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Alberta |
q
1700 I have an infestation of bedbugs and have had a pest control
company come in but now they seem to be in my cloths even though I
washed every thing in hot water. What else can I do?! Joan, Victoria,
BC.
Because bedbugs can hide in the smallest crack and
hibernate for up to a year without food (a blood meal) they can be very
difficult to locate and eliminate. Most pest management professionals
expect it will take more than one service call to eliminate the problem.
You should wash your clothes again and store them in sealed plastic bags
until the bed bug problem is eliminated. See
How to get rid of bedbugs |
|
q1699 We have recently discovered that we have some black
carpenter ants in our attic. We have removed everything from the
attic and vacuum it every day with a 13 amps vacuum cleaner. Will this
process help. My husband and I would like to solve this problem
ourselves as we do not wish to go into any expense if we can avoid it.
your response to this matter will be very much appreciated.
Rashida. Scarborough, Ont. Vacuuming up ants
that leave their nests may reduce the problem slightly, but only about
5% of the nest population will ever leave the nest. Hiring a
professional now will likely cost much less than repairing the
structural damage carpenter ants can cause. Read more about
getting rid ofcarpenter
ants |
q1698 I live in a rental townhouse and we have a serious mice problem.
The rental agency hires a mice exterminator and he put some poison in
the kitchen cupboards and in the basement. It that all that can be done?
I filled the gaps in between the walls and piping with steel wool and
some expanding foam. When do mice problem become health hazard? (I have
a child with allergies and asthma). Who can I contact to get some help?
Mice carry a number of diseases and can always be
a health hazard, especially to crawling children. Poison must
attract rodents to work so it is not a good idea to put it where you
don't want the mice. It should be placed in bait stations in the
basement. Ask your landlord to make your living space mouse proof.
Steel wool around the pipes will help but there may be other entry
points. Read more about mice |
q
1697 As a new horse owner I am concerned about Blister beetle
poison but cannot find information that tells me if they are a problem
in my area. How can I find out where they are common in Ontario?
There are four species of blister bugs that can
cause serious problems for horses. This web page has pictures and
information:
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/RockfordCenter/newsletters/morrisonj/Issue6Vol5Article8.htm
According to the university of Florida one species
of blister bugs can be found in Quebec and Ontario. More information on
this web site:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/potato/striped_blister_beetle.htm |
q
1696 I recently used a dust pesticide to control carpenter ants in
my home. I am now reacting to the dust, skin rash, mouth and gums
swelling. I need to get rid of the dust that's airborne in my home. I
called a couple of professional home cleaning companies, but I would
like to do something quick, while I wait for them to come out and
provide an estimate. Any ideas?
DID YOU READ THE LABEL? Insecticide
dusts should never be applied where they can become airborne or come in
contact with humans or animals. You may be able to rent a vacuum
cleaners with a hepa filter but it is probably better to let a
professional do the job. Your reaction to the pesticide is
evidence that you should stay away from it. |
q
1695 Hello. I have a wasp nest in an outside wall. They've gotten
through a crack that I want to seal. I would like to get them out
without killing them and seal the hole. Is this possible. If I need
professional help will they have to be killed? How much will this cost.
Steve. London, Ontario.
The wasps will leave in the fall then you can seal
up the crack. If you seal it before they leave you may provide a food
source to attract other insects. |
q
1694 I have encountered similar situation as Q 439 (My question is
about Sow bugs. I have a lot in my basement and they keep coming at
night time. When i turn on the light they run everywhere and hide in the
carpet. I have seen them outside before too. Do u have any tips to get
rid of them, or have any kind of spray to kill them.). If this is not
Sow bug, then what could it be? Bee. Shanghai.
Sow bugs can not run fast and are not bothered by
light. Send a photo and we will try to identify. |
q
1693 I have something up in my unfinished 3rd floor. I have never
seen them, all I see is their droppings which are always in the same
spot and are the size of rice and black. My home is nearly new and
everything is tight, it's all brick with vinyl overhangs. The largest
hole is for the vents at about 0.125 inch in diameter. I have no leaks
in the roofing. I am thinking that they are Leeches because outside my
front door I have found the same droppings and know that they came from
Leeches because I have killed many in the area. Only thing, why would a
leech want to live in a dry & hot 3rd floor attic area and it doesn't
make sense. BTW I have put traps up there just in case it is a mouse but
the trap is never touched so I do not believe it is a mouse and it is
not Bats either. This is really puzzling me since I never see anything
up there. Wallace. Windsor, Ont.
