Pest Controls Important Benefits by Brian Reynolds : Guest Blogger

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

by Brian Reynolds

Importance of Pest Management

Controlling pests is a very significant task in the United States. Over all it is a protection from harmful insects and costly damages from insects. When people hear “pest management” or “pest control”, they are typically just assuming the eradication of roaches, ants, spiders, or fleas. In fact, pest management is involved with the safety of our health and our foods. It is vital to have a system of control for pests for the safety of the overall public.

The pest management industry is large, with a total of 18,155 companies serving the public. With that number in mind, an average of pest control service personnel is around 145,000! The United Sates is estimated to spend slightly more than $6.31 Billion in control services. It is a large responsibility to protect the public from the risks involved in pests and costly damages.

Why is Pest Management Important

■Nearly 20% of the world’s food supply is consumed by rodents.
■Rodents are prime carriers for dangerous pests such as fleas, ticks, and mites. This creature carries diseases that are transmittable to humans and animals.
■Fires and deaths incurred from them are caused by rodents through the U.S.
■500,000 people are admitted to the emergency room from insect bites and stings. Nearly two million Americans are allergic to insects that sting. The number of deaths from insect stings range from 40-150 people. (Facts contributed from American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
■Pests such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can transmit deadly diseases to humans including: malaria, plague, Lyme Disease, and West Nile Virus.
■Termites alone cost Americans an average of $5 Billion in damage repair.
■Bed bugs were until recently scarce. Pest Control professionals now are working together to diminish the population of bed bugs again.
■More than 45,000 people are bitten each year by rats leading to diseases like rat bite fever, salmonella, the plague, trichinosis, and leptospirosis.
■If it was not for pest management practice, the food crops would be in danger with pests consuming more than 50% of the crop.
■Public health officials utilize insects for research to better the lives of humans in health matters such as better vaccines and pharmaceuticals, sanitation, and the ability to master the pest control products. Life expectancy has increased over the years of research and modifications in the health fields. For example a baby born in 1900 was expected to have a life span of 49 years compared to 2012 where a baby is given 78 years expectancy.
■Without pest management control practices, food sanitation, food regulation, and health regulations would not be achievable.
■Cockroaches have allergens that many people (7-8% of the general public) are allergic to. According to recent studies and the AAFA, the third leading cause in a child’s asthma is the roach allergen! Cockroaches are considered to be among the filthiest insects in existence as well as the fly. Millions of pathogens and bacterial cells are found on a roach.
Get Protected from Dangerous Pests and Costly Damage Repairs

Keeping up with a routine pest control service is important to have the ideal protection for pests. Not just the sight of insects are bad, but they are considered dangerous and provide unsanitary environments when present indoors. Residents should always seek professional help with any pest issue. You can save yourself money and time by dealing with pests ahead of time.

Health risks are always at hand with any pest infestation. Reynolds Pest Management, Inc recommends any person to immediately control the pests present and sanitize surfaces in which you or your family comes into contact with to prevent illnesses.

Severe Tick Iinfestation

tick,ticks, control, infestation

Ticks infest Dog’s Ear. Many possible diseases could be transmitted to the dog. Luckily for health advancements over the years, treatments are available to most diseases.

termite, termites, damage

Termite Damaged Rafter
Termite Damages Average $5 Billion Annually in the U.S.

Reynolds Pest Management, Inc.
Brian Reynolds – 772-334-7007 – Port St Lucie, FL

 

About Brian Reynolds

Hello, and thank you for visiting my blog, my name is Brian Reynolds, and my experience as a blogger comes from more than 20 years as a State Certified Operator in the pest control, lawn care, and termite control industry. As a business owner it is necessary to understand all aspects of this unique customer service business. Interaction with customers is very strong, and a knowledge of the many different aspects in the pest control field is what makes it interesting and challenging.

  • Certified Pest Control Operators Association
  • Florida & National Pest Management Association
  • Entomological Society of America
  • The American Entomological Society
  • Chamber of Commerce
Posted in Beucher & Son Termite and Pest Control, Florida Ant Control, Florida Bed Bug Control, Florida Cockroach Control, Florida Drywood Termite Control, Florida Fire Ants, Florida Flea Control, Florida Mosquito, Florida Mouse Control, Florida Rodent Control, Florida Subterranean Termite Control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TERMITE ALERT: Nasutitermes corniger, a dangerous termite, arrives in South Florida

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

cARI

•David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel

A uniquely dangerous termite that tunnels up the sides of houses has turned up in South Florida, leading agriculture officials to organize a campaign to wipe it out before it can spread.

