Posts Tagged ‘pest control’

Pest Control, Naturally

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

QwikBids Investigates

 

There are many pesticides out there that will take care of common household pests, but today we’d like to explore natural pest control and the different ways we can avoid strong chemicals. Many companies, including the larger ones still utilizing chemicals, are offering this service too.

The use of natural pest control is becoming popular as we move into the go-green era. The awareness that harsh chemicals have an effect on our environment and health has grown enormously. Federal, state, and city governments (as well as schools) across the nation are shifting to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The program’s goal is to reduce or eliminate pesticides altogether. The data collected over the years is painting a picture that illustrates health hazards to humans, animals, and desired insects. In 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey released Pesticides in the Nation’s Streams and Groundwater. The survey, conducted between 1992 and 2001, highlighted that over a billion pounds of pesticides are being used annually. Much of the pesticide ends up in the nations waterways, and is linked to cancer, neurological disorders, and birth defects. The study also indicated profound impacts on the environment.

As mentioned previously, more and more pest control professionals are offering a healthier way to control our pests, and it is not only limited to the home. If it’s a garden you are trying to rid of forage-eating insects, there is a unique way professionals and environmentalists alike are suggesting with more frequency. The use of other insects seems to be the newest trend. Take ladybugs, for instance. They eat the aphids and mites that are a problem in most gardens. But beware of the ants. Ants must be controlled because they will defend the aphids against the lady bug. The problem, experts say, is that the results are not as promising if the ladybug is purchased and relocated. It is best to promote the habitation, as well as being cautious with insecticides that may kill them. As you all can imagine, the praying mantis is also a beneficial insect to any garden.

Locating pest control professionals that offer natural alternatives on the QwikBids site is a breeze. Place your bid request today to get started on a pest control regimen that would not only benefit your health, but also our fragile ecosystem and environment.

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The Basics of Pest Control

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Cathy’s Clips

 

Experts say there are over 94 thousand species of pests in the United States (now that’s a lot of bugs and rodents!). They range from spiders to cockroaches and from kissing bugs to scorpions. Literally everyone has pests, and depending upon the region or type of insect, they can also be dangerous!  They cause harm to your home and property, expose us to germs and affect our allergies. Besides these things, who wants them to even be present in the same room?

For now, we’ll stick to our region here in the valley, as pests in Arizona are unique in the ways which they are controlled. Take bark scorpions (the only species of scorpion able to climb), for example. We were told by a specialist registered with QwikBids that prevention is easy. The first thing is to make sure there’s not a population of other bugs, such as crickets, that attract the scorpion. Next, you should clear all debris that scorpions can hide under. One more piece of personal advice is to have the inside of your home sprayed regularly. We found one scorpion in the house, had it sprayed, and then days after the treatment, discovered 6 more! This told us these critters hide very well, as we wouldn’t have known there were so many unless we had this done. 

And do we have one for you about ants! Ants are one of the most common of all pests we encounter in the valley. Common sense will help prevent them, such as being sure to leave no food out and keeping counters wiped. Sealing any leaks or cracks that you find is a great idea, as well as clear unwanted brush. Keeping the bushes and trees trimmed helps avoid carpenter ants, too. But the wildest idea came from a service provider at QwikBids. They say that sprinkling baby powder in places around the homes perimeter helps too! From what we were told, it clogs their pours so they will not proceed through it. Strange remedy!

Then, there are cockroaches. The defense that works best is a good old fashioned cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom areas. Most of us cannot think of anything more disgusting than roaches when we think of pests, so we added a couple remedies for these creepy crawlers. As it turns out, catnip naturally repels roaches. It contains an ingredient, nepetalactone, which is non-toxic to humans and pets. But this remedy should not be used if there are cats in the house! You could also fill a bottle with strong, soapy water, as spraying the roaches directly with it will kill them. Somehow, it makes sense on such a dirty little creature!

There are many other natural remedies out there for many types of pests, but if you would rather leave it to the professionals like we do, get a quality pest control professional. Log in to QwikBids to place a request for bid. We’ll do the rest!

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