Brown Recluse Spider in Florida

The brown recluse spider is one of the most feared spiders in Florida. It contains a potentially deadly hemotoxic venom, that can destroy red blood cells, tissue and organs. Although people in the sunshine state have been bitten by the spider, it is not native to Florida. This makes it fairly easy to eradicate infestations.

The Brown recluse spider’s most defining characteristic is its dark violin-shaped marking directly behind the eyes. This spider is equipped with three sets of eyes whereas most other spiders have four. The Brown recluse is a medium-sized spider that is typically between one-quarter and one-half inch in length. They are commonly found in old cardboard boxes, houses, furniture, and other types of buildings.

Brown Recluse Spider

Brown recluse spiders are generally pretty shy and only bite when directly disturbed or pressed upon. Persons bitten usually do not feel any pain for about two hours, then a blister forms around the bite, and the pain becomes intense. The healing from a brown recluse is very slow and can sometimes take six to eight weeks. Any persons suspecting a bite from this spider should consult a physician immediately.

The symptoms most commonly experienced include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely, such bites can result in red blood cell damage, organ damage, and even death. Usually fatal bites are usually seen in children under the age of seven or those with a weak immune systems.

The majority of brown recluse spider bites do not result in any major symptoms. In some cases the bite forms an ulcer that destroys soft tissue, leaving deep scars. These bites usually become painful and itchy within two to eight hours. Pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite, and the necrosis develops over the next few days. The wound eventually could grow as large as ten inches. The damaged tissue becomes gangrenous and eventually decays off the body.

Tampa Bay Pest Management offers free estimates on any bug issue you may be experiencing. Please visit our website at TampaBayPestMgmt.com for more information. You can also contact us at 813-416-3692. We are a family owned and operated pest control company servicing the surrounding Tampa Bay area for over a decade.

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Grain Weevils Free Loafing in Florida Pantries

Are you seeing weevils wobble through your rice, pasta or grain? Grain weevils are known as the connoisseurs of Italian, Cuban and Chinese cuisine. If you store boxes of grains in your pantry you could be at risk for these pesky carb lovers. And nobody wants weevils laying eggs in their food.

Weevils are serious grain pests that are very distinguished from other beetles by a slender elongated snout. These pantry pests are typically about an eighth-inch long and are dark brown or black in color. They also have multiple punctures on the top side of the thorax (chest) and nonfunctional wings. The grain weevil is closely related to the rice weevil but can be separated by their slightly smaller size and they fly poorly. Grain weevils bore holes into grain kernels to deposit their eggs.

Grain weevils have adapted to living entirely in stored grains and rarely forage elsewhere. Females are capable of living up to eight months when food is abundant and can lay approximately 200 – 300 eggs during this time. At Tampa Bay Pest Management we can rid your house of these nasty free loafers.  If you notice any type of bug in or around your pantry please call us for a free estimate at 813-416-3692. Remember, weevils wobble but the WILL fall down with Tampa Bay Pest Management.

Unlike many other large corporate pest services, we guarantee our service and are locally owned and operated in the Tampa Bay surrounding area. We are a home grown company that specializes in knowing the behaviors and habits of Florida pests.

Rodents and Cockroaches Linked to Allergic Asthma

Several studies have linked allergic asthma reactions to rodents and cockroaches.  People who suffer with this condition can make life a bit easier by ridding their environment of these pesky little creatures.

Tampa Bay Pest Management offers free estimates to provide an affordable quick solution to rid your house or office of these allergen ridden pests. However keep in mind that even after rodents and cockroaches have been eliminated, the hair, urine and fecal matter left behind can still trigger allergic reactions; therefore it is vital to vacuum and mop down the affected areas.  

Obviously the best solution is to prevent your living space from becoming a breeding ground for rodents and cockroaches. We have compiled some easy strategies that may help in your quest to breathe easier and live cleaner. 

For Rodent Prevention 

• Seal holes and cracks in building foundations, utility openings, and joints between materials. Use corrosion-proof materials such as copper or stainless steel mesh. Rodents can chew through many other materials and squeeze through tiny openings.
• Add rodent barriers to foundation walls to make it more difficult for them to enter a building. For example, heavy-duty wire mesh along the outside of a foundation is an effective barrier.
• Seal passages through interior floors, walls, ceilings, and kick spaces. If possible, keep kick spaces open to limit places rodents can hide. (Kick spaces are the gaps between the bottom of cabinetry or built-in furniture and the floor.)
• Keep bushes and trees at least three feet from homes. Bushes and trees near a home provide food, a living place, and sheltered passage for rats and rodents.
• Ensure trash is stored in secure containers (covered garbage cans and dumpsters).
• Store food in rodent-proof containers. 

