Bug Busters USA offers advice for homeowners on mosquito prevention around the property

 Summer has only just begun, but several regions across the United States are reporting the mosquito season is already in full swing. Bug Busters USA a pest management company servicing  the Southeast encourages people to take preventative measures to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds around their property, and ultimately keep the mosquitoes from biting.

Not only can mosquitoes leave a painful, itchy bite, but they are also known to spread dangerous diseases like West Nile virus to humans.  Last year being the deadliest year on record for West Nile virus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it’s crucial for people to take precautions against another possible outbreak this summer.

Bug Busters USA  offers the following mosquito prevention tips:

• Eliminate areas of standing water around the home such as flowerpots, birdbaths, baby pools, grill covers and other objects where water collects. Mosquitoes need only about ½ inch of water to breed.
• Screen all windows and doors. Repair even the smallest tear or hole.
• Minimize outside activity between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• If you must spend time outdoors during peak mosquito times, wear long pants, sleeves and socks. Also, use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535.
• Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, loose-fitting garments, open-toe shoes and sweet-smelling perfumes or colognes.

If homeowners are concerned about mosquito activity in their area, they should consider contacting a pest management company or the local mosquito abatement district for assistance.

For more information on mosquitoes, please visit www.bugbustersusa.com

Using Insect Repellents Safely- Tips from the EPA

For the safe and effective use of pesticide products, always read the product label before using the product. Apply just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Remember these important points to use repellents safely:

• Follow the label directions to ensure proper use.
• Repellents should be applied only to exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not use under clothing.
• Store insect repellents safely out of the reach of children, in a locked utility cabinet or garden shed.
• Do not apply near eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears.
• When using sprays, do not spray directly into face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a spray product, and do not use it near food.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin and clothes with soap and water.
• Do not use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals.
• Most insect repellents do not work on lice or fleas.
• Use other preventive actions to avoid getting bitten .
• Read more about active ingredients.

Cockroach Brains May Hold New Antibiotics?

Insects naturally kill deadly MRSA and E. coli bacteria, experiment shows.

An American cockroach, as seen in an artist’s rendering.

Illustration by Paul M. Breeden, National Geographic

Christine Dell’Amore

National Geographic News

Cockroaches may make your skin crawl, but the insects—or, to be exact, their brains—could one day save your life.

That’s because the central nervous systems of American cockroaches produce natural antibiotics that can kill off bacteria often deadly to humans, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and toxic strains of Escherichia coli, scientists said this week.

Two species of locust tested so far also have the same bacteria-killing molecules in their tiny heads.

The findings suggest that the insect world—which makes up 80 percent of all animals on Earth—may be teeming with new antibiotics, said study co-author Simon Lee of the University of Nottingham in the U.K.

Such a discovery is crucial, because scientists are scrambling to combat strains of several infectious diseases, including MRSA and E. coli, that are resistant to traditional antibiotics, Lee said.

(Related: “Sharks Carrying Drug-Resistant ‘Bacterial Monsters.’”)

“It’s a promising new lead. We are looking in an unusual place, and to my knowledge no one else is looking there,” Lee said.

“That’s what we need in terms of [finding new] antibiotics, because all the usual places”—such as soil microbes, fungi, and purely synthetic molecules—”have been exhausted.”

Insect Brains Have “Clever Defense” Against Bacteria

Lee and colleagues dissected the tissues and brains of cockroaches—which “smell as bad as they look,” Lee said—and locusts in the lab.

The team tested nine separate types of antibacterial molecules found in the insects’ brains and discovered that each molecule is specialized to kill a different type of bacteria.

This “very clever defense mechanism” allows the bugs to survive in the most dirty of domains, Lee said.

The scientists found the bugs had antibiotics only in their brain tissue, the most essential part of the body, he added.

A bug might live with an infected leg, for instance, but a brain infection would almost certainly be fatal.

Insect-brain drugs for humans are still years away, Lee said, but there’s one hopeful glimmer: When the team added the insect antibiotics to human cells in the lab, there were no toxic effects.

Preliminary findings on antibiotics in bug brains were presented at the Society for General Microbiology meeting held this week at the University of Nottingham

The truth is, there are two kinds of homes: those that have had termites and those that will get them.  And, while they cause $5 billion in damage each year, there is no reason to run away from the purchase.  A pest control professional can correct the problem so that you can live comfortably in your dream home.

How difficult are termites to treat?

Termites are nearly impossible for homeowners to treat on their own.  On the other hand, pest control professionals have the training, expertise, equipment, and technology to eliminate termite infestations.

How much does a termite treatment cost?

They can range anywhere from $800 to $1,800 dollars, depending on where you live, the construction of your home, severity of the infestation, and the type of contract offered by your pest control professional.  Your pest control professional will give you a free estimate.

What are the different types of termite treatments?

There are two primary types of treatments available for use by the professional: liquids and baits.  Liquids are used around a home area to ensure long-term protection or used to treat wood directly. Baits systems involve placing monitoring stations in the ground.

Are these products dangerous to kids and pets?

All professional pest control products have been registered for use by the EPA.

When they are applied according to label instructions by technicians who have been trained and licensed to use them, they pose little risk. Also, the products are applied in areas not frequented by people (under soil surface, in walls, in stations under the soil).

What is the most effective type of termite treatment?

A trained and licensed pest control operator is the best person to make a recommendation for each particular property. Also, homeowners might have a preference as to which technology to use so it is important that they have a detailed conversation with their pest control company.

Why should someone hire a professional instead of attempting to control their pest problems by themselves?

Just as you wouldn’t prescribe medicine for yourself or drill your own cavities – you shouldn’t attempt to control termites – or other pests — on your own. The products and the expertise offered by professional pest control far surpasses what a homeowner could do on their own.  Leave it up to the experts for peace of mind. Why risk it?

What questions should homeowners ask during a professional termite inspection/treatment?

• What type of treatment is recommended?
• How long will the treatment take?
• How much will it cost?
• How long will it take to get rid of the termites?
• What type of contract or guarantee is offered?
• Are they a member of the National Pest Management Association?

How long does a termite treatment typically take?

Termite treatments typically will take no more than a day.

How long until the termites are gone?

That depends on the location, extent of damage, and the products used to treat the infestation.  After a thorough inspection, your professional pest control company should be able to tell you what they will use to get rid of the termites and how long it will take.

What can a homeowner do to prevent termites?

• The most common types of termites love moisture, if you have any moisture around the foundation of your home, take steps to remove the moisture and eliminate the source.
• Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation.
• Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering vents.

• Be sure to remove old form boards, grade stakes, etc., left in place after the building was constructed. Remove old tree stumps and roots around and beneath the building.

• Most importantly, eliminate any wood contact with the soil. An 18-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building is ideal.
• It doesn’t hurt to routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of termite damage.

Can pests other than termites damage property?

Absolutely. Carpenter ants, carpenter bees and powder post beetles are all categorized as wood destroying insects.  That’s why it’s important to have a professional identify the source of your problem and provide the treatment to control it.

What should a homeowner look for when selecting a PCO?

• A qualified and licensed pest management company that is a member of national, state or local pest management associations.
• Ask friends and neighbors to recommend companies they have used successfully.
• Buy value, not price.
• Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the nature of the pest to be controlled, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.
• Find out if the company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house or furnishings during treatment.
• If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing prevention and management are necessary. 

If you hire a pest control professional, are you guaranteed a pest-free home?

Pest control companies differ in their guarantees. Pests and pest conditions constantly change around a home, so pests can come back. If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing prevention and management are necessary.

It is important that homeowners remain active participants before, during and after all pest control treatments.   This type of vigilance helps the homeowner better understand their contract and possible guarantee, and helps the PCO understand the homeowner’s expectations.

Enjoy the outdoors this summer, without mosquitoes! Keep your yard mosquito free this summer with the Bug Busters USA comprehensive Mosquito Control Program. With treatments every three weeks, you can say goodbye to annoying bites and mosquito borne diseases such as West Nile. Designed specifically for subdivisions, the more homes we treat, the more you and your neighbors save.

Bug Busters Treatment program runs for the months of April, May, June, July, August, September and October.

Although the official start of summer is a month away, several regions across the U.S. are issuing reports of an early emergence of mosquitoes. More concerning is that some states are already reporting specimens that are testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) advises the public that it is not too early to begin protecting themselves, family members and pets from mosquitoes when outdoors.

“Summer is almost here, and with it the season’s most pesky pest – the mosquito. While state agencies will soon be putting their abatement plans in motion, we advise the public to do their part to curb mosquito activity in their own back yards in the hopes of stemming the spread of WNV,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA.  “Mosquitoes need only about a half-inch of water to breed, so it is important to remove any standing water to help eliminate potential breeding grounds.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 5,387 human cases of WNV, 243 of which were fatal. These numbers reflect one of the biggest outbreaks of the virus ever in the United States and the deadliest year on record

“Of all the mosquito-borne illnesses, WNV is of greatest concern in the United States. In most cases, the virus is a mild infection with similar symptoms to a summer flu. However, in rare cases WNV is a potentially life-threatening infection,” noted Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor for the NPMA. “Anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, head and body aches, confusion and worsening weakness should seek medical attention.”

As the risk of WNV increases with prolonged periods of hot and dry weather conditions, the NPMA advises homeowners to eliminate all areas of standing water around the outside of the home now and to ensure all windows and doors have screens.

Mosquito Control

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