While the warmer weather is welcome after winter’s end, the insects of spring and summer are not. Yellow jackets are a type of predatory wasp feared for its painful sting. Need assistance ridding your property of these pests? Contact the Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth.

While yellow jackets are primarily recognized as the common yellow and black Eastern yellow jacket, others may be black and white or red and white. Yellow jacket behavior includes the characteristic side to side flight prior to landing. Only females are capable of stinging, and while they are feared by almost everyone, they are predators of other insects known as pests.

Yellow jackets build nests in trees, shrubs, or in protected places such as inside man-made structures, or in soil cavities, etc. Nests are constructed from wood fiber they chew into a paper-like pulp. A colony of yellow jackets may contain 1,000 or more workers by the fall, all of which are sterile females. Males appear in late summer, and once they become adults, they will mate with the females that will become the next year’s queens.

The fertilized females will hibernate through the winter, while the workers and the males will perish when the weather turns cold. Receiving professional pest control in Fort Worth when nests are known can reduce the number of hibernating queens, and consequently the number of nests the following year.

In the southeastern United States, where the southern yellow jacket (Vespula squamosa) resides, nests may persist through the winter, and colonies of this species may reach a population of 100,000 adults.

A large number of yellow jackets are ground-nesters. Their colonies can be found under porches or steps, in sidewalk cracks, around railroad ties or at the base of trees. They will also build on the side of hills. Sometimes the queen will nest in a buildings wall void. Some yellow jackets build aerial nests in bushes, low-hanging branches or in the corners of buildings. Use caution when confronted with large numbers of the pest in specific areas, it is possible a nest is nearby. Contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth if you suspect one or more nests.

The sting of a yellow jacket is extremely painful, with victims often claiming the pain can last up to two weeks. Unfortunately, each insect is capable of delivering multiple stings. Yellow jacket stings may induce severe allergic reactions in some persons, and can be life threatening if a person is stung multiple times. Furthermore, yellow jacket stings typically result in swelling and redness. The eradication of yellow jacket nests is best left to professional pest control in Fort Worth.

Yellow jackets are drawn to fast movement, particularly when agitated after a nest has been disturbed. Get away from the area as quickly as possible, but with the least amount of noise and commotion. Yellow jackets have been known to chase a person who disturbed their nest as far as 300 yards. If you are tired of yellow jackets around your home, contact The Bug Dude for professional pest control in Fort Worth to eradicate these stinging insects.

If you suspect a yellow jacket nest located inside a wall of a building’s do not seal the entrance until all of the yellow jackets are dead. If the entrance is sealed, members of the colony will try to escape to the inside of the structure and thus create a stinging hazard to the occupants inside the building.

Some of the preventive efforts that your pest management professional may recommend include keeping trash cans closed and clean so that yellow jackets are unable to feed on food residues either inside or outside the refuse container, and using specialized traps to capture yellow jackets that are attracted to the traps. Traps alone will not control them, however, the nests must be located and destroyed and a professional pest control in Fort Worth provide the safest means of doing so.

Yellow Jacket Tips

• Never crush a yellow jacket. A dying yellow jacket worker releases an alarm pheromone that alerts its nest mates. You could find yourself surrounded by angry members of its colony. Leave their eradication to The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth.
• You can reduce their attraction to you by avoiding the use of hairspray, perfume, or aftershave and don’t wear bright-colored clothing, especially bright yellow, light blue, red, or orange. Wear white or light tan fabrics instead.
• Underground yellow jacket nests in East Texas have been known to be over 6 feet across and contained over 1 million cells.
• If chased by yellow jackets, run in a zigzag pattern, and seek shelter in a building or automobile. Do not jump in water, yellow jackets wait for you to surface.
• Yellow jackets require water for drinking and nest building. Reduce available water by repairing defective spigots and watering pets indoors.
• Keep fruit that drops from trees picked up and disposed of.
• Wear shoes when walking through lawns to avoid painful stings to bare feet.
• Be cautious when drinking from a can or bottle, as you may swallow a yellow jacket and receive a sting in the throat. Look before you drink.

If you are bothered by yellow jackets, or other pests, contact The Bug Dude for professional pest control in Fort Worth. The Bug Dude serves Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.

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April Showers Bring – Carpenter Ants

Springs arrival brings carpenter ants, and unfortunately this is sometimes out of the woodwork – literally. Carpenter ants damage wood by hollowing it out for nesting, The difference between carpenter ant damaged wood and termite damaged wood, is the lack of mud in tunnels and nests. Late spring brings carpenter ants out in swarms, endangering wooden structures including your home. If you have carpenter ants, contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth.