The Nasutitermes corniger termite, which is native to the Caribbean, lives above ground, builds brown tubes up the outside walls of houses and shows a particular taste for hardwood. The insect’s above-ground habitat means it would avoid direct competition with native, subterranean termites and raise the total number of termites that could live in the region by 25 to 30 percent, said Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, professor of entomology at the University of Florida.

“They forage on the open floor, which is something you don’t see unless you live in the tropics,” he said. “They love to eat hardwoods. They ate the handles off garden implements, rakes and hoes — turned them into shredded wheat. If this thing really keeps going, it’s going to be a problem for tropical Florida, from West Palm Beach to the Keys.”

A dozen field workers from the Florida Department of Agriculture on Tuesday will blitz neighborhoods in Dania Beach, the only city so far in which the termites have been found, treating 42 properties that harbor the insects. The termite’s beach ball-sized nests, made of termite excrement and constructed above ground, will be sprayed, as well as the foraging tubes running up trees and houses.

On Southwest 25 th Avenue, where the termites have been found in several houses and trees, Martha Rosen said she and her husband first noticed strange dark lines going up the sides of their house. Soon they realized what was causing them.

“They got into the tool shed and ate our stack of firewood,” she said. “We went to pick it up and there was no wood left. They’re very aggressive. My trees look like they’re almost dead. ”

The species first showed up in Dania Beach in 2001. Aggressive spraying was thought to have eradicated it, but then it turned up last summer. They are thought to have originally arrived on wooden pallets brought from the Caribbean to a nearby marina, said Michael Page, chief of the Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control for the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Mark Fagan, spokesman for the state agriculture department, said the termite was found in the walls of the International Game Fish Association, just west of Interstate 95 and south of Griffin Road. Since then, he said, they have been found on 42 properties in neighborhoods for about a square mile around that site.

Fagan said the eradication work will take about four days.

The termites are ant-like in appearance. Unlike the 20 or so local species of termite, they can be seen crawling along the ground. If you think you have them on your property, call the Florida Department of Agriculture hotline at 888-397-1517.

“We’re trying to prevent another termite from being established,” Fagan said. “We’ve got plenty of termites in Florida.”

A single nest could harbor 1 million or more termites, Scheffrahn said. With the current infestation of 100 to 120 colonies, there are already more than 100 million of the termites in the area, he said.

He said “time is of the essence,” because any day the winged termites could take to the air to establish new nests.

Posted in Florida Subterranean Termite Control, Florida Subterranean Termite Treatment, Florida Subterranean Termites, Florida Termite damage, Florida Termite Inspection | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Squirrels Start Fires That Burn Pastor’s Home And 3 Others In Florida

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

The Huffington Post  |  By

Squirrel

 
 
 
 
Bob Calvert’s home was burned to the ground Tuesday after a squirrel allegedly started a fire nearby.

 

 

They’ve gone completely nuts!

Squirrels in southwestern Florida are causing sparks to fly on electrical lines that ignite easily in the area’s dry conditions. One of the bucktoothed rodents caused a fire that burned down a Buckingham pastor’s house.

A squirrel on Tuesday ran along a high-voltage line and jumped to another line, creating an arc of electricity that lit up a nearby brush. That fire spread and razed Sunshine Worship Center pastor Bob Calvert’s home, ABC 7 reported.

“My sister… I was on the phone with her. I told her everything was going to be okay, that house wasn’t going to burn and then the next thing we know, the fire did pick up and everything went up in flames,” Calvert’s son Dave told NBC 2.

Firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but couldn’t stop the blaze.

“I got here early this morning by myself, and I just bawled, Dave Calvert said.

Squirrels were fingered for three other brush fires in the area in four days — though some stations reported that officials in Lee County are wary of blaming the rodents.

That said, a dead, burned squirrel was found near Calvert’s home.

 Link to video: http://www.abc-7.com/global/category.asp?c=170963&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6982190

Posted in Florida Squirrels | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

LifeintheRat’sHole.com receives the FRUGAL DAD Award for Excellence in Pest Control Blogging!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

 

Folks, we have done it again! Life in the Rat’s Hole has received yet another online award for its blogging excellence. Congratulations to all the other pest control bloggers who have worked hard to receive such an honor!

 BTW, if you like pest blogs, please check out the others. I especially like the Probest blog and Pest Cemetary blogs….seeya!

Frugal Dad’s Top Pest Control Blogs

373388 174945962847 1960655890 n ProBest Blog receives the FrugalDad award on Top Pest BlogsWe all, no matter if we live in an apartment or house, rented or owned, have to deal with pests. If you haven’t yet, I can assure you, your time will come. For those of you who have gone through any kind of pest situation know how frustrating and often times expensive it can be. That’s why we’ve gone through and listed in one convenient place Frugal Dad’s Top Pest Control Blogs.

