It’s that time of year when weeds are everywhere. Weeds are popping up in the front, back and side of  yards. Not only are they unsightly, it also takes a chunk of time out of your day to pull them. Are you tired of pulling weeds? Would you rather skip the yard work and spend quality time with your family? What could you be spending your time doing, if you did not have to do yard work?

Get your time back and consider a weed management program! Weed Control Programs can eliminate seedlings from growing and kill any existing weeds that have popped up in your yard. Including hard to control plants in the Tucson region like Puncture Vine, Spurge, Russian Thistle, London Rocket and Bermuda Grass.

Pre-Emergent stops seeds from germinating and can control 70 % of weed growth, if you combined it with Post Emergent you can get 100% Control! We can’t tell you how to spend your extra time but we can kill your weeds! Have questions? Call our office at 520-886-3029 and remember Weeds Fear the Blue!

In the past few years Bed Bug problems have been becoming an everyday occurrence in Tucson. They have been found in Hotels, Motels, Residential Homes, Commercial Properties, Schools, Hospitals and even Movie Theaters. Bed Bugs are a reddish-brown mahogany color and their bodies are flattened an oval shaped. Adults are 1/4″ to 5/8” long and up to 1/8” wide. They appear shiny when seen. Bed Bugs are a parasite that is looking for its next meal, blood from us.

You might ask how do I get Bed Bugs? They are great hitchhikers, they will hitch a ride on clothing or other belongings that they come in contact. However they are not like lice and they will not travel directly on a person. Once they are introduced into an environment they are readily able to spread.
It is always a good idea to take precautionary steps when traveling always inspect your hotel room and always travel with a flashlight and dissolvable laundry bags for dirty clothes. When returning home, inspect and vacuum out your suitcases and wash all clothing in hot water. If you would like to know more on how to inspect you hotel room please check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/EssentialPestManagement.

It is always a good idea to take precautionary steps when buying used items. Before purchasing a used item conduct a thorough inspection, find out as much history on the item where it was stored and if there was ever any Bed Bug issues.

If you have questions or think you have Bed Bugs call us for a courtesy inspection at 520-886-3029!

Termite Baiting product demonstration by Chad Andrews & Dr. Phil Koehler. Time elapsed to illustrate termite feeding preference for the Sentricon’s new Recruit HD over the standard yellow pine. What does it mean for you? Product works better, termites die faster!

Do you have a rodent problem? From field mice to pack rat issues we can take care of it. Rodents carry many different diseases such as rabies and the dreaded Hantavirus. They can have worms, mites and fleas they are social unacceptable.

One of the top complaints we hear is that rodents will chew the wires in a vehicle and nest in the engine compartment and this can cost a chunk of change to repair. We bait and trap to keep your home and yard rodent free. Take a look at this video compliments of the owner. He is testing a rodent trap on his hand. Even though rodents can be a serious problem you can get a laugh out of this video!

With the weather warming up bees are buzzing. With the increase of bee activity we thought we would show you a honey comb removal our technician completed.

If you are at the park or just notice bees buzzing around your home please be careful.

General Knowledge

Africanized honey bees are the type of bees that cause safety concerns in the desert southwest.  They can be VERY aggressive when the hive is established (hence the nickname ‘killer bees’) but not every encounter with these pests is cause for alarm.

Often bees can be observed when they are foraging for either food or water. Blooming cottonwood and mesquite trees attract large quantities of the insect. Like everything else in the desert they need food and water to survive. Ponds, pools, sprinkler heads and many other water sources also attract bees strictly because of the nourishment they provide. These foraging bees are not to be feared, since they are typically docile and not defending their home or their brood.

There are several situations that we should all be wary of when it comes to the presence of bees.

Swarms

When bees travel, they travel in a swarm. The queen bee is the focus of all the worker bees’ attention and when it comes time for her to rest, they all take a break. The queen will land on an attractive area and all the worker bees land around her to fan her and keep her safe and comfortable while she rests.

The landing of a swarm can be a dangerous situation. Many, many bees are flying in a circle waiting for their turn to land and incidental stinging can occur. It is important to keep your distance while they are landing and contact a Pest Management Professional regarding what should be done from this point on.

Some observable activity continues once the swarm has come to rest. Scout bees are traveling to and from the swarm to try and find a suitable location to establish a permanent hive. Once the bees are established, the danger of a situation can escalate dramatically.

Hives

A hive of bees is established when a permanent location has been found and occupied by the previous swarm.  In this “home”, the bees will immediately begin to develop honey comb in which to develop their brood. Once the eggs have been laid and the care of young has begun, the aggressive nature of an Africanized honey bee colony takes full force.

The level of aggression within a colony can vary, but the same amount of precaution should be taken no matter the situation. Bees will defend their hive at the slightest provocation, and in some instances, even walking too closely to their entry point may set them off. Be very cautious around any bee activity when several are observed going to and from the same location, usually into a hole of some sort.

In the case that a hive is present or suspected of being near, contact a Pest Management Professional quickly with advice on how to pursue with the situation. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE BEES ON YOUR OWN!!!  When an attack pheromone is release by any number of bees, the whole colony will go into attack mode. The small hive you thought you had can quickly grow to thousands and a simple situation may turn fatal without proper equipment.

Be as cautious as you think necessary when bee activity is present. You cannot be too paranoid when it comes to personal safety and any pest management professional will answer questions regarding the situation on hand. If you just aren’t sure, inspections can be arranged as needed.

Precautionary Steps

Keep in mind that bees can be attracted to perfume, hairspray, dark colored clothing and other environmental factors. Please remove yourself from area that bees are infesting to avoid any injuries.

If you should have any further questions please call our office at 520-886-3029.

***Termite Alert*** Termites found at a local school during an inspection. Unfortunately damage had already been done.  Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year and unfortunately reacting after termites are found can be a costly mistake. This is why it is so important to have a termite inspection once a year.