Pest Control Myths Debunked
In Tucson, and really all around the world, when it comes to pest control there are always people who think they know best, but those of us who are smart know the professionals are just that – professionals, and that means they know more than your average Joe about this pest control business. It’s the ones who refuse to believe in this that come up with most of the common pest myths that we think to be true today. We’re here to bring some light to the issue though, and though you may have already known some of these things were untrue it’s good to reiterate what’s right from wrong.
You’ll find a majority of these myths are focused around bed bugs, and that’s because they are one of the most commonly misconstrued pests and it’s pertinent that you understand the importance of using a professional pest control service to treat such an infestation.
So without further ado…
Common Pest Control Myths That You Should Ignore:
- Mice Love Cheese
This one stems from a lot of places, but we can assure you a mouse’s snack of choice is definitely not a hunk of cheese. In fact, mice prefer food with higher sugar content, for instance – peanut butter. If you’re trying to lure a mouse in your home in Tucson, or anywhere else, try peanut butter, dried fruit, or even cereal for bait.
- Bees Only Sting Once
True, but only for honey bees, and only when stinging a species with skin that is sufficiently thick. Any other bees or wasps can and will sting repeatedly if there is a threat posed to their hive. Just because you got stung already doesn’t mean you shouldn’t immediately remove yourself from the situation and tend to the sting as quickly as possible. This is especially important because many bee inject a toxin upon stinging that will release alarm pheromones in order to alert other nearby bees of a threat.
- Boiling Water Wipes Out Ants
Again true, but the problem with this is that boiling hot water is only going to kill the ants it hits while it’s still boiling. As soon as the ground cools it off as it absorbs into it, the ants just get a nice refreshing shower. The queen and the majority of an ant colony are simply too far down for the water to still be hot enough to wipe them out once it makes its way down there.
- Bed Bugs Don’t Exist in Clean Homes
This is an overly common misconception. Bed bugs have no preference for clean or dirty, they simply prefer blood; however, clutter can make an infestation more problematic due to the fact that the bugs will have more places to hide.
- Clean Houses Don’t Have Regular Pests
So you may have read the last myth and thought to yourself, “okay well bed bugs are the exception, but my house is spotless, so no other pests are interested in it.” Wrong. Pests could care less about your cleanliness; they’re just looking for shelter and some place to breed.
- A House on a Concrete Slab is Termite-Proof
We wish this was so, but it’s just not true at all. In fact, even if you have a brick house built on a concrete slab it’s still going to have wooden framework within; and not to mention, termites are professionals at tunneling, so they’ll surely find their way through the smallest of crack in your concrete foundation.
- If Your Neighbor Gets Their House Sprayed, You’re In Trouble
A lot of people don’t really understand that pesticide and insecticides aren’t so much repellents as they are killers. Cockroaches and other pests won’t find a sprayed house and turn to yours instead. What happens is they’ll try to enter the sprayed house, running over the spray in the process, and then die because of it.
- Bed Bug Problems Are Easy to Treat
This myth is the exact opposite of reality, which is that bed bug infestations are the most difficult to treat of all pest infestations. Depending on how bad of an infestation you have and the type of treatment your pest control company offers to solve the problem with, it could take several visits to achieve total elimination.
- Bed Bugs Are Treatable Without Pest Control Professionals
The hint is in the last myth. Notice how we insinuated you would be using a pest control company to treat the infestation; that’s because you definitely won’t be treating much without one. Over the counter treatments are ineffective, and in order to rid your home of bed bugs completely it requires that you do a careful, thorough inspection of all the places in your home that could be harboring the little buggers. A pest control professional, like the ones at Gecko Pest Control in Tucson, should be able to target even the most unlikely hiding spots and upon a full inspection they can offer a feasible treatment and future control strategy. Treating the infestation yourself may only cure parts of your home and you could easily end up with an even worse problem (that will only cost you more to treat now that you’ve realized you should’ve got a professional) not too far down the road.
- Electronic Pest Repellents Keep Pests Out of Your Home
If only it were that easy! Tons of internet sites boast about these devices, which pulse out ultrasonic waves that disturb pests so badly they don’t even bother to stick around your home. Unfortunately, there is zero evidence proving these products actually work. In fact, decades ago the FTC filed suit against six companies who lied about the effectiveness of these ultrasonic devices in ridding homes of insect and rodent infestations. Since then, they’ve been sending out warning letters to such companies reminding them about what happened to the other blatant liars; therefore, you’ll notice the people still selling these products are very careful in their wording, which mostly includes what the device is designed to do, and no longer what it has been proven to do.
- Bed Bugs Aren’t Visible Pests
This is absolutely untrue. Adult bed bugs are about a quarter inch in size and can be spotted with the naked eye. Even their fecal matter is visible, which is often a sure sign of infestation (look for small reddish brown dots on bed linens, or in other places where they might be hiding). Remember, if you have bed bugs, call a pest control professional!
