Pest Control News Category
Bed Bugs Continue to plague the entire nation including the Springfield, Joplin and Branson Missouri areas. Attached is an article from Forbes.com www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/04/27/spring-2013-bed-bug-alert-theyre-now-in-taxis-hospitals-schools-and-college-dorms/ discussing the national trend, and we have seen similar results locally. Republic Pest Control services the Springfield, Joplin and Branson Missouri areas for General Pest Control and Extermination such as Ants, Spiders and other Household Pest as well as an expanded service area for Bed Bug Heat Treatments or Thermal Remediation.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown Recluse Spiders in Springfield Joplin and Branson Missouri
Call Republic Pest Control at 417-732-4295 or find us on the web at republicpest.com
The site of a brown recluse spider can evoke fear and conjure up images of ulcerated wounds brought on by their venomous bites.
While bites can cause wounds and you should be careful, Brown Recluse are rarely aggressive and most bites result in minor to moderate skin irritations, said Richard Houseman, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist.
”I think it is a serious thing to worry about, but only 2 to 3 percent of bites cause a skin reaction bigger than the point of a pencil. People worry that if they get a bite they’re going to lose their arm,” Houseman said. “Most people have (brown recluse spiders) in their home, especially when they have lived in a house for a while.”
As suggested by its name recluse, the brown recluse spider is rarely aggressive, and bites from the species are uncommon. The spider usually bites only when pressed against the skin, such as when tangled within clothes, towels, bedding, inside work gloves, etc. Many human victims report having been bitten after putting on clothes that had not been worn recently, or had been left for many days undisturbed on the floor. However, the fangs of the brown recluse are so tiny they are unable to penetrate most fabric.
While the majority of brown recluse spider bites do not result in any symptoms, cutaneous symptoms occur more frequently than systemic symptoms. In such instances, the bite forms a necrotizing ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months to heal, leaving deep scars. These bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours. Pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite, and the necrosis develops over the next few days.[19] Over time, the wound may grow to as large as 25 cm (10 inches). The damaged tissue becomes gangrenous and eventually sloughs away.
Pest Facts: Brown Recluse Spiders
Description
Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back.
Pest Facts
Color: Light to dark brown, with characteristic dark brown violin marking on back
Legs: Eight
Shape: RoundSize5/8″
Antennae: No
Flying: No
Region: TX, LA, AR, OK, MO, KS, NE, IA, MO, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA
Habits
Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets. Male brown recluse spiders wander farther than females and will crawl into shoes or other clothing.
Habitat
Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors in debris and wood piles. They can be found indoors in storage areas and dark recesses.
Threats
Like the black widow spider, the brown recluse spider bites in defense and does not bite humans instinctively. They will bite humans when the clothing they are hiding in is worn. The brown recluse spider bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore.
Prevention
To avoid brown recluse spiders, avoid keeping clothing on the floor. Store clothing and shoes inside plastic containers, and shake out all clothing that has been in a hamper before wearing or washing.
Ants and Termites have began showing there ugly little heads around Springfield Joplin and Branson
Ants and Termites have began showing there ugly little heads around Springfield Joplin and Branson the last couple of weeks. We have received calls of Termites swarming in some clients homes and offices. This is a very early start to the swarm season for Southwest Missouri, however we believe that these are just a few rare events, and that we will continue to see increased activity as we see more Spring like temperatures and weather patterns.
One of the most common ants found in the Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas are Odorous House Ants. These ant gets there name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it gives off when crushed. These ants range in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch long.
Odorous House Ants Characteristics
Color: Brown or black
Legs: Six
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/16-1/8 inches
Antennae: Yes
Flying: Winged swarmers
Habits: Odorous house ants like to eat sweets, but in early spring will focus on proteins for increased egg production.
Habitat: Typically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall voids, but can often be found overwintering in crawlspaces.
Threats: These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
Prevention: Eliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
If you would like to learn more about our Pest Armour home protection plans give us a call at: 417-732-4295
cforms contact form by delicious:days
Check out this article discussing Bed Bug Detection using a canine named Liberty Belle, this is the same canine that we have used in the past.
TULSA, Okla., July 18 (UPI) — Tulsa, Okla., library officials called in a secret weapon Wednesday to deal with a bedbug infestation: Oklahoma’s only bedbug sniffing dog, Ms. Liberty Belle.
The Tulsa Central Library was evacuated Tuesday after a library patron reported being bitten, the Tulsa World reported. Only a few chairs at the library were believed contaminated and were to be destroyed.
“This was an isolated case contained to a 1,000-square-foot area,” said John Fancher, communications coordinator for the Tulsa City-County Library in a press release. “The total area of Central Library is 135,000 square feet.”
Ms. Liberty Belle, the bedbug-sniffing beagle, was summoned from Norman to investigate the extent of the contamination, after which an exterminator was to be called. Library officials said the library will not reopen until the bedbugs have been expunged.
Pest of the Week |
Mice
The greatest economic loss from mice is not due to what they eat, but what must be thrown out because of damage or contamination.