Are you sure it's not bats? Your description
indicates that is the problem. Gather up some of the droppings and have
a professional that does bat control look at them. |
q
1692 I have a critter that digs up my lawn late at night. It digs
holes in the turf and uproots small patches of grass, leaving a mess.
This is not a rodent who digs tunnels. It's all just at the surface. I
know I have skunks in the neighborhood, and thought it might be one,
though I'm not sure. Amy. Portland
Skunks will pull up turf in search of grubs and
insects in the grass roots. Have a lawncare professional inspect the
lawn for harmful insects and treat if necessary. |
q
1691 I have Voles in my yard and have been fighting them for
almost two years. I have used Mouse traps with pieces of sliced tomatoes
in them and Have caught about ten that way. I have also used the sticky
plates used for mice and have caught about five that way. We have put
garlic down the holes and crushed them up we have also put sheets of
Bounty in the holes. They seem to move around and go next door once in a
while but always returning to my yard. The yard is about 13,000 sq. feet
long and the house is just two years old. I guess we have cut the heard
down by 18 but there are still some around I would like to get rid of
all of them. If anybody has the same experience with voles please let me
know. Troy. McDonald Pa.
|
q
1690 I have a lot of pill bugs that come up my sump pump in the
basement. I had sprayed my basement for spiders, so I find the pill bugs
dead all along the perimeter of the basement. I tried putting netting
over the sump pump opening and then putting the lid on top, but they
still seem to get through. What can I do to get rid of them? Thanks!
You will have to seal the sump with a proper lid
and caulking. Sow bugs seem to find damp locations no matter how
much we try to keep them outside. |
q
1689 i have a problem with farrow ants and i would like some
advise on how to get rid of them as i can not sleep properly knowing
they are here. they seem to have been here before i moved in . i have a
cat and they won't leave his food alone and i never had this problem
before moving here. any suggestions as i am fed up? thank you. jen
Oshawa, Ont.
Pharaoh ants are difficult to eliminate,
especially in a multiple residence building where tenants or building
staff have sprayed pesticides. This usually causes the nests to
bud (split up) and move to new locations.
Read more on the Pharaoh
Ant Page A professional can
provide a control program using a suitable bait. It may take months to
eliminate them entirely. |
q
1688 How do you get rid of pharo ants?
See the answer to the question above. |
q
1087 i have over 100 bats in my attic . how can i get ride of them
Kevin. Sterling Mass.
See the bat page for a solution |
q
1686 sub terranian termites is there a non chemical
solution, what about these borate based products (disodium octaborate
tetrahydrate for example) ? Robin
Borate based solutions are considered chemicals
and many are registered as a pesticides. There are a number of of
new products registered in the US for termite control that pose no risk
to humans or the environment when used according to label directions.
|
q
1085 For about two weeks now i've been seeing small holes in the
grass they, are as big as a 50 cent coin and about half an inch
deep.....now the holes are spreding more across the ground what could
this be?
Rita. Fort Worth, TX. |
q
1684 I have a couch out side and mice found a new home. how do I
get rid of them? so I can move the couch inside. Nylene
Turn it upside down, take off the cloth dust cover
and the mice will probably leave. |
Q1683 Just would like to
know when earwigs were first discovered on PEI and the best way to
control them with using natural products. Thanks. John.
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The earwig was recorded first in the United States
at Newport, Rhode Island in 1911 (Jones 1917). Jones (1917) reported a
small colony from Seattle, Washington in 1915. Later evidence indicated
that it first invaded North America somewhere on the west coast in the
early 1900s. Eventually it became widespread in the New England and
Middle Atlantic states and throughout most of the western states,
especially where there is abundant rainfall or irrigation to provide
moisture and food. It became the dominant species of earwig in most of
these areas.
|
Q1682 I see bees flying
out of a crack between the foundation of my garage and my driveway. I've
tried sprays, but can't seem to get the foam into the angle of the hole.
Do the bees fly away by fall? Could I seal the hole with some type of
sealant? Would that kill them and block the hole for future years.
Dotty. Ottawa, Ontario.
The nest will be dormant when the cold weather
arrives and the surviving queens will not go back to an old nest
in the spring. If they are a serious problem not, a pest professional
has the equipment and experience to inject a suitable product into the
nest to kill the occupants. |
Q1681 I have ground bees
in my lawn. What do they do and how can I get rid of them. They burrow
along my drive way and sidewalk. Will they sting? Joe Astute. Omaha, Ne.