- Daddy Long Legs Are the Most Poisonous Spiders
This one you may already know is a myth, but we figured we’d add it for fun, as well as to bring light to the fact that there are actually two types of “daddy longlegs”. The first is only a close relative to real spiders, and they don’t even have poison glands. The second, which is the most common cellar and garage spider, is able to bite humans, but is not lethal by any means. This not only busts the myth in general (this myth was even “busted” on the popular television show Myth Busters), but also the second part of the myth, which is that daddy longlegs aren’t able to bite humans with their super-tiny fangs – because they definitely can, it’s just a mere prick when they do.
- You Can Take Care of Pests Yourself
This is a great one to wrap it all up. Some pests can be treated with DIY tactics, and others not at all, but bottom line is that, in the end, you’ll most likely be saving yourself time, frustration, and even money by hiring a pest control professional like Gecko Pest Control in Tucson. Would you like to be pest free after a month of trying your own methods, or know FOR SURE you’ll be pest free and not have to put in any work yourself by hiring a pest control professional? Seems like an easy answer to us.
Read MoreHow Pest/Insecticide Label Changes Will Affect Pest Treatments
If you weren’t already notified, didn’t see our other blog post on pesticide label changes, or did see the post and said, “Uh…what’s this jibberish about pesticides got to do with me?” then you may want to read this!
Essentially, what you missed was that, recent label changes in common pesticides and insecticides will be affecting the way we perform termite services, and other pest treatments, for your Tucson home.
Your home pest control services will be affected as follows:
- No longer will Gecko Pest Control be able to apply pesticides to large areas of outside structures, such as patios, regardless of whether or not they are covered.
Instead your pest control expert will modify their application of the pest treatment, and will most likely cover the perimeter of the patio or similar structure, rather than apply the pesticide, or spray, directly on top of the structure. We assure you that your patio and home will still remain protected against unwanted pests and insects.
- Gecko Pest Control will only be able to apply a one inch wide spray line around your doors and windows.
New EPA regulations demand the spray be only an inch wide when applied to parts of the foundation that are above 3 ft. in height. Don’t be surprised if you can no longer identify the chemical application as easily. If this concerns you, you are welcome to follow your pest professional during treatment to ensure you are getting a coat of spray where you might have otherwise thought they overlooked.
Your yard or lawn pest control services will also be affected:
To prevent chemical run off, our pest technicians may ask you to manually regulate your sprinkler system, the day of and possibly after, and have it be turned it off.
Also, treatments may be given a “rain check” in the event there is a high possibility of precipitation on the day you’ve been scheduled for service, as we are obligated to take the necessary steps to prevent run off of our products.
Will your pest treatment’s effectiveness be compromised?
Our pest control treatments will be just as effective, but if an issue arises, or the pest service we provide doesn’t seem to give the results you expected, please contact us within 30 days and we’ll be sure to address the situation accordingly.
If you have any questions regarding your pest control treatment, then don’t hesitate to call or write us, and we’ll be happy to help you with your concerns.
Read MorePesticide and Insecticide Label Changes
Synthetic Pyrethroids – Label Changes in 2012
Changes to Label Wording –2011-2012
EPA PR Notice 2008-1 – for“non-fogging” pyrethroid products
Overview and Reasons for Label changes:
In 2011 the EPA began to implement the requirement for new wording and instructions for use on all Product Labels of Synthetic Pyrethroids. These insecticides constitute a large number of the most often-used products in pest management, including such common active ingredients as permethrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, and many others. The ruling also affects any products with multiple active ingredients where at least one of them is a synthetic pyrethroid.
The timeline for compliance with this new labeling is confusing, but some product Labels began to show these changes in December 2011 and all others will be expected to comply within the first few months of 2012. It is imperative that end users of pyrethroid products carefully read the Label of the material they purchase from suppliers to be certain of the specific wording on that Label and the new restrictions that may be in place on its use.
The overall intent of these changes is to minimize movement of these active ingredients into sensitive environmental areas, such as waterways or habitats of protected wildlife. Studies initiated in California, testing water in storm drains and nearby creeks, suggested that contamination with levels of pyrethroids sufficient to affect test organisms in those waters was occurring routinely. Synthetic pyrethroids, while very low in toxicity to warm blooded animals, can be very toxic to cold blooded animals (fish, frogs, reptiles) and to invertebrate animals. One aquatic invertebrate used as the test organism is Hyalella azteca, a small fresh water shrimp or amphipod.
Where will the new wording be found?
Much of the new wording on Pyrethroid Labels will be found in the sections on “Environmental Hazards Statements” and general “Directions for Use”, and they replace current wording with stronger wording to users of the products to avoid any application that would allow that product to move off of the intended site of use. However, there are now new limitations on the use of pyrethroid products outside of structures, and these will be extremely important to the Pest Management Professional.
Environmental Hazards –
intended to clarify the steps the applicator can take to avoid potential contamination. They will vary depending on the formulation –granules, liquid sprays, dust
♦ For Liquid Concentrates labeled for Outdoor uses:
- To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area. Rinsing application equipment over the treated area will help avoid run off to water bodies or drainage systems.
♦ For Granular formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:
- To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area. Sweeping any product that lands on a driveway, sidewalk, or street, back onto the treated area of the lawn or garden will help to prevent run off to water bodies or drainage systems.
♦ For Dust products labeled for Garden or Ornamental uses:
- To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area.
♦ For Liquid Ready-to-Use products other than Aerosols:
- To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area.
“Directions for Use –Application Restrictions” – new wording to be added:
♦ For Granular formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:
- Apply this product directly to the lawn or garden area. Water treated area as directed on this label. Do not water to the point of run-off.
- Do not make applications during rain.
♦ For Liquid, Dust, and Ready-to-Use formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:
- Do not water the treated area to the point of run-off.
- Do not make applications during rain
♦ For Outdoor Liquid applications for Residential outdoor surface and space sprays other than for outdoor fogging devices:
- All outdoor applications must be limited to spot or crack-and-crevice treatments only, except for the following permitted uses:
• Treatment to soil or vegetation around structures;
• Applications to lawns, turf, and other vegetation;
• Applications to building foundations, up to a maximum height of 3 feet.
- Other than applications to building foundations, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) are limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications, only.
♦ For all products that do not contain directions for use in drains or sewers:
- Application is prohibited directly into sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur. Do not allow the product to enter any drain during or after application.
♦ For all products that do contain directions for use in drains or sewers:
- Do not apply directly to sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur, except as directed by this label.”
Important interpretations of the new wording for SPRAY applications:
- Regarding the limitation of Crack and Crevice or Spot treatment only to exterior surfaces of structures:
• A one-inch wide band around doors and windows is considered to be a “spot” or a“crack and crevice” treatment.
- Covered patios outside may not have overall applications, as there is no assurance they will not be washed or subjected to heavy rain and runoff.
- Applications may still be made to building foundations to a maximum height of 3 feet, as well as to soil and vegetation around the structure.
Termite Pre-treatments:
- The treatment site must be covered prior to a rain event in order to prevent run-off of the pesticide into non-target areas.
- The applicator must either cover the soil him/herself or provide written notification of the above requirement to the contractor on site and to the person commissioning the application (if different than the contractor). If notice is provided to the contractor or the person commissioning the application, then they are responsible under FIFRA to ensure that: 1) if the concrete slab cannot be poured over the treated soil within 24 hours of application the treated soil is covered with a waterproof covering (such as polyethylene sheeting), and: 2) the treated soil is covered if precipitation is predicted to occur before the concrete slab is scheduled to be poured.
- Do not treat soil that is water-saturated or frozen.
- Do not treat when raining.
- Do not allow treatment to run off from the target area.
- Do not apply within 10 feet of storm drains. Do not apply within 25 feet of aquatic habitats (such as, but not limited to, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, permanent streams, marshes or ponds, estuaries, and commercial fish farm ponds).
- Do not make on-grade applications when sustained wind speeds are above 10 mph (at application site) at nozzle end height.
Impact on the Pest Management Industry:
♦ For structural general pest uses PMP’s will no longer be permitted to apply broad applications to exterior surfaces of structures, such as might be done for management of cluster flies, ladybirdbeetles, stink bugs, or boxelder bugs.
♦ For turf and ornamental uses there will need to be specific attention to weather conditions, sprinkler schedules, and other factors that may encourage runoff that carries the pyrethroid material.
♦ Attention must be given to soil conditions – frozen or saturated soils – where runoff would be likely to occur.
♦ Extra attention must be given to applications adjacent to sidewalks or drain openings to keep all spray or granules off of these surfaces.
List of Pyrethroid active ingredients:
- Allethrin
- Bifenthrin
- Cyfluthrin
- Cypermethrin
- Deltamethrin
- Esfenvalerate / Fenvalerate
- Etofenprox
- Fenpropathrin
- Fluvalinate / Tau-fluvalinate
- Gamma cyhalothrin
- Lambda cyhalothrin
- Permethrin
- Phenothrin
- Phenpopathrin
- Prallethrin / ETOC
- Resmethrin
- Sumithrin
- Tefluthrin
- Tetramethrin
- Trallomethrin
©2012. Univar USA Inc. Information provided is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice2008-1. It is not meant to constitute legal advice. Please contact your state regulatory officials or the EPA for additional information. Univar makes no representations and warranties as to the information provided. Always read and follow label directions.
Read MoreTermite season is here!!
Well the first monsoon rains are here in the old pueblo and the termite reproductives have grown their wings and are starting their late afternoon flights (swarms). Dont worry though, they are not equipped to start damaging your home. Their whole purpose is to start a new colony. Almost all of them do not survive to start a new colony. You can tell the difference between ant swarmers and termite swarmers easily. Termites have two body segments and drop their wings off soon after landing. Ants have three body segments and do not drop their wings. Time for your free annual termite check up! Watch this video of termites under the influence.
Read More
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