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The key to success against garden pests  is to identify the pest and take action. First, plant plenty of annual flowers and flowering herbs in your garden, these will attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, hover flies, and lacewings, which can help control pest populations. Most insects your gardens are either beneficial or neutral, in fact, less than 1% of insect species are known to be agricultural or human pests. That means that most of the bugs you find in your garden are causing it no harm, and many are helping you control pests, pollinate flowers, and break down organic matter. Next, use garden covers such as insect barriers, row covers or deer netting, that help to prevent pests from getting at your vegetables.

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

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Mud daubers or wasps are altogether different, most resemble long, slender wasps about 2 ½ cm in length. They are solitary (lone) wasps, so instead of big colonial nests, they build single-family nests. They also use a different construction materials, instead of wood, they mix their saliva with soil to make mud, exactly the same as mason bees. They then build their nest on the side of a building, attics, soffits or in a hole in the ground. Their nests can be multiple shapes – tubular, round, or rectangular and typically measures 5 cm in diameter. One species of mud dauber actually never builds its own nest rather it steals other mud daubers nests. If a mud daubers nest is attacked, they prefer to move on and build a new nest. 

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

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Paper wasp nests don’t have a protective envelope. They build open-air cells that hang from a stalk. It looks like an open parasol or umbrella from the side but from underneath, you can actually see the honeycomb-like cell structure. They build their nests in protected areas such as under roof overhangs, eves, bush and tree branches, or even inside attics, sheds, and garages. Their nests are typically around 12 cm in diameter.

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

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Yellowjackets are aggressive pests that possess a painful sting and bite. Most yellowjacket workers forage for food within 300 meters of their nest. Their nests are usually built underground, although some species will construct their nests in hollow logs, trees, attics, between walls, or under eaves of houses. They often build massive nests underground with many levels of cells (upwards of 100 levels). Their nests have a thick protecting covering on the outside of the nest and a usually one entrance. The first cell layer hangs from the inside of the envelope and each subsequent layer of cells hangs from the one above.  

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

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Hornets and Wasps are a immense part of outdoor life this time of year in Delta, and not always so delightful. The long dry and wets summer days are ideal for nest success, but which insects are responsible for what nest? In this series, I will summarize what they look like and what the differences are for our hornet and wasp nests: the different types, how they are built, where to find them, and how many insects to expect per nest. The most common types of nests are made by paper wasps, yellowjackets, bald faced hornets, and mud wasps (daubers). They all make basic type of paper out of chewed-up wood mixed with saliva which they then use to build a nest with multiple cells that are sometimes layered.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/hornet-and-wasp-series/ ‎

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

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Varroa destructor is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on the honey bees and the disease caused by the mites is called varroosis. The Varroa mite can reproduce only in a honey bee colony. It attaches to the body of the bee and weakens the bee by sucking fat bodies. The Varroa mite was introduced to B.C. about 30 years ago. Since then, it has caused major bee deaths and economic losses for beekeepers. Our honeybees have no defence against Varroa mites, so the use of chemicals known as acaricides are used, but they are also variably toxic to bees and can contaminate wax and honey. The rapid development of mite resistance toward chemicals has become another issue.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/darth-varroa-des…g-in-their-hives/

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

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Insects, especially Carpenter ants need to draw life-sustaining moisture from their surroundings, so they usual avoid dry places and are attracted to moist and rotting wood. If the soil around your house, the foundation and the walls is dry, it’ll be less attractive to insects. Rake moisture-wicking soil, sand, small pebbles and mulch away from low wood trim at the foundation of the house. One sign of carpenter ant damage is the appearance of small, circular galleries on the surface of the wood. The worker carpenter ants will excavate sawdust-like debris around or below the exit holes. Inside the galleries will appear smooth and free of debris.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/protect-wood-fro…d-carpenter-ants/

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

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Outdoor and indoor walls appear to be solid but many can be full of minute pest passages. Puny bugs can get through the smallest holes, so making  your home completely bug-proof is difficult, even new homes with bug mesh at the base of the exterior walls still get ants. The larger gaps are the ones that need attention, you know the ones that mice, rats and bigger insects can get through. So, get on the ground, under decks and examine the house exterior with a flashlight and a mirror. Remember the golden rule: mice can get through a crack of 6 mm and rats through a space of 12mm. Take all the time needed to examine every square meter of your house. The crucial areas to examine consist of wall gaps, the foundation, doors and windows , dryer vents, exhaust fans, roof vents and gaps in the roofing materials.

 https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/how-the-pests-get-in/ ‎

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

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Ok, there isn’t a new mouse trap, but the old style snap traps can be an good way to start to rid your house of mice. Snap traps are the greenest, more humane way alternative to the potential slow death from a glue trap or poisoned bait. The common do it yourself mistakes when dealing with mice is poor placement of the snap traps and just not using enough of them. Put out at least 24 snap traps along walls in areas where you’ve seen the mice or their feces. My favorite baits is good old peanut butter. Live traps are also a good alternative or used in combination with snap traps, place them back-to-back with the open doors on each end. When dealing with mouse droppings, use a disinfectant spray because mice can pass disease to us.

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

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Raccoons are omnivores so they will eat virtually anything (including plastic) and are always looking for a new den, so our houses are always appealing. Although water sprayers and chemical repellents may work briefly, raccoons will ignore them if the reward is greater, so you have to make your house and garden unapproachable. Cut back tree branches and shrubs at least 6’ from the roof. Block crawl space vents and other possible entry spots with 3/8 galvanized steel mesh. Make trash cans inaccessible or locked down lids, cover fish ponds with netting and don’t leave pet food outside over night. Protect vegetable gardens with wire electric fencing. If raccoons have already made a den in your attic or crawl space you can use ammonia or hot pepper powder to get them to leave.

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/raccoons-send-them-packing/ ‎

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

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