Monthly Archive February 28, 2020

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Norway Rats and Seoul virus

A type of hantavirus called Seoul virus is carried by Norway rats (85% of rats in Delta are Norway rats). Humans become infected through contact with virus carried in rat urine or droppings, or inhalation of virus particles in dust from filthy eiderdown. Infected rats do not develop disease, but humans can feel symptoms ranging from slight influenza-like illness to unadorned disease with kidney failure and death. Although infections have been previously reported in humans after contact with wild rats, Seoul virus infections had not been reported in pet rats.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/norway-rats-seoul-virus-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Signs of a rodent infestation

Rats and mice are nimble rodents and can easily climb pipes, cables, inside ducting, stucco and even brick walls in their endless hunt for food and living quarters. They can climb on any slightly bumpy surface to discover new places and increase entree to concealed spaces around a house looking for shelter, food and water. Signs of a rodent infestation include: squeaking and scratching on ceilings or under flooring, rodent nests, the smell of rodent urine ( ammonia smell ), rodent feces- rats produce over 80 droppings per day and mice around 160, sebum marks along runways (sebum – mammals protect their hair and skin by secreting an oily or waxy material called sebum, combined with urine, these trails contain pheromones that orient rodents within their environment), and finally rodent gnaw marks.

 https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/signs-of-a-rodent-infestation/ ‎

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/signs-rodent-infestation-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Skunks – the smell of Spring

The rotten smell of skunks is returning to the lower mainland as mating season is underway. Both skunks and raccoons, along with other small mammals, are beginning to move around more frequently as winter turns into spring. Area residents may not often see these critters for themselves as they generally don’t see a lot of activity other than squirrels because they are all nocturnal. Skunks can be found living under outbuildings or decks, even sneaking into garages. Unless they are a nuisance with their unpleasant odor, the best thing to do is leave them be. By placing several sheets of fabric softener shoved under a deck or building typically is enough to drive skunks away. The skunks pungent smell is a defensive weapon released from their rear glands that is heavy with sulfur.  Males are out seeking females and females are trying to get away.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/skunks-smell-spring-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Ant acid used for defense and cleaning food

Many ant species produce acid in a poison gland in their abdomen to spray at enemies as a defense mechanism . They also drink the acid to kill pathogens in their food. Because ants often regurgitate food to feed their co-workers, this helps prevent diseases spreading in colonies. Drinking acid plays a key role in defending these ants from unsafe microbes and averting infections scattering in colonies. It is not known if the ants actively drink from the gland or it happens unintentionally as they groom themselves. When crazy ants are squirted with the venom of fire ants, the crazy ants apply acid to their bodies to clean the venom.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/ant-acid-used-fo…nd-cleaning-food/

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF RPF CPA

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ant-acid-used-defense-cleaning-food-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Cleaning rodent-infested areas.

We have all run into a situation where rats or mice have been present and have left their ugly calling cards. Here are a few approaches to getting rid of those rodent memories. Use cross-ventilation when entering a previously unventilated enclosed room or dwelling prior to cleanup and you certainly should use a good quality mask. Wear rubber, latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves. Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means rather thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant. A bleach mixture of 1 and 1/2 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water. Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution or household disinfectant. If there are carcasses, spray with disinfectant and then double-bag along with all cleaning materials and throw bag out in an appropriate waste disposal system.  

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cleaning-rodent-infested-areas-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Norway Rats – the crepuscular creatures

The Norway rat is a large, robust-bodied rodent -the most important pest rat across B.C. Norway rats have small ears but have outstanding sense of hearing, tasting, touch and smell, and although their eyes are prominent, Norway rats have a poor sense of sight, seeing up to 10 feet. They are crepuscular creatures, which means they are active around sunset and sunrise, but not normally during the day or the middle of the night. Norway rats are exceptional leapers, runners, swimmers, and are capable of climbing pipes, bricks and tree trunks. Norway rats dig burrows into soil to use as safe havens and nesting sites. The Norway rat adventures into cracks, crevices, and holes in streets, sidewalks, and building foundations to use as burrows. Holes as small as 12mm high is enough to allow these rats to enter and exit burrows! Adults can produce nearly 40 offspring per year over four litters. Rodents spread disease, damage property, and cause emotional suffering. Managing rodent infestations is usually a combination of exclusion, trapping, and baiting. Rodents are quite crafty and complex and control of rats is a serious business that is best left to pest management professionals, so please call us if you are finding evidence of rodents in your home!

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/norway-rats-the-…scular-creatures/

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/norway-rats-crepuscular-creatures-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Temprid SC

Temprid SC -suspension concentrate insecticide has a double action by joining real residual insecticides: beta-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid. Temprid, provides quick knockdown (not as quick as permethrin) and long residual control of over  51 pests, including ants, spiders, cockroaches and other key perimeter pests. The double action works extremely well on insects like ants, one of the best ant control products in Canada. Temprid SC is labeled for indoor and outdoor use, when sprayed outside the foundation of the house is sprayed about 3 ft. up the side of the house, and about 3-5 ft. out from the structure from the base of the foundation – this gives a powerful contiguous barrier against pests.

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C. Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/temprid-sc-randy-bilesky/?published=t

ByRandy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF

Biological Pest Control for your garden

Biological pest controls include predatory or parasitic insects, bacteria or fungi, and biopesticides. Here are four biological controls that will be readily available to the home gardener.

A – Fungus that kill insects: soil-dwelling fungus that controls grasshoppers, bed bugs, other insects and plant diseases. Used in agriculture, there is incredible development potential in the area of insect and disease killing fungi.

B – Voracious insects: most gardens already contain many predatory insects. Most predatory insects less frequently happen in groups than plant feeding insects. Predator insect species include insects such as ladybugs and mantis. The use of predators is most effective when the right conditions are present such as the combination of insect, temperature, and timing.

C – Parasitic insects: these guys manage pests by laying eggs on or in another insect, which becomes a food basis for the offspring, such as tiny wasp that parasitizes whitefly.

D- Biopesticides and bioherbicides: biopesticides and bioherbicides are derived from natural sources like bacteria, plant compounds, fungi, mustard seed meal, clove and other herb- based oils. These are all made to kill insects and weeds.  

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/biological-pest-…-for-your-garden/

gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Delta Ladner Tsawwassen B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF