Bug Blog

Recently a couple contractors have contacted me about their house renovation projects, more specifically finding carpenter ant satellite nests inside homes as they reworked the framework. During the winter months, the existence of carpenter ants actively moving around in the house is a clear indicator of an indoor infestation. Carpenter ants do not always have to have moisture and wood decay for nesting. While it is true most nests and most damage will be in decayed wood, nests may be in sound wood or even in dry cracks and joints between structural elements or in existing cavities such as hollow doors. Since the main nest is shut-down for the winter, the satellite nest in the house remains somewhat active. Carpenter ants, like all insects, are cold blooded, ants active in the winter must be originating from a warmed source. The carpenter ants typically wait until the nighttime hours to come out and search for sources of moisture in places like bathtubs, dishwashers, sinks, and toilets. However, on particularly sunny days, carpenter ants may appear from the nest and explore other parts of the home.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy bilesky

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/still-sleeping-carpenter-ants-randy-bilesky/?published=t

http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-still-sleeping-carpenter-ants-1.23137275

Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite, wake up bright in the morning light, to do what’s right with all your might.  At home we said “Good night sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite, if they crawl on the wall take a spoon and eat them all”. This is solid advice, sort of. Bed bugs have become progressively more of an issue in homes because of international travel and those second hand stores. By studying what bed bugs look like, you are able to identify them and save time and money in the long run. It normal takes about 3 and a half months for a bed bug to go from an egg to a reproducing adult but it can take longer if it’s current situation isn’t optimal. Female bed bug can lay hundreds of milky white eggs; one at a time or in bunches, and these eggs are hidden in cracks and crevices such as under baseboards, in the box spring, behind the headboard and a myriad of sneaky places. After several days, the eggs turns into the nymph stage which goes through 5 stages of growth (usually 5 weeks) and they shed their exoskeleton each time. The nymphs change from a light white-yellow colour into the reddish-brown colour. Once the adult bed bugs have developed, it needs to feed before it can start breeding.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-let-bed-bugs-bite-randy-bilesky/?published=t

http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-don-t-let-the-bed-bugs-bite-1.23134051

So does predator urine or coyote urine actually help keep unwanted raccoons out of your yard. First of all, who is collecting this urine and is it even real. My research suggests that the urine is collected from animals in game farms, zoos and preserves (fully regulated by the appropriate state agencies). The urine is collected via floor collection drains in pens and cages. A coyote is one of the raccoon’s biggest predators therefore the thought is that the coyote urine would be a beneficial repellent against them. The coyote urine is usually in a plastic dispensing bottle that is sprayed in areas that raccoons are known to hang out. The scent is supposed to stay potent for at least a month or two. It’s mess free and it’s supposed to be guaranteed to work. Well, does it actually work, the theory is sound but I’ve used it and it hasn’t worked and repeated field tests again prove that the urine does not affect the behavior of wild animals, a.k.a. raccoons.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/predator-pee-keep-raccoons-away-randy-bilesky/?published=t

http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-predator-pee-to-keep-raccoons-away-1.23131980

A small group of rodents comprised of hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, and rats are commonly found at pet stores and are make good family pets, some better than others. While they are all rodents, they do have varied necessities in caring for them and social contact and have differing merits as pets. Most of these rodents prefer to live with others of their species, especially the same sex as this also helps to avoid unwanted litters. Here are some of the most commonly kept rodents and some fascinating facts about them. One personal caveat about pet rodents, their beddings needs to be changed often as their urine can become quite strong.

Rats – Fancy rats can make brilliant pets if they receive a lot of socialization. They are very intelligent, curious and active. They grind their teeth when they are contentment. The scent of a clean rat smells like sandalwood. The average lifespan is as much as three years.

Mice – Mice make fair pets as they are very entertaining to watch. Females can live happily together, but males tend to fight unless they are introduced to each other before they are five weeks old. Caution, females can reproduce as young as six weeks old. The average lifespan is upwards of two years.

Gerbils – Gerbils make decent pets, except for young children as they tend to nip, and they must be handled a lot as youngsters to overcome this trait. Gerbils are sociable and prefer to live with members of their own species. The average lifespan is two to four years.

Guinea Pigs – These pigs make excellent pets as they rarely bite. They are very good-natured and social, and they enjoy being cuddled and will whistle at their owners as a greeting. They have a charming habit of pop-corning, which is kind of a joyful little hop and kick combination. The average lifespan is five to eight years.

Hamsters – Syrian hamsters make reasonably good pets, but are prone to nipping unless they are handled a lot when they’re young. Being nocturnal, they do become quite active at night. Most hamsters prefer to live alone and their average lifespan is two to three years.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. randy Bilesky

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/christmas-pet-rodents-randy-bilesky/?published=t

http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-do-giant-rats-exist-1.23128820

Scientists studying hibernating rodents, squirrels and hamsters, have found they have evolved cold-sensing nerve cells with a reduced capability to detect temperatures below 20 degrees celsius, which allows their body temperature to drop for long periods of time without causing them to be stressed by the cold conditions, thus causing their seasonal nap. These two rodents do not feel cold in the same way as rats or mice do. All rodents sense cold, but they found that the nerve cells responsible for awareness of touch, pressure, pain and temperature in these two rodents take a lot more to be activated. During hibernation, animals experience lower body temperature, slower breathing and heart rate, and decreased metabolic activity. These two rodents are deep hibernators whereas bears have periods of inactivity and metabolic suppression rather than complete body temperature drop.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/squirrels-dont-feel-cold-randy-bilesky/?published=t

http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-squirrels-don-t-feel-cold-1.23128322