dogs
The ASPCA lists chlorinates as a harmful chemical substance found in most matches that, if ingested, can cause your dog difficulty in breathing, damage to blood cells, or even cause kidney disease. If exposed to lighter fluid, your pet may sustain skin irritation on contact, respiratory problems if inhaled, and gastric problems if ingested.
10. Don’t Use Citronella Insect Control Products
Oils, candles, insect coils, and other citronella-based repellents are irritating toxins to dogs, according to the ASPCA. The result of inhalation can cause severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, and ingestion can harm your pet’s nervous system.
The safest and best bet for celebrating this Memorial Day with your dogs is to exclude them from party, at least this time around. Instead, find a safe, secure spot in the home for your dog while you go out and enjoy the loud bangs, bright lights, and spectator fun. Your dog will appreciate the quiet a lot more than you’ll enjoy the noise.
Rosie’s Pest Control would like to wish you all a great weekend of celebrating the veterans that have helped secure our freedom.