What Are Springtails?

What are springtails? Springtails manage to get their name because of the forked tail, at the end of their abdominal area which will be curved below their very own body. This helps these tiny pests to spring frontward kind of like a small flea, hence the name springtails.
Thanks to the tenacity of folks like Dr. Frans Janssens and his colleague, Dr. Kenneth A. Christiansen, the scientific community is beginning to recognize that springtails can pose a very real threat to human comfort when present in large numbers.
The two researchers collected scores of reports from homeowners, doctors, and pest control operators in several countries, including many regions of The United States.
Springtails are everywhere, and it’s not impossible for them to latch onto humans and animals.
They happen to be small, whitish-gray, or lightly shaded pests; around 1/32 to 1/8 inch in size and their antennae are actually long and they have a small unique head. They happen to be wingless insects and do not fly, and the females will raise offspring in clusters located in damp areas.
Springtails are actually scavengers, feasting on inactive vegetation, molds, algae and / or fungi, and they also would prefer to stay on the outside around leaf litter, under rotting wood or perhaps involved with fungi.
The more you water the lawn and apply fertilizer, the happier they’ll be. They are considered the most abundant arthropods on earth. Since prehistoric times, they have survived frigid winters and very hot summers, but their numbers decrease exponentially under dry conditions.
These kinds of insects pose zero threat to your house but they can become a nuisance whenever they end up getting inside your home. Springtails grow and are prosperous in moist foliage, soil, and plants along the side of the house foundation and even sidewalks.
You can also see them near floor drains, wet cellars and even crawl spaces. These particular insects will be small enough that they may access the structure around windows, small gaps not to mention cracks.
They’re going to normally enter the house because there nesting area outside happens to be free of moisture and they are generally hunting for moisture. You will uncover them near sweating plumbing, house flowers or vegetables, and around old and unwanted moldy household furniture.
The greatest control of springtails is going to be clear away their nesting environment by taking care of debris that has piled up around the home.
Clean up all debris near your house and get any logs on the ground in close proximity to the house up off the ground. Seal off every one of the tiny access points around the house that include; crevices as well as holes around water lines, utility cable, cable wires, gaps in the siding plus any open places around windows.
If it turns out cleaning up doesn’t take care of the issues, pesticides could very well be needed to control the springtails in places where significant amounts of insect pests have overpopulated.
Getting Rid Of Pantry Moths

Sometimes getting rid of pantry moths is a task that we forget, as long as there’s delicious food in the kitchen pantry.
Some foods which are commonly infested with pantry pests include cereals flour, baking mixes, cracked grains and processed foods, pasta, crackers, preserved meats, dried fruits, nuts, powdered milk, popcorn, and some kinds of spices.
Insects that feed on any one of these products could go so far as to infect other grain-based foods such as pet food or birdseed.
Dried flowers and ornamental corn and even dried flowers fall as targets for these pests.
The most common insects which infest stored foods are dermestid beetles, Indian meal moths, sawtooth grain beetles, flour beetles, cigarette and drugstore beetles, spider beetles, and weevils who infest grain, maize, and rice.
There are several stages of an insect’s life which may be detectable at the same time in infested products (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). Since houses are generally kept warm, insects may continue to reproduce in these infested products.
The first sign of being infested is often the occurrence of little brown beetles, worms, or perhaps moths in your cupboards or counters.
A thorough inspection of opened packages or food containers may also show the presence of these invaders. Even unopened packages can be infested with insects since they can easily chew into cardboard and foil packaging, or can be brought along when you unwittingly purchase an infested product.
If left to their own devices, they will multiply and spread to other foods.
If you suspect an infestation is present, you should locate the source immediately. The source of an infestation would typically be hard to find and may be located in nooks or crannies in your cupboard.
Consider the possibility of food spills and perform a thorough cleaning of the house, making sure to vacuum even the nooks and crannies and the corners of hard to reach furniture and appliances.
After inspecting and thorough cleaning, you should try to find which items you already have at present are infested.