If they are wild bees they are not very aggressive
and seldom sting. If they are wasps, they could be a serious
stinging problem. See the difference:
Wasps, Hornets and bees |
Q1680 In my tent as I was
cleaning to go home I found a small black snake with a yellow ring
around its neck. This was in a wooded area in the Gatineau hills in
August 2006. What is it??? Paul. Belleville, Ontario
|
Q1679 We have a minor
cockroach problem in our condo. The previous owners had the gel put
down, we've been hearing a lot about these "bug bombs" but have been
unable to find them for households in Canada, are they banned here? also
does boric acid really work for killing roaches? Leticia, Scarborough,
Ontario
There are too many health risks using bug bombs. I
doubt you will find any for sale in Canada. The best and safest
control method is using gel, but in small quantities frequently.
It has to be placed properly in the right locations. ( Bug bombs have
caused serious explosions that have destroyed homes.) |
Q1678 We had rats in our
basement. It took a few weeks to eliminate them with poison. How can we
eliminate the smell of their urine which soaked into the dirt floor?
Try spreading lime over the dirt. It is
often used for other mammal odors and pit toilets. |
Q1677
Could you
please advise me if bites from carpenter/wood ants are dangerous?
Regards, C. Hawkswell
No. Carpenter ants have very
strong mandibles capable of tearing slivers of wood out of a tree or
construction wood. These mandibles are capable of pinching tender skin,
but seldom enough to draw blood and they have no venom. |
Q1676 I know this site is
for Canadians, but something is eating my screens (which are suppose to
be bug proof ) and I don't know what it is or how to stop it. Do you
have any suggestions? Rhonda. Kansas
Rodents will
frequently chew holes in nylon screens. We are not aware of any
insects that could damage window screens. |
Q1675 What
is the best way to get rid of bedbugs? Sherri. Surrey, BC
See the suggestions on this web page:
Get rid of bedbugs,,
|
Q1674
Hello, I would like to know where I can get a cockroach gel in Canada. I
hear that they are very effective. The names of some of these gels are
Scuttle Cockroach Gel, Premise Cockroach Gel, and Max Force Bait Gel.
I'm hoping that there are some shops in Canada that sell these products.
Al. Scarborough, Ont.
How you use a pest control product is just as
important as what you use. Where to put it, how much, how often.
What other control measures should be taken? These questions can all be
answered by a pest professional in your area. They may sell you the
products and offer suggestions, but you may be better off hiring them to
do a good inspection, then suggest environmental modifications before
applying the gel.
Directory of Ontario
pest professionals.. |
Q1673 I
have a few bats in the attic. Other than exclusion, are there any
products you can buy that will make them leave and not come back?
Someone recently told me Camphor oil might work?
Very few repellants have a lasting effect on
animals. If your attic is constructed properly it should be
ventilated reducing the effect of any strong smelling product. Moth
balls are also used to repel bats and rodents but we are not aware of
any success as a result of their use.
Read more about bat control... |
Q1672 HOW
DO I GET RID OF BABY SKUNKS UNDER MY DECK AT THE CABIN?> Shelley.
Winnipeg.
Skunks are relatively easy to trap. The problem is
relocating them once they are in the trap. Most wildlife control
professionals cover the trap with a tarp.
Read more about skunk
control... |
Q1671 We
live in a semi-detached house. Raccoons are entering through a hole in
our neighbour's attic and have come through the wall and are now in our
attic above our bedroom. Our neighbour is of Asian decent and does not
speak a word of English. We are not sure what language he does speak.
His house is already in a state of disrepair, and I am not sure if he
even cares about the raccoon problem. Is there a branch of the City of
Toronto that will help us communicate with him and what if he refuses to
fix the hole?
Sorry we don't get involved with legal matters.
One solutions would be to screen off your portion of the attic and let
the raccoons cause problems in the neighbours portion. You could
also have a professional trap them in your attic.
Read more about raccoon control.. |
Q1670 is
shake-away any good to get rid of squirrels in walls of cottage? do you
sell it?
This web site does not sell anything!! We
are not familiar with "shake away". If you have squirrels in your
walls you should locate the entry points and screen them off. |
Q1669 How
do I get rid of lizards in my yard near my pond?
You may regret getting rid of them. Lizards
have a voracious appetite for insects. They can make a big
difference in the population of insect pests in your yard.
|
Q1668 I had
a major problem with moles burrowing throughout my lawn and I couldn't
walk but a few feet before I was stumbling on their tunnels which were
everywhere. I heard that if you spread powder detergent over the
infected area you can rid yourself of these cute little varmints. I did
this in the winter and again in the spring and the moles have left my
lawn. Because I didn't sprinkle the detergent in the back of my
property, they have congregated there. This fall I plan to do both the
front and back of my property and I'm willing to bet you the moles move
on to someone else's property, sorry. Who would have thought that such a
simple thing would work.
