Bug Blog
Yellow Mealworms
Yellow mealworm adults look like typical beetles, dark in color with a hard shell. You often find yellow mealworms in unkempt spaces, forgotten bagged or boxed items in kitchen pantries where the humidity is high and stored food becomes damp or grows mold. A female yellow mealworm will lay eggs in grain products such as bags of flour.
An infestation is usually a sign of poor hygiene. These insects foul all products they eat, which can lead to a lot of food needing to be disposed of. In the outdoors, they will consume grains, leaves, plants, insects and animal feces. They usually are not noticed until they have infested grain products in storage areas. Controlling mealworms usually involves removing the mealworm’s sources of food and shelter by using a vacuum to clean up and the removal of infested food products. However, a treatment plan may require the application of chemicals to eradicate the problem.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/yellow-mealworms-randy-bilesky/?published=t
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/yellow-mealworms/
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy L Bilesky BsF CPA
Pests that Sting in Summer
Pests that sting such as wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and bees, are as common as trips to the ice cream store in summer. These particular pests have stingers that can be more than just an excruciating annoyance; they send more than ten thousand people to the emergency room every year in Canada. For someone that has not been stung before, the actual sting can be very painful but not knowing if they are allergic to the venom can be scary, other severe health concerns include swelling, infections, nausea, and even death. If you find a nest on your property, removing it safely and completely can be difficult but if it’s in the attic or under the soffits then removing the nest may not be an option. In many cases, the key to killing off the hidden nest is making sure the queen dies. The queen never leaves the nest once she has drones or workers that help build the nest and secure food. The queen is usually deep inside the nest, laying eggs and giving off pheromones that keep all the worker wasps disciplined. Once the queen dies or is killed, the nest is effectively in the process of dying off itself. Returning workers will not detect the important guiding pheromones and will also die. But before they die, you might get a lot of aggressive wasps in your area. It is always a good idea to contact insect removal specialists to deal with wasps. Having a professional to come and look at the problem is always the best idea when it comes to wasps. If you see any signs of a wasp nest on your property make sure to contact go green pest control.ca and we will be happy to take the sting out of your problem.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C. Randy L Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/pests-that-sting-in-summer/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pests-sting-summer-randy-bilesky/?published=t
Dragonfly Infestation
The Dragonflies are out now. Dragonflies thrive around ponds, swimming pools and streams that attract insects. They are not harmful to people so if a dragonfly accidentally enter an open window it will not live for long indoors. Although they will approach humans, they do not bite or sting. Dragonflies are beneficial, since the diet of immature dragonflies includes nuisance pests such as mosquito larvae. There are more than 5,000 species and we have 130 that can be spotted in B.C. Many species of dragonflies gather in swarms to feed or migrate, a phenomenon you can see in Delta in the spring and fall. Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision. They’re amazing fliers doing everything that a helicopter can and they are very hard to capture. As adults, they eat flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, butterflies, flying ants and even other dragonflies, which they catch while they’re in flight. Adult dragonflies live just five weeks. Your go green pest control.ca technician is trained to help manage dragonflies and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your technician will design a unique program for your situation.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Randy L Bilesky BsF CPA Ladner Delta Tsawwassen B.C.
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/dragonflies-infestation/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dragonfly-infestation-randy-bilesky/?published=t
Oh, Pantry Moths !
Realizing a pantry moth swarm in your kitchen can be a bit of a horror show. Even worse, realizing that these moths have been in there for some time and you have baked, cooked and eaten them and their eggs, larvae and refuse (their waste material or skin cast-off during molting) for some time. Yes, pantry moths lay eggs directly on their food source, which can be your cereal, crackers, flour, pasta, rice and just about everything else that isn’t stored properly. Oh, and let’s not forget your animals dry food. Signs of pantry moth plague include webbing in the corners of packages or on the food inside, nasty odor, or gluey excretions that cause grains to clomp together. When you see small caterpillars or moths in or around your pantry or storage cupboards is a real sign of a moth invasion. Although you can throw out all the infected packages and seal everything up in plastic storage, this is usually not enough to stop them – as moths will lay eggs in cracks and crevices throughout the infected area. It is not recommended that you use pesticides to rectify a pantry moth infestation as this can be very dangerous, leave it to the pros. The pantry and cupboards can be vacuumed and scrubbed thoroughly with soap and water, but make sure everything is dry before you get the pest control specialists in. To help thwart pantry moth swarms, select containers made of tightly sealed metal, glass or food grade plastics. Flours, oats and nuts can all be kept in the freezer, this also extends there shelf life. If you have discovered pantry moths in your kitchen don’t hesitate to give us a call at go green pest control.ca and we will be happy to take care of your problem.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/oh-pantry-moths/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/oh-pantry-moths-randy-bilesky/?published=t
Mosquitos – Bite!
