Bats in Your Attic?
August 5, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Here’s the video and story that ABC-5 ran on Pesky Bats Seeking Shelter in Homes.
Remember, with so many mosquitoes and insects to feast on this time of year, bats follow the food and love the humid air. They don’t need a big opening to find a place of residence in your attic.
Bedbug Bag Dropped at Des Moines Armory
July 21, 2010 by Doug Mitchell · Leave a Comment
“Des Moines officials believe a saboteur most likely left a bag crawling with bedbugs in the hallway of a city office building.”
That’s the lead of a Des Moines Register front page story online today: Mischief Suspected in Des Moines bedbug drop at the Armory Buidling downtown
A nasty delivery to be sure. Bed bugs feed on blood, including the human variety. Unfortunately, though custodians found the bag in the middle of a hallway (suspicious!), they didn’t find it soon enough. and some bugs spread through the building. About 200 people work in the Armory Building.
Bats and Histoplasmosis
March 14, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is a spore that can be found in bat droppings. When droppings are disturbed or cleaned up these spores can become airborne. If breathed in, the spores can develop a fungus in the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and make people very sick. Great care should be used when cleaning up bat droppings including wearing a respirator and gloves. Droppings can be sprayed with bleach and water to keep spores from becoming airborne.
Bats
March 8, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Bats that are staying in house attics and walls will remain inactive but can still move around on warm days. The more movement a bat makes the more energy they use which can kill them. Bats can actually mate during the winter if temps reach higher levels. Colonies can reach levels of 50 up to 1000. Young bats can reach maturity frequently in as little as 3 weeks. Mother bats can distinguish there own young by smell and sound.
Cigarette Beetle
February 27, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Cigarette Beetle
These pests got the name from the fact that they infest tobacco products. They are found all over the world. Cigarette beetle adults are about 2-3 mm long and brown in color. Females lay white colored eggs and adults will fly to reach food and breeding areas.
The cigarette beetle will infest such things as: coffee beans, cigarettes, pet food, paprika, and spices just to name a few. If discovered, all food or infested items should be discarded. Remaining food items should be placed in sealed containers. Grocery stores where products were purchased should be notified.
Live link to Bald Eagle Nest
February 26, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
This is a really cool look at nature. It’s an active bald eagle’s nest up near the Decorah fish factory…. and as a today there is an egg! It’ s a great opportunity to teach kiddos (and adults) about the their world. Link below.
Daddy Longlegs, Cellar Spiders
February 18, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Cellar/Daddy Longlegs Spiders
Daddy longlegs have long legs about 2-8mm in length and are off brown colored. They are usually found along basement ceilings and front porches.
Daddy longlegs are harmless to people and feed on other insects and spiders. Pest control can be used to keep numbers down but homeowners can also remove webs and eggs to keep numbers down. They are the most common spider of homeowners in Iowa and many other states.
Ant control in iowa cornfield ants
February 12, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Ants and Ant control in Iowa Cornfield Ant
Brown to blackish and 2 to 3mm long. Feed on sweets and meat. Common nests are found in the lawn with large mounds. Cornfield ants are usually the main ant that invades picnic areas. Control in homes is not usually necessary but can be obtained with over the counter residual sprays and dusts. Cornfield ants will not cause any damage but simply are a nuisance. Treating large ant nests in the yard and then removing can help. Use boric acid or similar dusts
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=da19f5dc-56ad-43b5-b68e-25de624ec715)
Pillbugs
February 11, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
Pill bugs
Pill bugs are found all over the world and in the U.S. When disturbed they will roll up into a ball and many people refer to them as “rolliepollies”. Pill bugs are about ¼ inch long and black colored. Pill bugs are not actually arthropods and not insects. They are confined to high moisture areas, thick vegetation, and under rocks, boards and structures. Pill bugs feed on decaying plant and animal matter and are harmless pests. Control can be achieved by removing grass clippings, mowing regularly, raking leaves and spraying on a normal basis.
bed bugs and roaches
February 3, 2010 by Aaron Steen · Leave a Comment
- Image via Wikipedia
Bed bugs and Roaches were on Verminators today. Interesting shows, killed the bed bugs with high heat and took several treatments to eliminate roaches in a restaraunt. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/verminators/verminators.html
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=38e1d52d-c648-46ed-af9f-8ae8085fbf09)