Covering topics ranging from general information, to specific tips and hints for dealing with the various pests you may come across, these blogs are at once highly informative and frequently entertaining, taking everything in stride.

The blogs we feature are from authors as varied as the Entomology Department at University of Kentucky and the Nebraska IPM School to advice from the most popular pest control companies like Termidor and Sprague. Most of the best money-saving advice comes from the pest control companies themselves, while the best general information often comes from the blogs that don’t necessarily offer services, but link to places that do.

Whatever information you’re looking for, we’re positive you’ll find it below. Just browse through the featured articles and enjoy!

1. Pest World is a helpful resource for learning about the latest news in regards to pests and rodents. They provide information about identifying pests as well as strategies for dealing with or preventing infestation.
Popular Post: Don’t Let Pantry Pests Invade Your Holiday Recipes

2. The Daily Entomologist provides helpful knowledge about insects from the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology. In the posts, they discuss upcoming events as well as information about these fascinating creatures.
Popular Post: Sept. 8 120 Year Celebration

3. Rentokil is an international resource for pest control and information. The provide articles about various types of insects and tips for dealing with them.
Popular Post: Giant Spiders Are Taking Over Our Planet

4. Nebraska IPM School discusses various methods of pest control management. The company also educates and trains future pest control professionals.
Popular Post: Bed Bugs Are Big News!

5. Truly Nolen shares fascinating and helpful information about pests and rodents. They also provide the latest news and developments in the war on bed bugs.
Popular Post: 2012: Year of the bed bug war

6. ABC Home and Commercial is a family-owned pest control company with several decades of experience. On their blog they share tips and advice about dealing with pests as well as information about landscaping and home maintenance.
Popular Post: Natural Solutions for Austin Safe Pest Control

7. Termidor is a professional termite control product with proven results. On their site, the company shares information about their products as well as advice for dealing with termites.
Popular Post: Save Time and Money

8. AZ Pest Control is a pest control company with decades of experience and glowing reviews. On their blog they share helpful information about infestations that their community needs to know.
Popular Post: Africanized Killer Bee Control

9. Arrow Exterminators offers helpful tips about maintaining a pest-free home. Their articles are entertaining as well as informative.
Popular Post: Not a Creature was Stirring. Not Even a Mouse!

10. Assured Environments is a pest control and extermination company with 50+ years of experience. Their blog provides information about contests as well as exciting company developments.
Popular Post: Assured Environments Launches Digital Billboard, Facebook Sweepstakes With $5,000 Prize

11. Bulwark Exterminating shares information about pests specific to certain areas where readers may live within the U.S. They also share information about their technology and a Home Assessment to figure out tips specific to one’s own needs.
Popular Post: House Mouse

12. Clark Pest Control is one of the largest family-owned and operated pest control companies in the US. They offer helpful information about a variety of pests and advice about dealing with them.
Popular Post: Bed Bug Conference Tour 2012 is just around the corner

13. Insects in the City offers interesting insights into the pest control industry. They also share expertise in various insects; scorpions, spiders, termites and ants. This is a helpful resource for pest information.
Popular Post: Verdict in Utah Deaths

14. NW Exterminating has more than 20 years of experience in pest control in southern Arizona. They share interesting information about the process of pest control as well as helpful information about seasonal pests and things to watch for.
Popular Post: Caveman Pest Control

15. PestPac Software allows pest control companies with helpful resources for them to achieve their goals. They offer industry information about new products and developments.
Popular Post: Marathon Data Systems – Google Maps Powered VRM for Pest Pac Available

16. Plunkett’s Pest Control offers incredibly helpful information to readers about identifying pests, quotes, the drawbacks of not hiring a professional, and news about seasonal intruders. Their blog posts detail strategies for infestation prevention as well as addressing common pest questions.
Popular Post: Study Shows Bed Bugs Don’t Like Hairy Humans

17. ProBest offers customizable services in pest control and a Wood Infestation Report for homebuyers and sellers. Their blog posts detail information about news and tips about pests as well as industry information.
Popular Post: Illegal Pesticides Sold In NY

18. Rose Pest Solutions offers and incredible 150 years of pest control experience to customers. They share with readers helpful insights into avoiding infestation and what to do if it occurs.
Popular Post: What Every Mom Needs to Know About Bed Bugs

19. Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions shares helpful advice about spotting and identifying pests as well as seasonal and regional information. Their posts are helpful and interesting to read.
Popular Post: Why Mouse Traps Aren’t Enough to Solve Your Problem