Carpenter ants vary in size, but are typically large in size (1/4 to 1/2 inch) and black in color. Shredded wood similar to coarse sawdust may be ejected through cracks in the wood, or exits made by the ants. This pseudo sawdust is a good indication of a carpenter ant nest nearby. If you see unexplained “sawdust piles” contact us for pest control in Fort Worth.

Carpenter ants prefer moist wood, but will nest in dry wood. Inside the home, nests are typically found in wood that is damp from water leaks, such as around bathtubs, sinks, leaky windows or doors, roof leaks and leaky chimney flashing.

The nest can be inside or outside of the home or other affected structure. Carpenter ants establish two types of nest, the parent colony which contains the queen, her brood and several thousand worker ants, and satellite colonies which contain large numbers of worker ants only. Contrary to popular belief, they do not eat wood as termites do, but merely tunnel through wood, and nest in it.

The best way to control carpenter ants is to hire a professional for pest control in Fort Worth to locate and destroy the nests. The extent of damage to a structure will directly depend upon how many nests there are, and how long the infestation has been occurring.

Because carpenter ants often utilize electrical wiring and plumbing to move within a home, an extensive and long lived infestation may require access through the walls for treatment. Effective extermination often requires a multi-pronged approach with professional pest control in Fort Worth for prevention and treatment of existing infestations. After the initial treatment, quarterly applications from a professional should be applied to prevent further infestation in the future.

The following is recommended in addition to professional pest control in Fort Worth to assist in discouraging carpenter ants in and near your home:

The Bug Dude uses a variety of approaches to treat carpenter ants as recommended by the scientific research for Fort Worth and the surrounding areas, and our extensive research.

For colonies within a home, we may directly apply a registered pesticide dust into voids to reach carpenter ants. The dust formulation is often used in carpenter ant treatment due to the following:

1. Long-lasting properties
2. Easy access to the insect
3. Has less odor than conventional insecticides
4. The fine particles stick to the hairy surfaces of ants’ bodies and is carried into the colony. As they clean themselves and feed other ants and larvae, the insecticide is spread throughout the colony.

Standard treatment of carpenter ants typically provides a quarterly perimeter spray with professional pest control in Fort Worth throughout the year. This spray disrupts foraging trails and assists in preventing entry from parent colonies nesting outside your home. The exterior perimeter spray typically includes an application against the foundation, under the edges of the siding, around window and door frames, and on carpenter ant trails.

Preventing Carpenter Ants

Homeowners should use the following ant pest control preventative steps to reduce the potential for future carpenter ant infestations:

1. Repair roof leaks, plumbing leaks and faulty gutters and downspouts. Ensure water drainage is well away from the home’s foundation.
2. Ensure mulch and planter beds are at least 12 inches from the homes foundation, and that soil surrounding the foundation slopes away from the home. Splash guards should also slope to distribute water away from the home to prevent water from standing near the foundation.
3. Keep tree limbs, and other vegetation off of the roof or siding of the house.
4. Seal cracks and openings in the foundation, and where utility pipes and cables enter from the outside. Seal gaps and cracks surrounding windows and doors; ensure door sweeps are in good condition.
5. Stack firewood at least five feet from the home. The further away it is from any structure, the least likely carpenter ants, termites or other insects are to invade your home. Elevate it 8-12 inches off of the ground to allow air flow to circulate under it, preventing the build-up of moisture that insects such as carpenter ants favor. Never store firewood in the garage or other areas of the home, to help to prevent carpenter ants.

If you suspect you have carpenter ants don’t delay, give us a call for effective ant extermination with professional pest control in Fort Worth. Call The Bug Dude today.

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Each year fire ants cause approximately $6 billion in damages across the nation. For the electric and telecom industries, the cost due to the stinging pests is $638 million. Primarily located in the Southeast, fire ants are continuing the migration westward and have spread as far west as California. Management is the best defense against fire ants, and professional pest control in Fort Worth is the best means to manage a lawn infestation, and secure indoor locations against them.

Fire ants invade electrical equipment, especially transformers, and build their large dirt mounds that can cause power outages and compromised equipment. They appear especially attracted to high voltage, and dead ants can build up in and around contacts, leaving behind equipment in need of repair.

HVAC technicians in Texas confirm that one third of all summer HVAC repairs are due to the ants. They invade outdoor electrical service panels, well pump controls, utility meters, electrical plugs and lamp sockets, and one of their favorites – transformers. Not even automobiles are exempt, leave behind food or drink, even crumbs, and fire ants will take up residence in your car, and under the hood.

Fire ants are omnivorous, meaning they will feed on animal or vegetable sources of food. The fire ant worker’s diet includes insects, earthworms, ticks, spiders, arthropod eggs, honeydew and other sweets. They will feed on weakened honey bee colonies as well. Plant sources of food include seeds, such as germinating seeds of corn, sorghum and soybeans. They kill plants by tunneling into young corn stalks, potatoes, okra and citrus fruit. Young and newborn vertebrate animals eaten by fire ants include birds, rodents and calves and others, whether the ants caused the death, or if due to other causes.

