Vaughn Pest Control

Snow fleas are really not fleas at all, but a type of insect called a springtail. Springtails get their name because they jump by means of a structure on their abdomen called a furculum. They are very small, about 1/16 inch long, and are usually dark with short antennae. They must be near moisture and some species prefer snow. However, snow fleas and other springtails can live outdoors in snow, soil, leaf litter, mosses, fungi, and in areas by pools, hot tubs, and overly well-irrigated lawns.

If you find springtails indoors, this often indicates that you have a moisture problem or plumbing leak. Their numbers can explode into large populations if left untreated.

They eat dead plant matter, bacteria, fungi, algae and pollen. (They do not feed upon the blood of mammals or other hosts like real fleas do.) In fact, they cause no harm, but their presence, often in great numbers, can be considered a nuisance by a homeowner.

During very cold winter days snow fleas are not very active, but if temperatures warm up, they will become active, hopping around on snow mounds and banks looking for food. They look like a fine black dust or pepper, against the white background of the snow.

Snow fleas are useful outdoors because they help break down old dead plant matter and other items in the ground. However, in large numbers they are not welcome, so, if you see a blooming population of snow fleas or springtails around moist areas of your home, give us a call.

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A resurgence of bedbugs across the U.S. has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate measures to eradicate the tenacious bloodsuckers, with some relying on dangerous outdoor pesticides and fly-by-night exterminators.

The problem has gotten so bad the Environmental Protection Agency warned this month against the indoor use of chemicals meant for the outside. The agency also warned of an increase in pest control companies and others making “unrealistic promises of effectiveness or low cost.”

Bedbugs, infesting U.S. households on a scale unseen in more than a half-century, have become largely resistant to common pesticides. As a result, some homeowners and exterminators are turning to more hazardous chemicals that can harm the central nervous system, irritate the skin and eyes or even cause cancer.

Ohio authorities, struggling against widespread infestations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and other cities, are pleading with EPA to approve the indoor use of the pesticide propoxur, which the agency considers a probable carcinogen and banned for in-home use in 2007. About 25 other states are supporting Ohio’s request for an emergency exemption.

EPA rejected the request in June. An agency spokesman, Dale Kemery, said the EPA has pledged to find new, potent chemicals to kill bedbugs, which can cause itchy, red bites that can become infected if scratched.

In the meantime, authorities around the country have blamed house fires on people misusing all sorts of highly flammable garden and lawn chemicals to fight bedbugs. Experts also warn that some hardware products — bug bombs, cedar oil and other natural oils — claim to be lethal but merely cause the bugs to scatter out of sight and hide in cracks in walls and floors.

In Cincinnati, an unlicensed applicator saturated an apartment complex in June with an agricultural pesticide typically used on golf courses. Seven tenants got sick and were treated at the hospital. The property was quarantined, and all tenants were forced to move. Authorities are pursuing criminal charges.

Bedbugs, a common household pest for centuries, all but vanished in the 1940s and ’50s with the widespread use of DDT. But DDT was banned in 1972 as too toxic to wildlife, especially birds. Since then, the bugs have developed resistance to chemicals that replaced DDT.

Also, exterminators have fewer weapons in their arsenal than they did just a few years ago because of a 1996 Clinton-era law that requires older pesticides to be re-evaluated based on more stringent health standards. The re-evaluations led to the restrictions on propoxur and other pesticides.

Though propoxur is still used in pet collars, it is banned for use in homes because of the risk of nausea, dizziness and blurred vision in children.

Critics in the pest control industry say the federal government is overreacting and that professional applicators can work with families to prevent children from being exposed to harmful levels of the chemical, which is more commonly used outside against roaches and crickets.

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Question:  For the last few months I have been spotting a bug that has two antennas on the front of its body and three on the rear.  It’s a shiny gray to silvery like color.  What is it and what harm does it do?

Answer:   What you are describing is probably Silverfish.  They do have antennae up front, but on the rear they are appendages resembling antennae.  These insects are sometimes called “Bristletails” due to those rear appendages.

Silverfish are harmless but they can do considerable damage to some of your personal items such as stored books, newspapers, photographs and even some clothing.  Leather, dried beef and flour are also food choices for Silverfish.

While sanitary conditions are desirable, that alone is not entirely effective in controlling them because they often reside between wall partitions, in insulation materials, in books and papers, among book shelves and in other protected places. Try to get rid of old stacks of newspapers, magazines and papers, and watch the above mentioned foods spilled and stored for long periods of time. Often reducing available water and lowering the home’s relative humidity with dehumidifiers and fans is helpful because Silverfish prefer moist conditions. Repair leaking plumbing and eliminate moisture around laundry areas. Lighting a dark, sheltered area may force these insects to move to new sites where they can be controlled more easily.

Once the infestation has been eliminated, sanitation will help prevent re-infestation and you will be able to “sit by the light of the silvery moon instead of in the sight of the Silverfish.”

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Yellow jackets can be serious outdoor pests during late summer and fall in many areas. By early fall these pesky critters seem to be everywhere, especially if there’s exposed food around. These wasps (yes, wasps, not bees) get more aggressive and dangerous later in the summer as well. The best approach is to avoid contact whenever possible. Be particularly cautious about disturbing nests late in the summer as they are fiercely defended.

It is not a good idea to try and take on these guys yourself, better leave it to a pro.

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Ants are the number one nuisance pest in the U.S., but none are more damaging and costly than the carpenter ant. With its penchant for nesting inside homes and compromising structural stability, Vaughn Pest Control is advising homeowners to be on the lookout for these summer visitors.

Carpenter ants are most common in cool, damp climates found in the northern U.S. They damage wood by creating tunnels to build nests. Carpenter ants primarily attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold, but will also nest inside dry, undamaged wood. There are nine types of carpenter ants throughout the U.S., usually measuring ¼ to ½ inch in length and are red, black or red and black in color.

The extent of damage caused by carpenter ants depends on the number of nests inside the structure and how long they’ve been active. Once homeowners confirm the presence of carpenter ants, it’s important to find and eliminate nests immediately.

Carpenter ant nests are usually found in wood that has been damaged as a result of leaks, such as window and door frames, crawlspaces under roofs, chimneys, sinks and bathtubs. Typically, there are no external signs of damage, but homeowners may notice wood fragments and sawdust that fall through cracks the ants have created.

We are advising homeowners to practice these steps to help prevent infestations:

• Seal cracks and crevices around the house.
• Trim tree branches and plants back from the house.
• Avoid having mulch up against the foundation, but rather nine inches back from the house with a stone barrier in between.
• Keep firewood stacked away from structures.
• Schedule regular inspections with a qualified pest professional if prone to ants.

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Please tune in to “TODAY” on NBC tomorrow morning, Thursday August 19, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. ET to see Missy Henriksen, the executive director of the Professional Pest Management Alliance, discuss bed bugs with host Matt Lauer.

Henriksen will discuss inspection techniques and provide viewers with tips on how to maintain vigilance as bed bug infestations are on the rise, especially in New York City. Watch tomorrow, live from the Plaza!

If you miss it, hopefully we can get a link to the segment and post it here or embed the video here. We are expecting this to be very educational.

**EDIT**
We were able to get the video and have posted it below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Beware of bed bugs when you travel! These 10 tips can help reduce the risk of hungry hitch hikers.

1. When checking into a hotel, inspect your room thoroughly for bed bugs. Make sure to look closely for them (or their signs such as blood spots) in or behind the headboard of the bed, on or behind the picture hanging above the bed board, or in the seams of the mattress and box springs. (Bed bugs feed upon human blood at night and leave obvious stains behind.)

2. Inspect the valet stand or luggage rack thoroughly around the fabric seams to see that there are no bed bugs. After passing your inspection, place your suitcase on the stand and keep it there the entire visit; don’t let the suitcase sit on the floor, bed, sofa or any other furniture in the room.

3. Move your bed away from the wall of the room, and do not let linens touch the floor.

4. Check the hangers and rack in the closet before hanging your clothes there.

5. Check nightstands and dresser drawers before placing personal items on or in these pieces of furniture.

6. If you should find bed bugs present immediately alert the hotel management that this is the case, and that you would like to be moved to another room. (Only by informing the management of the bed bugs can they begin to tackle their problem. Hotels are now very aware of this issue and will work with you to make and keep your stay pleasant.)

7. While waiting for transportation to the airport check the upholstery of the lobby seats for signs of bed bugs.

8. When on your plane or train heading home, check the seat, and any pillows or blankets handed to you for signs of bed bugs.

9. When you return home, unload your suitcase in the garage or out on the porch or patio. Make sure to inspect your luggage thoroughly (inside and out) for any signs of bed bug hitchhikers that may have come home with you.

10. If you should accidentally bring bed bugs home with you, contact us immediately to help rid your home of them. The sooner you make that call, the sooner your bed bugs will be gone. Early detection is key — infestations are much easier to tackle at the early end, before things get out of hand!

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