20. Sprague is a pest control company serving the northwest region of the continental United States. They strive to employ environmentally sound method of pest control by reducing the use of pesticides. They also offer helpful advice on their blog about dealing with different pests.
Popular Post: Putting the bite on bedbugs

21. Wildlife Control Supplies offers information about wildlife control and animal handling in their informative blog. Their blog details information about legislation as well as and ecological effects of wildlife control.
Popular Post: Rodenticides affected by EPA’s Risk Mitigation Ruling

22. Adams’s Pest Control has an excellent reputation for providing superb customer service. Their blog contains helpful and informative posts about dealing with pests and sustaining health.
Popular Post: How to Treat for Mosquito

23. Action Pest Controller uses tested methods of pest control with the environmental impact in mind. Their blog is full of helpful information about avoiding infestation.
Popular Post: Spring Brings A Lot More Than Just Showers And Flowers… Carpenter Ants Come Too!

24. APM Entomologist shares his decade plus of experience as a board certified Entomologist with readers with information about dealing with a variety of critters. Also available on this blog is interesting quips about the fascinating world of insects.
Popular Post: Cool video of Altriset-treated Termites

25. All Florida Bee Removal is owned and operated by a licensed pest control operator and entomologist, Richard Martyniak. On his blog, he offers information about bees and hornets as well as promotions.
Popular Post: But I Know these bees aren’t Africanized Killer Bees!

26. American Pest Control offers readers interesting insights into insects and pest control. Also available on their blog are helpful D.I.Y. tips for preventing invasion.
Popular Post: Termite Chewing Technology

27. American Pest has been serving homes and businesses with their pest control needs since 1925. Their blog posts offer helpful advice about protecting people from harmful infestation.
Popular Post: Pathogens linked to Colony Collapse Disorder

28. Arizona Bug Lady has 30+ years of experience in the pest control industry. Her blog provides fascinating information about insects as well as information about seasonal insect issues.
Popular Post: Experts Warn Scorpion Stings On the Rise as Weather Heats Up

29. Arizona’s Termite Expert is an excellent resource for learning about the different kinds of termites. Their posts are thorough and helpful in sharing ideas for preventing big problems with infestation.
Popular Post: Arizona Termite Prevention

30. Bed Bugs and Beyond offers trusted, unbiased information for pest control professionals about news in the industry. Their posts include insights into what techniques and which ones don’t.
Popular Post: Bed Bug Myths Busted!

31. Life in the Rat’s Hole utilizes several techniques for preventing pest invasion in clients’ homes. They also offer helpful information and advice about dealing with a pest invasion.
Popular Post: What is IPM (Integrated Pest Management)?

32. Bird B Gone shares helpful service and advice about solving pest bird problems. Their blog posts include interesting, helpful, and humorous information sure to keep your attention.
Popular Post: Chennai Airport to Hire Agency to Study Spike in Late Night Bird-hits

33. Bug Busters USA has been named by the Pest Control Technology Media Group on one of the “Top 100 Companies in Nation.” They offer information on different risk factors for infestation on their blog and new information on changes in insect populations.
Popular Post: Flea Populations on the Rise

34. Pest Cemetery sharing information about dealing with and eliminating pest problems. From the expert advice from a certified Entomologist with two decades of experience, readers can ask questions to understand what is plaguing them.
Popular Post: Pincer Bugs AKA Earwigs

35. ChemTec Pest Control is a family-owned pest control company with 80 years of experience responding to customer concerns. They offer helpful and informative advice as well as interesting knowledge about small critters.
Popular Post: How to Spot a Bed Bug Bite

36. Collins Pest Management offers a science-based system for managing pest infestations and education about sanitation. Their blog posts are informative and captivating.
Popular Post: Changing Seasons – Termites are back!!

37. Connor’s Pest Protection offers fascinating information about insects and other potential pests. Their blog disputes myths and common misconceptions about the little critters.
Popular Post: 3 Kinds of Stinging Insects

38. Daimer Industries offers helpful information about home cleaning and steam cleaners. Their posts detail information about understanding what features are needed when purchasing a steam cleaner.
Popular Post: The Unsurpassed Hardware Specifications for Steam Cleaners

39. Eco Green is a non-toxic, ecologically safe cleaning chemical company. Their posts feature details about why it is important to by green products and information about their chemicals.
Popular Post: Why Green Chemicals are a Must

40. EnviroPest has been a family-owned and operated pest control company for over 50 years. Their posts offer helpful information about bugs and insects as well as advice for dealing with them.
Popular Post: Look Out For Bed Bugs After The Holidays

41. Get Rid of Bed Bugs offers interesting knowledge about Bed Bugs and advice about getting rid of them. Their posts also include news and information about outbreaks, which is helpful to readers.
Popular Post: Quiet commercials, bed bugs and Chi Chi Rodriguez await Congress

42. Griffin Pest Solutions has been managing pests in commercial & residential facilities since 1929. Their expertise is apparent in their helpful and informative posts.
Popular Post: Bed Bug Travel Tips

43. Gunter Pest Management offers readers informative posts about how pests could affect them. They also share customer reviews and company news.
Popular Post: Gunter Wins Another Award

44. Hearts Consulting Group offers pest control companies a resource for improving their business. Their posts detail changes in the industry as well as advice for refining practices.
Popular Post: I am NOT an exterminator!

45. Heron Lawn & Pest Control is the fastest growing company of its kind in the United States. They share advice about preventing potential home problems as well as company and industry news.
Popular Post: Cold weather is here!!! It’s time to Winterize your lawn with winter applications

46. HomePro is a family owned pest control business that shares with readers helpful tips about protecting homes and families from pest invasion. Their humorous and insightful ideas are interesting and informative.
Popular Post: Can I get termites from mulch?

47. Hulett environmental services shares in-depth expertise and experience with readers, advice about protecting families and homes. They share interesting and advantageous posts regularly.
Popular Post: Add us to your Google+ Circles

48. Illinois Bed Bug Dog shares insightful information about safeguarding your home from pest invasion. Their site also features an adorable dog who happens to be their company mascot.
Popular Post: No to “DIY” Bed Bug Elimination!

49. NoPests is the blog of JPMcHale Pest Management, which has been in business for 40+ years. They share a plethora of advice and information about protecting ones home from annoying and harmful critters.
Popular Post: New York Pest Control Blog

50. Massey Services has been serving customers for over 75 years and shares their helpful insights into protecting families from pest invasion. Their down-to-earth approach at informing readers about potential problems is enlightening.
Popular Post: Termite Swarm Season Is Here

How do you plan on avoiding the pest problem? Do you have secret pest control tips? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Beucher & Son Termite and Pest Control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chocolate Allergies Linked to Cockroach Parts

Posted on April 2, 2012 by

Life’s Little Mysteries Staff

CREDIT: Andre Maritz | Dreamstime

Most people who are allergic to chocolate aren’t having a reaction to cocoa or any of chocolate’s other official ingredients. No, the flare ups are most likely triggered by the ground-up cockroach parts that contaminate every batch.

According to ABC News, the average chocolate bar contains eight insect parts. Anything less than 60 insect pieces per 100 grams of chocolate (two chocolate bars’ worth) is deemed safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration.

Allergists say most foods contain natural contaminants. Aside from chocolate, cockroach parts also make their way into peanut butter, macaroni, fruit, cheese, popcorn and wheat. The roach bits can affect people with asthma, as well causing migraines, cramps, itching or hives in people who are allergic to them.

The first cockroach allergy was reported in 1943, and skin testing for cockroaches began in 1959. Cockroach allergies can be treated with allergy shots that contain trace amounts of the insect. [Could Edible Bugs Solve World Hunger?]

According to Morton Teich, an allergist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, contamination by cockroaches and their droppings is unavoidable, because it happens at cocoa beans’ source — the farms where they are produced. Preventing them from infiltrating the harvest would require the use of more pesticides, which Teich says are much worse for you than consuming a few extra bug parts.

Avoiding insects in your food is “almost impossible,” Teich told ABC. “You probably would have to stop eating completely.”

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Posted in Cockroaches, Diseases from Insects, Florida Cockroach Control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Florida frontline for new GM mosquito tests?

Posted on April 1, 2012 by
Saturday 31 March 2012

Tom Clarke Science Editor
tom clarke

A UK company has developed a strain of genetically modified mosquito that could drastically reduce diseases like dengue fever. But are Florida’s residents prepared to trial the GM insect in Key West?

The tourist haven of Florida’s Key West may soon be playing host to a totally new kind of visitor: genetically modified mosquitoes, engineered in a British laboratory to prevent the spread of tropical disease.

The technology has the potential to control deadly mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever, without the cost and ecological damage that results from using insecticides. But as with any GM technology, opponents warn the insects could do far more harm than good.

A plan to introduce the insects to this southernmost point in the continental United States promises to make it the frontline in a new test of the public’s acceptance of genetic modification.

Currently the authorities in Key West, like mush of the southern United States, spend millions each year controlling mosquitoes. A particular concern is the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti which can spread sometimes deadly dengue fever virus.

