Q1500 Hi! My attic
was treated with a white dust to control carpenter ants in my home.
White dust was forming a cloud over my home while the dust was being
applied. There are no ants in sight. There is white dust all over
everything in my attic. Could this job have been done without all of
that residue, yet be as effective? It feels dangerous when I go up there
now. I begin to cough. What do you think was used? How should I clean up
the residue? I am "CONFUSED" Thanks! Eddie Jensen. Palm Coast,
Florida.
It does not seem normal to have white dust coating
everything. The dust we use in Canada is usually applied in
cavities or under insulation in an attic. Contact the pest company
to find out exactly what product was used and then talk to to Florida
Pest Management Association. I am not familiar with all the dust
pesticides available in Florida. |
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Q1499 There appears
to be mice in our ductwork, we can hear them running around. (the other
possible place is they are in the piping for the sump pump which leads
outside) We can see where they might of come in from outside. How do we
get rid of them?
Blocking off the entry points is not always
possible but it can make a big difference in a permanent solution.
See the question below. |
Q1498 I need to
home remedy to put down in my crawl space to stop a mice problem, I get
about three a year in the cold months. It is gravel, I think concrete
may help the problem, but right now it is to expensive for my budget.
THANK YOU, Ricky
Three mice a year is not a serious problem, but
even one mouse is undesirable. There are no simple home remedies that
are reliable. Your best solution is to follow the three "R"s of
mouse control. Read them on
our mice page. |
Q1497 There are
about a dozen four to six-inch tall 1" dia. mud towers in one corner of
the crawlspace under my house. I need to get into that area to repair a
duct, but am hesitant to knock down these towers for fear of what might
crawl out. Only thing I have found is a reference to cicada nymphs.
Could it be anything else? Fear of the unknown is the worst.
Jonathan, Louisville.
Unfortunately the information leads me to suspect
you have subterranean termites. They build mud tunnels to travel
up from the moist soil into wood above the foundation. You would be wise
to have a local termite specialist do an inspection.
More termite information |
Q1496 You mention
that earwigs do not breed inside a house. However, in the spring/ early
summer we had quite a few bugs that looked very much like little earwigs
(similar to carpet beetle larvae but no hair on the tail end and they
had the distinctive earwig "tail" that looks like little clamps- they
had six little legs and traveled quite fast. Their body was more worm
like than adult earwigs- I could not find anything like them on your
identification page)- I found them in all the rooms of the house- about
3 or so a day. I vacuumed everyday and after a few months I no longer
saw them and thought we got rid of them but then in the fall I would
find earwigs (adult) in our house- quite a few. When I cleaned out a
cupboard, I found what looked like a nest of some kind in the very back
(I just cleaned that cupboard a few months before and it did not contain
any food)- and then I looked in between the floors below the cupboard by
the joists and found another one. One was made of what looked like a
ball of junk collected from the floor and beside it was what looked like
carpet hairs & slivers of wood (could be from our firewood we use in the
winter). THe other nest was a collection of junk too (wood pieces and
fine carpet hair). In both nests was carcasses of the "baby earwigs?"
and a few carpet beetle larvae. Now that the weather has turned to
freezing, the earwigs are gone but I don't feel like having them around
every year. The first 2 years in this house we had a few adult earwigs
in the fall but not the baby ones and not as many adults as we had this
year. Do you think they were breeding in our house or is it something
else? What can we do to get rid of them thanks. Rosanne.
Smithers, BC.
Earwigs lay eggs in soil near the surface.
They do not build nests indoors. The nymph
stages of earwigs look similar to fully developed adults, but smaller. I
believe there is another pest in your home but can not suggest what it
might be based on the information provided. A photo would help. |
Q1495 Is
there any other insect that will leave blood stains on bedding, other
than bed bugs? We have had two treatments by a professional, and have
never been able to find any insects despite trying day and night. We had
bites at night at the beginning of the infestation, but suspect we are
now immune. However, the blood stains continue, sometimes in areas that
we are not in contact with. The second question is whether it is
possible to get a specific recommendation from somewhere on the best
exterminator for bed bugs in Vancouver. Thank you very much.
Marc.
Assassin bugs are blood sucking insects but they
are not common indoors on the west coast. You likely still have bed bugs
if you had them before. Getting rid of them requires finding all of the
nesting or hiding spots. This can take a long time, even for a
well trained professional. The Structural Pest Management Association of
BC and the national affiliated CPMA has conducted training seminars on
bedbugs for member technicians. Be sure to deal with a business
and technician that has attended at least on of these seminars.
Call some of the members listed in our
directory of
professionals in Vancouver. |
Q1494 i have found
4 cockroaches in my apartment in one month, i have just moved in what
can i do...Kevin. Ottawa.
First, talk to your landlord and find out if there
are or have been problems with cockroaches in the building before you
moved in. Spraying insecticides in one unit may have driven them to your
apartment. Having a professional deal with the situation using
baits is a better option. |
Q1493 i have a
squirrel living in the wall my bay window. It has been there for a
while. I recently discoverd maggots wiggiling across my floor. I was
really freaked out! i killed them and sanitized my room. I discoverd
that they are coming out from under my wall. I still here the squirrel
moving around but does this mean that there is a dead squirrel in the
wall??? i guess more than one could be living in there. Could the
maggots be coming from something else like feces??? AND it is the winter
right now - so can the maggots survive in the winter??? Please help...i
am so freaked out! thanks.. Kim. Toronto
Maggots and flies are a good indication that
something is decaying. Likely another squirrel.
They will continue emerging until the corpse has dehydrated
but it will remain a food source for other insects. If
there is a way to have it removed it may prevent further problems. |
Q1492
My house and basement is full of crickets. Is there a household remedy
for getting rid of these pests? Susan
Thorough vacuuming will often eliminate many
indoor insect problems including crickets.
Keep your basement well ventilated to reduce moisture. Residual
insecticides can be sprayed lightly into cracks and crevices especially
near entry point. Follow the label directions or call a
professional. |
Q1491 Along some
windowsills in the living room and a bedroom, along the back of my
kitchen countertop, under kitchen sink and bathroom sink and on top of a
sideboy hutch, i have found tiny feces black in color. They are smaller
than a grain of rice, about the size of lighter flint or tip of a
pencil. I doubt they are from a mouse because I have found nothing
chewed up in my kitchen. We have bags of chips or other things always in
our cupboards or even on our countertop and have found no evidence of
anything chewed up or tampered with. Occasionally, we have seen a
silverfish trapped in a bathtub or elsewhere. Also, we have found some
large large black ants in our kitchen but haven't seen them for months.
What do u think this feces is from? Thanks. Chris. Toronto
MICE. Go through all the motions of getting
rid of mice as outlined on this page.
If you trap one or see poison bait is being consumed then keep up the
process to eliminate the rest of the population. |
Q1490 How do we get
rid of bed bugs? We are a family of five and can't sleep at night, too
many bites on all of us. Mel. Chicago.
See out web page:
Get rid of bed bugs. |
Q1489 What are
assassin bugs and how does one get rid of them from their apartment?
Requesting information for an elderly aunt in Mississauga. She has had
the exterminator in once but it did not work. Thank You, Laura.
All potential breeding areas such as rodent
and bird nests and trash piles in or near houses should be eliminated.
Since these bugs fly at night and are attracted to light, adequate
screening must be used around windows and doors. Caulk and seal any
openings into the house. Usually only a few individual bugs are found in
the home at one time except for the bloodsucking conenose, which may be
in groups of 10 to 15 at a time or scattered singly. Do not handle bugs.
Use a broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner to collect and discard
individuals. A pest professional could treat some of the likely hiding
places with a residual insecticide. |
Q1488 I am looking
at starting a taxidermy business and am looking for Dermeestid Beetles.
Do you know any body that sells Dermestid Beetles, if so please post in
response or e-mail me at
arcyoung@shaw.ca Adam. Edmonton, Alberta.
We are not aware of any source and importing them
to Canada may be impossible. Perhaps someone else may know of a
source. |
Q1487 I am sure
that the house we bought has pill bugs. The lady we bought the house
from said that there was a small flood on the bottom level of the home.
All carpet floors and things were replaced. I find them in my kitchen
facing the outside wall and in my front room to the outside walls. There
is one wall from the kitchen they seem to also be coming from. Do you
think there may not have been proper clean up prevention before we
bought the house??? It seems the problem is getting worse as it rains or
is moist outside. help me???????? Tracy.
When the flood was cleaned up did they correct the
problem that caused it? Very wet conditions because of poor
exterior drainage will result in a continuing problem. Were the
walls dried out thoroughly? Pill bugs must have moist conditions to
survive.
See Pill Bugs, sow bugs, centipedes. |
Q1486 I am having a
problem with a small cockroach that is entering through my kitchen sinks
via the septic tank. I am wondering if there is anything I can pour in
my sink drains to kill these pests they appear to only be coming through
the kitchen sink i don't want to cause any damage to the septic system
so I am hesitant to listen to people who may not be experts. Jeremy
Use a biodegradable foam drain cleaner. You may
have to use it 3 or 4 times to eliminate built up grease and food
sludge. You should repeat this process weekly. Foaming cleaners
will expand to reach all surfaces in the drain pipe. |
Q1485 How often do
bed bugs reproduce? Can you have bugs and no eggs? How long before the
bugs start reproducing? Louisa
Female bedbugs lay about 300 eggs in a year.
The eggs hatch in about 10 days. All your answers and much more can be
found on our
Bed Bug web
pages |
Q1484 I have little
red insects crawling on my walls. They are about the size of the point
of a pin, when you squish they make a red mess. I get them on the
outside wall of my entrance. On the outside of my house they are all
over the siding and windows in my basement (only in the front entrance
area.) We have a big concrete step that is hallow underneath and under
our basement windows we have flower beds.. (Our house is a bi level with
4 ft of basement above ground.) Can someone identify these for me and
tell me what to do to get rid of them? They are two small to take
pictures.. Thanks. Christine
They may be clover mites. Check out this
page:
Clover mites. |
Q1483 I will be
visiting my parents for a week over Christmas. They have been dealing
with a bed bug infestation all fall. They have cleaned the house
thoroughly and had a professional in twice to try and get rid of them.
From what they tell me, it sounds as if the situation has improved but
the bugs are not completely gone. What can I do to try and make sure
that I do not carry bed bugs back to my own home when I leave?
Nora.
Bedbugs are becoming such a problem some people
are taking extreme measures to prevent bringing them home. You
could wash all your clothing and pack it in sealed garbage bags then in
your suitcases. Leave the suitcases in the garage when you get
home. Tell your parents to keep working with a professional to
eliminate the problem. They can hide in the smallest cracks and
crevices and stay there for a year without feeding. See:
How to get rid of bedbugs. |
Q1482 I have a
fruit fly problem. I removed all food from the kitchen and now find them
in other areas of the house. Any suggestions? Kelly.
Check all your stored food in other locations such
as bags of vegetables, potatoes, onions, etc. They multiply
rapidly and generally stay near the food source where they lay eggs.
|
Q1481 How do I get
rid of Cluster Flies in our new Log home? Mamie.
Cluster flies enter homes in the fall to escape
cold temperatures. They will leave in the spring.
Be sure to caulk all entry points next summer. In the mean time
you could have a professional fog any attic cavities and inject a
pesticide into window and door casings. |
Q1480 We have a
farm behind us that has chickens, what can I use to keep them from
tearing up my landscaping and flowers? Terry
A fence. Chickens do a good job of removing
vegetation in a garden just before planting in the spring, but
there won't be much of a garden if you don't fence them out after
planting. |
Q1479 An odor is
issuing from our floor heating vents which we are sure is our dead
missing hamster trapped in heating and air ductwork. How do we eliminate
the problem. Jim
It's time to call in the power vac professionals
to clean all the ducts and the furnace. You may also have to put
an odor absorbing product in the ducts. |
Q1478 My son has
been requested to bring 100 sow bugs to class. We have found 5 and
looked in all the places listed in your site. My brother-in-law, a
farmer, thought they may be dormant this time of year. Is that true?
Marcia. Brandon, Oregon, USA.
They may be difficult to find in cooler weather
but you should be able to find some if you go to a wooded area and roll
over a log or kick apart a rotting stump. |
Q1477 How will you
get rid of Sowbugs if they are in your area? i have a project do to on
this and i was wondering if they were in your basement would you want to
kill them? or what are some of the sprays called that can kill the sow
bugs? please respond ASAP. thank you for your time. Reeva.
Vancouver, BC.
Spraying pesticides to control sow bugs will
provide only temporary relief. Reduce the humidity.
See our sow bugs page. |
Q1476 hi my dog was
skunked last night he smelling better but my house reeks and so do we is
there anything we can do ourselves to get rid of the smell. Warren
See the deodorizing recipe on our
Skunk page. |
Q1477 I
removed a dead skunk after five days under my home. The critter is gone
but the odor is not. What are the HOMEOWNERS best way to remove the odor
ASAP? The animal had NOT deteriorated at all, just the skunk odor. Easy
access to the area affected. Patrick
Try spreading lime in the area then use a fan to
blow in fresh air. |
Q1476 I've
been hearing a lot about bed bugs in my area. Thankfully I have never
had any experience with them at all and obviously I don't want any. To
say the least my leather couches our in horrible shape and I need
something decent for the holidays...So I was thinking about buying a
used couch off of someone. I would like to know the best ways for
checking if there are any bed bugs on the couch and what signs to look
for, so that i don't have a problem if I bring a couch home.
Christina
Bringing any kind of used furniture into a home
can be risky. Steam cleaning may eliminate adult insects but may
not reach eggs. Be sure to thoroughly inspect every crack and
crevice looking for evidence. See the tips on
"How to get rid of bed
bugs". |
Q1475 How do
I get rid of house centipedes? Marsha.
House centipedes, like spiders are predators of
other insects so they may be considered beneficial. Reducing the
humidity level will discourage them. A professional could apply a
residual product in the right places that will reduce the population for
some time.
See Centipedes, sow bugs and pill bugs |
Q1474 I believe
there is a dead rat in the furnace vents - likely a horizontal hot air -
in our crawl space. Have ruled out a natural gas leak. Odour is getting
bad. Had the vents power vac'd recently but still persists. Other than
taking apart the vents is there another solution ? Rex.
Vancouver,BC.
Professional power vacuuming should remove dead
rodents. You may have one that has crawled up into the floor
insulation or into a wall cavity following the plumbing or the heat
ducts. If you can't find it the best solution is to use fans
to circulate fresh air into the basement or crawl space. There are
also odor absorbing products available but their effectiveness is
limited. |
Q1473 We recently
put in a new lawn and now my house is infested with Clover Mites. Is
there a natural remedy I could use to get rid of them? Ginny
|
Q1472 What safety
measures are taken to test pesticides before they are used and sold?
Jacinta. Ajax, Ontario
All Pesticides must be registered by Health Canada
before they can be sold or used in Canada. The Pest Management
Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada is responsible for registering
pesticides in Canada. Once a pesticide is registered in Canada, it is
given a Pest Control Products Number or PCP #. This number must be on
the label of any pesticide sold or used in Canada. Companies that want
to have their pesticides registered in Canada must submit detailed
information and data that will be evaluated by the PMRA. A
decision to register the pesticide will only be made if the product does
not pose unacceptable risks to people or the environment and if it is
effective.
The registration process is described in PMRA's Factsheet on the
Regulation of Pesticides in Canada.
http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/pdf/fact/fs_pestreg-e.pdf
|
Q1471 What is the
best way to keep mice out of my dresser drawers? we live in the middle
of a field so no matter what we do they get in the house. the only place
i see any evidence is droppings in the drawers. please help me find a
way to keep them out of my drawer so i can use them. Dorrine.
If you were able to the see evidence of
urine in other locations you would probably move out. You must
find out how they are entering your living space and block it off.
Follow the suggestions in the answer to #1464 below. |
Q1470 Is
there any type of mattress covering that will protect a new mattress
from bed bugs? Linda. Vancouver, BC.
Buy one that covers the entire mattress with a
good zipper. Make sure there are no openings at each end of the
zipper when it is closed. Give as much attention to the box spring
if there is one and the bed frame and headboard. |
Q1469 Hi, I
am the manager of a hostel in B.C. In the last few months we have had
problems with bedbugs. At first we shut down the rooms and had
professional pest control come in twice to get rid of them and the still
managed to survive. We now have started to renovate and have
tossed all the carpet, bunks, and mattresses and are trying to find our
own solution since professional help does not seem to be doing anything
but costing us money. Anything you could recommend would be grateful.
Vince
Perhaps the mattresses, bunks and carpeting
should have been removed as part of the process when the professional
was hired. A well trained pest professional will do an inspection that
could take many hours. If there many rooms it could take a few
days. The treatment process can include thorough vacuuming, hot
steam injection and properly applied pesticides. An experienced
technician will know what to look for an where. Even then, most
professionals will not guarantee total elimination of bed bugs in one or
two treatments. They are very difficult to find and they can
hide for months without feeding. Read
How to get rid of bed bugs. |
Q1468 I am finding
small black or orange ? I will call them insects all over my home they
are even in the refrigerator and basically penetrate plastics, cans etc,
when they get into the refrigerated (or Not) bottled water they look
like small sturdy bubbles. On clothes they are attached to lint or just
lay on top of the clothing. My cats (two) can sense them,and have
started to shake their heads. They are into food, bottled lotions,
shampoo etc.They feel gritty or sandy. I find them on my body also.
Basically they are tiny black specs, but are orange also. I believe I
have a mold problem in my home, could these be mold spores? Pest control
company says they are not bugs or pests, he does not know what they are,
and cannot spray because he says by law he has to know what he is
spraying. It's getting worse, they are in every room including
refrigerator and freezer. They are in my dishes, and not easy to remove,
like they were baked on. Have you ever heard of anything like this? I am
constantly cleaning with bleach and water but they just are all over. I
hope you have an answer. Thank you. Mary. San Bernardino, California
Mary, we believe your problem may be Illusionary or
Delusionary Parasitosis. This a real problem not to be taken lightly by
others. We do not like to give medical advise so we suggest you
speak to your doctor. You can read more on this web site :
http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/delpara.htm |
Q1467 I have a real
bad mice problem, but I also have a dog and a cat which cat which
is not catching the mice. But there are also wild cats not harmful to
us, but I don't want them harmed. What natural remedy can I use to get
rid of them so it don't hurt the animals? They are also building houses
around are area, we also live on 2 acres of land out in the country the
mice poop is bad and also the smell it is going in to my children room
Help I have use sticky traps that works but I don't want them in...
See the answer to question 1464. |
Q1466 Will mice try
to climb into bed with my children?? Andrea. Vancouver
They may, especially if there are crumbs of food
or a baby bottle to attract them. |
Q1465 We just moved
to this adobe house 3 months ago. Around mid-September,when weather
start getting cool, we always hear mice active up between drywall and
outside wall,then all the way to the ceiling walking around make lots of
noise,I believe that at least more than 1 mouse up there, always active
night time. Last week, we had pest control inspector in to put out
traps,every morning when we get up at least 1 mouse got caught. What my
concern is wether they are nesting up there, or any mice died there,
will it cause our health problem,just because their dropping and urine
up above our master bedroom. The adobe house is very different than most
houses around United States. They don't have attic that you could go up
to check . Please let me know what I should do and how harmful for our
health.
See the answer to question 1464. |
Q1464 How does a
person get rid of mice in cottages. The worst time is fall. Is there
something that a person can use as a home remedy like cayenne pepper or
something to that effect. Something that they don't like to smell and
makes them leave. My friend is having a problem at her cottage and would
like to know. I thought mothballs wrapped up in cheese cloth. Mothballs
has a strong smell but they said that they already tried that. Any
suggestions. Please let me know
With many thanks. Ann. Oshawa.Mice
control: Follow the three "R's"
1. Get rid of the Reason
they are attract to the home. (pet food, bird seed, dry human food, etc)
2. Block off the Route they
use to enter the home.
3. Use conventional methods to Remove
the Rodents. (traps and poison)
Electronic gimmicks, moth balls, pepper and other home remedies
seldom work.
For much more information see
the rodent page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a terrible problem with mice in the house for all
most 3 years they were taking over getting in the dressers everywhere.
A friend told me that they did a study on Rats with Cayeen pepper the
study claimed that the Rats, mice hate it and run away. I know that this
is also true for a lot of garden bugs, so I went to the bulk food store
and bought a large bag of it and mixed in it some chilli pepper too. I
decided to give it a try since I had tried every other trick under the
sun without success. I put it in the burrowed mice holes, behind
couches, behind my dressers. And wow it sure slowed them down quickly.
Recently I noticed that the mice were also climbing up my unpainted
cabinets, I decided to paint the lower parts of them with semi gloss oil
paint to stop them from getting any grip, so far it has also worked.
Most of the mice are now gone it was a job and a half but the pepper
really did the trick be sure to pass it on it works.
I do live it Vancouver Canada and a lot of homes have stucco on the
exterior, I have seen a lot of Squires crawling on them and so mice
could too I checked out my current place and noticed that when I ran my
hand on the under carrige of the stucco siding I could feel for holes
leading into the house, to stop this problem I bought several small
boxes of ready mix cement which mixes quick with water, I did my best to
put as much as possible up in the holes, and some I had to put a bit
each day for a week because there wqasn't really much place for it to
adhere too. Anyhow the mice have pretty much taken a hike, and any that
I do catch I step on and flush down the toilet then they are gone..
The problem with mice is that if you get enough of them for long periods
they can draw Rodent mites which also get in your house and jump on you
and start to bite, you can't really see then they are very small.
Plus they are very hard to get a grip on, I think that they are far
worse than the mice problem. I tried a lot of products on this too but
nothing seems to work, most site claim that they die after 10 to 20 days
but my mice have now been gone for almost two months and they still bit
me. If any one has had any success with anything that works on this
problem, I'd really appreciate it thanks. Anyhow I hope that the
Cayeen pepper trick will work for you. Greg. Vancouver
|
Q1463 I have field
mice coming into the house. what can I put down to run them out.
Beverly
See the answer to the question above. |
Q1462 I was told
about a remedy for gnats that you might be interested in. Set a
small glass of apple cider vinegar out on a counter or wherever the
gnats are. The gnats are attracted to the apple cider vinegar and
they will eventually go into it and drown. It really works because
I tried it recently. I had no idea I had so many gnats in my
house, but I found out when I found hundreds in the vinegar.
Stephanie.
Thanks for the tip. This sounds better than spraying pesticides. |
Q1461 I have a
heated crawlspace under my house. Within the last 4 months something has
made a mound appx 2x6 by 2 feet high. The mound is pushing through the
poly we have covering the soil. Spoke to a pest management person on
phone who said thinks skunks and recommended gassing them. Saw on
websites that usually smell skunks, and that gassing under a house can
cause a fire? We have seen or smelling no skunks, have a dog, see no
holes in lawn from grubbing. We have lots of black sunflower around for
birds. Can't find a hole as our property is forest and crawlspace can't
be sealed. Recommendations? thanks Laurie. Tory Hill,
Ontario
Fumigation is not a very good way to eliminate
animals. If they die inside and you cant find them, the
decomposition can result in serious odor and possible health problems.
You should probably get the opinion of another pest control business
that specialized in animal trapping and removal in your area. |
Q1460 Can I buy
Cypermethrin in Quebec? If so, where? Thanks, J.J.
If it is available, you should be able to get it
from Gardex Chemicals Inc.
http://www.gardex.ca/
You may need to be licensed to purchase it. |
Q1459 I have dead
mice in the walls of our summer property that are creating a terrible
odor in the house. How do I get rid of this odor? Joanne.
Oliver, BC.
I assume they have eaten rodent poison resulting
in a number of them dying in a short period of time. One or two dead
mice don't cause much of an odor problem. Unless you are willing to open
up the walls and remove them, your best solution is continuous
ventilation and placing odor absorbing products near the source of the
smell. Try to find out how the mice got into the walls and plug
those holes to prevent others from entering. |
Q1458 We have a
goat farm. We know that we have either a mouse or rat problem in the
barn, but we don't know which it is. When we were trimming the goat's
hooves we noticed their heels look like something has been chewing on
them. We thought that it might be the rats! Is this possible? Has anyone
ever heard of this happening? Margaret. Mill Bay, BC.
Yes rats will chew on other animals including
humans. Babies in cribs are an easy target.
Rat control around farms can be an ongoing challenge. If ignored,
the populations can multiply rapidly with an abundant supply of animal
food to eat. |
Q1457 My wife
discovered little holes in her Cashmere and wool sweaters. I found a
small bug that looks like a beetle but would swirl like a tornado when
touched. What is the best way to exterminate? She has already lost about
3K in sweaters. Paul. Orange County, Ca.
It sounds like carpet beetle larva. To prevent
another $3000 loss you would be wise to call a pest professional. |
Q1456 How
does one deter raccoons from pulling up roof shingles?
Sarah
Try to eliminate the route they take to get up on
the roof. (Tree branches, high fences, vines)
You may have to install temporary wire fencing. A local pest
professional with trapping experience might be your best answer. |
Q1455 Woodpeckers
are wrecking our cedar sided home. What can we do besides shoot them.
Woodpeckers don't eat wood and they don't make
holes just for fun. They are going after insects that are in you
wall. I could be ants, termites or wood boring beetles. Have
it inspected by a pest professional. |
Q1454 We have a
problem with sowbugs in our walk-out basement. As soon as we discovered
them I called a local exterminator to help us and they came the same day
and sprayed around the perimeter walls all over the basement. Then the
next day, after doing more research on the problem (which, in hindsight,
I obviously should have done first), I learn that spraying the perimeter
will not solve the problem permanently - only temporarily, as the
presence of sowbugs generally indicates a moisture problem. I called the
exterminator to complain that he never mentioned this in the first place
(and could have saved us $150!) and he claims his method WILL work, and
there are differing 'schools of thought' on how to fix the problem. He
thinks that Pest Control Canada is getting their information from down
in the states and that his particular method WILL work (not just
temporarily) for this area... he's had lots of experience with this
problem and never had a recurrance (according to him). There doesn't
seem to be any indications of moisture in our basement, nevertheless
we'll still try to seal as many areas as needed. Any advice? Did we
completely waste our money on this guy? Christine. Edmonton,
Alberta.
Pest Control Canada gets much of it's
information from personal experience in pest management. Our pest
control business is located on the west coast where there is an
abundance of moisture and an abundance of sow bugs. We have
sprayed perimeters of buildings to reduce sow bug populations with a
full understanding by the customer that it is a temporary solution only.
Some locations like hotels, motels and food establishments have little
or no tolerance for any kind of crawling creature. These premises
may require a perimeter spray 2 or 3 times a year. |
Q1453 We have a
cottage in the Eastern townships and every year around this time, we see
to have a 'fly' problem. They seem to be common house flies, but
we have to pick up 100s from every window sill every time we arrive! It
seems as though they are coming up through the walls, or down from the
attic. Is there any product that I can use? I really don't want them to
start reproducing. Thanks. M
It sounds like you have cluster flies
that have moved in for the winter. They will not reproduce until
they leave in the spring to lay eggs on the soil where there is a large
worm population. The best control is
to caulk all the exterior cracks and crevices to prevent entry. It
is usually impossible to make a home fly proof but reducing the entry
points will reduce the fly population. There is some good
information on the
Dr. Bug
web site. |
Q1452 Are there any
laws that protect tenants in a situation of a rodent infestation? We are
no longer able to live in our rented home due to the unbearable noise of
dozens of mice running around above us on our ceiling tiles all night
long. An exterminator came in 3 weeks ago and guaranteed that the
problem would be solved within 3 weeks. It's not solved! We hope that
there is a law that will allow us to legally refuse to pay for rent
until this problem has come to an end and we are able to live in a
"livable situation". If you know where we can find any such information
or have any ideas as to how to once and for all get rid of the mice, we
would love you forever!
Getting rid of a large population of mice
usually requires an ongoing service program that could take 5 or 6
weeks, or longer. We do not offer advice on legal matters but you
may try contacting the city health department and your provincial rental
administration officials. |
Q1451 How can i get
ride of bed bugs. is any thing in store that i can use for them.
thanks. Iva, Toronto
See the answer to the question below. |
Q1450 I have a wooden
captains bed and I keep clothes in the drawers below the mattress. I
recently have found bug bites on my thighs that get very red and bruise
when I scratch them and they welt up and hurt and have a dark spot in
the center. I thought I had bed bugs but have not found any bugs that
resemble the pictures I have seen. I have found brown small bugs that
roll up into a ball in my clothes in the drawers of my bed. I have found
their shedded coats as well. They move very slowly and look a little
hairy. What are they and are they biting me and how do I get rid of
them? Thanks. Sarena. Brooklyn.
Have a look at photo #719 on the
"what is this pest" page.
The slow moving hairy insects could be carpet beetle larva. They
are not the cause of your bites. If you have bed bugs you will
rarely see them. They sneak out at night and hide very well
in daylight. Even pest professionals have a hard time eliminating
bed bugs unless they are well trained and experienced. See
How to get rid of bed bugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi, my 4 year old daughter has had the exact same symptoms as you do. I
too, found these larva in her bedroom in her captains bed. I also found
a couple black carpet beetles that played dead when I placed them in a
baggie. I know everyone says that the beetles don't bite, but your
symptoms are exactly the same as my daughters. Did you ever find out if
the bites were a result of bed bugs? Any information you may have will
be helpful. Thanks. corporate008@aol.com Ridgewood, NY |
Q1449 I have 2 bed
bugs bites...they have left scars...I was wondering how do you get rid
of them??? Thank you in advanced as I am worried because I have a 4yrs
old and a 5mths old baby.. Melissa. Kingston, Ont.
See the answer to the question above. |
Q1448 HOUSE
CENTIPEDES. CAN I PERMANENTLY GET RID OF THEM? WHAT SHOULD I USE?
House centipedes feed on small
insects, insect larvae, and on spiders. Thus they are beneficial, though
most homeowners take a different point-of-view and consider them a
nuisance.
More
information on house centipedes... |
Q1447 I'm sorry
that I do not have a picture, but hopefully you can still help.
I live in Ottawa, ON, and just recently I seen a spider with a bright
orange body and light brown legs. It was about the size of a
Toonie. Thanks, Amber
There are numerous photos of spiders on our
photo identification pages.
Have a look and you will probably find one like yours. |
Q1446
We have fire ants coming in through our electrical
outlet in the kitchen, how can we get rid of them? Thanks for any help.
Mary. Statham Georgia.
One of the greatest economic impacts and dangers posed by red imported
fire ants results from short circuits and fires in electrical systems
after fire ants move into circuit breakers, relays, motors, and other
electrical devices. Why the ants are drawn to them is still something of
a mystery. Because of this risk you would be wise to call an
experienced pest management professional. A local expert will know
which products are available and effective against these pests. |
| If you have ants coming in your home and
your a little tight with money right now, For a quick fix to kill ants
and they will not come threw the area that you have sprayed for a long
time, use Scrubbing Bubbles, Yes it works great and its not that
Toxic and not that smelly and Last a long time. Good Luck.
Shilo, Odessa, Texas |
Q1445 i have
noticed that box elder bugs always seem to be around older houses, is
there any particular reason for that? Sam
My guess is older homes have more gaps in the
siding and many cracks and crevices which enable them to enter cavities
in the walls and attic. |
Q1444 My living
room has suddenly become invaded with stink bugs. I have many house
plants in the room and think maybe they have come from the potting soil?
I recently repotted several plants. I also have a fireplace in the the
room and thought they are coming in through the chimney. Any thoughts on
where they came from and if there is a responsible way to rid them from
the house without harming my pets myself and the environment? Thanks, in
advance. Deborah. Langhorne, Pennsylvania USA
Brown marmorated stink bugs are a new
pest in Pennsylvania so their natural predators may not have much effect
on their population. They are native to the orient. The best control
solution should be done while they are feeding on outdoor plants. In the
fall when they try to move into heated structures they will gain access
through any crack or crevice on the exterior of the building. These
should be sealed with caulking. A residual pesticide applied by a
professional to the exterior walls may have some short term effect. Once
they have entered the interior of a building they can be sucked up with
a vacuum cleaner. The interior entry points should be sealed with
caulking. Spraying pesticides inside is not recommended. They will leave
in spring to start their cycle over again.
The Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences has a excellent
information on this web page:
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/pdfs/brMarmoratedStinkBug.pdf
Larry Cross, Pest
Control Services, Gulf Islands |
Q1443 I am
constantly seeing rats around my bird feeders, which incidentally, are
located quite close to my house. There are also chipmunks and red
squirrels, not to mention the occasional opossum. I am reluctant to call
an exterminator, because they seem to inevitably recommend poison, and I
don't want to harm the other wildlife. Any suggestions? Jen.
Caledon, Ontario.
The answer is pretty simple. Quit
feeding the birds.
A very large percentage of the rodent problems dealt with by
professionals is directly the result of customers feeding wild birds.
No matter how many rodents are eliminated, more will come as long
as there is a constant food source. I suggest you give your bird
feeders to someone you don't like down the block. Let them have
the rodent problems. A true environmentalist will not feed wild birds.
It disrupts their normal feeding habits and may encourage them to stay
when they should be moving to a warmer climate in the fall.
|
Q1442 Is there a
tick infestation in this area in general or just isolated places? and
what can be done to eradicate them ? Kevin. Kamloops
Ticks are pretty common throughout British
Columbia. There is not much you can do about them in the wild
except take protective measures when walking outdoors. On your own
property trim back low hanging tree branches, keep the grass short and
check your pets every time they come indoors. |
Q1441 Recently, I
have moved into a new apartment and two things haves been happening.
First I saw these really fast and large bugs around, which this page
helped me identify as house centipedes. But the second problem is that
I've been bitten by something once in a while and do not know what the
source is. The bite starts out as what appears to be a mosquito bite,
but within twenty four hours it becomes about the size of a oddly shaped
quarter that is red in color. Also the bite is usually painful and
itches like crazy. the only thing that seems to clear it up is a
combination of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. I was wondering if
a house centipede bites and if it does what does the bite look like.
Otherwise what else besides fleas or bed bugs could cause this because I
have looked for indications of those bugs and have not found any signs
that they are in the apartment (i.e. bedsheet/mattress/crevice checks)
No signs of bed bug existence was found and no signature marks of fleas
have been found. no one else in the apartment including the cat show any
signs of bites, or signs of fleas. what could this be? David.
New Jersey.
Based on the bite symptoms you describe
our first guess is bed bugs, even though you have not seen them.
Bed bugs are rarely seen by their victims. They come out of hiding
only in the dark and there is no pain when they bite. Their bodies
are very flat they can travel into tiny cracks and crevices.
Read
more about bed bugs |
Q1440 what can I
use to get rid of maggots in my carpet. This was due to a dead rat in
the roof above, they dropped to the floor?
A vacuum cleaner. |
Q1439 Hi; I need
the borax acid for cockroaches and I cant find a store where i can buy
it in larger quantity. I live in an apartment building which has
roach problem and i have a feeling that i will need a continuous
treatment for on a monthly base. The Home Hardware store sells the 300g
of Borax for $8. That's $25 per kg. Being a student, I can't afford to
spend $50 every month on pest treatment. Could you please give me
the names or the links to the Borax sellers in Toronto. I'll
really appreciate for any kind of help. Thanks Soban
Good quality boric acid is available in most drug stores.
It is expensive but only very small quantities are needed for insect
control. It may be more economical from a efficacy point of view
to purchase a pre-made termite bait. They are usually muck more
effective because the formulation quantities have been scientifically
adjusted based on numerous tests and trials. Pesticides can not be
registered in Canada unless they have a proven efficacy. You
should speak to your landlord about having the apartments adjacent,
above and below yours treated by a professional. |
Q1438 We have found
a weasel in our basement ceiling. We know where it is coming in - 2
small holes where our fireplace attaches to the house - but don't know
how to get rid of it. We discovered it because it is urinating and the
ceiling tile was discolored, and when we moved it droppings fell to the
floor and a short time later we saw the weasel looking at us. Any
suggestions. Sharon, Calgary, Alberta
The weasel may be entering your home to
catch mice, a primary food source. They are not too difficult to catch
in live traps placed in their runway. Use a small squirrel trap and
fresh meat for bait. |
Q1437 We have
a 2 year old house . mice are getting in under vinyl siding. how do i
stop them?
A 2 year old house should not have this problem.
You can go around looking for the entry points and stuff steel wool
under the siding. Expansion foam in a aerosol can will also work
but they may chew through it. Read more information on
the
Rodents
page. |
Q1436 I need to
know what we can use in the house for rats and mice but will not harm
pet birds like conures, lovebirds, parakeets and bigger birds i also
have 9 geckos which are lizards living in the house and i dont want them
hurt what would you recomand to use to get ride of the mice and rats ,,
i found one and when one mice is found more are around please help
before it gets out of hand. Tuesday.
First you may want to get rid of the reason they
are coming in. It is probably bird seed. Store it in rodent
proof containers. Hang catch trays under the bird cages for the
seed that the birds discard. Properly placed traps can be
effective. If poison bait is used it should be block type fastened
inside commercial bait stations that are not accessible to the birds.
Read more information on the
Rodents
page. |
Q1435 Hi, I found a
bee hive in ground of my backyard, they attacked me when I was weeding.
I don't know how big the hive is. I can just see a small hole in earth.
what shall I do? They are dangerous to my kid. Christy. Montreal.
It is probably an in-ground wasp nest. It should
become inactive very soon with the cold weather arriving.
The most effective treatment for this type of nest is injecting an
insecticide dust that is labeled for wasp control. Unfortunately
it is only available to licensed professionals. |
| Q1434 What can I
use to get rid of carpet beetle larvae that is not made of chemicals. I
saw 2 larvae under my bed. Will something like bay leaves
help?.....thank you...B. Davis
Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum and then steam clean with
hot steam. If any eggs are missed and they survive, the problem will
eventually come back. You may then be wise to call a professional to
spray.
|
Q1433 I am being
bitten on my couch and bed by some bug that is not visible to me, they
leave a mark like a mosquito bite. What kind of bug is this? And what
can I do to kill it?
George. Toronto.
It could be fleas or bed bugs. You
may be able to purchase flea trap and place then in the area. If
you catch a few fleas you know there are many more. If they are
bed bugs, you should call a professional. See:
How to get
rid of bedbugs. |
Q1432 Do powder
post beetles fly? David. Ohio
Yes they can fly when they emerge as adults
from wood but if conditions are suitable they will lay eggs on that same
wood and not have to fly to locate a better site. |
Q1431 My wife and I have
been bitten a number of times over the past few days by an unknown
insect. The bites leave a large red mark that is very itchy. At first my
bites produced a large white wealt similar to mosquito bites but much
larger. We have not seen any bugs and would like to know what they might
be and how to get rid of them. Phil. Burnaby, BC.
The symptoms you describe sound like a bed bug
problem. Here is an excerpt from our bed bug page...........
"A
bed bug feeds about once a week, usually for several minutes. It most
often feeds on a sleeper’s exposed skin. The bite is nearly painless and
is not felt by some people. Some people have no reaction afterwards, but
most people develop a hard bump with a whitish center which can itch for
days."
Read
more about bed bugs |
Q1430 hello
there, i recently started seeing mice in my cabinet above the stove. I
want to buy the chemical stuff that i can throw in the attic to kill
them when they ingest it. but i want the stuff that dehydrates them so
they wont stink up my attic....anyone knows of anyone selling this in
TORONTO?..i found a place in Pickering but thats one hr there and back
please help me out. thanks, Faye
There is really no legal bait in Canada that will
totally dehydrate mice. To be
effective, bait must attract mice. If you put it in the attic it
will attract mice up there to feed. You would be much better off
putting good bait in the basement or crawl space where mice normally
enter a house. There is a possibility they will feed then go outside and
die. A number of mouse traps can also be effective if carefully
baited and placed. Read more out mouse control on the
Rodents
page. |
Q1429 Two years ago
we re-did our entire kitchen - replaced all the cupboards, new floor
tiles etc in order to get rid of roach problem. We even redid the entire
ground floor. Everything was fine for about a year and now the place is
totally infested with roaches and no matter how many times we fumigate
the place it has become impossible to get this problem. We are really
desperate! Please help!! Margie. Ontario.
Fumigation is not the best solution for
cockroaches. Most professionals now use a baiting program that may
take a little longer to eliminate the problem but it will last longer.
You should also try to determine why roaches are attracted to your home.
You will find some good information on our
Cockroach page. |
Q1428 I understand
your website to suggest that there is no real danger, other than
esthetic, in eating food with indian meal moth webbing in it. Is
this true? How careful must one be to exclude actual larvae?
Are there specific health risks (TBC, typhus, etc.)? Thanx.
We understand the chances of getting sick from eating
food that has Indian meal problems is pretty small, but.....we are not
medical experts. The US Center for disease control (CDC) has some
information on this web page:
|
Q1427 My company is
having problems with pigeons and especially pigeon droppings in the
underground garage. What is the best cost effective way of dealing with
this problem without harming the pigeons? Diane. Toronto, Ontario.
The most effective way to control pigeons is
exclusion and disruption of roosting areas. This is accomplished by
installing almost invisible netting on the most common entry points and
fastening spiked devices to the roosting spots. This does not harm
the birds so they move to a comfortable new location down the street.
For pricing call some of the local pest professionals in Toronto.
Directory of Toronto Professionals. |
Q1426 I believe
that i have Rodent Mites in my office every time I sit in here I go
crazy scratching like mad. I sometimes see very tiny flys but they move
with light speed. I have tried virtual all insect sprays on the market
sprayed all baseboards, tiles floors, and some parts of the ceiling,
including my computer monitor casing, too no avail will there die. I
would really love to know where their hiding. Can they hid on paper?
I have checked out various sites on the net, how ever everyone has a
different solution, it's endless. Do u know of this problem and what can
I do to eliminate it? Greg. Vancouver
|
Q1425 A few days
ago we found a small grey mouse under our sink. Today we found a grey
mouse dead giving birth. Should I be worried about hantavirus or any
illness if this persists? Any suggestions? Tessa.
Burlington, Ont.
Hantavirus is transmitted by breathing dust
that rodents have been traveling through.
Before removing dead mice or cleaning up their droppings and urine
stains, spray the area with a mild bleach and water solution.
Read about
hantavirus. |
Q1424 NEED A GOOD
HOME REMEDY TO KILL CRICKETS.... HAVE HEARD BORIC ACID AND SUGAR? THANX
Eric. Alabama.
We are reluctant to publish home
remedies because some of them could be toxic to humans (especially
children) and pets. They do not have proper instructions on how
they should be used. For example you would not want your dog lapping up
sweet sugar laced with boric acid. Registered pest control
products have been approved for use because they must have
comprehensive instructions on the label and the manufacturer must prove
their efficacy. Small quantities of bait for cricket control are not
expensive. |
Q1423 Perhaps you
can give me some information about a very large brown coloured
bumblebee-looking insect that 'hovers' for days--just outside our
door--and then leaves when another smaller flying insect goes into our
evestrough area? This insect is 'leather-brown' in colour, and can
fly very rapidly. It appears to resemble a 'brown bumble-bee'
Any thoughts? H.Seigel
You may recognize your insect by
looking at the photos on the
"What is this pest"
page. If you send us a photo we will publish it for
identification. |
Q1422 My closet and
one new dresser are infested with small black to brownish insects that
have eaten away at cashmere and wool clothing items. what can I do to
get rid of them. Will dry cleaning the cashmere and wool kill the eggs
since they can not be put in the washer and dryer? Mary.
They could be carpet beetles or clothes
moth larva. The larva does the damage. Dry
cleaning will kill the adults, eggs and larva in the clothing but you
would be wise to have the storage areas treated and the rest of the home
inspected for more problems. See
Carpet Beetles and
Clothes Moths |
Q1421
Hello, can you please tell me if the garden orb
weaver is common around the Edmonton, Alberta area? I have a large
on living in the corner window of my deck. Doesn't seem to stray
too far from its web and I have seen it eat insects lose to its own
size. Have lived in this house since it was built 15 years ago and
have never seen a spider like that before? Wondering if it
happened to get here somehow or if we just never saw one before.
Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks. Shereen
Yes they can be found in many parts of Alberta. Here is an
interesting story about a Cat Faced orb weaving spider found in Airdrie,
Alberta.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/oncampus/weekly/oct15-04/longair.html |
Q1420 I live in an
apartment complex and we have had an ant problem for 2 years, but they
have recently gotten out of control. We have been told they are Pharaoh
ants, and they will never be able to completely get rid of them only
maintain them as some people have sprayed making the problem worse. My
question is we are going to move as a result of this, if we know we
don't take the queen with us will the workers that might move with us
die off or do we have a high risk of moving them with us. We know they
are nested in the walls of the building? Tara, Stoney Creek, Ontario.
Inspect all your food thoroughly as you pack it.
It is not likely you will take a queen with you but some species have
the ability to produce new queens. Pharaoh ants commonly "bud" or
spit to form new colonies, especially if insecticide sprays are used for
control.
Read more about Pharaoh ants |
Q1419 I have some
pharaoh ants in my apartment and I do not know where to buy poison to
kill them. Regular ant traps do not work at all. There are hundreds. We
just moved in and they were here already. please help. Joe, Hamilton
Ontario.
Pharaoh ant control in an
apartment building will only work if all tenants cooperate and do not
use insecticide sprays. It is a difficult problem that can take
months to eliminate. Using a good ant bait in one apartment will only
result in a short term solution. Ask you landlord to have a
professional set up a control program. |
Q1463 I have field
mice coming into the house. what can I put down to run them out.
Beverly
See the answer to the question above. |
Q1462 I was told
about a remedy for gnats that you might be interested in. Set a
small glass of apple cider vinegar out on a counter or wherever the
gnats are. The gnats are attracted to the apple cider vinegar and
they will eventually go into it and drown. It really works because
I tried it recently. I had no idea I had so many gnats in my
house, but I found out when I found hundreds in the vinegar.
Stephanie.
Thanks for the tip. This sounds better than spraying pesticides. |
Q1461 I have a
heated crawlspace under my house. Within the last 4 months something has
made a mound appx 2x6 by 2 feet high. The mound is pushing through the
poly we have covering the soil. Spoke to a pest management person on
phone who said thinks skunks and recommended gassing them. Saw on
websites that usually smell skunks, and that gassing under a house can
cause a fire? We have seen or smelling no skunks, have a dog, see no
holes in lawn from grubbing. We have lots of black sunflower around for
birds. Can't find a hole as our property is forest and crawlspace can't
be sealed. Recommendations? thanks Laurie. Tory Hill,
Ontario
Fumigation is not a very good way to eliminate
animals. If they die inside and you cant find them, the
decomposition can result in serious odor and possible health problems.
You should probably get the opinion of another pest control business
that specialized in animal trapping and removal in your area. |
Q1460 Can I buy
Cypermethrin in Quebec? If so, where? Thanks, J.J.
If it is available, you should be able to get it
from Gardex Chemicals Inc.
http://www.gardex.ca/
You may need to be licensed to purchase it. |
Q1459 I have dead
mice in the walls of our summer property that are creating a terrible
odor in the house. How do I get rid of this odor? Joanne.
Oliver, BC.
I assume they have eaten rodent poison resulting
in a number of them dying in a short period of time. One or two dead
mice don't cause much of an odor problem. Unless you are willing to open
up the walls and remove them, your best solution is continuous
ventilation and placing odor absorbing products near the source of the
smell. Try to find out how the mice got into the walls and plug
those holes to prevent others from entering. |
Q1458 We have a
goat farm. We know that we have either a mouse or rat problem in the
barn, but we don't know which it is. When we were trimming the goat's
hooves we noticed their heels look like something has been chewing on
them. We thought that it might be the rats! Is this possible? Has anyone
ever heard of this happening? Margaret. Mill Bay, BC.
Yes rats will chew on other animals including
humans. Babies in cribs are an easy target.
Rat control around farms can be an ongoing challenge. If ignored,
the populations can multiply rapidly with an abundant supply of animal
food to eat. |
Q1457 My wife
discovered little holes in her Cashmere and wool sweaters. I found a
small bug that looks like a beetle but would swirl like a tornado when
touched. What is the best way to exterminate? She has already lost about
3K in sweaters. Paul. Orange County, Ca.
It sounds like carpet beetle larva. To prevent
another $3000 loss you would be wise to call a pest professional. |
Q1456 How
does one deter raccoons from pulling up roof shingles?
Sarah
Try to eliminate the route they take to get up on
the roof. (Tree branches, high fences, vines)
You may have to install temporary wire fencing. A local pest
professional with trapping experience might be your best answer. |
Q1455 Woodpeckers
are wrecking our cedar sided home. What can we do besides shoot them.
Woodpeckers don't eat wood and they don't make
holes just for fun. They are going after insects that are in you
wall. I could be ants, termites or wood boring beetles. Have
it inspected by a pest professional. |
Q1454 We have a
problem with sowbugs in our walk-out basement. As soon as we discovered
them I called a local exterminator to help us and they came the same day
and sprayed around the perimeter walls all over the basement. Then the
next day, after doing more research on the problem (which, in hindsight,
I obviously should have done first), I learn that spraying the perimeter
will not solve the problem permanently - only temporarily, as the
presence of sowbugs generally indicates a moisture problem. I called the
exterminator to complain that he never mentioned this in the first place
(and could have saved us $150!) and he claims his method WILL work, and
there are differing 'schools of thought' on how to fix the problem. He
thinks that Pest Control Canada is getting their information from down
in the states and that his particular method WILL work (not just
temporarily) for this area... he's had lots of experience with this
problem and never had a recurrance (according to him). There doesn't
seem to be any indications of moisture in our basement, nevertheless
we'll still try to seal as many areas as needed. Any advice? Did we
completely waste our money on this guy? Christine. Edmonton,
Alberta.
Pest Control Canada gets much of it's
information from personal experience in pest management. Our pest
control business is located on the west coast where there is an
abundance of moisture and an abundance of sow bugs. We have
sprayed perimeters of buildings to reduce sow bug populations with a
full understanding by the customer that it is a temporary solution only.
Some locations like hotels, motels and food establishments have little
or no tolerance for any kind of crawling creature. These premises
may require a perimeter spray 2 or 3 times a year. |
Q1453 We have a
cottage in the Eastern townships and every year around this time, we see
to have a 'fly' problem. They seem to be common house flies, but
we have to pick up 100s from every window sill every time we arrive! It
seems as though they are coming up through the walls, or down from the
attic. Is there any product that I can use? I really don't want them to
start reproducing. Thanks. M
It sounds like you have cluster flies
that have moved in for the winter. They will not reproduce until
they leave in the spring to lay eggs on the soil where there is a large
worm population. The best control is
to caulk all the exterior cracks and crevices to prevent entry. It
is usually impossible to make a home fly proof but reducing the entry
points will reduce the fly population. There is some good
information on the
Dr. Bug
web site. |
| Q1452 Are there any
laws that protect tenants in a situation of a rodent infestation? We are
no longer able to live in our rented home due to the unbearable noise of
dozens of mice running around above us on our ceiling tiles all night
long. |