This sounds like an unusual solution but if it
works, keep it up. Let us know how you make out in the back yard. |
Q1677 I went away on holiday for 2 months a window was
left open and now i have pigeons and eggs how do i get rid of them
please help.
You could start by installing a screen on the
window. You can discard the eggs and close the window when the
pigeons are outside. Pretty simple ! |
Q1676 My Elm Tree has Ants and Hornets its killing
the tree how can I get rid of them and save my tree.
Ants and hornets do not normally kill trees.
They are probably foraging for other insects on the tree as a food
source. Have a closer look and try to find what insect they are
after then take appropriate action to eliminate that pest. |
Q1675 How do I get rid of fleas that are coming
from my drainpipes.
Fleas do not come from drainpipes unless there is
a food source (blood) available to them near the drain pipes. You
may have a rodents with fleas that are traveling along plumbing
pipes in your home. To control fleas see our
Fleas web page. |
Q1674 How can we get rid of lots of flying gnats
in our entire 4th floor office? The building has a wide open atrium from
the 1st floor. Also an exterminator has supposedly sprayed / cleaned all
the drains and pipes in the entire building but we still have tons of
gnats. Does the plug-in fly web fly trap really work?
Janet. Cambridge, Massachusetts
Electric fly lights can be quite effective but it
sounds like your situation would require quite a few. The lights
attract flying insects with a ultraviolet light. The lights contain
large glue boards to trap the insect. If there are numerous plants in
the atrium they should be checked as a breeding source for these flying
pests. |
| Q1673
Please Help: I live in the basement level of a triplex in
Toronto York-Weston. My home is infested. I have sent my cat away
to live elsewhere but soon I will have to move as well. Countless
tiny black bugs less than 1mm long are infesting my home and
attacking my feet and ankles and lower legs. They cannot be easily
squashed. They leap great distances but they do not fly. They
ignore ordinary bug repellant. I am going on my sixth maddening
week. At first they caused mild itching but this has since
escalated to burning and open sores. I have sprayed and powdered
several times following the instructions on the can or bottle and on
your website. I have used flea powder, RAID Indoor Green spray, and
Raid indoor crawling insect spray. I then vacuum thoroughly and
throw away the bag. I have shampooed the upholstery and vacuumed
the carpets. These products and procedures abate the attacks for
short periods but then they come back in larger numbers. It is
affecting my sleep, and my health and my job. I am presently out of
money, as I have spent almost 200 dollars on pesticides, vacuum
bags, and steam cleaning, so I cannot afford professional services
for the rest of this month. I need your advice or assistance as
soon as possible. Can you please recommend a source of professional
grade bug spray. Can you possibly exterminate on account? Also we
have recently discovered a serious and massive mold problem in my
daughters bedroom following a leak from a neighbours apartment.
Aside from the obvious health issues associated with mold spores,
could this be the cause of the pests? My landlord seems
unconcerned.
Richard, Toronto Ontario
Unfortunately this is a story we have heard many
times. A little bit of flea control over a period of time will
usually give the fleas an opportunity to start a new cycle.
You have probably spent more that it would cost to have a
professional do the job properly using an insect growth regulator
along with an adulticide. It's not just the chemical that matters.
Applying it properly in the right places is very important.
Your landlord should be helping you out. Mold is another
problem that your landlord should be concerned about.
|
Q1672 We have tones of what may be sowbugs/pillbugs
outside our basement door and flies. So if the door is opened a bunch of
flies come in. At our basement door there is a sump pump covered by a
tightly sealed hatch - which based on reading this website is the source
of the problem. Is there a way to minimize this problem - particularly
the flies? Are the flies eating the sowbugs which is attracting them to
this area or is this caused by something different? Suggestions welcome!
Cheryl. Vancouver, BC.
The flies may be there for the same reason the
sowbugs are there; plenty of moisture. They are not eating the sowbugs.
Depending on the species of fly, they may be breeding in the sump pump
cavity. During hot dry spells in the summer, many insects will seek out
sources of water. |
Q1671 Can I purchase clerid beetles to help prevent my
pines from attack of the Rocky mountain pine beetle?
Mary. Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
You may be able to locate a source by contacting
your state department of forestry (or the equivalent government agency)
They should encourage anyone who tries to help control these beetles.
|
Q1670 For some time now, I have had
a problem with a skunk on my apartment patio. I leave my patio door open
for air (no alternative) so I suppose it is sniffling about. But, the
smell wakes me (5 a.m.) and, when I stir, the skunk must get startled
and squirt. This morning it has been very bad. I am afraid the smell
will never leave the patio!
