Move Over Bedbugs: Stink Bugs Have Landed

An interesting article from the New York Times about the new nuisance bug in town; stink bugs. However, if you ask me, I'll take stink bugs over bedbugs any day! What do you think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27stinkbug.html?emc=eta1

Termites in the Fall? You bet.

Hey everyone! Hope this post finds you well! We just can't believe summer is coming to an end! We're sad to see it go - but fall always brings new and exciting activities like football and of course, it's back to school! Autumn also brings some new pests...along with some not so new ones that you might least expect this time of year...

This time of year, many people call when they see mud tubes or even damage on wood areas of their homes and are shocked to find that there is a termite colony slowly eating away at their homes. We're here to tell you that termites are not just a spring pest.

The average termite colony, depending on the part of the part of the country and species, can be well over a million. That's a lot of bugs! In nature, termites do a great job breaking down wood as they feed on cellulose. It is nature's recycling program. However, we don't want them to be recycling the wood that our homes are made of!

Termites can work year round - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The spring "swarmers" that you might see don't attack your house. They are winged reproductives whose job it is to start new colonies. Instead, the real damage is cause by "workers" or soft bodies white termites which can't fly.

Termites account for over five billion dollars per year in damage, so if you live in the termite belt, any area below the most northern parts of the United States plus some parts of Canada, your home or business can be susceptible to a termite attack.

If you suspect termite activity or even if you just see them your mulch outside your home, we can inspect to see if there is an infestation of the structure. It is also smart to have a periodic inspection to head off infestations before they cause serious damage. Today's termite technologies are very effective and cause minimal disruption to you and your family's activities.

Pigeons force Kins of Leon off stage!

Why is bird proofing so important? Check the link below to find out the latest pigeon story and where they have been causing some trouble - you might be surprised:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/24/kings.of.leon.pigeons/?hpt=Sbin

Click here to find out more about how Horizon can help you with bird management by providing fast and effective solutions for your home or business!

http://www.horizonpestcontrol.com/bird-management.php

Bedbug Epidemic on the Rise

We've been talking to our clients regarding their concerns about bedbugs more and more over the last couple of years. Let's face it, the thought of bedbugs crawling around you when you're sleeping is more than creepy, but there is some good news....their bites are relatively harmless, albeit itchy and unsightly!

News 4 NY aired two stories last night about the increasing bedbug activity in New York City, so we thought we'd share them with you. Please keep in mind while you're watching these stories, that bedbug sniffing dogs aren't the only way to find bed bugs in your home...you can call Horizon at 201-447-2530 for a free inspection by our trained, non-shedding, hypo-allergenic, two-legged inspectors!

If you're simply wondering what you can do to prevent bedbugs from getting into your home, here are some things you can do to protect yourself from getting bedbugs:

• Before booking a hotel room, you may want to read user reviews of the particular hotel and location - frequently, guests who've had bug problems report them online. Bear in mind that a report about one hotel does not mean the issue wasn't isolated to one room, or that hotel management hasn't since exterminated.
  
• Peel back the bedsheets and check the mattress, running your fingers along the upper and lower seams. Make sure to check the mattress tag, since bed bugs often hide there.
• Removing and examine the headboard, if possible. Check for tiny black spots (excrement) that are smaller than poppy seeds. You may also see translucent light brown skins or, in the case of an infestation, live bugs.
• Check near the bed. At the bedside table, look for signs of bed bugs in the drawers and along the wall on the side of the bed that is less likely to be disturbed by cleaning staff and guests. Even check behind pictures hanging near the bed: If they're attached to the wall, tap on them to see if anything falls from behind.
• Elevate suitcases and keep them off the floor by using provided luggage stands.
• If you see powder in the drawers or on the headboard, it is likely that the room has already been treated for bed bugs by an exterminator, but check with the front desk.
• If bed bugs are detected, you should request for another room. Be sure to inform hotel management.
• Just moving to a different room may not be the total answer. You should repeat the thorough inspection of any new or different room you are offered.
• When you pack to leave, inspect your luggage carefully first, and inspect every item as you pack to help detect any bugs or their signs. Laundering most cloth items with typical hot water and detergent followed by drying on low heat for at least 20 minutes (or standard dry cleaning) should kill all bed bugs in or on such items. Sealing freshly-laundered items inside a plastic bag should help keep any more bed bugs from getting in those items later to hide (and be carried back with you).

Check out these links for the News 4 stories:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/Bedbugs_on_the_Rise_in_NYC_New_York.html

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/NYC_Bedbug_Epidemic__How_to_Find_Out_if_You_ve_Got_Them_New_York.html

Thank You!

Well friends - June has come and gone! I am happy to report that we will be delivering a check to RBARI for $107! Fantastic! Thanks to everyone who joined our group in Facebook to raise MOOLA for homeless pets this month!

To learn more about RBARI - visit them online at: www.rbari.org

What's crawling on your keyboard?

Hey friends - so...the Daily News recently ran an article about the (lack of) cleanliness of computer keyboards in the work place. I thought that the article was going to address the obvious; ya know, that people just don't wash their hands enough...that the warm energy generated by the computer creates the perfect place for all kinds of germs and bacteria to grow...but this was not the case. The article talked more about a problem that I wasn't really expecting...

Nearly everyone eats at their desk at one time or another. There are the people that are so busy, they do it every day. Then there's the occasional snacker and the people that just eat the birthday cake on that special occasion. Although it seems perfectly harmless, in each case, there's always the possibility of leaving some crumbs behind...

Once you leave for the evening, there may be someone else who wants a snack...and just a tiny crumb stuck between your number "2"and "w" key will hit the spot. When you're gone for the day, mice will come out to play, and when they do, they'll leave you something in return...droppings and urine - which pose serious health risks. Mouse droppings can easily fall between the spaces on the keyboard - just like the crumbs the mice are after.

The Daily News article states that workers who fail to keep their desk area clean and crumb free can get sick simply by typing on a pooped-on keyboard and then picking up a sandwich or piece of fruit with their unwashed hands. Scientists swabbed keyboards in a London office and found traces of E. coli, coliforms, and enterobacteria, which all cause food poisoning. It's been said that our keyboards are dirtier than the average toilet seat. How scary is that?

You can take some very simple precautions to keep your space clean and healthy:

• Be sure to clean your work area when you leave at night using antibacterial surface cleanser. Wipe down your key board and your phone and the surface of your desk.


• Make sure you do not leave food in or around your desk that is not properly sealed.


• Take the trash out nightly - especially it contains left overs.
  
• And of course, wash your hands throughout the day.

If you suspect that you have some desk/keyboard invaders at your work place - make sure you let someone know who can help get the problem fixed ASAP.

$42

So far, we've raised $42 for homeless pets...but we want to give SOOOOOOO much more! Please help us by forwarding this blog or joining our facebook group. PLEASE share this message with your friends and family!

1 little click = $1 for homeless pets! That's how simple it is!

:)