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The electric ant a.k.a the little fire ant has been called one of the worst invasive and aggressive pests in the world by the Conservation of Nature Invasive Species Specialist Group. Little fire ants can deliver a painful, long-lasting sting that can permanently blind cats and dogs. These ants can also create huge colonies of about 50 million ants – covering acres of land and fall from trees creating what scientists call “ant rain.” These yellow-red to light brown ants are only 1.5 mm in length and once these ants do become established they can be very difficult to remove. They are especially fond of potted plants, so homeowners may accidentally carry these pests indoors. Each little fire ant colony supports multiple queens that are capable of reproducing very quickly. Also, little fire ants are omnivores (eats food of both plant and animal origin) so removing their many food sources can be challenging.  

https://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-fire-ant-you-re-to-blame-1.23969068

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/electric-ants-randy-bilesky/?published=t

So you think you may have bed bugs, so you ask google and you learn about their bites and how to locate them, but after checking around the bed and floor there are still no signs. Bed bugs can be moderately difficult to find but they always leave some sort of trail. Next culprit to the skin irritation maybe carpet beetle larvae. Carpet beetle larvae grow up to 3 mm and their most unique feature is the bristly hairs that are located on their backs. The hairs are modified lancelets with sharp spear shaped tips. When in contact with these spear like hairs, many people react with red bumps on your skin, but they aren’t bites. These bumps and rashes are caused by an allergic reaction (brachiating urticaria) to carpet beetle larval hairs and the insects blood. The symptoms included itching, an unpleasant sensation of the skin that provokes the urge to scratch, and a rash (papulovesicular eruptions). Dermatitis caused by carpet beetles often appear in a straight line or row. Getting rid of carpet beetles and their larvae can center around cleaning and applying an appropriate pesticide, so call a professional exterminator.   

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/carpet-beetle-larvae-dermatitis-randy-bilesky/?published=t

Facing the plague of a parasitic Asian mite, beekeepers are hoping a new breed of mite resistant strain for honey bees can be developed, but even more other threats are coming. Beekeepers lost 45 percent of their colonies last winter, the highest winter loss in 13 years. The biggest threat facing honeybees is the Varroa destructor, a parasitic Asian mite, first introduced to North America 30 years ago. The Asian mites actually consume a bee’s fat body – tissue that plays a important role in its immune system and its capacity to detox pesticides. The main miticides used to slay the Asian mite is not working anymore, due to developed resistance. Another dangerous mite, the Tropilaelaps mite, that has been spreading in parts of Asia  and Europe has not reached here yet, to boot. Some beekeepers are just waiting these mites out, known as the Darwinian approach.  

https://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-honeybees-no-match-for-mighty-asian-mite-1.23966370

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/honeybees-no-mat…r-the-asian-mite/

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/honeybees-match-asian-mite-randy-bilesky/?published=t

The swamp rodents, called nutria (coypu or river rat) weigh about 10 kilograms each and resembles a rat but body length is up to 60 cm. They can eat the equivalent of about a fourth of their weight each day by burrowing into riverbanks and chomping into plants that emerge from the water. They destroying habitats of endangered species, degrade soil, ruin crops and carry pathogens that may threaten livestock (they also eat small crustaceans, frogs and fish). Nutrias can harm wetlands, which play a critical role in keeping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and helping mitigate global warming. An invasive species originally from South America and brought to North America for fur trade in the late 19th century, nutria were believed to have been eradicated.  

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/the-insatiable-river-rat/ ‎

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insatiable-river-rat-randy-bilesky/?published=t

To stop or control rodents effectively, you must take away everything that they need for survival. This would includes food, water, shelter and their means of getting around. Some of the key ways to control mice and rats is to take away the places they like to hide, sleep, and nest include: Remove untidiness and garbage from your yard, garage and carport. Move trees, bushes, shrubs and mulch away from the house foundation and store firewood away from walls. Cut back overgrown bushes and trees away from the roof line by 2 meters. To keep the rodents outdoors, seal all holes and cracks in the foundation, walls, floors and roof. Install metal kick plates and heavy duty sweeps on all exterior doors. Install metal mesh or flashing between foundations and the ground. Practice proper composting techniques and remove any fruits or nuts that have accumulated in your yard. Remove outdoor pet food at night and remove spilled bird seed from beneath bird feeders. Use proper garbage cans that have tight fitting lids and that lock to store garbage.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-manage-rodents-yourself-randy-bilesky/?published=t

https://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-don-t-be-a-rat-enabler-1.23958961

There are several diseases that can be transmitted by a mosquito’s bite and the cases of mosquito-borne disease are a growing public health threat. Warming climates lead to more outbreaks of mosquito-borne illness. Mosquito-borne illness often causes only mild symptoms but they can lead to more serious symptoms called neuroinvasive diseases -that can be fatal as there is no effective treatments against them. North American mosquito diseases include: West Nile Virus, La Crosse Virus and Eastern Equine and St. Louis Encephalitis. Ways to prevent mosquito bites include using mosquito repellent, empty standing water near your home, wear light-colored clothing and stay indoors during dusk and dawn.  

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mosquito-neuroinvasive-diseases-randy-bilesky/?

Voles can be serious problems in lawns and gardens, tunnelling under the lawn and eating the grass, bulbs, tubers and roots. Voles are small rodents that are similar in size to mice and moles. Voles live outdoors in shallow burrows in the soil. They are sometimes found in sheds but do not usually shelter in homes. Vole populations rise in a natural cycles every 2-3 years, and during this time they can be actually everywhere. They favour grassy areas with heavy mulch and ground cover. They travel in underground burrows and above-ground runways (beneath snow – when and if we get it). To control these animals can be pretty tough – so make their yards less attractive to the voles by keeping the lawn mowed, having no dense groundcover, and keeping the lawn weeded are some natural controls that can be done.  

https://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-vole-control-is-the-goal-1.23955986

I know its not just me because this year ever house that I’ve been to has sowbugs around their house. Despite their name, sowbugs are land-living crustaceans not really bugs – they are a kind of shrimp crawling around your house. They can’t retain water in their bodies so they need to spend most of their time in damp places. They feed on organic material (decomposing mulch and leave) and prosper in moist environments, so that explains why they like to get into ground-level garages or basements. Sowbugs are really only a nuisance, they don’t bite or sting and therefore harmless to humans. The fact that they are inside usually indicates a large population outside. The best way to prevent sowbugs is removing damp environments, so they will leave or die.

 https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/sowbugs-aka-woodlouse-aka-yuck/ ‎

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sowbugs-aka-woodlouse-yuck-randy-bilesky/?published=t

If you’re seeing more mice around your home, you’re not alone. Mice are not a new problem, but this year some people in Delta are reporting more sightings of the pesky rodents than usual. There have been reports of mice seen in the middle of the day, just running around the back yard. Any mouse that gets inside a house leaves scents (pheromones) trails that tell other rodents that it is okay to get in this house. Changing of the temperatures, the reduced number of hours of light and excessive rain this September -tend to move the mice indoors. And this year, we have been taking in more calls about mice than normal. It’s important to get rid of them because some mice carry hantavirus and many germs. Here are a few suggestions to keep the mice outside. Clean up your landscaping and eliminate places for mice to hide. Don’t leave pet food outside. Avoid using bird feeders or keep them at least 3 meters away from your house. Fill in gaps or holes in your homes and keep doors and windows closed.

https://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-of-mice-and-maintenance-1.23956676

https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/mouse-pocolypse-…ear-of-the-mouse/

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

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mouse-pocolypse-year-mouse-randy-bilesky/?published=t