Dengue is largely confined to the tropics where it infects more than 50 million people each year. For most it causes a severe and painful fever, but around 25 thousand people die annually, many of them children.

In 2009 Key West had a minor dengue outbreak that coincided with the emergence of resistance to insecticides among local mosquitoes. Concerned about the impact of a future dengue outbreak on tourism, authorities looked to the new GM mosquito being developed by a small Didcot-based start up, Oxitec.

Read more: GM mosquito battles dengue fever

‘Stealth bomber’

The idea is based on a tried and tested method of insect pest-control: sterilisation. A gene is inserted into the mosquitoes that when it is expressed in the following generation, causes the developing offspring to die.

In the lab, the gene is kept silent by an antibiotic added to the insect’s food. But in the environment, in the absence of antibiotic, the gene is activated. Oxitec’s strategy is to release only male mosquitoes which do not bite humans. If enough are released, all the wild female mosquitoes will breed with the engineered ones. The company claim a field trial in the Cayman Islands in 2010 reduced the dengue mosquito population by 80 per cent.

 

Some people call it playing God. I call it good management. Dr Michael Doyle

 

“It’s like the smart bomb or stealth bomber of mosquito control,” says Dr Michael Doyle, director of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Authority. Aedes aegypti is notorious for avoiding insecticide sprays and other control methods. It can breed in tiny amounts of standing water often in gardens and under homes. Because the GM mosquito targets others, it gets around that problem, he said.

As a result, it has less impact on other insect species. “You can go in and remove the species that are bad and allow the species that may have no effect on humans to play out their role in the environment,” he said. “Some people call that playing God. I call it good management,”

Potential risks

But others don’t see it that way. Anti-GM campaigners have already begun to mobilise opposition in Key West. “Oxitec is a company that is pushing ahead to commercialise this technology without really doing a thorough risk assessment or properly engaging the public in the potential risks,” says Dr Helen Wallace of Genewatch.

 

Oxitec is pushing ahead to commercialise this technology without really doing a thorough risk assessment. Dr Helen Wallace, Genewatch

 

Campaigners like Wallace argue Oxitec haven’t properly informed people about the potential for risk of releasing female GM mosquitoes, or evidence that some offspring do survive the fatal effects of the inserted gene.

They are also concerned about whether antibiotics in the environment could allow some mosquitoes with the gene to survive. That presents the possibility of engineered mosquitoes biting someone, or the released mosquitoes evolving resistance to the gene supposed to kill them.

They accuse Oxitec of moving too fast with the technology before these questions have been addressed.

Read more: A brief history of GM

Safe, sustainable and beneficial?

The company’s CEO, Hadyn Parry, strongly defends his company’s technology as safe and well-studied, arguing it will be independent scrutiny that ultimately decides whether it goes ahead or not. “It’s up to us to prove our case, and its up to the regulators to deem whether our case is safe, sustainable and is likely to prove a benefit,” he said.

In his view, a vocal minority could delay poorer countries a technology that has a real chance of helping them. “You’ve got 50 to 100 million getting dengue each year with symptoms, severity and geographic spread all getting worse – how slow does anyone want us to go?” The company is already conducting field trials in Brazil and is in talks about others in Panama and Malaysia.

 

You’ve got 50 to 100 million getting dengue each year. How slow does anyone want us to go? Hadyn Perry, Oxitec

 

The authorities in Key West want the US regulator to rule on the mosquitoes within the next year. One current obstacle is that no regulatory body has jurisdiction over a technology as new as a genetically modified biting insect.

If the US regulator does decide to give a green light to lab-engineered mosquitoes, however, it would set an important global precedent. The US regulator has international recognition and its decisions are often accepted by other countries. That would likely help Oxitec to move into more dengue-affected countries in Asia and South America.

But if they say no, critics fear it could be more than a setback for Oxitec. Advances in lab-engineered insects to control other, even more important diseases like malaria could be delayed by decades, they say.

More on this story

 

Posted in Beucher & Son Termite and Pest Control, Florida Mosquito, Florida Mosquito Control, Florida Mosquitoes and their Control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The weather is swarmer and bringing out the swarmers… : Guest Blogger Keith V. Birkemeyer

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

The weather is swarmer and bringing out the swarmers…  Africanized Bees that is!

Wow we have had at least 12 calls in the last few days on bees swarming, so I thought a little bee information should be spread.

