Arachnophobia – It’s Not Just A Movie

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
Arachnophobia – It’s Not Just A Movie

Arachnophobia – the fear of spiders.

An estimated 9 million American adults have a fear of spiders. I know I do! Of all the bugs and insects out there, spiders scare me the most by far. Just looking at a picture of a spider causes my anxiety to kick in. (writing this blog is causing some major spider related stress!) Strangely enough, even some entomologists fear spiders. American Entomologist published a paper in which they surveyed 41 entomologists that willingly admitted to having some aversion to spiders. One participant was quoted as saying “I would rather pick up a handful of maggots than have to get close enough to a spider to kill it.” Some people said their quick, jerky movements were the reason that spiders freaked them out. That may be part of it but for me it’s those eyes. UGH!

You can read the full article here.

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Believe it or not there are some positive things about spiders, I promise! Below are some of the ways that spiders can actually help indoors.

  • Spiders eat pests. They feed on earwigs, mosquitoes, flies and more. If left to their own devices in your home, they will actually provide pest control for you.
  • Spiders kill other spiders. When spiders encounter one another it usually results in a fight with the winner eating the loser. You may see a shift from several smaller spiders to fewer larger ones. While that may not seem like a positive, the larger cellar spiders are known to kill black widows. That makes them a friend in my book.
  • Spiders help stop the spread of disease. Spiders eat the other pests that can transmit disease to humans. These include mosquitoes, roaches and flies.

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Even though I have listed some positive things that spiders can do most of us still want to keep them out of our homes. Here are some things you can do to control spiders.

  • Caulk and block points of entry. This will stop spiders as well as their food sources from entering in the first place.
  • Keep debris, plants and mulch from touching your homes structure.
  • Store things in plastic tubs with tight lids. Cardboard boxes attract pests which in turn attract spiders.
  • Store firewood outdoors and away from the home.
  • Use a residual insecticide around the perimeter of your home and around doors and windows.

If you are having a problem with spiders Rapid Pest Solutions can help. And remember, no matter what, be thankful that we don’t have to deal with the Camel Spider! YIKES!

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An Introduction To Ants

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
An Introduction To Ants

If ants are such busy creatures, how do they find time to go to all the picnics?

The nice weather is finally here and we will be spending more time outside. It seems as if ants are everywhere, even inside our homes! The truth is, the ant population peaks in the late spring/early summer. Increased rain in the spring will drive ants to the top of the soil. This may make it seem as if ants are strictly out to ruin our fun in the sun. Keep in mind that ants are the most common pest problem that we have here in our area and in the Midwest in general.

ant basket

There are many species of ants. Let’s take a look at a few of the types of ants that you may see.

  • The most common type of ant in the United States is the Carpenter Ant. These are large and black. The swarming ants will have wings and can look pretty intimidating – they shouldn’t be. Swarming ants or ‘flying ants’ are just regular old ants that are going out to mate.
  •  Another type of ant common to this area is the Pavement Ant. As its name suggests, it is found outdoors, mostly under stones, slabs and sidewalks. They are small with dark colored bodies and light colored legs.
  •  Then we have the Odorous House Ant. Doesn’t sound good, does it? Well, it’s not quite as bad as you may be thinking. These ants are small and dark brown and luckily, despite the name, are only occasionally found in the home. You will find these little guys throughout the U.S. The name comes from the smell that is emitted when they are crushed. (Some say it smells like rotten coconuts.)

For more information on ants and the different types you may see, check out this link. It includes pictures and descriptions.

FUN FACT

ant candy

Now you have an idea of the types of ants you may run into this season. If these pests become a problem in or around your home, contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We can help with ants and other pests as well!

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10 Insightful Quotes About Insects

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
10 Insightful Quotes About Insects

INSIGHTFUL QUOTES ABOUT INSECTS

We often take the good things insects do for granted. They offer insights into aging and lifespan, we study their navigational abilities and they provide pollination, food to other animals and birds, control weeds and recycle waste. Read on for some funny, beautiful and inspirational quotes about insects.

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My 10th Sonata is a sonata of insects. Insects are born from the sun… they are the sun’s kisses. Alexander Scriabin – Russian composer and pianist 1872 – 1915

Insects are my secret fear. That’s what terrifies me more than anything – insects. Michael O’Donoghue – Writer and performer 1940 – 1994

In a broader sense, the rhythms of nature, large and small – the sounds of wind and water, the sounds of birds and insects – must inevitably find their analogues in music. George Crumb – American composer 1929 –

If we were to wipe out insects alone on this planet, the rest of life and humanity with it would mostly disappear from the land. Within a few months. E. O. Wilson – American biologist and researcher 1929 –

Ants are the dominant insects of the world, and they’ve had a great impact on habitats almost all over the land surface of the world for more than 50-million years. E. O. Wilson – American biologist and researcher 1929 –

I never kill insects. If I see ants or spiders in the room, I pick them up and take them outside. Karma is everything. Holly Valance – Australian actress, singer, model 1983 –

If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos. E. O. Wilson – American biologist and researcher 1929 –

We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. Bill Vaughan – American journalist 1915-1977

I don’t care how small or big they are, insects freak me out. Alexander Wang – Fashion designer 1983 –

There are, as is known, insects that die in the moment of fertilization. So it is with all joy: life’s highest, most splendid moment of enjoyment is accompanied by death. Soren Kierkegaard – Danish philosopher, poet and social critic 1813 – 1855

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Will Cockroaches Ever Rule The World?

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
Will Cockroaches Ever Rule The World?