An interesting fact regarding fire ants pertains to the honeydew they love. Sucking insects, such as aphids produce the honeydew. Fire ants provide protection for the honeydew producing insects, though they will cull unhealthy or diseased members of the population, enabling the honeydew producing population to thrive. Fire ant management with pest control in Fort Worth will assist in controlling the population of sucking insects.

Management is required for these aggressive pests or they will continue to proliferate on your lawn. In the Southeast where they first invaded, there have been reports of 100 nests per acre. Even worse, some nests have been known to be large enough to cover a full grown adult human body though this is uncommon.

Even more dangerous is the fact that fire ants will invade a home and attack those unable to defend themselves, such as human infants and toddlers. When this occurs, not all survive. DIY treatment alone is never successful in fully ridding your lawn of fire ants; they simply spread back from neighboring untreated lawns. Even worse, after a while, they seem to develop a tolerance to retail treatments, requiring the homeowner to switch up several times during the warm seasons. Even season long treatments will not last throughout the entire season before the fire ants return. Fire ant management is best achieved with professional pest control in Fort Worth.

If you need assistance or advice on a fire ant infestation contact the professionals at The Bug Dude. Our specialists can provide the services to get rid of fire ants, and/or other pests with professional pest control in Fort Worth. Do not suffer unwanted pests in your home or on your lawn, contact the pest control specialists at The Bug Dude to schedule effective pest control in Fort Worth. We serve Fort Worth and the surrounding areas with professional pest control services.

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Pantry Pests breed quickly, which can allow their population to spiral out of control in short periods of time. Keeping pantry pests out in the first place preserves food ingredients. The following information provides a better understanding of these common pests, and how proper storage and pest control in Fort Worth can rid your home of them.

Merchant Grain Beetles and Saw Toothed Grain Beetles

Grain beetles are usually detected when homeowners find the pests in pantry products or on surfaces such as counters or shelves. Saw toothed grain beetles appear very similar to Merchant grain beetles. The Merchant grain beetle is capable of flight, while the Saw Toothed beetle is not. Both are scavenger feeders, meaning you aren’t likely to find them in whole grain foods.

These beetles can typically be found throughout the year in pantries. Grain beetles prefer cereals, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies, pasta, flour, dried fruits, dried meats, and chocolate.

Grain beetles can quickly take over food products and contaminate them. Their body shape allows them to get into sealed cardboard packaging and soft plastic packaging where they eat, live and reproduce, allowing infestations to grow quickly. It is the larvae that do most of the damage, but the adult beetle is what is commonly found. If you have an infestation, discard of contaminated foods, vacuum the cabinets thoroughly, and call for pest control in Fort Worth.

Pantry Pest Control

Control of these beetles requires the inspection for and removal of infested food products, and pest control in Fort Worth. Non-infested foods should be transferred product into tightly sealed plastic, metal or glass containers.

Vacuuming the shelves, including the corners using a crevice tool is also suggested followed by sealing and disposing of the vacuum bag.

Contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth to stop the cycle of these insects in your home.

Indian Meal Moths

Indian meal moths, commonly called “meal bugs“, are found throughout the United States, although they are not native to the U.S. These moths are attracted to light and any area where food is stored, including pantries and cabinets. They enjoy a more varied diet than grain beetles and prefer to feed on dried fruits and vegetables, grains like flour and cornmeal, pasta, cereals, seeds, spices, nuts, chocolate, candies, pet food (especially bird seed) and powdered milk.

Other sources to check include dried fruits, dried flowers, nuts, and decorative wall hangings containing food products such as nuts, beans or spices. A thorough cleaning and professional pest control in Fort Worth is the best means of eradication when multiple sites of infestation are present. Food should always be stored in plastic, metal or glass containers with airtight, secure lids to keep Indian meal moths out.

Bean Weevil

The most common pest of stored legumes, such as beans, cowpeas and peas in is the common bean weevil, though they will feed on almost any food source. The bean weevil is not a true weevil. They are members of the closely related seed beetle family.

If a bean weevil infestation is found vacuum the area, and contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth. Store beans in tightly sealed plastic, glass or metal containers.

Additional Tips to Keep Dry Foods Safe

A number of people freeze products such as flour and corn meal to kill any bugs that may be present after purchase. Due to the density of a 5 lb. bag of grain product, 5 days should be the minimum in the freezer. Just allow the product to sit out until fully at room temperature before storing.

An additional tip that manufacturers routinely use is absorbent products are oxygen absorber packs. Along with glass canning jars, these little gems can be your best friend for storing dry foods such beans, pasta, and rice. Oxygen absorbers contain an iron powder which reacts with the oxygen in the air within the jar, causing the iron powder to rust. Rusting uses up the oxygen in the glass jars storing your dry food product, any insects present will die. They provide other benefits including:

• Extends the storage life (beans are still good after 20 years according to experts).
• Prevents growth of aerobic (requiring oxygen) pathogens and organisms that can spoil food, including mold.
• Eliminates the need for chemical additives such as BHA, sulfur dioxide, benzoates, or others.
• Use with vacuum packaging to absorb virtually all oxygen and absorb any oxygen that may permeate the package for the most complete protection of dry foods.
• Contained in a sealed packet that allows oxygen and moisture to be absorbed, the packets are safe to place on top of food. If the container is later opened to remove part of the food, discard the old packet and replace with a new one before resealing the jar. They reach their maximum absorption in about 4 Hours.

Summary

Routine vacuuming of cabinets and cleaning, with routine inspection and disposal of infested goods will assist in keeping pests out of your food. By freezing flour, meal and rice after purchase and before storing, and the use of airtight containers for storage, pantry pests can be kept under control. Routine treatment of your home with pest control in Fort Worth will reduce the incidence of pantry pests.

Pantry pests can rapidly take over your kitchen. If you suspect an infestation, contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth. The Bug Dude professionals serve Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.

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Today’s blog will provide you with some interesting bug news. We hope you find it interesting. The current number of identified animal species is 1,659,420. Not surprisingly, approximately 80% of those identified are arthropods, or insects. While humans are at the top of the food chain, arthropods claim dominance over the earth, as any homeowner in need of pest control in Fort Worth knows. Naturalists have pondered the mystery of when arthropods arose and filled the earth for centuries.

In an ambitious international collaboration, 100 scientists have combined their molecular, computational biology, statistics, paleontology, and taxonomic expertise to draw some surprising conclusions on when major groups of insects evolved.

Though we frequently hear of new fossil findings, fossils are actually rare. Fossils of insects are even rarer. The current research utilizes accumulated changes in DNA to determine the amount of time that has passed.

Looking at the genetic information in thousands of modern insect samples from hundreds of species produces an extraordinary amount of sequencing information. For all of our computing advances in the past half century, the required capacity simply doesn’t exist to handle the data counting into the quadrillions.

Alexander Stamatatakis, a computer scientist and bioinformatics expert and his research team devised a mathematical method to exclude unlikely combinations, thereby reducing the amount of data to the most likely combinations.

While the information may change as the project continues, current major findings of interest are:

• Insect ancestors appear to have originated during the Early Ordovician Period, approximately 479 million years ago.
• Insect flight emerged approximately 406 million years ago, about the same time plants began to diversify on land and gain height as forests.
• The rapid diversification of insects into the major orders we see today occurred before the emergence of Angiosperms (flowering plants).

Insects diversified at an extraordinary speed. When you consider that the earth is 4.5 billion years old, it’s only in the last 10% of earth’s history that plants were established. In the past 80 million years insects comprising the majority of the major groups still alive today populated the earth.

New information will undoubtedly be discovered, change and refocus once more. Eventually science will uncover the mystery of what came first, and the relationships between the groups, and when they emerged. The science may provide solutions to unwanted pests, and additional natural approaches for pest control in Fort Worth.

As long as mankind questions, science will continue to seek an answer.

Bed Bug Busters

Frequent travelers will be glad to know that control of bedbugs is in sight, providing a natural and safe approach for pest control in Fort Worth. Researchers at Simon Fraser University announced they may have solved the chemical code of bed bugs. In field trials, their bed bug attractant caught 100 percent of bed bugs.

If the early results are any indication, bed bug traps will help to prevent new infestations, and will potentially provide travelers with a means to ensure bugs traveling in your bags don’t gain ground in your home. Of course, natures creatures are always evolving and adapting, and pheromones are tricky substances to begin with. For now, the field trials are heralding a success in the war against bed bugs.

If you’re experiencing problems with bed bugs, one of our qualified specialists will be glad to provide you with pest control in Fort Worth.

Super Webs

In a true-to-life Twilight Zone moment, the Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant sent out a major SOS for help in 2009, when a giant spider web covering almost 4 acres of their facility was discovered. The discovery led to an eventual estimate of over 107 million spiders living in the structure.

It was reported that over 95% of the space was filled with spider web in some areas of the plant. The spider webs were so dense that it pulled 8-foot long fluorescent light fixtures completely out of place. However, the mega-web wasn’t the first found in the U.S. In 2007 a mega spider web was reported at Lake Tawakoni State Park in Hunt County, Texas.

Colossal webs are usually dominated by two species of spider in the United States, Tetragnatha guatemalensis and Larinioides sclopetarius, and always occur near water. Global warming has been named by some scientists as the direct cause of larger, longer lived spiders and an increase in the number of their offspring. If your home has pests, contact us today for pest control in Fort Worth.

No one wants bugs in their home, and our specialists can assist you in ridding your home of unwanted pests with professional pest control in Fort Worth. Homeowners often provide ineffective do it yourself pest control. Don’t suffer unwanted pests in your home, contact the pest control specialists at The Bug Dude to schedule effective pest control in Fort Worth. We serve Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. We hope you found our bug news interesting and informative.

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While deaths from the bite of a brown recluse spider are considered rare, no one wants to risk it with the life of their loved ones. Recently, a 5 year old Alabama boy died within hours of a confirmed brown recluse bite. Children and persons above the age of 50 are more susceptible to complications due to bites from the venomous spider. Prevention and pest control in Fort Worth are the best means to protect your loved ones from the bite of a brown recluse.

Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back. They spin irregular webs, which aren’t used for catching prey, but rather used as a retreat. These spiders are nocturnal and eat other insects such as cockroaches and crickets. An increased presence of the spider’s typical prey can potentially increase their presence and the number of offspring. Keeping other insects under control with pest control in Fort Worth will reduce the available food supply for these spiders.

Vacuum often to discourage the brown recluse from making its home in yours. Don’t forget under and behind furniture, inside sofa beds, in corners and anywhere seldom disturbed. The next action you want to take is to place stored papers and other clutter in sealed containers. Tidy up and vacuum often is the adage for spider prevention. Pest control in Fort Worth is effective in a known infestation, and for prevention.

Treat the Habitat with Pest Control in Fort Worth

Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors where they are typically found around cedar shake roofs, rocks, utility boxes, garden equipment and woodpiles. They are sometimes even found in automobiles. Pest control in Fort Worth for the brown recluse includes the treatment of outdoor locations.

Indoors, brown recluses can be found in any undisturbed area, such as inside boxes, among papers, in bags and sacks, in seldom-used apparel and shoes, under furniture or in crevices of window moldings. Closets, attics, crawl spaces and basements are common brown recluse spider hiding spots. An area they seem to prefer is inside the bed linens, perhaps due to their tendency to build webs between a bed headboard and the wall. Treatment of indoor spaces with Pest control in Fort Worth is effective when routinely provided.

Threats

The brown recluse spider bites in defense to a perceived threat. Both the female and male brown recluse spiders can bite and inject venom. The recluse’s bite is usually not felt, but results in a stinging sensation, followed by intense pain as long as six to eight hours later. A small blister usually develops at the bite location that can turn into an open ulcer. Restlessness, fever and difficulty sleeping are common symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite. Some victims report intense itching after being bitten.

Symptoms of Brown Recluse Spider Bite

The signs and symptoms depend on the amount of venom injected and the body’s response to the venom. Initially, there are no signs and symptoms of spider bite, though some report a slight prick or itch. The most common symptoms occur 2-8 hours after being bitten. The symptoms start with mild burning sensation at the site followed by irritation. The victim may develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Severe inflammation
• Intense pain
• Bluish blister
• Redness on and around the wound.
• Chills and rigor
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures in severe cases
• Joint pain
• Body ache
• Lesion that initially has the appearance of a pimple
• Lesion may be filled with green or yellow puss
• Formation of ulcer
• Rashes
• Necrosis (the death of the cells)
• Itching
• Dark urine
• Fever
• Muscle cramps and pain

The bite of the brown recluse spider causes a painful wound that doesn’t heal quickly. Though fatalities are rare, in young children and the elderly, bites can be dangerous and may produce a volcano lesion or death. Volcano lesion is gangrenous tissue that creates an ulcerated area in the flesh.

Systemic Effects of a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

In severe cases, a combination of local and systemic manifestations may occur after brown recluse bites and can result in death:

1. Destruction of red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia with injury to the kidney possible. Blood transfusion may be required.
2. Consumption of platelets (the body’s blood clotting factors) resulting in Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The destruction of platelets (thrombocytopenia) is reported most often in children. DIC may lead to dangerous bleeding and rapid death.
3. Acute kidney failure may develop leading to coma.
4. Death

Symptoms of this potential complication include low energy, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment

Despite the severity of the brown recluse bite, there is no established treatment.

The Brown Recluse Spider is a dangerous spider known to cohabit with humans. If you have seen this spider in your home, contact The Bug Dude for pest control in Fort Worth.

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Get Rid of Rodents | Pest Control Fort Worth

Winter is the season when we spend an increased amount of time indoors than out. Unfortunately it is a time when rodents are likely to come indoors seeking warmth and food. An estimated 21 million rodents enter U.S. homes each winter, spreading destruction, damage and the threat of disease. Don’t risk disease and damage to your home, get rid of rodents by scheduling pest control in Fort Worth.