  1. Africanized Honeybees (AHB) aka “Killer Bees” look just like European Honeybees (EHB).
  2. (AHB) swarm frequently up to 10 times more often than (EHB).
  3. (AHB) more aggressive, respond in greater numbers, will pursue for 1/4 mile and possibly wait for you if you jump into water.
  4. (AHB) are probably not mean per se, they are just more prone or sensitive  to noises or vibrations.
  5. (AHB) can remain agitated  for over a hour and may attack any curious bystander or pet.
  6. The American Medical Association (AMA) says that 7 stings per pound can be lethal, but remember 1 sting can kill you if you are allergic.
  7. If you are hiking, (AHB) will bump you sometimes to let you know you may be close to their hive/colony.
  8. Just like any unforeseen pest, anything can be dangerous and deadly but so far only 5 human deaths (AZ) can be connected to (AHB).
  9. Check your home monthly for sign of pests and if you see bees call a Pest Management Professional – this IS NOT a Do It Yourself option!
  10. If you decide to DIY – the number to call is 911 or  Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222

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Posted in Guest Blogger - Keith V. Birkemeyer | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Florida Mole Identification | Control : Guest Blogger Brian Reynolds

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

Florida Mole Identification | Control

 Are you noticing damage to your lawn and flowers?  It could be Moles. They will tear up a yard when searching for more places to tunnel or look for food. As soon as you notice damage you should act fast, Moles can up root your grass one foot per minute!  Your lawn could be ruined over night.

Moles are often mistaken for a rodent when in fact they are relatives to insect feeders or insectivores just like the hedgehog. You may notice raised soil in your lawn that is the underground tunnel the Moles will travel in search of food. Their diet consists of earthworm and insect larvae (grubs).

moles,molesFlorida Moles

Identify Moles in Your Yard

Moles usually stay underground so you may never see the critter ruining your lawn but if you do you will notice they are covered in brown or grey fur and have no ears. The average size of a Mole is 4-9 inches; they have large claws with pink feet and tail.

Mole Damage to Yards

tunneling in lawn, moles,damageExtensive Damage From Moles

Moles can damage a yard very quickly, they tunnel through the soil and will damage flowerbeds or anything else in its way. Moles prefer cool moist soil which is where you will see most of the damage to your yard as this soil is easier to tunnel through.

Mole Control Management

mole tunnel,mole trap
Mole Tunnel
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Mole Hills

Eliminating Moles can be difficult you first have to identify the critter to determine what treatment will be most effective. There are seven species of moles in the United States.  Many times it is difficult to keep the Moles from returning to your lawn if your soil is attractive to these pests, this will require the help from a professional whom will be familiar with the locations to place traps and which ones will work he will also need to determine how many traps will be necessary

Choose a company that has much expertise in controlling moles. Reynolds Pest Management has over 20 years in serving the community with mole eradication. With their highly trained technicians and effective modern Mole trapping methods, Reynolds Pest can eliminate your Mole problem in no time.

Eliminate Moles Now

Reynolds Pest can effectively eradicate the moles on your property with the best trapping techniques available. We understand the frustration and damages that come along with Moles in your lawn. Reynolds Pest will work closely with the homeowner in providing trapping services and helpful tips for preventing moles in the future.

 

Contact Reynolds Pest Management, Inc. and take back control of your yard. Remember Reynolds Pest has a no contract policy and guarantees their work. Call for your free pest estimate Now!

Click Here or Call 772-334-7007 for a Free Mole |  Outdoor Pest Control Evaluation Today!

Posted in Florida Moles, Guest Blogger - Brian Reynolds | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Giant, 9-pound Gambian rats invading Florida Keys

Posted on March 28, 2012 by
  • A giant Gambian rat (AP/Douglas C. Pizac)

When it comes to giant rat infestations, New York gets all the attention.

But a breed of giant Gambian rats have been rapidly reproducing in the Florida Keys despite a decade-long effort to wipe them out. KeysNet reports the invasive African native species first began showing up between 1999-2001 after a local exotic animal breeder released eight of the rats into the wild.”We thought we had them whipped as of 2009,” said Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “We think they have not moved far but they clearly reproduced,” he said.

The rodents, officially known as the Gambian pouched rat, are the largest known breed of rats in the world. They can grow up to three feet in length and weigh as much as nine pounds. Wildlife officials fear that if the rodents make it to the Florida mainland, they could devastate local crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been working with Florida officials to wipe out the rodents, and there are only an estimated few dozen at large, but they can reproduce quickly and do so only five months after being born. After producing a litter, the Gambian rat only has to wait another nine months before having another litter, bearing up to six babies at a time.

Officials thought they had successfully gotten rid of all of the Gambian rats back in 2008, but several of the burrowing creatures recently began showing up in the yards of local residents. “We were skeptical but went back and talked to people and [saw] there were rats that we missed,” Hardin told KeysNet.

