I have to say that I have sweet blood. Mosquitoes will somehow swarm toward me in a crowded area and start biting any exposed skin which itch terribly and later swell up.
I am always skeptical when I come across electrical devices that affect the physiological activities of insects, namely mosquitoes. I find the best and most satisfying way to kill the repulsive insects is to slap them with my palms.
I have tried using mosquito coils that smoke the whole room up when they are lighted. Although I find them quite effective, I can’t be inhaling smoke the whole day or night for that matter.
Many claim that these ultrasonic devices are able to ward off mosquitoes. Ultrasonic mosquito repellers basically emit sound in the 20-50 kiloHertz range which cannot be detected by humans. It is said that the sound produced by the devices mimick the sound of the bat or even the flapping of dragonfly wings which are the natural predators of mosquitoes. Sadly, the sound waves have no affect whatsoever on the mosquitoes.
The main thing is, these ultrasonic devices do not work. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have performed tests to determine if these devices work. They tried every ultrasonic repellers available but none had any effect whatsoever on the bloodsuckers. Tests showed that there was no difference between using the device and using no protection whatsoever.
Thus, use the conventional ways such as using a mosquito net, mosquito repellent sprays or beating them with a practiced hand.
A fly beats its wings 200 times per second, 3 times faster than a hummingbird.
2. Each female fly can lay approximately 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150. Within a day, the larvae or maggots hatch from the eggs which is pretty fast.
3. Adult flies live from two weeks to a month. Small, puny flies are not necessarily young flies, but are instead the result of insufficient food during the larval stage as flies cease to grow after they emerge from their pupae.
4. The female fly is ready for mating a mere 36 hours after having emerged from the pupae.
5. Copulation takes a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The female fly usually mates only once. This is because they store the sperm to use it repeatedly for laying several sets of eggs.
6. Flies do not actually vomit. They in fact spit when they land.
7. Why do flies frequently rub their front legs together? I have always thought that their tiny brains are scheming and deciding which pile of stinking manure or food to land next. Actually they are cleaning their legs as there are taste and smell receptors on them.
An average housefly carries 2 million bacteria on its body.
2. The feet of a housefly is 10 million times more sensitive to the taste of sugar than the human tongue.
3. Houseflies have a compound eye that sees many directions at once. They also have a highly evolved evasive reaction that detects the slightest changes in air currents.
This is why it is extremely hard to swat a housefly.
Flyswatters have holes in them to reduce air currents so that the flies are tricked into thinking nothing is happening until it is too late.
One way that I find effective when I do not have my loyal flyswatter about is to clap my hands just above where the nasty fly is resting. The fly detects the air current of your hands and flies upwards, right in the middle of both palms that snap shut.
4. Manure is the breeding place of flies, especially horse manure but ours is perfectly fine too.
5. Flies have hairy legs that have particles of manure stuck in between them and they carry them wherever they go, be it on your delicious hamburger or your juicy steak.
Booklice acquired the name because, well, they are commonly found between old books. They basically feed on the paste used in the binding of books, photos and wallpaper. They are scavenging insects that feed on dry, starchy materials and do not bite humans or animals.
Many a time I have opened an old book from my bookshelf, anticipating an exciting read but would find the pages crawling with tiny booklice. This would vex almost anyone and they would be then checking their other books for booklice.
Booklice thrive in damp, dark, humid areas. Thus, you can look for them in dark basements or storerooms. You might want to invest in a magnifying glass to see them clearly.
If you find booklice on objects, take them outdoors to dry in the sun. Booklice are soft-bodied insects and will dry out quickly in the sun, killing them.
In places like storerooms or closed areas, open up all the windows to let sunlight in and let the room dry out. Use a dehumidifier or a fan if you have one which will remove the moisture in the area.
Household insecticides such as pyrethrins or allethrins can also be used on old, damp books and old mattresses. If booklice becomes out of control in your house the best option would be to contact a pest control company for the use of insecticides.
When these nasty reddish ants bite, they squirt formic acid that is secreted from their abdomen into the wound, making it doubly painful. They do not have a stinger, thankfully.
If the nest is disturbed, for example you have taken a stick and poked the nest, the thousands of ants residing inside will give a noisy warning by tapping on the leaves from within. That is your cue to get out of the area real quick.
3. The larvae of weaver ants are used as sewing machines for building the nest. Using living leaves, the worker ants pull the edges together. Each ant then holds a larva in their mandibles and gently squeezes it so that the larva produces silk.
The silk is used as glue to stick the edges of the leaves together, creating a ball of leaves which is their home.
4. Birds use ants that spray formic acid to kill mites living in their feathers. This includes the weaver ants. How do they do this? The birds pick up ants in their beaks and place them in their feathers.
5. In Thailand and the Philippines, weaver ant pupae are harvested and sold as food. They are said to have a creamy flavor. Adult ants are also eaten and have a lemony or sour taste.
The lizard sticky glue trap can be found in any local hardware store. When tearing the protective paper on the glue trap, the glue that may be stuck onto your fingers can simply be removed by rubbing your fingers in a little oil and then washing them. Place the glue trap where the lizard is usually seen and in couple of days the lizard should be caught!
The lizard sticky glue trap can be found in any local hardware store. When tearing the protective paper on the glue trap, the glue that may be stuck onto your fingers can simply be removed by rubbing your fingers in a little oil and then washing them. Place the glue trap where the lizard is usually seen and in couple of days the lizard should be caught!
Introducing our newly launched AntiPest Electronic Insect Trapping Device (EITD), a state-of-the-art quality system for controlling and regulating the annoying threat of the surrounding flying insects. Designed in a unique and eye-catching form, this piece of gadget is hygienic and is easy to clean and maintain at a highly affordable price.
The AntiPest EITD system which is GMP, ISO and HACCP compliant, provides a method that has no smell, no noise, no debris, no pollution and absolutely no chemical without compromising on its ability to function at maximum capacity.
We have 2 different models for the system – Hercules & Discreet.
Hercules Model
Type: Wall mounted or suspended
Material: Stainless steel
Brightness: 18 watts x 3
Dimension: 500mm x 295mm x 67mm
The Hercules unit is defined by its sleek, modern appearance, its high quality performance as well as versatility in tackling the various flying insect problems. The built-in UV tubes emit a stronger attraction power to flying insects compared to other existing trapping devices in the market. Its stainless steel reduces the harsh reflective glare, rendering the unit an elegant, soft and graceful appearance.
This model is ideal for use in all production and manufacturing plants in addition to food production and preparation areas.
Discreet Model
Type: Wall mounted or suspended – ceiling
Material: Mild steel
Brightness: 18 watts x 2
Dimension: 660mm x 245mm x 110mm
The unique and decorative front cover cleverly conceals the glue board and its insect trapping mechanism, thus giving a discreet and environmentally friendly control system for flying insects. The front cover can be painted, wallpapered and even decorated to match the surrounding décor.
This model is ideal for use in restaurants, F & B outlets, hotels, dining rooms, hospitals, and all public areas where it is essential that the management of flying insects is hidden from view of the naked eye.
Cat flea, usually brown to black in colour, is a small insect that measures at 1 to 2mm long. Their flat bodies make them incredibly hard to spot in a cat’s fur coat because of how thin these insects are. The cat flea’s primary hosts are domestic cats and kittens. The female of the species will lay her eggs on the host, and these eggs will then be transferred from the host to the host’s surrounding environment. The fleas also have three pairs of legs, designed for jumping from one cat to another or even to a human being. Fleas are renowned for their jumping abilities; therefore, the first sign of a bad infestation indoors will always manifest as bites on a person’s leg within the region of the ankle.
5 DIY Steps to Solve Your Flea Issues, and 1 Step for the Professionals
First, all cats and kittens in your home should be treated for fleas by a qualified veterinary surgeon.
Warm wash all beddings, fabric fittings, cushion covers and curtains thoroughly. Vacuum the mattresses, sofa sets, cushions and all fabric furniture, particularly under the cushions and the crevices where the eggs might be.
Vacuum all carpets daily, and remember to dispose of used vacuum bags.
Steam-clean carpeting and fabric fittings. This will eliminate any remaining eggs laid by the fleas.
It is necessary to put all your fabric furniture, such as sofas, armchairs and footstools, in direct sunlight for at least 2 to 3 hours.
Hire a professional pest controller to treat the indoor areas. Insist on a “safe & friendly” product for this purpose. However, please note that this step should be accompanied by all the other steps stated above. The flea treatment should be done after the other steps have been carried out.
Aesthetic Appearance
Bird droppings and nesting material can seriously damage a building’s aesthetic appearance.
This may present your business negatively to your customers as they contain biting insects and parasites as well as a very unpleasant smell. After all, bird droppings and nesting materials on or around a building send a message to the public that this building is not properly maintained.
This negative impact on your business is even greater if you are in the food industry – pest birds are potentially even more of a health risk than rats.
Once a building has been heavily infested with birds it can be very costly to remove the fouling and clean the building, this is why proofing should be carried out before the problem gets too bad.
Structural Damage Pest birds cause millions of dollars of damages every year to buildings, machinery, automobiles, roof ventilation systems and much more. Bird droppings and nesting materials which are allowed to accumulate pose a host of physical problems that can become serious if they are not rectified immediately:
• Roof & Paintwork Damage
Bird droppings are very acidic by nature, which is corrosive to paintwork and roofing material. Eventually, it may especially cause leaks in tar-based roofing materials. In some circumstances, the sheer weight of bird fouling can lead to roofs and ceilings collapsing – there can often be several tons of droppings in heavily infested areas.
• Drainage Systems Blocked
Droppings and nest materials can also block gutters and downpipes which damage pipes as well as cause water damage to the building. Pigeon, starling and sparrow nests are often built in rain gutters, drains and corners of roofs where drains are located. These will cause the drainage system to be blocked.
• Ventilation Systems Clogged
Nest debris can block air intakes and air conditioning units causing mechanical faults which can be costly to repair. Furthermore, dangerous diseases can be spread through the air ventilation and conditioning systems.
• Damage to Machinery
The highly acidic nature of bird droppings can also do much corrosion damage to equipment, industrial machinery, siding, insulation – which can be very costly to repair.
• Damage to Food and Other Products by Bird Droppings
Birds flying around insides of warehouses and production areas can cause thousands of dollars in waste as their droppings can contaminate food and other products which are being made or kept.
Should you have any bird problem in your home or workplace, call us today and find out more about our bird control services.
Many people and organizations underestimate the threat of birds. While birds are seen as “cute” and “harmless”, birds actually pose a serious threat to both people and properties.
Diseases & Bacteria
Due to the number of diseases and bacteria that are present in their droppings and nests, urban pest birds pose a considerable threat to human health. Many diseases, including the following, can be linked back to pest birds:
Ornithosis
Ornithosis is a “flu-like disease” most commonly found in pigeon droppings. However a more serious form, called psittacosis, can also be present in pigeon droppings – with symptoms being more like common pneumonia.
• Allergic Alveolitis
More commonly known as ‘Pigeon Fancier’s Lung’, this is a serious allergic reaction which can only be cured by the removal of the birds and their nests. Prolonged Allergic Alveolitis reactions can result in permanent lung damage.
• Histoplasmosis
Resulting from a fungus that thrives in dried bird droppings, the spores of this fungus can affect humans who breathe them in with a respiratory disease. This particularly becomes an issue when birds are nesting on air intakes and spores can be spread throughout the building.
• Salmonellosis (Salmonella)
Salmonella is a contagious bacteria present in most pest birds and found especially in bird droppings. Moreover, dust from the droppings can dissipate through ventilators and air conditioners, thereby contaminating food-processing plants. In fact, it often occurs that “food poisoning” can be traced to pigeons, swallows, starlings, sparrows, bats and mynahs.
• Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)
Gulls in particular have been linked with the spread of E. Coli because they scavenge for food on rubbish tips, sewerage treatment works and sewerage outfall pipes. The E. Coli organisms are present in the gulls droppings and can spread to water supplies and any food premises.
• Cryptococcosis
Such disease arises from yeast found in the intestinal tract of birds. The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease and may later affect the central nervous system.
• Candidiasis
This is a yeast of fungal infection originating from birds. The disease affects the skin, mouth, intestines, urogenital tract and respiratory system.
Parasites, Insects & Other Pests
Another considerable health risk associated with urban pest birds are the blood feeding insects and parasites that live in their nests and droppings. These include biting bugs, mites, fleas, ticks and lice, which cause a whole host of problems on their own in addition to the threat caused by birds.
Bird nests can also contain other human-biting, parasitic mites and insect pests such as carpet beetles, clothes moths, spider beetles, dermestid beetles and booklice.
The carcasses of dead birds can also lead to infestations of house flies and blowflies.
Safety
Wet bird droppings are very slippery and can be dangerous at high foot-traffic areas. This becomes an even more significant problem if the droppings are on emergency stairways or fire escapes.
Pollution
Urban pest birds may also cause contamination of food as well as noise and odour pollution, which create unpleasant conditions for customers and employees.
Should you have any bird problem in your home or workplace, call us today and find out more about our bird control services.