A screen door to your patio should keep it out.
To remove the smell try using the skunk odor solution recipe on the
skunks page. |
Q1669 Is
there a home remedy to get rid of fruit flies? Nancy. Kansas
City Missouri.
It is very important to eliminate the breeding
site of fruit flies. They multiply so rapidly that most control
solutions will not work unless you stop the breeding process. You
can construct a trap by placing a funnel (rolled from a sheet of
notebook paper) into a jar which is then baited with a few ounces of
cider vinegar. Place the jar trap(s) wherever fruit flies are seen. This
simple but effective trap will soon catch many adult flies which can
then be killed or released outdoors. Fruit flies are sometimes
mistaken for Phorid Flies. You can see the difference on this
fly identification page. |
Q1668 We
have dock spiders living within the floating dock at our cottage. We
simply avoid each other most of the time. They've taken to climbing into
our kayaks which is very unsettling. We plan to cover this dock with
outdoor carpet and wonder if this will help deter them from living at
our location? Marlene. Noelville, Ontario.
The carpet may reduce the number you see on top of
the dock but it will also provide more shelter and perhaps improve their
breeding environment. |
Q1667 my
neighbour and i have found small amounts of round debris seems to be
brick mortar and also wood mulch from the ground on our eastern exposed
stone window ledges. the whatever it is (we don't ever see it) seems to
be going in the vent hole in the vinyl windows. What can this be?
Any info would be helpful. Thanking You . Roslyne. Barrie, Ontario
The most likely cause is ants carrying the debris
up from ground level. Go out after sunset with a flashlight and
you may see them. Collect a few for identification. To
identify, see our
Ants web page. |
Q1666 I have
a family of beige/brown marked snakes residing in my fish pond. They lay
at the bottom (underwater) and sun themselves. I have seen our black
snakes (I think they are garters) but have never seen the pond ones
before - are they poisonous and do we have poisonous snakes on the
sunshine coast?
My fish are disappearing so are they eating my fish? If so, how do I get
rid of them - I'm terrified of snakes.
Karen. Madeira Park, BC.
We are not familiar with any poisonous snakes on
the coast of British Columbia. If you can get some good photos and
send them to the Vancouver aquarium, they should be able to identify the
species.
Vancouver aquarium
web site. |
Q1665 We
have purchased a property that is infested with red ants - we are told
that St. Andrew's is known for red ant problems. We have about an acre
of them. What can we do to eliminate the - we cannot even walk our
property this summer without getting stung. Andrya. St. Andrew's, New
Brunswick
See the answer to #1657. |
Q1664
HI, I'm not positive this is
the insect flying around in my backyard. Firstly, the flying insect is
black and about 1 1/2" to 2" long, and its wings are similar to a
dragonfly showing thin phosphorous blue wings. Most of the time from
6:00 pm to dusk two are flying around in circles trying to find a
opening in the concrete steps or under the house's siding in the back
yard. I filled all the holes and openings with wire wool so I don't see
any openings, but they have been persistent for the last 3 days. Are
these flying insects Carpenter Ants, if so, what can I do? Thanks for
your help.
Patricia
They are definitely not carpenter
ants. If you send a photo we may be able to identify them.
See "What is this pest"
|
Q1663 just
wondering i know someone that has cockroaches and i was just curious if
by going over to there house and walking around where they have been is
it possible that the eggs could stick to me and come home and hatch? Im
kinda scared here your help would be great thanks Hazel.
London, Ontario
Cockroaches lay their eggs in a sack. German
cockroaches carry this egg case around until the eggs hatch. Brown
banded cockroaches glue egg sacks in their hiding place. There is
very little chance that you could carry eggs home. |
Q1662 i have
black ants on my newly planted peach tree. i planted in in the spring
and already has about 5 peaches on it but found black ants on it what
can i do that is safe for my fruit tree. patricia.
