bed bugs, Featured, General Pest Control, News, Pest Control, Property Managers, Realtors, Uncategorized
Bed Bugs Bigger Bother Than Before!
The Smithsonian recently reported that current studies indicate that bed bugs could be significantly more hazardous to our health than we thought!
Sure, nobody like having bugs as bunkmates. They come in uninvited, eating whatever they want and generally making an unsightly mess. Not to mention the biting, itching, and scratching that goes on when pests are involved… but now—to add to those sleepless nights— research indicates that bed bugs in the US could become a carrier for Trypanosoma cruzi… the parasite which causes Chagas disease.
Chagas disease is a disease that can result in heart failure and, ultimately, death. In the early stage, symptoms are typically either not present or mild and may include: fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, or local swelling at the site of the bite. After 8–12 weeks, individuals enter the chronic phase of disease and in 60–70% of individuals, it never produces further symptoms. The other 30 to 40% of people, however, develop further symptoms long term, such as enlargement of the ventricles of the heart. 20 to 30% of theses cases end up leading to heart failure.
Early treatments for Chagas are effective at curing the disease, but often have side effects, and the longer an individual goes undiagnosed or untreated, the less effective the treatment becomes. There is no vaccine currently available for preventative measures. The best method of prevention is to eliminate the threat of being bitten.
Triatomine occurrence by U.S. state.
Although Chagas disease is typically attributed to Triatominae (also known as “kissing bugs”) in South American regions, researchers have found evidence of the Chagas virus in the US — 40% of “kissing bugs” captured by researchers in Louisiana were infected with the parasite. “Kissing bug” territory has been positively identified in half of the United States (see chart above). Studies indicate the T. cruzi parasite has ALSO taken up a comfortable residence in the digestive system of bed bugs, which are a close relative of the Triatominae.
How likely is the scenario of a wide scale infection? An estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. are already positive for Chagas disease, and in addition to having kissing bugs AND bed bugs as carriers, the T. cruzi parasite can also live in pets who have been infected by those bugs. Any fecal matter left by these pets can potentially be contaminated. The disease can also be transmitted via blood transfusion / contact.
The CDC is already predicting that “kissing bugs” (the primary carriers for the disease) will expand their territory range as the national climate begins to warm, and bed bug activity has been on the rise in Los Angeles and surrounding areas since 2011.
ABC News reported in 2013 that Los Angeles and surrounding areas ranked 3rd in “Worst Bed Bug Infestations” based on bed bug services provided… the year before the city was ranked at number 5. This year, Los Angeles and surrounding areas rank at #2 and San Diego jumped up 6 spots on its own! Bed bug activity is on the rise, and shows no indication of slowing down… which compounds the risk of Chagas infection.
Which is a prime reason to get started on bug and pest prevention now!
Contact us to find out about our pest prevention services today.
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Think your city might be infested? Check out the map below to see the 50 spots that have had the largest occurrences of bed bug infestations in 2013. Click on the dot to see the latest ranking and the previous year’s ranking.
For reference, these are this year’s top 50 U.S. cities, ranked in order of the frequency of bedbug treatments, and their ranking compared to last year:
1) Chicago
2) Los Angeles (+1)
3) Columbus, Ohio (+3)
4) Detroit (-2)
5) Cincinnati
6) Cleveland/Akron/Canton (+2)
7) Dayton (+4)
8) Washington D.C. (-1)
9) Denver (-5)
10) Indianapolis (+6)
11) Richmond/Petersburg, Va. (+1)
12) Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, N.C. (+3)
13) Dallas/Ft. Worth (-4)
14) Syracuse, N.Y. (+7)
15) Atlanta (+14)
16) Houston (+2)
17) New York (-7)
18) Seattle/Tacoma (-5)
19) San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (-5)
20) Boston (+2)
21) Milwaukee (-2)
22) Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (+3)
23) Nashville (+17)
24) Pittsburgh (+12)
25) Charlotte (+18)
26) San Diego (+6)
27) Baltimore (-7)
28) Phoenix (+7)
29) Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa (+4)
30) Charleston/Huntington, W. Va. (+1)
31) Knoxville, Tenn. (-4)
32) Louisville, Ky. (-2)
33) Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, Mich. (+5)
34) Hartford/New Haven, Conn. (-8)
35) Champaign/Springfield, Ill. (+13)
36) Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, S.C. (+11)
37) Omaha, Neb. (-20)
38) Buffalo, N.Y. (-10)
39) Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, Neb. (+2)
40) Lexington, Ky. (-16)
41) Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, Calif. (+4)
42) Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colo. (-19)
43) Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y. (-1)
44) Minneapolis/St. Paul (-10)
45) Honolulu (-8)
46) Toledo, Ohio
47) Peoria/Bloomington, Ill.
48) Davenport, Iowa/Moline, Ill.
49) New Orleans
50) Kansas City
Bees, Cockroaches, Mice, Pest Control, Property Managers, Rats, Realtors, Silverfish, Spiders, Ticks, Wasp
Are Foreclosed Homes Causing Pest Problems?
An ideal nesting spot for pests is an enclosed space that offers a nearby food source and has low foot traffic. You may consider these conditions all in one place a rarity but this type of environment commonly exists within residential neighborhoods and densely populated areas. They are typically referred to as foreclosed homes or abandoned properties – Yes; these are a pest’s paradise.
Pest problems within a foreclosed home can significantly increase the risk of pest infestations to adjacent properties. The pest population can outgrow the abandoned house and begin to overflow to other homes in the neighborhood.
Common Pest Infestations In Foreclosed Homes
Mosquitoes breed in pools and bird baths that have stagnant water from the lack of cleaning and rainfall. Rodents use unoccupied structures to nest and hide during the day, then travel to neighboring properties for food at night. Eventually the rodent population will become too large and will be forced to seek shelter elsewhere – possibly your home.
If conditions are right, honeybees will invade any home. It is possible to have a hive of thousands of bees neighboring your house. Be cautious of beehives and nests of other stinging insects during spring and summer months since this is when they are most active. The slightest noises or motions can disturb the nearby colonies.
Ticks can thrive in lawns that are unmaintained and contain high grass and overgrown weeds. Rodents or pets that run through these lawns are subject to become a host for these parasitic creatures, thus indirectly spreading them to your home. Keep your pets away from lawns that are not groomed.
Defend Your Home From Neighboring Pests
If a home near you is not maintained, you should contact the property owner. For foreclosed homes, the party responsible for the property is often banks or managing real estate companies. If no action is taken by the party you contacted, advise the municipal animal control services.
In the meantime, get regular pest control treatments to provide a preventative barrier protection around your property. Most pests will be unable to migrate into your home with bi-monthly treatments.
Applying weather stripping to doors and pest repellent screens to vents and windows is a great preventative measure to keep pests away. Also, seal any exterior hole the size of a quarter or larger on your home with gnaw-proof materials, including steel sheeting, hardware cloth, galvanized steel and concrete.
Ants, Cockroaches, Mice, Pest Control, Property Managers, Rats, Silverfish
Properly Stowing Christmas Items To Prevent Pests
The joyous season has come and gone and our living rooms are left with the remnants of shredded wrapping paper and wilting trees. Soon Christmas decorations and memorabilia will be collected and put away in attics, sheds, or closets until next year.
But before you confine what was displayed in your home for the holidays into storage space, there are preliminary steps to perform to optimize your pest control efforts.
Piled up boxes with wrapped trinkets and strings of lights inside are ideal nesting areas for rodents and other pests. Here are some tips to keep nuisance vermin and pests away so your holiday collectibles are perfectly intact and preserved for next December.
– Clean Storage Space – Dust and sanitize the area where you plan to store Christmas boxes. Rodents and insects prefer a dingy area to nest since the accumulated dust particles represents a location with low activity. Removing the dirt particles and odorous scents will make pests feel less comfortable and discourage them from nesting.
– Use Plastic Containers – Although cardboard boxes are ubiquitous and economical after Christmas, they are not impenetrable to rodents. Rats and mice can gnaw through garbage bags or cardboard boxes, making nesting materials of the ornaments and packaging inside. Secure plastic containers prevent pests from accessing your storage boxes.
– Do Not Store Edible Items – If Santa didn’t finish his cookies, don’t save them for next year. Popcorn string and garlands made of fresh, edible material must be disposed of properly. Storing these items with the rest of your collectibles will keep the persistent pests around.
– Store Holiday Candles Separately – The scent from a candle can attract unwanted guests. Placing the candles in an area that is not exposed to extreme heat (e.g. attics or sheds) will resolve this problem. Wrap candles in cellophane to prevent them from melting together or transferring color in warm conditions.
