Archive for September, 2009

Dangerous Insects – Mosquitoes and Disease

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

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Dangerous Insects – Mosquitoes and Disease

Do you dread the drone of mosquitoes near your ear? There are some good reasons to be hyper alert when it’s mosquito season. Mosquitoes are more than just a mere annoyance. In fact, mosquitoes can be harmful to your health.

Mosquitoes transmit disease and illness when they bite. Technically, a mesquite injects a needle like protrusion into your skin. It releases a blood anti-coagulant to get your blood flowing, then it sucks you blood up and flies away. As the mosquito transfers the anti-coagulant to your blood, it can also transfer disease, because it can transmit disease and illness from its last victim as part of the process.

There are many illnesses that can be transferred by mosquitoes. Some examples include malaria, filariasis (a type of encephalitis), and the one most people worry about: West Nile virus. West Nile virus is more a type of encephalitis that can be transmitted through infected birds. The incidence of reported West Nile virus increases each year.

You can limit your exposure to mosquitoes through careful inspection of your property. We’ll uncover any areas that are the perfect breeding ground for insects. Once those breeding grounds are eliminated, your exposure is decreased.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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Understanding the Myths About Spiders

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Myths About Spiders

Does the sight of a spider send shivers up your spine? You aren’t alone. There are many people that have a fear of spiders. Today we’ll look at some of the common myths about spiders. Will you like them any better after you know the facts? Probably not, but it’s good to know the enemy.

Let’s take a look at those popular myths:

Spiders are insects – False. Actually spiders are part of the Arachnida classification. The fear or phobia about spiders is called Arachnophobia.

Spiders are all the same – False. There are many different types of spiders. Spiders are also just one part of the arachnid family of classification. Other arachnids include scorpions, ticks, mites and many others. Of course, within the spider family there are a variety of types of spiders. Some are quite common and are of no danger to humans, others can bite humans, while others are extremely poisonous.

All spiders have eight legs – False (kind of). All spiders have a four pairs of legs – eight in total. Insects have three pairs of legs. It’s very common to see a spider or insect that has lost a leg, but still remains quite functional because it has another leg from the weight bearing pair to balance its body.

Spiders always make webs – False. Only about half of the known spider varieties use a web to catch prey. Other spiders look for prey by waiting for the prey to come to them. So, just because you don’t see webs, doesn’t mean you don’t have spiders.

Whether you are afraid of spiders or just find them a nuisance, you can rid your house of these creatures. During our inspection we’ll look for all kinds of insects (and Arachnids) and uncover their entry point into your home. Your first line of defense is keeping the bugs out. We help make that possible.

For a free inspection spider, or for any pest control needs in the LA area, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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Taking Control of Pests in the Garden

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Not only do you want to keep your home free from pests, but you also want to be able to enjoy your yard and garden – without having to swat away flies, bees or other insects.

When it comes to taking control of pests outside your home the same principles apply: inspect your home for problem spots and take action. You don’t have to coat your garden or pool area with pesticides. A little prevention will go a long way towards controlling pests.

Here are some steps to keep your outdoors bug free:

Look for weak or infested plants. These week plants are great food for insects. Get rid of the plant or treat that plant with proper insecticides. You may want to add seaweed mulch in place of soil to make your plants healthy and keep them bug free.

Get rid of rotting fruit or vegetables. Fallen fruit from trees is a great food source for bugs and insects. Removing the food source keeps the bugs out.

Pick up after pets. Not the most pleasant of tasks, but keeping your yard free from pet feces also keeps bugs at bay.

Taking Control of Pests in the Garden

Look for standing water. Anytime you have water – whether a pond or a puddle – it’s a great breeding ground for many insects, especially mosquitoes. Get rid of the standing water, and you stop the breeding grounds. Even drippy irrigation or faucets can create enough water to provide pests with a great environment.

When we inspect your home, we look over your garden and outdoors. We’ll find any areas that may be ideal for pests, and eliminate those ideal situations. For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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Hawk Decoys Scare Pest Birds

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Hawk Decoys Scare Pest Birds

Are you tired of chasing pigeons off your property? Pigeons are small birds that can be quite destructive. They can be hard on electrical equipment and lighting, and also present health problems – pigeon droppings have been shown to carry up to 60 known diseases.

You don’t have to use noisy deterrents to get rid of pest birds. You can use natural predators to scare the birds away. One of the strongest predators to pigeons and other nuisance birds is a hawk. Hawks are known to speed out of the sky and dive at prey, such as pigeons.

When you set up a decoy of a hawk, it’s important to position the decoy so that its outline is visible and it casts a shadow. This will trick the pigeons and smaller birds into believing that there’s a natural predator – and the best things is to move on.

When it comes to controlling pests, there are always lots of options. Our inspections include preparing recommendations for all kinds of pests around your home, including pigeons.

For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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Rodent Proof Your Home

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Rodent Proof Your Home

Do you hear the pitter-patter of little feet? They might not be the kind of visitor you like – especially if they leave droppings behind. Rats and mice are a real nuisance. But more than being just irritating, they can also be a real health hazard. Rats and mice also track in dirt, illness and disease.

Believe it or not, rats and mice can fit through incredibly small cracks and holes to get into your home. In fact, mice can squeeze through the cracks under your door. No space is too small for rats or mice to get into, and make the perfect entry into your home.

As part of our inspection, we look for those small cracks and holes that allow critters into your home. We’ll screen off the holes, seal up cracks, and install sweeps under the door.

Rodents are opportunistic creatures. They look for entry into a home because it provides them with a warm place to live and regular food. When you eliminate their entry into your home, you eliminate your rodent problem. For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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Top Three Natural Pest Control Methods

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Do you want to get pests under control without the use of a lot of chemicals? There are some great tried-and-true methods for natural pest control, and some that aren’t that successful. We’ll focus on three proven natural pest control methods:

Bring on the Sweet Stuff

Many bugs and pests are naturally attracted to sweet scents. When you combine those naturally sweet scents with a little glue paper, you’ve got natural flypaper. Start with some citronella candles, put some glued paper around the candles, and you’ll trap the flies.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have a long history of being useful for a variety of things, including pest control. Peppermint oil, eucalyptus, and lemon are all great natural oils that detract pests. Essential oils can be very toxic, so be careful when using them. Dilute the oils in water to keep the oils from burning if you come into contact with them.

Herbs

Some herbs are not only great for your garden or your food, but are also great for keeping bugs away. Basil, thyme, mint and lavender are all great examples of strong smelling herbs that distract and detract pests from your home.

There are lots of solutions for pest control. When we inspect a home, we find the problem areas and put together a plan of action for your home. Before long, you’ll be pest free. For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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The Changing Face of Pest Control

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Years ago, the best method of pest control was to introduce harsh chemicals and toxins into an area that was infested. The pests were taken care of, but at what cost. These dangerous chemicals may have presented some serious health problems, some that we don’t fully understand.

Today, we take a completely different approach to pest control. Harsh chemicals or toxins are not the first choice. Instead, pest professionals use an integrated approach – using a combination of different methods to eliminate the problem.

Let’s take a look at some of the methods used:

Proper sanitation – Pests are attracted to food sources. Crumbs on counters, grease in sink traps, garbage not properly sealed, these are all great food sources. Even standing water can be a great breeding ground for insects. Our inspections find those problem areas so you can take care of them.

Physical barriers – Sometimes pests simply look for opportunity. During our inspection, we look for cracks or holes into your home – these spots provide easy access for pests and rodents.

Baits – Unlike harsh chemicals, baits are a great way to trap pests without spraying the entire home. The pests are attracted into the bait, and unable to get back out. Simply through the trap away and get rid of the pests.

Chemical application – We no longer have to spray all over for pest control. The technology for application of chemicals is much more refined. We can actually apply chemicals in small amounts to the affected area. This spot treatment gets rid of pests without wide spread chemical use.

With an inspection, we’ll uncover your problem pest areas and put together a plan using many technologies to get your home pest free. For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

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