Rodents are a clear threat to the sanctity and safety of our homes, not only are they likely to cause electrical fires by chewing the home’s wiring, and damaging wood in homes, they harbor diseases such as Hantavirus, Salmonella, Hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis, Plague and numerous others. They can also bring fleas, ticks and lice indoors exposing us to the health threats those pests carry. A clean home and professional pest control in Fort Worth will evict the disease ridden pests from your home.

Unfortunately, even the contact with rodent scat or urine can result in illness, including air born particulates from the waste of rodents. Always wash the tops of cans and glass containers with hot soapy water before opening, in the event a rodent has urinated or defected on the item.

Professional pest control in Fort Worth will provide the best action the homeowner can select against winter pest, which also include ants, spiders and cockroaches. When pest control is utilized in conjunction with steps homeowners’ can provide, the outcome will have a greater success. The following pest prevention tips will assist homeowners to prevent pests in the home.

• Seal cracks and holes in siding, around cables, plumbing and HVAC pipes. Place metal wire over roof vent caps, chimneys and heat flues.
• Stored items in closets, garages, basements and attics should be kept in plastic, sealed containers to prevent rodents from nesting inside.
• Trim branches and shrubbery away from the home.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and off the ground.
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors, replace loose or worn weather-stripping and repair damaged screens.
• Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage routinely. Utilize a tightly sealed trash can, especially in the home. This includes storing flour, cereal and other foods in cardboard packaging for the best effect.
• If you have an infestation, contact a local pest control specialist.
• Store pet food in sealed metal containers. Don’t leave pet food in bowls overnight.
• Maintain a clean house. Clean up crumbs and wash dishes or place them in a dishwasher. Rodents are opportunists always looking for a free meal!

Schedule service today with The Bug Dude to ensure a clean, healthy home with preventative pest control or to get rid of rodents and other pests with professional pest control in Fort Worth. Do not let rodents spoil your holiday activities with an untimely sighting while family and friends gather together. Our professionals are waiting to take your call, and provide home pest control.

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Kissing Bug Disease | Pest Control Fort Worth

The Bug Dude provides professional pest control in Fort Worth for all of your pest control needs. It seems we are consistently learning of new vectors of disease in the U. S., illnesses’ that appear to be occurring in both vectors that were previously unaffected, or appearing in invasive species who have migrated to the U.S. from other areas. Chagas disease, also called the kissing bug disease is yet another disease the resident of the southern U. S. must now be alert for.

Residents of Texas and the entire southern U. S. have a new risk factor for a parasitic disease that can lead to severe heart disease and death. Kissing bugs transmit Chagas disease (also called American trypanosomiasis) by feeding on the faces of humans at night. Chagas was once thought limited to Mexico, Central America and South America. New evidence is emerging of locally acquired human transmission in Texas, according to studies, two of which were authored by Melissa Nolan Garcia, a research associate at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The disease is spread mainly by insects called Triaominae or kissing bugs, through the feces of infected bugs containing the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can enter the body through breaks in the skin. Chagas disease can also be transmitted through blood. With no vaccine available, preventative measures and professional pest control in Fort Worth comprise the most effective means of preventing this illness at the present.

Ecology

All triatomine nymph instars and adults are haematophagous (blood sucker) and require a sheltered environment where they gather. Most species are found with wild vertebrates and live in ground burrows with rodents, armadillos, or in tree-dwellings with bats, birds, or opossums. They will sometimes invade homes, especially in rural or suburban areas. The Bug Dude can provide professional pest control in Fort Worth for the appropriate treatment of these vectors of disease.

Adult kissing bugs produce a pungent odor when disturbed, and are also capable of producing a sound. All 138 Triatominae species are potentially able to transmit Chagas disease to humans.

In a pilot study, Garcia’s team examined 17 blood donors in Texas who tested positive for the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

“We were surprised to find that 36 percent had evidence of being a locally acquired case,” she said. “Additionally, 41 percent of this presumably healthy blood donor population had heart abnormalities consistent with Chagas cardiac disease.”

“It’s a silent killer. People don’t feel sick, so they don’t seek care, but it causes heart disease in about 30 percent of those who get infected”, she said.

A third study found that most people infected with Chagas aren’t treated. Just how many people are infected with Chagas is unknown, as persons are rarely tested for it. Between 2007 and 2013 nearly 2,000 persons’ blood tested positive for Chagas. The CDC provided only 422 doses of medication for the infection, leaving most of those identified without treatment.

Symptoms of Chagas can range from no symptoms exhibited, to severe symptoms with fever, headache, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, body aches and severe cardiac, nervous system disorders and intestinal complications. Chagas disease can result in death if left untreated.

Currently there is no vaccine available, and treatment is not always effective, with a decrease in response directly related to the length of illness. Drug development is underway, but remains in the investigative phase at present. Currently the two treatments available remain under investigative drug protocol regulated by the CDC.