- Mice are nocturnal creatures and are therefore rarely seen by the homeowner. The most obvious indicator of an infestation is droppings, sounds of running, gnawing or squeaking, or damage to stored food or other materials.
- Compared to rats, mice forage only short distances from their nest – usually no more than 10-25 feet.
- When food and shelter are adequate, their foraging range may be only a few feet. For this reason, traps and other control devices must be placed in areas where mouse activity is most apparent.
- Mice prefer to travel adjacent to walls and other edges. Mice are very inquisitive and will investigate each new object placed in their foraging territory. They are more likely to enter an enclosed bait box.
- Mice feed on a wide variety of foods, but prefer seeds and cereal grains. Mice can contaminate food and other stored products with their saliva, urine and feces, and by spreading diseases.
- In a single year, a female may have 5 to 10 litters of about 5 or 6 young. A female will only be pregnant 19 to 21 days before giving birth, and young will reach reproductive maturity in about 6 to 10 weeks. The life span of a mouse is usually 9 to 12 months.
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We have often theorized that blood loss from heavy infestations of Bed Bugs may be a potential health risk, but now we have research that affirms this. The attached article from Bed Bug Central discusses new information from the University of Florida Study related to the health effects of Bed Bugs on humans, and the effects of blood loss in severe infestations. We have seen such cases here in the Springfield, Branson and Joplin Missouri areas, where we believed not only that there were issues with physical health, but also mental health related to Bed Bug infestations at varying levels.
University of Florida Study Examines Potentially Harmful Effects a Bed Bug Infestation Can Have on Humans
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/10/prweb10014957.htm
Don’t be fooled by deceptive advertising of quick and easy Bed Bug remedies. Always remember if it was easy everyone would be doing it. Bed Bugs are not a do it yourself pest, however you can do things your self to affect the outcome of Bed Bug treatment and protect your home from Bed Bug infestation. A couple of things that can be most helpful are the use of quality mattress and box springs encasement’s and Climb-up Interceptors which we have available for sale. These are tools that we use in our conventional Bed Bug treatments here at Republic Pest Control. Republic Pest Control serves the Springfield, Branson and Joplin Missouri areas and would be glad to discuss with you what you can do to help prevent Bed Bugs from getting into your home. Please feel free to visit us at republicpest.com or call 417-732-4295 . Below we have provided a link to an article reporting the prosecution of two companies for making false claims about their products as they relate to Bed Bug elimination and prevention. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLghnpmw614IpoPGXxyt4Air1XRg?docId=241ed8b2679942a19010931f176012a7
Here is a good article on Angie’s List about Termite Bait Systems. We offer the Hex-Pro Termite Bait System and Termidor Liquid Termite treatments. As described in the article we also use a combination of the two applications to provide effective and safe protection for Homes and Commercial structures throughout Springfield, Branson, Nixa, Ozark, Rogersville, and Joplin Missouri.
http://www.angieslist.com/articles/ask-angie-using-bait-systems-control-termites.htm
The national study reprinted below from Bedbug Central reflects the increase in activity that is currently being seen here in Springfield, Branson and Joplin Missouri.
National Study Shows Increased Activity of Bed Bugs During Summer Months
Previous studies show that bed bugs develop from an egg to adult in 66 days at 64 degrees F, but this developmental time increases to 14 days at 82 degrees F. This growth in development combined with an increase in bed bug movement in warmer temperatures is likely the reason for elevated activity during the summer months.
Wednesday June 27 2012 @ 11:21 AM Source:BedBug Central
I would like to thank Adams Pest Control, Johnson Pest Control and Cooper Pest Solutions among others for participating in this study. Without their help this report would not have been possible.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown Recluse Spiders Loxosceles reclusa
Pest Stats |
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Color: |
Light to dark brown, with characteristic dark brown violin marking on back |
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Legs: |
8 |
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Shape: |
Round |
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Size: |
5/8″ |
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Antennae: |
No |
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Region: |
Found in the south central Midwest from Ohio to Nebraska and southward through Texas to Georgia |
Brown Recluse Spider sightings increase in Springfield, Branson and Joplin Missouri
Brown Recluse have frightened many homeowners over the years, and with good reason. Many times we have seen the haunting photos of a Brown recluse bite that had killed the tissue around the bite and had left an ulcerous sore.
We have come to understand living here in the Ozarks that Brown Recluse can be found in nearly every structure in our area. While some older structures offer better harborage areas or a potentially better food source due to looser construction, many newer homes will still have some Brown Recluse living in them. Brown Recluse sightings tend to increase at this time of year due to both heat in attics pushing these spiders into cooler areas and some have suggested that Brown Recluse mate around this time of year and they not only hunt for food but a mate as well.
We have developed programs that not only decrease the number of Brown Recluse living in your home or business, but also reduce the food source for Brown Recluse (other insects). By killing off some of the population and effectively removing a large portion of the Brown Recluse food source, the population within a structure can be managed.
For more information about our programs to manage Brown Recluse in your home or business, contact us by phone or email.
417-732-4295 Office
service@republicpest.com Email