The ants are likely foraging for other insects, or
honeydew produced by aphids. They should not harm the tree. If
there are aphids you should wash them off with a garden hose.
|
Q1661
I notice most questions regarding pill bugs relate to having them come
inside. My problem relates to them eating the leaves of my hostas and
actually killing the smaller new plants. The soil is just LOADED with
them everywhere I look. Is there anything I can put on the plants or in
the soil to kill them? I am just sick about the damage they are doing to
my flowers. Cindy
Pill bugs and sow bugs will produce more compost
than earth worms. They are beneficial in the soil but they will
eat very tender or decaying vegetation or very ripe fruit like
strawberries. Diatomaceous earth around the base of plants may
help. |
Q1660 We
bought some barn beams from someone dismantling an old barn and left
them outside on the ground over the winter and spring. Now that
they're installed in our kitchen, supporting the ceiling, we've
discovered bugs living in them and boring holes in them. They're not
winged and look sort of like little tanks. Any suggestions? The beams
have been installed for about two weeks. Do we have to fumigate the
house? Spray Raid into the holes? The house dates from the late 19th
century and has plenty more of these types of beams upstairs in the
ceilings. HELP. Thanks. Anne, South West Margaree, Nova Scotia
Spraying an insecticide into the holes would be
like closing the barn door after the horse has left. Powder post
beetle larva will tunnel through wood for up to 10 years then pupate
near the wood surface. The adult beetle then chews through the surface
to leave, mate, lay eggs and start the cycle over again. Stopping
this cycle may take years because the larva will keep tunneling toward
the surface to pupate. Beetles will not lay eggs on a smooth
painted finish. You could sand, fill and paint the beams, or have a
professional spray them periodically with a borate solution such as
"Tim-Bor". This may not eliminate the problem but it should reduce
the beetle population. See "Powder
Post Bettles" |
Q1659 how do i find and kill
ants we have may of them. Looks like carpenter ants. Louise.
Vancouver.
There is a lot of helpful information on our
carpenter ant pages. |
Q1658
Hi....I live in Kelowna BC and we
discovered an unusual spider's nest. Unfortunately we didn't get a
picture of them. Didn't realize what is was until we broke them open.
Inside a plywood trailer were two clay "nests" one with a small hole at
the bottom. One nest was about 2" long by 1" wide and the other was
about 3" long by 2" wide. When we broke open the clay we discovered
spiders inside. They were in in small compartments all in a row with
their legs straight back. The larger nest had a couple maggots?? or
egg sacks?? which were moving. The rest of the spiders were dead. It
was the most unusual thing we have ever seen. Any information you can
pass along would be great.
Mud dauber wasps make clay nests with a number of
side by side cells. After eggs are laid, a food source is placed
inside the cell for the future larva to feed on. The food could be a
dead spider.
More information
click photo to enlarge |
Q1657 Help! We have a large ant
hill on our child care center playground, and not so friendly ants! I
was hoping to find a natural/organic way of deterring or exterminating
them if necessary in view of our clientele and our licensing
restrictions regarding pesticides. Is there some great secret out there
- like using vinegar, dish detergent, etc.??? I really need to avoid the
expense of an exterminating service at this time, although as
professionals, I am sure they would have the answers. Your advice would
be greatly appreciated!!
Toni. Seattle Washington.
By avoiding the expense of a certified,
experienced, licensed and insured professional you may be risking a
lawsuit. Some "home remedies" may cause health problems for children.
It sounds like you have Thatching ants. Small colonies of
Thatching ants can sometimes be eliminated with baits. Often a
combination of bait types works best. Repeated bait applications are
usually needed to eliminate the colony. Boric acid and
diatomaceous earth are relatively safe pesticides if applied cautiously
and conservatively. These can also be applied to cracks and
crevices used by the ants as travel routes into problem areas.
Thatching ant nests can also be eliminated using spot treatments of
nests with residual insecticides registered for ant control. There is no
need to apply residual insecticides to large areas outdoors.
More information about ants
The Washington State Department of Ecology has control information on
this web site:
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/14/13177.pdf |
Q1656
I have found one mature bedbug in
My home following the visit of a person who I know lives in an infested
apartment. I would like to try treating the bedrooms myself before I
call in professional help. i would like to know where to get Champion
multipurpose insect and like killer which I understand with repeated
sprayings can solve what I hope is a minor problem. thanks. Alice
We are not familiar with Champion multipurpose
insect killer but if it is readily available over the counter it is not
likely a residual insecticide and would not work properly. Also:
if "bedbugs" are not listed on the label, it would be illegal to use it
to control bedbugs. Once again, it is more important to know how
and where to use pest control products than what to use.
Most professionals will tell you the most expensive bed bug service work
is usually in homes where residents have tried to eliminate the problem
themselves, resulting in the problem spreading to other areas.
|
Q1655 I have a small problem with a
pest. I'm not entirely sure that this is the pest that keeps on biting
me at night. But I have caught a few of them. My only problem is that i
have no way of identifying this bug. Would you be able to tell me where
i could go to find out what kind of a pest this is and whether or not
this is the one biting me at night? Anna. Toronto.