It’s only mid-June, not even summer yet and the mosquitos are out in force. Two things about mosquitos that really bug me (pun intended), of course when they bite you and when they get inside your house, find your bedroom and circle your head like vultures when you want go to sleep. That characteristic buzz – when it sounds like they are about to fly right into your ear hole. I just happen to have that delicious O positive blood, which everyone wants to have – so I guess I’m a prime target for mosquitoes too. So being bitten is just the start, perhaps you might have felt the injection of their proboscis, that nasty needle that sucks out the blood and leaves a little reminder behind telling you that you have been hit be a smooth criminal. Now the itch begins, and as we all know, the more you fuss with the itch the worse it gets. So how can you stop mosquito bites from itching, well you can go out and purchase “after bite” or any of the retail products or you can apply a few home remedies. So, here are a few that are tried and true.
- a) Banana peel – the natural oils found within the banana’s skin, fleshy side works.
- b) Ice – reduces the redness and swelling, as well it helps with the itching.
- c) Oatmeal – relieves itching and swelling because it contains special compounds that have anti-irritant qualities.
- d) Menthol Toothpaste – the menthol acts as a cooling agent which keeps you distracted from scratching.
- e) Honey – has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce your temptation to itch.
- f) Aloe Vera – the vitamins and minerals found in aloe vera reduce the pain, swelling and itching.
- g) Baking soda – sodium bicarbonate may provide relief from a mosquito bite.
- h) Basil – a chemical compound called eugenol may relieve itchy skin.
- i) Mosquito potion – mix all the above remedies and make your own concoction.Gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPAhttps://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/mosquitos-bite/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mosquitos-bite-randy-bilesky/?published=t
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/mosquitos-bite/
Insects that live in our food
We have all heard about a number of insect pests that are attracted to our food – from moths to ants and flies to beetles and cockroaches. Some are easy to notice because of their size but there are some just too small to see, especially as eggs and larvae stages. Most may live their entire lives in the food they prefer. All these insects are referred to as stored product pests. This collective group of insects is responsible for a large quantity of monetary damage from the farm they were grown, to storage, transportation, processing, and delivery. They eat, sully and spoil around 15-25% of the world’s grain crops. Stored product pest can be introduced at any point of the food supply chain, from the seeding of fields to the pantry you store them in. Most of these insects are also linked to local bird populations and rodents (mice, rats and squirrels), scattering from the nests and animal foods in the same facility or buildings nearby. There are three main categories of these pests: beetles and weevils, moths and mites. Stored product pests can infiltrate any dried products, preserves and organic products from grains to cereals and pasta to dried meats. They can be categorized according to the products that they infiltrate and economically important for the amounts of grains they destroy.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insects-live-our-food-randy-bilesky/?published=t
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/insects-that-live-in-our-food/
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-insects-that-live-in-our-food-1.23337704
Did you Know That … Ants
1) Most ants live in hierarchical (ants ranked one above another) colonies with a single egg-laying queen, although some ant species will have multiple queens. The male ant’s entire job is mating, and female workers on the other hand, well they do everything else.
- Ants are actually very important arthropods, as they help to remove and recycle food waste that we drop in our day to day lives.
3) Did you know that in Columbia and Venezuela a species of ant, the big-bottomed ant, is on the menu at many restaurants, fertilized queens are served up brined and toasted. The ants are also thought to be an aphrodisiac (love drug that increases libido).
4) In some countries, medicinal oil containing crushed weaver ants is used to treat swollen joints and septic skin.
5) Formic acid, produced by fire ants, is a natural antimicrobial (kills microorganisms and stops their growth) and is also used in laundry detergents and hand soaps.
6) Some species of ants will steal other ants young and force them to work in their colony, and sometimes these slaves will revolt and attack their overlords or escape for freedom.
7) Dracula ants and the queens of one Stigmatomma ant species actually drink the blood of their own larvae, but stop short of actually killing them.
8) Odorous house ants, of which we have in Delta, give off a slightly funky lemon coconutty odor when crushed.
9) Most ants will bring their dying or dead workers (sisters) back to their colony only to kick them back out.
10) Some tribes in South America believe that when they die that they are reincarnated as ants.
11) Tree-dwelling Melissotarsus ants grow their middle legs upward to help navigate tunnels in their nests and they also can spin silk used to seal their tunnels.
12) Trap-jaw ants can jump forward but more impressively catapult themselves backwards, 100 times the length of their body merely by snapping their spring-loaded jaws.