The lack of a current fully effective treatment or vaccine leaves control of the kissing bug in the homeowner’s hands with preventative measures and the provision of professional pest control in Fort Worth.

For further information about Chagas disease, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Preventative Steps

The first goal should be to keep them out of the home, followed by pest control in Fort Worth to kill resident populations. Ensure all exterior doors close tightly without gaps. Replace missing or damaged weather stripping. Repair or replace damaged window screens, crawlspace vents and attic vents. Screens should be considered on roof vents, and chimney vents should include approved wire small enough to prevent the entry of insects.

Caulk around openings for utility lines, plumbing and cables. Repair cracks in the foundation or siding that can allow insects to enter. If your property has a heavy infestation, it’s likely that neighboring properties will also be infested requiring professional pest control in Fort Worth.

Remove nests of squirrels, birds or other wild animals. Move firewood piles away from the home and use bug light bulbs for exterior lighting where possible. Inspect pets after being outdoors and regularly inspect bedding.

Contact The Bug Dude for professional pest control in Fort Worth for the application of the appropriate insecticide to aid in the prevention of the kissing bug disease. Have other pest control needs? Our professionals provide termite inspection, termite control, termite treatment, ant control, bedbug control and much more! Contact us to schedule pest control in Fort Worth today. Thanks for visiting The Bug Dudes bug blog.

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No Bugs Allowed | Pest Control Fort Worth

For numerous homeowners it seems fighting pests is a constant battle. Homeowners spray until their homes are the equivalent of a toxic dump. Spray is brandished around doors and windows, similar to how holy water and garlic were used during the middle ages to ward off vampires and other evil. It often appears to be a battle won by the pests, and lost by the homeowner. Thankfully there are pest control solutions to the invasion. When you have decided to throw in the towel, call The Bug Dude for Pest Control in Fort Worth.

Recently in the news was a report of global warming’s effect upon insects, with some species of spiders growing to unheard of sizes in specified parts of the country. The process is very simple. With global warming, they have a larger food supply due to the rise in other insect populations, leading to healthier and longer lived and larger spiders. They are also producing larger broods.

It isn’t simply spiders, but numerous bugs are proliferating in the warmer weather, keeping professionals in pest control in Fort Worth busy.

In some areas of the country drought has brought about a new problem. Home gardeners are used to battling deer and the occasional rabbit over their home grown veggies. But this past summer has brought out record numbers of starving squirrel and even rats from the forests to feast upon garden vegetables. The general consensus has been food is short in drought affected areas and the opportunists are looking for meals wherever they can find it.

The science is simple. When conditions are favorable the number of prey rise, while the number of predators keeps pace. It’s a foregone conclusion that theropod dinosaurs such as T-Rex were happy with the arrangement. But for humans, when the creatures are bugs, it spawns shivers and shakes and a no bugs’ allowed attitude.

In the field of science, new invasive species spark research in the lab eventually providing a means of eradication or pest control. The Bug Dude Professionals stay on top of the research taking note of new findings and habits of pests, and analyzing current data for the most effective means of addressing the problem pest with pest control in Fort Worth.

The Bug Dude can help you with your pest problem. By using professional pest control in Fort Worth, and good anti-bug practices at home, your pests can become a thing of the past.

Practical tips for helping to deter bugs in your home are:

• Vacuum carpets and rugs often.
• Have leaks repaired indoors and out. Bugs seek out water.
• Don’t leave food or leftovers out. Bugs seek out food.
• Repair holes and replace torn or poorly fitting screens. Replace worn weather stripping around doors and seal cracks and crevices. Replace worn door sweeps.
• Trim shrubs at least 1 foot away from the home. Planting beds should be at least a foot away from the home as well. Trim tree limbs that hang over your roof.
• Store unrefrigerated food in sealed containers, this includes grease and leftovers.
• Store trash in tight garbage cans and take out often.
• Store recycles in tight containers and also rinse out before placing it in the can.
• Don’t leave pet food or water out overnight.
• Replace loose mortar.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home.
• Seal holes around plumbing and cables with steel wool.

With the coming of fall, pests will be seeking a way into your home, for warmth and food. Schedule your professional pest control in Fort Worth now.

If your home treatments aren’t working, and you want your home to remain a no bugs allowed zone our professionals can help you. If you have an infestation, call to schedule an evaluation and pest control in Fort Worth with a qualified specialist from The Bug Dude. We serve Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. Thanks for visiting The Bug Dude.

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Pests and Disease | Pest Control Fort Worth

How Pest Control Helps to Protect Your Health

Most of us are uncomfortable when we see pests or rodents in or around our homes. The fact is these pests can have harmful consequences upon yours and your family’s health. Understanding the health risks from these types of infestations helps us to prevent them. It is unsettling to us when we share our homes with these pests because of the serious threats they pose. You don’t have to put up with pests any longer. Call The Bug Dude today for pest control in Fort Worth.