– Store or Dispose Of Tree Properly – Fake trees conveniently fit into their boxes. Make sure the box is sealed so rodents cannot enter. Real trees should be chopped up or taken to a Christmas tree collection or recycling center. Contact your city for details on recycling and collection. Placing your tree curbside is not recommended as this can attract rodents.
Putting away all your decorations and ornaments may not be the most exciting part of the holidays but it sure does pay off doing it the right way. You will avoid attracting unwanted pest infestations and be able to maintain your Christmas décor.
Now you are that much more protected from invasive winter pests and rodents – Happy Holidays!
Pest Control, Property Managers
Prevent Pest Infestations In Communities By Buying Local Firewood
The demand for firewood increases when temperatures drop in Southern California. Fireplace chimneys and campfires puff that familiar and reminiscent smell of burning pine or oak firewood. But the act of buying or gathering firewood to warm your homes or cold hands could be doing more harm than good.
Bringing firewood from more than 50 miles from where you plan to store it can introduce new invasive pests to your community. These non-native forest insects, like emerald ash borer and red bay ambrosia beetle, can spread rapidly by inhabiting firewood logs and being transported to communities previously unexposed to the destructive pests. Damage can occur to community trees and structures.
Consumers can unknowingly bring new pests to a community since invasive insects and diseases can remain hidden underneath the layers of wood. Even firewood that appears healthy can harbor tiny insect eggs or microscopic fungal spores that will start a new infestation of forest pests. Buying firewood from providers up to 50 miles away is an effective solution.
Don’t Move Firewood, a non-profit organization, has started a campaign to stop the spread of costly pests and to save community trees. The organization encourages consumers to buy locally harvested firewood and to communicate the message to friends and neighbors.
Using a fireplace as a primary heat source for a household is a great way to conserve fossil fuel and natural gas resources. But if the firewood used is not from a local forest, you put the community and your property at risk of costly damage and decreased property value.
Here are some local firewood providers in San Diego County, Riverside County, & Orange County that sell locally harvested firewood. Before purchasing, ask which types of firewood are from the area to prevent firewood moving.
San Diego County:
Olson Firewood
15243 Highland Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92025
760-480-9901
Riverside County:
Boucher Tree Care
6840 Akderpoint Court
Riverside, CA 92506
951-784-6296
Orange County:
Woodhill Firewood
17001 Bake Parkway
Irvine, CA 92618
949-837-9663
Ants, Bees, Cockroaches, Property Managers, Spiders
Is Pest Control The Responsibility Of Property Managers & Landlords?
When pests invade your own property, the likely reaction is call a pest control company and have the bugs removed….Problem solved!
But if you have a property with bugs and tenants living in it, there seems to be a grey area as to who is responsible for the removal of the pests.
It is often unknown as to how this situation should be handled, and can lead to conflict with the landlord-tenant relationship and/or a violation of lease agreements. However, when pest infestations occur, the solution should be as clear as day.
Here are some rules to follow for clarity on who is responsible for pest control on a rental property.
Who’s Responsible When Bugs Arrive?
Determining this question depends solely on who was negligent. A tenant has an obligatory duty to keep the living space clean while the landlord must maintain the rental property to keep fit for human habilitation & up to building code standards.
In a nutshell, both parties, the landlord & tenant, are responsible for preventing pest infestations.
So if a pest problem does occur, the party that didn’t fulfill their duty to keep pests out can be considered the responsible one. For example, if roaches or rodents are showing up because of left out food items or piles of garbage, this would be negligence from the tenant. Then, the tenant would be the one responsible for getting an exterminator and paying the bill.
However, California law recognizes an “implied warranty of habitability” for tenants. So if the property or units become naturally infested with bugs, rodents, bees, etc to the point of the home being inhabitable, the property manager is the one that must take action to get rid of the pests.
The Landlords Duty Of Pesticide Disclosure
Property owners have a responsibility to provide a notice to tenants when they contract with a pest exterminator. A new pest control service requires the landlord to provide notice before the first treatment and the use of pesticides. If the pest control company changes pesticides, another notice must be given to the tenant to inform of the new pesticides.
Call Pro Pacific Pest Control for property management pest control services in San Diego, Riverside, & Orange County!
General Rodent, Mice, Property Managers, Rats
Rodent Control for Chula Vista Homes- Keeping Vacant Homes Free From Rats
Rats won’t stay out in the open for long. They scurry from coverings to shelter to avoid being spotted and to get to the nearest food source. Rats can live in outdoor during the warmer weather, but as seasons change, these furry pests will be dashing through yards or across road to get to some substantial shelter. Homeowners in Chula Vista have spotted rodents throughout their neighborhood, mainly around vacant homes near their properties.
Vacant homes are ideal nesting spots for rodents since they are not far from a food source and there is less human activity and commotion. However, as these vacant homes, like the homes in Chula Vista, become occupied or under construction, the rats that are living in them will flee to surrounding properties. The rodents that can invade your home can be as long as a foot and will be followed by several other rats.
You can be prepared to keep the rodents away from your home by using professional rodent control services. Make it impossible for a rat to nest in your home by rodent proofing your home today. All the entrances into your home will be sealed and other exclusion techniques will have any rodents searching elsewhere for shelter. If you already have a rodent problem, Pro Pacific has an effective rodent control solution that guarantees your rats will be gone. Call today for a FREE inspection and a professional rodent control service for your home in Chula Vista.
Pest Control, Pesticides, Property Managers
Natural Pest Control Techniques Used At La Jolla Apartments
When bugs invade your property, the most logical next step would be to consult your local pest control company. At this apartment complex in the La Jolla, the property owners took matters in their own hands to remedy their bug problem.
The complex is made up of two complexes on a 30 acre lot that was suffering from an infestation of aphids and mites. These bugs were creating homes in the landscaping surrounding the buildings and ruining the greenery. The complex owners wanted a pest control solution that would be safe for the tenants and the environment but effective against the bugs.
The owners decided that releasing thousands of ladybugs onto the property would fit their want of a zero pesticides control method perfectly. The ladybugs prey on the aphids and mites to provide more of a balance between the “good” bugs and “bad” bugs with no chemicals involved and ultimately removing the bug problem. Tenants were told not to worry about the infestation of ladybugs in the area because this specie was not prone to entering homes.
The ladybugs were supplied by a company that buys the bugs from collectors in Oregon, California, and Montana and stores them in refrigerators at 35 degrees. At this temperature, the ladybugs will go dormant and can stay alive for five months by eating their stored fat. In transit to the complex, the bugs warmed up and had an appetite to prey on the aphid, mites, and other bugs that weren’t too quick to catch.
While this is one route to take regarding pest control, Pro Pacific Pest Control offers more feasible organic pest control solutions to protect your family and home from chemicals and effectively getting rid of bugs. “Green” pest control techniques and methods are a current popular choice and they are available from Pro Pacific. Call and ask about our chemical-free pest control solutions today!
General Pest Control, News, Property Managers, Realtors
Realtors and Property Managers Trust Pro Pacific Pest Control
Pro Pacific Pest Control is a leading provider of service to residential customers throughout San Diego and southwest Riverside County, but we also specialize in servicing Realtors and Property Managers. Our technicians are specially trained and equipped to properly treat a wide variety of common pests as well as bee swarms and colonies. We can help you avoid expensive repeat problems with pests at your homes for sale, rentals, or other properties.
We Understand What You Need
Pro Pacific understands that when a bee problem occurs, you as a Realtor or Property Manager primarily are looking for a company who can respond quickly, in a professional manner, and take care of the problem. You want to be able to promise to your tenants that you are taking care of the problem and not have to worry about it anymore.
You can count on Pro Pacific to be your ace in the hole for problems with all kinds of common pests, as well as bee swarms and bee hives. We will take care of your tenant’s problem promptly and effectively. You can count on us!
Properties We Service
Pro Pacific has experience servicing the following types of managed properties:
- Apartment Complexes
- Rental Properties
- Office Buildings
- Commercial Complexes
- Town Houses
- Mobile Homes
Need Newsletter or Blog Content?
Many Realtors and Property Managers publish monthly or regular newsletter or blog updates to keep current clients informed and attract new clients. However, these professionals may have trouble finding the time or energy to devote to writing, editing, and publishing a newsletter, blog content, Facebook updates, and other social networking content.
At Pro Pacific, we can write and send directly to you compelling, up-to-date content about pest control, bees, and bee removal work that you can print in your newsletter or blog. Your clients will benefit from reading interesting content and you will have more time to devote to other tasks. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter content service, just call Pro Pacific at 800-PEST-CONTROL.