For Cockroach Prevention

• Limit where you eat to avoid spreading food and crumbs around the house and always keep food out of bedrooms.
• Never leave food out—keep all food and garbage in closed containers.
• Wash the kitchen floor and counter tops at least once a week.
• Repair leaky faucets and drain pipes to eliminate water sources that attract these pests.
• Close up all openings around the house that might allow cockroaches to enter.
• Reduce the number of cockroaches by using environmentally safe pesticides and bait stations
• http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=414

http://www.afhh.org/dah/dah_rodents.htm
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=414
 

Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ants are usually slow to cause damage, so it's not uncommon for a homeowner to have seen them wandering around for years before they actually notice damage.

But don't wait until you notice carpenter ant damage to control these pests. If you see ants wandering about, you should control them right away, BEFORE they start causing major damage.

Carpenter ants are most active searching for food from midnight to 4 a.m., so if you see these pests during the day, you are seeing only a small fraction of what is happening at night. They love leaks or other moisture problems, blocked or leaking gutters, or a poorly ventilated attic or crawl space. Tree stumps, dead tree limbs, and firewood also can stimulate problems with carpenter ants, as can trees and shrubs that touch a home and keep walls more moist.

Call Tampa Bay Pest Management at 813-416-3692 if you see carpenter ants wandering in or outside your home. We're experts at controlling these difficult pests. We start by inspecting your home to find where they're coming from. If their nests are all outside your home, we'll take steps to ensure they stay out. If ants are starting to nest inside, they need to be stopped before they have time to do more damage, or set up other colonies.

Ten Pest Control Tips For Preventing a Spider Invasion

The two (2) most common spiders, of concern to homeowners and pest control professionals; are the Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders. An invasion of either of these two spider pests, could result in dangers to your health and life. Bites should be considered serious, and require immediate medical diagnosis and treatment.

What can homeowners do to protect themselves? The best pest control strategy for deterring a spider infestation, is to reduce the pest population of other insects (food source); from inside the house or building. This approach encourages spider intruders to leave your dwelling, in search for a more dependable food supply; outside of the home.

With that in mind, here are 10 dependable pest control tips, for reducing the number of spider/pest invaders; in your home:

1. Install snug-fitting screens, on all windows and doors. It is also recommended, that you install door sweeps; as well.
2. Seal or caulk cracks and crevices where spiders/insects could enter the house or building.
3. Install yellow/sodium vapor light bulbs outside, to attract fewer insects; for spiders to feed upon.
4. Tape the edges of cardboard boxes to prevent spider/insect entry.
5. Use plastic bags (sealed) to store loose items in the garage, basement and attic.
6. Remove old boxes, unused clothing, wood/rock piles, trash and other unwanted items.
7. Eliminate clutter in closets, basements, attics, garages, and outbuildings.
8. Do not stack wood against the house.
9. Clean up dead insects.
10. Dust and vacuum thoroughly to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs (dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed container outside).
    

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5167523

Termite Control Tips

• Repair any roof or plumbing leaks as soon as possible. These leaks can allow termites to survive above ground in a house.
• Eliminate any wood-to-soil contact around your foundation and remove wood debris near your home.
• Prevent mulch and soil from touching the siding of your home. They make it much easier for termites to enter.
• Store firewood away from your home.
• Use mesh screens on all windows and doors, as well as in ventilation openings for attics and crawl spaces.
• Seal nail holes and cracks in exposed wood to help prevent easy access by drywood termites.
• Contract with a professional pest control company to regularly inspect your home. This will help detect termite activity and allow for prompt and proper treatment.

Source: http://www.terminix.com

Wasp Control 101

An experienced pest control service is the best option for wasp or bee control but you can use the following information to help to control them yourself because, although extermination and nest removal may be your end goal, it doesn’t hurt to know some basic do-it-yourself wasp control tips. If something as simple as wearing proper clothing or keeping your garbage sealed can help deter the pests then it is worth doing.

Here are some basic tips to help prevent wasps from finding their way into your home:

• Remove or seal food sources: Wasps are attracted to protein, which explains why they show up at family cookouts. Open garbage cans, pet food, or even scraps left on your grill can draw the pests to your lawn. Sweet foods, like rotting fruit, are also calling cards for wasps. If you have fruit trees on your property, you will need to be extra diligent about cleaning up the fallen produce.
  
  
• Avoid perfume or scented lotions: Sweetly scented lotions and floral perfumes smell like food to a hungry wasp; even scented shampoos can bring you their unwanted attention.
  