In the following a more detailed overview of the health risks associated with some of the more common pests is discussed.

Cockroaches

The saliva, decomposing bodies and droppings of cockroaches contain proteins known to trigger allergies and to increase the severity of asthma symptoms. This is especially important for children, as one-in-five children in the U. S. exhibit severe allergies to cockroach proteins. Cockroaches can also carry 33 known types of bacteria, including E coli and salmonella on their bodies, which can contaminate food, cooking equipment and food surfaces. In addition, they carry six known parasitic worms and seven other human pathogens.

Eliminating the attraction cockroaches find in the home can help to prevent infestations. They prefer warm, moist conditions. When coupled with pest control in Fort Worth, the following tips will assist in deterring roaches in the home:

• Do not allow dirty dishes to remain in the sink overnight. Wash the dishes, and after drying or placing in the dishwasher, dry the sink out.
• Don’t leave food on a counter top. Store them in the refrigerator or in tightly closed containers.
• Take the garbage bag out often and vacuum routinely.
• Routinely check and clean the evaporation pan under the refrigerator or freezer.
• Seal cracks and openings around the outside of the home to prevent pest entry. Potential indoor entries are around plumbing, cables and other intrusions into the home.

If you have an infestation, call for pest control in Fort Worth for treatment.

Rodents

Rodents can enter a building through openings or cracks. Inspection for rodent droppings should include pantries and cabinets, under baseboards and along walls. Rodent droppings can cause allergic reactions in humans and pose serious disease risks, including the potentially deadly diseases that follow:

• Hantavirus
• Lyme disease
• Salmonella
• Rat Bite Fever
• Typhus
• Plague
• Rickettsia pox

The threat of rodents isn’t fully understood until you realize an estimated ten million plus persons have died in the past century from rodent – borne diseases. A pest control professional provides the expertise to provide the best protection of your health against a rodent infestation with pest control in Fort Worth.

Not only are rodents vectors for disease, they are very destructive. Every year they damage homes, businesses, automobiles, UTVs and farm equipment every year. The Bug Dude can provide your home and grounds with the rodent extermination you need.

Mosquitoes

As the prevalence of West Nile Virus continues to grow during the summer months, mosquitoes continue to be a major health threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), since 2001 West Nile Virus infections have topped 30,000 resulting in 1,200 deaths across the United States. In addition, mosquitoes are vectors of disease in the U. S. of other diseases such as Encephalitis, Chikungunya Fever, Dengue fever, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Dog Heartworm.

Tips to assist the homeowner in reducing mosquitoes include:

• Emptying rain water from objects that may collect it.
• Keeping the lawn mowed and landscaping neatly trimmed to allow air circulation around plants.

The use of professional pest control in Fort Worth will help to ensure mosquitoes don’t find your home an inviting habitat.

Ticks

Lyme disease is a major health risk to humans. Once primarily found in the Northeast and upper mid-western Western states of the U.S., there have been an increase of Lyme disease in the Southern states. It is critical to check yourself and family for ticks, especially if you are in or have been in, wooded areas.

Symptoms of Lyme disease include:

• A “bull’s eye” rash around the bite
• Flu-like symptoms
• Severe fatigue.

Considering Lyme disease can cause permanent disability or death, homeowners must ensure tick infestations are treated, and check children and pets after they have been outside. If you suspect a tick infestation, The Bug Dude can provide effective treatment for ticks to your home and grounds with pest control in Fort Worth.

Yellow Jackets, Wasps, Hornets and Other Stinging Insects

Stinging insects are the cause for more than 500,000 people to go to the emergency room each year in the U. S. A pest control professional provides the knowledge and expertise to rid your home and property of stinging insects and prevent further infestations.

Ants

While some ants’ sting and can threaten the safety of small children and infants, all ants have the potential to contaminate food. Ants can be difficult to get rid of by homeowners, if your efforts seem to be failing, give us a call for effective ant extermination from a qualified professional for pest control in Fort Worth.

Fleas

Fleas will feed on the blood of any warm-blooded mammal, including humans. Fleas can cause itchy bites and severe allergic reactions in some people. If you have a flea infestation in your home contact a professional for pest control in Fort Worth to rid your home of dangerous fleas. Fleas can transmit bacterial diseases such as Typhus, Bubonic plague, Yersinia and other deadly disease. They can transmit viral disease, tape worms, and protozoan diseases.

The Bug Dude will provide the pest control in Fort Worth that you require to rid your home and property of the pests that are both annoying and have the potential to transmit disease to you and your family. Thanks for visiting The Bug Dude.

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