13) Argentine ants have formed super colonies interconnected between continents around the world. One such colony was found to be 4,000 kilometers long with millions of queens and over 10 billion worker ants.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/did-you-know-ants-randy-bilesky/?published=t
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
Spring clean those Moths away
Late spring is when clothes moths begin to appear and they only have two things in mind, mating and laying eggs. The only thing worse than all those holes they create in your blankets, carpets, curtains, wool, fur, down and any animal-based materials is how hard they are to get rid of. The moth larvae are the ones that do all the damage to fabrics, carpets and furnishings. Here are some practical changes you can make to reduce – if not illuminate moths. 1) Deep clean your wardrobe as moths like undisturbed corners that are dark and warm. Keep your clothes clean as they love to eat human sweat and food particles. Store your knitwear in garment bags, vet your vintage clothing and invest in cedar wood hangers. 2) Clothes moths love a humid room- somewhere between 75 and 90 percent, so if your house is really humid invest in a dehumidifier or have your exhaust fans automatically run until bathroom moisture is eliminated. 3) Moth repellents are helpful. Fill fabric pouches, tea bags, wiffle balls, or just a bowl with moth-repellent herbs or essential oils like lavender, rosemary, mint, thyme, cloves, peppercorns, lemon, eucalyptus, and ginseng. Cucumbers peels are also a natural pest control solution for repelling moths and many other pests. 4) Call in the professionals if the “do it yourself retail products” aren’t working, here at go green pest control.ca we can help you get rid of moths, saving your valuables and undue worry.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/spring-clean-those-moths-away/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/spring-clean-those-moths-away-randy-bilesky/?published=t
Look Out – This summer will be a bumper crop of bugs
Delta will suffer an eruption of insects this summer, according to local environmental experts. They are warning us that the sheer volume of bees, hornets, wasps, ants, mosquitoes, spiders and leather jackets will be unprecedented this year because our weather. The mild winter – temperatures were higher than normal and a hot dry spring has meant that this year’s yield of bugs had been off-set and is arriving late, mostly because they were not killed off by a late frost. So after the driest May in history and latest rain hitting us (May 1.6 cm and so far in June 13.4cm) there will be a detonation of bugs. This also means that we will see record numbers of wasps, hornets and bees. It is going to be a record setting summer for the stinging insects. Because we’ve had such a beautiful warm spring this has meant that the hornets and wasp nests are now growing very quickly, in spite of being a late start. As the temperatures become warmer, the nests will begin to grow rapidly with plenty of food available and the number of wasps wills explode. There will be a large number of crane flies this summer as millions of leather jackets, the larvae of crane fly, have been identified in soil throughout Delta. Mosquitoes will also be causing chaos at all outdoor activities in Delta as reports indicate this will be one of the worst years in history. The spring’s hot weather has caused an early outbreak of mosquitoes in Delta, as well as, there was a delay in them starting and the hot May and recent wet weather conditions have brought them out.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/look-out-this-su…per-crop-of-bugs/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/look-out-summer-bumper-crop-bugs-randy-bilesky/?published=t
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-this-summer-will-be-a-bumper-crop-of-bugs-1.23333188
Who owns your lawn – Fire Ants?
What can you do about fire ants, as they are really hard to get rid of – but you can control them? One of the more prevalent and effective treatments is to use ant baits, made specifically for fire ants. By applying fire ant baits in late spring and early autumn it is possible to keep them at bay. Using ant baits can be an easy do-it-yourself approach that will not cost you an arm and a leg. What happens with ant baits is a process called trophallaxis (the mutual exchange of regurgitated liquids between adult social insects or between them and their larvae) the ants take the bait into the mound and feed them to the larvae and other ants. This process is slow but it will kill the entire nest including the most important element – the queen. Once the queen has established the colony, she never needs to leave as she becomes an egg producing machine that is feed and serviced by her offspring. To kill the ant nest it is a must to kill the queen. Many people try to control these ants with granular, dust or liquid insecticides but this approach usually only kills the surface ants and misses the queen. Their success depends on the proper use of the product, done properly these insecticides can work but patience is require with multiple applications required. Each of these products needs to be applied when ants are close to the mound surface. Some of the more successful products for killing off a fire ant colony include: Advion Ant Gel insecticide, Advion fire ant bait, Ortho Max fire ant killer, Amdro fire ant bait and Bayer Advanced fire ant killer dust.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA
https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/who-owns-your-lawn-fire-ants/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/who-owns-your-lawn-fire-ants-randy-bilesky/?published=t
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-who-owns-your-lawn-fire-ants-1.23330205