  
• Do not squash a wasp: As tempting as it may sound, squashing or stepping on a wasp is bad for wasp control. Once the pest is squashed it releases a scent that acts like a magnet, bringing in more wasps from nearby. These new wasps are likely to be agitated by the scent as well, and therefore more likely to be aggressive.
  
  
• Avoid bright clothing: Bees and wasps are attracted to brightly colored or patterned clothing. Red would be a particularly bad choice to wear at your next neighborhood picnic.
  
  

For professional wasp control services, contact us at 813-416-3692 or info@tampabaypestmgmt.com

Mosquito Breeding Control Tips

The American Mosquito Control Association, www.mosquito.org, reports that there are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes around the world. Out of all of these species, there is one thing that every mosquito has in common: they breed in wet areas. The best way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding sites.

Here are some breeding control tips:

• Do not allow water to accumulate anywhere in your yard for more than two days. Cans, buckets, pots, plastic swimming pools and tires are all containers that tend to collect and hold water. Removing these items will help control the number of mosquitoes that hatch in your yard.
• Keep your gutters clean. If leaves or other debris clog your gutters and prevent them from draining, water will accumulate in the gutter system, providing the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Do not over-water your lawn or garden. This may cause water to be left standing for more than one day.
• If your cistern, septic tank or cesspool seeps, fixing the problem will help control the number of mosquitoes that plague your yard.
• Filling swampy areas, ditches and drain puddles will eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. If filling is not possible, these areas may be treated with commercial mosquito control products.
• If you have a backyard pond, stock it with mosquito fish (minnows). These fish eat mosquitoes and their larvae.
• Change the water in your wading pool or birdbaths at least once per week. Stagnant water makes the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Contact us for pest control services and pest management in Tampa Bay, FL
813.416.3692

Preventing Roach Infestations

• Keep the kitchen clean. Clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and pay special attention to range tops, as cockroaches love grease.
• Put food away and don't even leave dirty dishes overnight.
• Empty trash regularly, and keep trash away from the house.
• Fix dripping faucets or leaks; cockroaches are attracted to water.
• Put naphthalene balls on corners; roaches hate their smell.
• Prevent bugs from coming up the drain. If you believe that the cockroaches are coming up your drains, pour regular, cheap bleach down the drains before leaving the house in the morning. For a stronger solution, mix 1 part borax with 3 parts bleach.
• Move logs and other debris away from the outside of the house. Cockroaches love piles of wood and other convenient hiding places, and as the weather turns colder, they'll migrate inside the house to keep warm.
• Seal cracks in exterior walls.
• Seal cracks everywhere you can inside your house. This takes time, but the payoff is great, because you eliminate most of their favorite hiding/breeding places. You'll need a lot of caulking, so use the big tubes with a caulking gun. Fill every crack inside every cabinet; fill the cracks on both sides of floor, door, and window moldings; fill all openings around pipes in bathrooms and kitchens. This makes a big difference and makes the whole house feel cleaner.

Contact us today for a free pest control estimate.

General Pest Control Tips

1. Read and follow label directions.
2. Protect yourself and others from contact with any pesticide.
3. Never eat, drink, or smoke while using any pesticide.
4. Do not allow food, trash, decaying wood, etc. to remain in or on your property.
5. Cover or seal trash tightly.
6. Do not accumulate trash or debris.
7. Cut back limbs, shrubs, and vines that touch or overhang your property.
8. Stack firewood off the ground.
9. "Weatherize" your home. Seal all possible pest entry points.
10. Close all gaps larger than 1.4 inch.
11. Check for and remove structural damage such as moisture-damaged wood. Water damage can cause weak spots in the roof. Animals may enter through the weakened area. Repair damaged windows and screens.
12. Look for holes where roofs overlap.
13. Keep gutters clean.
14. Shuffle stored items regularly and keep boxes tightly sealed in plastic bags.
15. Check storage areas for rodents.
16. Keep gutters clear.
17. Keep all areas where food is prepared, stored, and served clean and free of crumbs and grease. Garbage can lids should be kept closed and secured.
18. Before storing end-of-season clothes, make sure they are clean.
19. Drawer and cabinet liners, paper grocery bags, and even wallpaper can be a source of food to pests.
20. Carefully check for pests in furniture, boxes, paper, and other items brought into your home.
21. Chimneys are frequented by squirrels, raccoons, and birds and they represent the single largest opening in a typical home. Consider chimney caps or wire mesh to cover.
22. Areas where pipes, cables, and wires enter walls and soffits should be sealed completely.
23. Install 1/4-inch wire mesh (hardware cloth) over attic, roof, and crawl space vents in order to prevent entry of birds, bats, squirrels, rodents, and other wildlife. Be sure to wear gloves when cutting and installing hardware cloth, as the wire edges are razor sharp.