Using cantaloupe and peanut butter as bait, officials plan to distribute another 200 traps in an effort to clear the keys of the Gambian rats, some of which are larger than the average house cat.

“We’re going to try to trap at least that often until we see signs that we have knocked them back,” Hardin said.

 

Posted in Florida Rat Damage and their Disease's, Florida Rodent Control, Florida Rodent Exclusion Experts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fire ant colonies seem to be down dramatically

Posted on March 24, 2012 by
By David Fleshler, Sun  Sentinel 25, 2012
 The red imported fire ant, one of the most horrifying of the foreign species that have established themselves in the United States, appears to be in retreat.

Pest control companies in South Florida report fewer calls and scientists say the number of colonies has dropped sharply. It’s a rare piece of good news for a region that has seen infestations of Burmese pythons, Muscovy ducks and feral hogs.

Scientists say the evidence so far is compelling but anecdotal. Over the next two months,U.S. Department of Agriculturescientists will be crisscrossing Florida and Georgia to inspect the number and size of mounds, with another month to analyze the data and draw conclusions about the status of these invaders from South America.

But so far, signs point to fewer colonies. Two heavily studied sites near Ocala that once bristled with multiple-queen colonies – a sign of a vigorous and numerous ant population – are now dominated by colonies with single queens and a lot fewer ants, said Sanford Porter, a USDA research entomologist. In Broward County, scientists have marked a reduction of nearly 90 percent in fire ant mounds in suburban swales. No similar statistics were available for Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

“In South Florida, the red imported fire ant has declined considerably in the last 20 years,” said William Kern, associate professor of entomology at the University of Florida‘s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “While still present, the number and density of colonies has greatly decreased.”

The ants, whose name derives from the pain inflicted by their venom, arrived by ship in either Pensacola or Mobile, Alabama, some time between 1933 and 1945. Even among stinging insects, their habits are horrifying.

They swarm stealthily onto their prey – and once a few hundred are there – sting all once, a technique that accounts for their successful attacks on large mammals, including people, with fatal attacks documented on nursing home patients. In floods, they will form a ball of ants around the queen and float, with a constant exchange of ants at the bottom so they don’t drown, and swarm suddenly onto whatever building or animal they bump into.

They kill baby sea turtles, newborn calves that don’t get off the ground fast enough and ground-nesting birds. They’re attracted to dirty laundry and electrical equipment, shorting out circuits and traffic lights. They cause an estimated $600 million damage every year.

Pest control companies, for whom red imported fire ants had been a reliable moneymaker, say service calls have plummeted.

‘It’s better, depending your point of view,” said Al Hoffer, owner of Al Hoffer’s Pest Protection in Coral Springs, which serves all of southeast Florida. “Worse for me, better for everybody else. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still seeing them. But the frequency of calls has gone down by about 50 percent.”

Christopher Cavanagh, vice president and general manager of Petri’s Positive Pest Control Inc., which operates in Broward and Palm Beach counties, said calls have dropped from several a week to one or two a month. “There have been times when it was much more of a problem,” he said. “In the 1980s and 90s it was more of an issue. From the homeowner’s point of view, they’re not nearly the problem they used to be.”

Efforts to control these vicious insects involved an appropriately lurid parasite: various species of brain-eating flies. Imported from Brazil and released throughout the southeastern United States, phorid flies pounce on the ants and inject eggs, from which the larva hatches and eats the ant’s brain. These flies have established themselves throughout Florida and are among several possible reasons suggested by scientists for the ant’s decline.

Rudolf Scheffrahn, professor of entomology at the University of Florida, credited competition from other ant species, as well as possibly disease, other competitors and phorid flies. Kern suggests pathogens and competition from the big-headed ant, a tropical invasive species that’s a “voracious insect eater” but that doesn’t sting people. Porter suggest changes in climate, disease and phorid flies.

The flies have been distributed throughout South Florida, and scientists plan to introduce more species of them because each species attacks a different sized-ant. No one expects the flies to eradicate the ants, but scientists say the constant threat of air attack will keep the ants in their bunkers, making it more difficult for them to spread.

“These parasites have been doing very, very well in spreading through the infected area,” said Robert K. Vander Meer, chemist and research leader for the Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Unit at the USDA’s Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville. “They are everywhere the ants are.”

dfleshler@tribune.com, 954-356-4535

 

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I carry a tube of Stops the Sting everyday, its affordable and really works!

Posted in Biting Insects, Florida Ant Control, Florida Fire Ants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments