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When the weather is nice, there’s little that’s better than spending time in the great outdoors. But, not everything is great about being outside and if you live in, or are traveling to, an area that is known for its high bug population, you may often find yourself running for shelter sooner than you thought. But pesky things like bugs and pests shouldn’t deter you from enjoying your time outside. There are ways to protect yourself from pests outdoors so you can enjoy all that nature has to offer, with the exception of course, of the bugs!

Of course, start by protecting yourself. Whether you’re sitting around the campfire or just going for a walk, apply a good insect repellent. Remember to not only do this to areas such as your face and hands that are exposed, but also your clothing as sometimes pests can bite or sting through clothes. Make sure to also wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Also, tuck your pants into your socks so that no pests can fly up and bite you that way.

If you’re going to be living and eating outside, there are also a few things to keep in mind. The first is that you should never leave food outside. Even if you’ve finished with it, or have thrown it in the garbage, having open food anywhere outside is a major attraction for pests and animals. When camping, many people will put unused food away or in the trash, but then overlook things such as dirty plates and cutlery. Always remember that these things too have food on them and will still attract pests.

Also, when you choose your shelter area, choose wisely, even if you’re only going to be staying there long enough to have a picnic. Remember that areas with dense, tall grass and shrubbery are bound to have more pests because insects love tall grass. Also, any areas near water are especially prone to mosquitoes and other pests. Stay away from those, and the pest population around you will be much less.

Outdoor insects and bugs can become a real problem when you’re outside, especially if you’re going to be out there for a long time. But, you don’t have to let pests keep you away from the outdoors that we all love so much. Take some simple measures to keep bugs away, and you don’t have to worry about being too preoccupied with bugs to enjoy your time outside.

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Visit our site for more valuable information or give us a call at 888-675-0258.

Earwigs are ugly little creatures that can do a lot of damage to your plants and vegetable gardens, and can quickly multiply if you have any rotting debris or vegetation around your home. The insects got their name from an old wives tale that claimed that earwigs would crawl into your ear at night and claw your brains out. This legend undoubtedly comes from the two nasty-looking prongs that are attached to the rear of an earwig. The tale is obviously not true, but it has spurned a lot of doubt and misconception about the earwig and more specifically, those back prongs.

Can an earwig sting or pinch you with them? And if not, will an earwig bite you?

People may refer to an earwig’s attack as a bite, but those prongs are there for a reason and if you ever feel an earwig “biting” you, it’s actually pinching you with those prongs – hard! These are also called earwig stings, and they are quite aggressive and quite painful. These prongs are an earwig’s only defence system against predators such as birds, spiders, rodents, and other insects. And, if an earwig feels as though it’s in danger, it will stick these prongs out quite far and quite wide, ready to pinch whatever it views as a threat.

Even though an earwig sting or pinch is very painful, it doesn’t usually require a lot of treatment, and it’s definitely not poisonous or toxic in any way. The area may be red and swollen, and there will probably be two distinct red marks where the earwig’s prongs broke your skin. In addition to being painful for a short while after the sting, the area may is also likely to become very itchy. The area around the sting may also become swollen. If so, apply ice to keep the swelling done. If the area becomes hard, one or both of the earwig’s prongs are probably still inside of your skin.

It’s extremely important that if the area feels hard, or if you can see a portion of the earwig’s prongs still inside the area, that you do not try to remove the prongs yourself! If the prong has been left in, there is a serious risk of infection, which could lead to all other kinds of unpleasant health issues, and could be difficult to clear up. If the area is hard or you think the prong has been left behind, see your doctor immediately. They will be able to remove it for you and make sure that the wound gets proper after-care to ward off infection.

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Visit our site for more valuable information or give us a call at 888-675-0258.

Many people become obsessed with getting rid of every bug they come across on their property, but the reality is that there are many kinds of insects that can actually be beneficial to have around.  Granted, you may not want them in your house, but out in the garden they can help maintain the health of the flora and fauna.  The most common beneficial insects for your garden include:

• Lady Bugs – not only are they cute, but they eat aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale.  You can attract them to your garden if you plant yarrow or daisies.
• Lacewings – These flies eat aphids and their larva as well as other kinds of garden pests.  They can be attracted by planting flowers such as goldenrod, black-eyed susans, asters, and yarrow.  
• Praying Mantis – Praying mantis eggs can be purchased online and placed in your garden and will quickly grow to adulthood.  Mantis’ will eat all kinds of garden pests and make for gentle, interesting garden guests.
• Nematodes – Nematodes are microscopic creatures that are beneficial for controlling cutworms, beetles and root weevil larvae.  You can buy their eggs and apply them to the soil in your garden. 
• Hover Flies – Hover fliers also eat aphids, and they are attracted to the same types of plants that Lacewings are. 

All of these insects are completely safe for people and pets to be around.  You can either attempt to attract them naturally to your garden by growing plants they like, or you can buy them online (or through catalogues) and place them in your garden yourself.  You’ll find that your garden thrives when you use beneficial insects to control pests.  And you’ll also find that maintaining your garden can be a lot easier with the help of a few thousand little critters.

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