These should be gotten rid of immediately, making sure not to overlook unopened boxes that can still harbor insects.
You can choose to throw away infested items or salvage them by throwing them into the fridge for three to four days to effectively kill whatever is inside the containers. Putting them in an oven at 140 degrees Fahrenheit will also do the trick.
Never employ the use of pesticides or insecticides as home pest control. Use non-toxic methods. The best is the home pest control method is to remove the infested items and vacuum the area thoroughly.
Be sure to store foods in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or heavy plastic. Storing foods in the freezer or refrigerator is also a perfect way to ensure efficient pest control.
Pigeon Problems

Pigeons are beautiful creatures and over the years they have inspired and spurred creativity in many ways. But, not everything is roses with these birds and can cause pigeon problems at home or any property.
They can become a major pest and health hazard if they are not controlled and taken care of in time.
To understand how pigeons or birds for that matter can become a health hazard to humans, we need to understand these two points: Birds can have diseases that they can transmit and they can also host parasites that have the diseases. In either case, it’s really easy to spread the diseases because birds can move around in a wide area during their life.
The most common way of transmitting these diseases is through their feces. Birds can easily contaminate human water or food supply like a food factory by simply defecating in it.
Another way they can transmit these diseases is for example this possibility: when pigeon’s feces contaminate soil that eventually dries, this leads to the microscopic pieces becoming airborne. When people breathe this contaminated air (with the microscopic particles in it) in, they can get an infection. I have seen this happening in a lot of apartment buildings.
Infections can also occur when people (whether in the residential or commercial property) have direct contact with bird droppings on a wound or a cut.
How To Handle Pigeon Problems
Knowing how pigeons transmit diseases is the first step. Now we can work on a few guidelines that can help in case of a pigeon infestation.
Pay attention to droppings and bird nests in closed areas like a garage, industrial areas, or apartment buildings. If you find a high amount of dropping you may have an issue, by the way, pigeons outside in your park don’t mean that you have an issue.
Now, if you own a restaurant and you notice the problem on your rooftop, that’s a real matter for concern.
While working on the issue, whether you have the help of a professional bird removal company or you are handling the problem yourself, it is highly recommended that you use a mask, goggles, and protective clothing. You don’t want to get sick yourself while taking care of the problem.
You need to disinfect the whole affected area. Removing the birds and cleaning it with water is not enough. You need to do a deep cleaning with detergent and antibacterial cleaners.
Other pigeon repellents include anti-roosting spikes and scarecrows. These scarecrows can take the form of owls, snakes, cats, or even people.
To be effective, these scarecrows need to appear alive and move either randomly or responsively.
Stainless steel pigeon spikes, wires, and bird repellent gels can be purchased online, however, it’s a good idea to save time and make sure your tools are installed effectively by enlisting the help of your local pest control experts.
Bird Pest Control

Birds as pests in today’s society not only pose a threat to health due to low quality of hygiene, but also a risk to a bad reputation in the working environment. With this in mind, it’s best to prevent these infectious invaders with bird pest control before they even have the chance to visit.
Nobody is a fan of unwanted visitors to their home or place of work. The most common invitation for these pesky critters is the lure of free food, whether it’s haute cuisine or moldy food, mice and rats will be attracted to your property if it is not properly disposed of.
Through ensuring both the interior and exterior of your home is clear from morsels of food waste, and kept in a hygienic state, is vital to keeping the pests at bay.
It’s not only the ground we need to look out for, pigeons and common sparrows are becoming major threats from the sky; causing structural damage and unhygienic conditions, sometimes even life-threatening illnesses.
Plaguing our towns and cities has become a normal occurrence for the common pigeon, with constant access to food and shelter they are breeding more than ever; causing more problems than the public realize.
As well as carrying serious diseases in the bird feces, urban birds are prone to nesting in awkward and inappropriate places.
Nesting patterns in city birds can cause havoc for building owners everywhere and corrosion can be caused through the alkaline properties in bird poo, as well as erosion from constant disturbance of an area.
With this in mind, building owners must be made aware of how to protect their property; trapping or exterminating can be used in removing the problem, whilst netting and deterrents can be used to keep them away.
As carriers to fatal diseases such as Salmonella, Histoplasmosis, Ornithonis, and Cryptococcosis, pests in our homes or businesses can be seriously damaging in different ways.
Bringing these diseases into areas such as kitchens can be particularly harmful, especially for outlets handling food; strict health regulations govern the management of the hygiene and the resulting effects of pests on business, any unhandled cases can cause an extremely bad reputation.
Unfortunately, once an infestation has taken hold, it can be extremely difficult to control; managing the cleanliness of a property before a problem can escalate can be the deciding factor on how badly a situation can turn and the aftermath of the invasion.
Because of this, it is advisable to contact a professional pest control organization, at any sign of an infestation.
Birds in general also create hazards for people and other animals as they are vectors of dangerous parasites and harmful bacteria which can give rise to different kinds of diseases.
Do some research and you will be able to find a suitable bird removal service. It is always better if you opt for a bird removal company that has years of experience and track record in this field.
Bird Abatement

The arrival of birds could cause problems to be sanitary hygienic potential carriers of pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses, and bird abatement should be planned.
Currently, there are well-defined mechanisms to address the problems caused by insects and rodents in facilities where food is stored or processed.
Even the methods for the protection of the growing areas have experienced significant advances, allowing largely mitigate the detrimental effects they cause in crop pests.
However, there are still difficulties to achieve the same effectiveness in controlling other pests affecting the food industry: poultry pests.
It depends on individual situations, the species to control, the number of individuals and their link to the place we want to protect. Therefore, before choosing any of the methods available, it is advisable to consult an expert to tell us what might be effective in each case, in order to use our time and money on those who actually have a chance of success.
In this sense, it is important to note that many wild birds are carriers of pathogenic microorganisms, especially bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli.
In these circumstances, the risk of transmission of pathogens is high, especially if the birds have access to storage areas of raw materials or finished products.
How To Limit Access To The Birds
Bird pest control depends on each particular situation, to control the species and its relationship to the scene to protect the main difficulty posed by birds to control is its ability to fly.
Its high mobility, coupled with legal restrictions regarding the use of poisons, requires the use of pigeon bird control methods that have varying degrees of success, depending on each case. In any case, a wide variety of solutions that can be used in accordance with the facility to protect or preserve.
These solutions include, first, those that sought to prevent access from birds to protect places of interest. And, mesh networks are often very effective around specific areas or covering the gaps through which the birds enter buildings.
Its main disadvantage is that trap leaves, pollen, and other materials and can become a heap of dirt. As a complement, can be used spikes, which prevent the birds from alighting on specific points, but ultimately also accumulate dirt and nesting birds can reach him.
Steel cables also prevent the birds are landing, but it loosens with time and loses effectiveness.
The counterpoint to the aforementioned devices is electrified systems. In general, are very effective, as they cause electric shock when the bird perches. But its cost, both installation, and maintenance are higher than previous methods.
Another way to limit access to the birds is through the use of repellent methods. These include gels and liquids. The first litter too and they adhere elements carried by the wind as pollen, leaves, or insects.
A second possibility is an ultrasound. Disturb the birds but runs the risk that they become accustomed and to lose all effectiveness.
Bird Dropping Removal Service

Bird droppings affect multiple aspects of businesses and they tend to seriously degrade roofing materials. That said, many companies opt for a bird dropping removal service.
The acidic nature of the droppings was not the only problem. Pigeons, who eat gravel, would defecate on the roof and their fecal matter would clog the drains creating an even bigger problem: germination.
The high nitrogen content of the droppings offered a great environment for seeds to grow at an accelerated rate in the drainage system. Once droppings dry, it is a race to get them off the surface to avoid degradation of the mostly-organic roofing materials.
Bird droppings on asphalt and pressed wood fiber, found in roofing materials, can mildew.
Birds carry over sixty diseases, a few of which can be lethal. Mix the fecal matter with pools of water and the disease becomes airborne, filtrating through ventilation systems, being breathed in by employees and patrons, and causing quite a mess for a company.
Another big mess? The liability factor. Some species can produce up to 1.5 pounds of fecal matter a day. Slip-and-fall incidents are all too common these days. Unassuming passersby can stir up a stink.
In desperate hopes of preventing these potential disasters, many people use methods that are harmful and not all that effective. For the cost and labor, it was not worth the expense since the birds returned.
Lethal methods may solve the problem in the short-term, but remember that killing the birds only eliminates the ones that are presently roosting.
Disrupting The Pattern
A good start is ultrasonic sound devices. They deliver ultra high-frequency sound waves that are beyond the normal human hearing threshold. The sound annoys the birds, discouraging them from inhabiting areas in earshot.
The odor and mess the pigeons caused were disrupting the progress and bothering the workers.
Putting spikes anywhere attractive to the birds, like wires and beams, will prevent them from roosting. The spikes provide an uneven surface, making it inconvenient for birds to set up shop. There are also gels that are safe to apply to all surfaces. The gel makes the surface sticky, forcing the birds elsewhere.
Scare Tactics
Visual scares are another way to get rid of birds. Unfortunately, many people are using the wrong products, or are using the right products incorrectly, deeming them ineffective.
Bird-scare balloons with holographic eyes can move with the wind and create the illusion of the birds being followed. Over time, effectiveness can be boosted by moving these balloons around the property.
Sonic noisemakers blend in with the environment, which is not annoying to patrons and can scare the birds away.
Correct bird control can save your company thousands, maybe even millions, of dollars in clean-up costs, labor, and lawsuits.
Using any of these methods on their own will definitely send the birds a message, but using them in conjunction with other effective products is bound to make your site bird free for life.
Pigeon Pest Control

Fortunately, there are several ways of pigeon pest control that are both effective and humane.
Pigeons are stout-bodied birds that are pale gray in color, with black bars on each wing. When people talk about “pigeons,” they are most commonly referring to the feral Rock Pigeon, which is the species most commonly found in urban areas.
These birds are about 12 to 14 inches long, with a wingspan between 25 to 28 inches. They are quite a nuisance and will feed on many different readily available foods, like seeds, fruits, plants, and discarded food. Pigeons are effective scavengers and will go to wherever the food is.
Pigeons generally build nests on top of roofs, in gutters, on external ledges, or even in external air conditioners. They also prefer to nest together in abandoned buildings, on walls, or on statues. These birds will stay in one place for as long as the food supply holds out.
Pigeons are considered pests as they can cause damage to buildings and carry disease. They have been shown to carry the Avian Flu, as well as several different kinds of parasites.
Should pigeons begin to roost in your area, there are several strategies that can show homeowners how to get rid of pigeons. When dealing with any pest, the first step is always prevention. Homeowners should seal off potential nesting sites with screens or fillers.
Homeowners can also use chemical pigeon repellents. Some of these chemicals simply make the perch uncomfortable for the birds to sit on or cause pain to the feet.
Other chemicals may not simply repel pigeons, but will instead kill them. Avitrol is one chemical commonly used to eliminate pigeons, although it is indiscriminate and will kill other birds or animals that come in contact with it. It may unintentionally harm pets or even children.
However, the chemical is rather ineffective anyway. Although the pigeon population will initially decrease, it will quickly come back, as these birds breed rapidly.
The most effective way to get rid of pigeons is to reduce the food supply. Some cities also use avian contraceptives, which control the pigeon population by decreasing the viability of the egg.
Why Do I Need Bird Proofing And Pigeon Deterrents?
The majority of us who live in cities and large towns across Arizona will know that pigeons can be a nuisance. Their fouling has been known to cause damage and deface buildings making them look dirty and shabby.
This is why bird proofing and pigeon deterrents are essential tools.
Their nests are often hidden in and around large cities and can harbor insects and mites which often migrate from the nest to other parts of the building. Birds’ nests can be the initial source of many of the insect problems experienced in and around cities.
These include obvious insect pests such as pigeon fleas and mites and can also include carpet beetles, case bearing clothes moths, biscuit beetles, and flies.
It would be a great idea to contact your local pest control. All well established high-quality pest control services offer a free survey, assessing the scale of your problem and the possible methods available.
Bird Removal

Why Get Rid Of Birds At All?
Pigeons and other birds are causing extensive damage to buildings. Bird droppings are an ideal breeding ground for various molds and can dissolve even calcareous stone, which is why a professional bird removal service is conducted.
When water freezes in these fine voids it causes frost shattering damage. The ammonia that is found in pigeon droppings can ruin sandstone, stucco, anodized metal surfaces and even asphalt.
Birds also transmit diseases (food poisoning, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis, etc.). They also spread ticks, fleas and bird mites. Cryptococcus neoformans – a fungus particularly dangerous to people with weakened immune – grows particularly well in bird droppings.
Pest birds are mostly found in places like all crops and gardens, Airports, Aquaculture, boats and marinas, Bowling greens, golf courses, etc.
Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, grain silos, mining, solar pool heating, timber window frames, and windows.
Bird spikes are some of the devices designed to keep them from perching on the edges, parapets, pipes, beams, cutouts, and ledges of building structures. it is easy to set up and are available in many dimensions.
Why do the birds come straight to my house?
Bird find your house interesting for two reasons:
- Food: The birds find a specific area to be most promising in the search of food.
- Reproduction: The birds use the area for nesting, especially if it is protected from weather and predators.
How Dangerous Are Bird Droppings?
Pigeon droppings, because of its exposure to bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Exposure over the air, on the skin, or otherwise can lead to infections or parasitic infestations in humans. The removal of pigeon droppings and disinfection should therefore only be performed by a professional.
Some Methods To Get Rid Of Birds
- Spikes that are made either out of stainless steel or plastic. There are different versions for different birds and applications.
- Ultrasound devices that use sound pressure, which is released permanently.
- Electrical systems where the bird gets in contact an unpleasant but harmless electrical impulse, which it distributes without habituation.
- Current pulse systems operate on the electric fence principle.
- Electrical systems are among the most effective methods of defense.
Bird Control Solutions For Pools
Pools are especially attractive to birds in warmer regions for water consumption or bathing.
Not only does the pool water get dirty, but even the pool edges are often heavily marked. Some solutions for that problem are canopies, slat blinds, and covers, floating films, and safety nets which also protect your pool from other wildlife.
What Can I Do About Protected Birds?
If the birds are under special protection, they may not be fought directly. Therefore preventive measures must be taken to prevent colonization.
What To Do After We Get Rid Of Birds?
After you get rid of birds, you should perform disinfection with chemical and thermal means to prevent the colonization of undesirable or even disease-causing microorganisms, bacteria, and parasites. Disinfection should only be performed by licensed contractors.
Firebrat Bite

Often, people are not sure whether they have a firebrat or silverfish bug infestation.
An infestation of the firebrat is as bad as the silverfish bug. Understanding the difference between the two can be helpful in an effort to get rid of firebrats or silverfish. How do firebrats look? Does a firebrat bite? What do silverfish look like?
If you have equipment or machinery at home that generates heat, your place can be prone to firebrat infestations.
Places that are humid can also cause firebrat problems since they thrive in these areas. Firebrats are actually nearly related to silverfish because they move and behave in the same manner and like to eat starch, sugar, and protein-rich foods.
They also chew on paper and fabrics. What sets them apart though is the love of firebrats for heat. They are most active during the night as they are considered to be nocturnal creatures. To identify a firebrat, take a closer look at it and note that a firebrat is stouter in appearance, more like a silverfish that’s obese.
Silverfish appear to be more slender. Firebrats are somewhat silvery in color but may appear mottled with small areas of light and dark scales. Firebrats can be difficult to manage. In getting rid of them, your efforts must be concentrated on those areas that are warm.
Possible places include attics, crawl spaces, boiler rooms, voids that are behind electrical outlets, and basements.
These are commonly asked questions. Both bugs are known for their fast dashes to hiding places and quick movements. There are close similarities but these two bugs do have some big differences.
Color Difference
Firebrats have a shiny appearance with a grayish-brown color. The silverfish is shiny with a silvery color. The silverfish bug is definitely more silver looking.
Size Difference
The firebrat is smaller than the silverfish. It is an average size of approximately 1/2 inch in length. The silverfish bug is larger normally 1/2 to 1 inch in length.
Habitat Differences
Firebrats favor a hot environment. They thrive in temperatures at 90 degrees or higher. This knowledge is important in finding their hiding places.
Locating high areas of heat makes it easier to remove them. Firebrats are commonly found near hot water heater pipes, dishwashers, ovens, furnaces, and fireplaces. You may even want to check the insulation around hot pipes.
Cold temperatures below 31 degrees can be deadly to firebrats and their eggs. Silverfish prefer cooler damp areas and may be found almost anywhere in the home. Preferred silverfish temperature is in the 70 – 80-degree range with high humidity.
In some climates attics can become very hot and an ideal location for firebrats. Silverfish bugs can be any place in the home. They especially like damp basements. Both insects lay their eggs in cracks and small openings in your home.
Firebrat and Silverfish Diet
Firebrat bugs and silverfish have very similar diets They also produce the same type of damage in the home. Although they both eat clothing, firebrats seem to consume rayon more aggressively than silverfish bugs. The firebrat bug diet and the silverfish diet consist mostly of carbohydrates and protein. They also eat other dead or injured insects.
Iron Cross Blister Beetle

The Iron Cross Blister Beetle is a soft-bodied, slender-legged insect of medium or large size, with broadheads and narrow thoraxes, and are usually slender in form.
They vary in colors from gray, black, or brown to bright metallic shades of red, blue, green, or yellow. All of them are vegetable feeders in the adult stage, their food consisting of the leaves, flower petals, or pollen of various species of plants.
Our most common and destructive species in the East, belonging to the genus Epicauta, does considerable damage in our gardens.
They are remarkable on account of the greater number of changes that they undergo during their life compared to the usual metamorphosis of most beetles.
Other Types Of Beetles
A yellow and black-striped form is known as the “old-fashioned potato beetle.” The “margined blister beetle,” is also known to attack potatoes, and completely defoliates the plants in certain areas.
They also feed on the foliage of beets, tomatoes, and especially clematis. This species is grayish-black in color, always with the margins of the wing covers gray. It measures about five-eighths of an inch in length.
One of our most common species is the black blister beetle that occurs very commonly on goldenrod. But all this has nothing to do with the name “blister beetle,” which was given to it on account of its peculiar physiological properties.
A substance called “cantharidin” is found to a greater or less extent in the bodies of nearly all members of the family. This substance when applied to the skin causes an inflammatory or blistering effect.
To utilize this property the beetles are dried and pulverized, and the powder thus obtained is made use of in medicine. The beetles in general use for this purpose come from Spain and other European countries, and are known under the name of “Spanish fly.”
Returning to the remarkable life history, we find that the adult females deposit large numbers of eggs on the ground or on plants, depending on the species of blister beetles concerned.
These eggs hatch into very long-legged larvae that run about in search of food. Some of these active youngsters find the eggs of grasshoppers upon which they feed.
According to statistics, however, even this habit is of questionable value, as they also destroy other more valuable parasites of the grasshopper eggs.
Here the young blister beetle after stealing the ride, makes itself at home in the bee’s nest, and proceeds to devour the bee eggs and larvae, and finally the accumulated stores that were provided for the young bees.
Cucumbers, melons, and squash are three of the many plants that the will go after if you do not take care of them early enough. They are only about a 2 cm size, but they can wreak a tremendous amount of havoc on your home vegetable garden.