It seems that people debate this a lot. Well, maybe not this exact question….but it is often said that cockroaches would be the only thing to survive a nuclear war. They will ‘inherit the earth’, as they say. This idea may not be far off. Cockroaches have survived 350 million years, evolving the entire time and they continue to evolve and adapt today. They are developing the ability to subvert our continued efforts to get rid of them by poisoning. Cockroaches are showing an amazing ability to adapt to rapid change.

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Where originally pest control technicians would go into a home and spray a liquid pesticide in the living and eating areas, they began using a bait in the late ’90’s. This bait was glucose based. At first it was thought that the roaches were developing a resistance to the poison itself. It has since been found that they actually altered their internal chemistry to not favor sweetness. The small hairs on their bodies that sense bitter and sweet began sending the message for bitterness when they came in contact with a sweet substance. Thus allowing them to avoid the glucose based bait that the pest control industry was using.

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This is not to say that the human race will ever encounter MIB style cockroaches, like above, but it does say a lot about the cockroaches ability to adapt to an ever changing environment.

More information is available here.

If you suspect that you have a problem with cockroaches, we can help. From identification, to treatment, to prevention, Rapid Pest Solutions is the answer. Contact us today by filling out this form – or give us a call. 219.836.5066

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YouTube Channel For Rapid Pest Solutions

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
YouTube Channel For Rapid Pest Solutions

Rapid Pest Solutions now has a YouTube channel. We will be using this channel to provide you with how-to information, pest identification, entertainment and more. We have posted our intro video and you can check it out here visit here.

Send us your feedback. Comment on what we post or send us ideas of things you would like to see. This channel isn’t just for us – it’s for you, too.

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Small Bite, Big Threat

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
Small Bite, Big Threat

The World Health Organization has named April 7, 2014 as World Health Day. This years message is about the risk of vector-borne diseases. A vector-borne disease is an infection that is transmitted to humans and animals though blood feeding arthropods. These include mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.

It is possible for a person to contract West Nile Virus or Lyme Disease from a mosquito or tick bite why not check here. You can take precaution by wearing an insect repellent with at least 20% DEET and covering up exposed skin. Also, eliminating overgrown vegetation around your home and stagnant water can reduce mosquito and tick populations.

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Watch this short YouTube video about a small bite, big threat and be sure to protect yourself and your family!

You can check out more info at pestworld.org.

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How Smart Are Rats?

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
How Smart Are Rats?

Rats are very smart creatures. Check out the link below to see some pet rats doing tricks. Tricks that many would consider more for your dog than a rodent.

Amazing!   🙂

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Termites: Are They Eating You Out Of House And Home?

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
Termites: Are They Eating You Out Of House And Home?

MARCH 16 – 22 IS TERMITE AWARENESS WEEK

Termites can cause significant damage to buildings and wood furnishings. It is estimated that they cause $5 billion in damage each year!!! There are different types of termites but the ones that we will deal with in this area are called Subterranean Termites. They need contact with the soil to survive and will tunnel through the ground to reach a food source. (hopefully not your home!)

They are fairly small with long, oval bodies that tend to be a creamy color. They have 6 legs and antennae much like an ant, sometimes even called ‘white ants’ The funny thing is that they are not closely related to the ant at all. In fact, they are a much closer relation to the cockroach.

Here are some other facts about termites.

1.            A termite colony eats non-stop. 24/7/365!

2.            A subterranean colony can have up to 2 million members.

3.            The total weight of all the termites in the world is more than that of all the                      humans in the world.

4.            Termites not only eat wood, but wallpaper, plastics and fabric made from                    plants.

If it turns out you have termites, don’t panic! THEY ARE CONTROLLABLE. Even though they eat constantly, they also eat slowly. Your house won’t fall down overnight. A colony of termites will eat about one pound of wood over the course of 5 years.

If you suspect termite activity in or around your home, contact Rapid Pest Solutions. We can help!

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Looking Forward To Spring

On February 2, 2016   /   Blog  
Looking Forward To Spring

Winter has been especially brutal for us this year published here. We have had record breaking low temperatures as well as record snow! As we all look forward to spring you may be thinking that something good could come from this horrible winter. Bad winter weather means fewer bugs in the spring, right? Wrong! Although we are looking for any upside to the weather we are having, fewer bugs isn’t it. Sorry!!

The fact is, that insects are very good at adapting to the ever changing environment in which they live. Some will of course try to seek refuge in your home or business. We keep our spaces warm and toasty and they like that, too. Others will burrow into the soil, hide under rocks and in the wood of logs and trees.

Another way that some insects survive the bitter cold is by reducing the water in their bodies and producing glycerol, which acts as an antifreeze. (just like your car!)

Insects don’t hibernate. Not exactly, but it is the same principle. They go into a dormant stage called diapause. Even though they are alive, they barely move at all. Even insects that are somewhat active in the winter are extremely sluggish.

So, even though fewer insects is not an upside to this crazy winter, we can still look forward to the spring. Just getting a break from the back-breaking work of shoveling will be a treat!!!

HAPPY SPRING!

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Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

On February 1, 2016   /   Blog  
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

Happy Fat Tuesday!

When we hear the words “Mardi Gras” it probably brings to mind a party in New Orleans filled with costumes, floats, beads and booze. The truth is, although Mardi Gras is a celebration, there is actually some history behind those wild New Orleans traditions.

For instance, each traditional Mardi Gras color has a meaning. Purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith. There is also the traditional King Cake. A cinnamon cake topped with colored sugar, that has a small trinket baked inside for someone to find.

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is like the last hurrah before the 40 days of Lent, when many give up something they consider to be a vice.

Check out this link to see the history behind some of the other Mardi Gras traditions that are still practiced today. (throwing beads, wearing masks and Zulu coconuts!)

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