There are 1000 pest photos on "What
is this pest" pages. One of them should match your bug.
Also: check the photos on the bed
bugs pages. |
Q1654 I have a groundhog that
is under my two concrete stoops. He has dug a tunnel under the one and
has a nice home under my rear one. I want him gone and to fill in the
holes. What can I do? I am going to call pest control and see if they
will remove him. If not what else can I do. Please help. Bryan
Trapping is the best solution. If you can't
do it yourself, call a professional. |
Q1653 We are absolutely infested in
earwigs. We always have a problem but this year it is worse than ever.
My Husband has put out Diazinon spray and granules which we have had
left over from before they took it off the market. It is not doing any
good , he has also tried to use another insect product. Not sure what it
was but it came highly recommended and it did not work. We had some very
overgrown bushes in front of our house that we took out because they
were burrowed around the roots of them so we thought if we took them out
at the first of spring we would stop them. We are not the only people
with this problem. Everyone on the street is complaining. My daughter
had 3 of them in her bed and that is sickening. Please is there some
miracle home remedy that we can try? I have had enough!!!!!!! Please
HELP!!!!!!!! Thank you for your help. Lindy
It is always better to try methods that do not
require the use of pesticides. To discourage them from entering
your home, rake away mulch and leaves from the foundation. Try
trapping them in rolls of newspaper or traps make out of plastic tubs in
the ground. there are more practical suggestions on this web site:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/pests/2000072516006476.html |
Q1652 I have bats living under the
vinyl siding of my house - I know how they are getting in - a small
piece by the roof was installed incorrectly. I can fix that but I have
no desire to kill them by trapping them inside and I certainly don't
want dead bats under my siding either. I had the same problem a year or
so ago in another part of my house and I think I scared them away with a
powerwasher - however, that does not seem to be working this time. What
can I do to drive them out and keep them away so that I can fix the
siding? Please help - Thanks. Marc
They will likely leave every night at dusk to hunt
for food. |
Q1651 We recently moved into a new
home, in a new subdivision, very near Lake Ontario in Stoney Creek.
There are tons of spiders, and new spider webs appear every day even
though I knock them down. Some are huge. The spiders seem to have large
humps on them and the webs are quite sticky. I have been noticing black
spots on my my porch and railings which resemble black paint drops. It
wipes off the plastic railing easily, but is hard to get off the
concrete. Any ideas what this is and how can I discourage the spiders.
Thanks. Sue
Spiders eat insects. If there are large
numbers of spiders there must be a good food source for them. Try
to determine what insect they are preying on and eliminate them.
If you continue to remove the webs daily the spiders will be encouraged
to move. |
Q1650 We just got a new high school
and were doing an experiment to see what's the best way to get rid of
bees and wasps without using any pesticides or trying to kill them. I
really need your help. Please and Thank You! Monique
Wasp nests can be removed by placing a plastic bag
over it when they are all inside at night. This could be
dangerous. Talk to a local bee keeper about relocating a
colony. |
Q1649 We have a pest problem in our
sand box in the backyard. I was told that they are sand fleas. They fly
and bite us. There are hundreds flying close to the ground. I have a
four year old son and I would like to know a way to get rid of them. It
is a big sand box with a swing set it is impossible to move it. Is there
anything out there that can get rid or minimize them without harming my
sons health?. Justine, Sudbury, Ontario
|
Q1648 What kind of bug eats
insulation in an attic. I am inquiring for a friend and all I know is it
is a smaller size bug with wings. Thanks, Diane
We are not aware of any insect that eats
insulation. Carpenter ants will burrow through styrofoam
insulation making galleries for their nest. |
Q1647 How do I keep orb spiders off
my deck? My kids and I play there, and they make huge webs. I'm sure
they are eating something, and I have read they are not dangerous but
they are ugly and big. I just want them off my deck and patio furniture.
Help! Rejeanne. Calgary.
If you keep sweeping away or vacuuming the webs
they may get discouraged and try to find their prey in another location.
Try to determine what insect is attracting them and get rid of that
problem. |
Q1646 I am having a problem with
what I believe is predatory running mites in my bathroom. I have cleaned
and sprayed the room with raid but they keep coming back. How do I get
rid of them for good???? Angela. Edmonton.
Here is a web site that may help identify your
pest and control the problem.
http://whatsthatbug.com/mites.html . Check
you house plants for signs of these mites. Because they are in the
bathroom, your problem may be psocids. Check the photos on this
page: psocids |
Q1645 It is now May and we moved
here in November. Since the nice weather and windows open, all of a
sudden I have been getting what seems to be bites. They are itchy and
when first scratched they look sort of like hives, sometimes mosquito
bites (white circle and red all around) then they turn into a big red
swollen circle. One comes, goes away, then another one comes. I'm really
not sure if it is caused by insects. But, I have found apx. 6 what looks
to be carpet beetles in the last month. My question is do carpet beetles
bite?
Carpet beetles are not known to cause this
problem. You could have a bed bug problem. Check the photos
on this web page:
How to get rid of bedbugs. |
Q1644 I have a large infestation of
ants( the little black kind, they tend to bite when you stir up their
area) particularly in my front yard. The have doubled each year and are
now coming in to the basement.. Please how do I get rid of these??
Monica. Calgary
Different species of ants require different
control methods. Have the ants identified then you will be able to
find out whether bait or an insecticide spray is the corret control
method. One of the professionals in our directory should be able
to help you. Alberta
pest professionals. |
Q1643 I have something that is
burrowing from my front garden to under my concrete porch. We had a
problem with it last spring and thought we had solved it by blocking the
hole it had created with steel plates that we buried quite deep. After
that we didn't have any more holes in our garden or anywhere else that
we could see. This spring when I was cleaning up the garden, I took away
the steel plates thinking that the creature was gone and within a few
days I had a large hole in that exact same spot leading under my porch.
I don't want to trap it and I can't put any poisons in the garden as I
have young children. What else can I do to get rid of this thing? If I
had to guess what it was I'd say a mole, the hole is too large for a
mouse and too small for a rat or possum. Mary. Niagara
Falls.
If the hole is too large for a mouse it is likely
a rat. Traps or poison properly placed in a protective bait
station will prevent your children from being harmed. If you don't
have the knowledge to do this properly, call a professional.
Ontario pest professionals.
|
Q1642 We have a
federally-registered fish plant and are looking for a list of suppliers
and/or their electronic insect killers. The parts for the ones we
currently use are extremely pricey, and maybe that's just the way it is,
but we'd like to shop around a bit. We don't necessarily need someone to
service them i.e. we don't need a service, we want the equipment, but we
are having a hard time finding anything. Debbie
What type of devices do you have? The older
type that use ultraviolet light to attract flying insects and kills them
with a high voltage charge are not recommended in food processing areas.
There is a danger of insect parts falling into the food or processing
machinery. Most models on the market today use glue boards in the
light fixture to trap the pests. Ultraviolet lamps are expensive.
|
Q1642 I own a 4 unit income
property. I am curious about whether the tenant or landlord would be
responsible for taking care of an ant problem in a basement apartment.
The tenant does have a cat, so there is cat food on the floor which does
attract them. Shawn. Etobicoke, Ontario.
We do not give legal advice. Most landlords
are more concerned about maintaining their building and pest control is
part of maintenance. If the problem is carpenter ants the cat food
did not attract them but it may be a food source for an nest that is
present in the structure. If you spray pesticides you will be
responsible for any negative consequences. Pesticide use is not usually
covered by liability insurance. Call a professional.
|
Q1641 I found hundreds of red
spider mites on the window sill of my bay window. It's a very sunny and
warm location. There were a few on the outside of the window, but most
are inside. I vacuumed up most of them, but more continue to appear. How
do I get rid of them?
They may have migrated from an indoor plant.
Set outside and spray it with an insecticide soap. For more advice
talk to a garden shop. |
Q1640 I want to know how to get rid
of carpenter bees in my basement is there anything other than chemical I
can use to eliminate them thank you. muguette
You may want to investigate your problem a little
further as it seems unlikely that you have carpenter bees in your
basement, send a picture and/or more information on your problem.
Jay. |
Q1639 I have little
tiny ants around my kitchen sink and counter tops. Also around the
shower in the bathroom. Ant spray only kills what are already there.
What can I do? Marge.
Killing ants outside their nest seldom has an
effect on the colony. If you can not locate the nest you should
use a quality ant bait. A local pest professional may sell you some or
offer other advice depending on the species of ant. |
Q1638 This spring and last, as the
snow melts, we are finding tunnels all over our lawn caused by voles
during the winter. What can we do in the fall to prevent this from
happening in the winter, and also what is the proper way to repair it in
the spring. Thank you for any help. Nancy. Haliburton, Ontario
A continuous baiting or trapping program in late
summer and fall will reduce the population. Be sure to use proper
bait stations and protected traps. You should be able to re-seed
the trails in the grass. |
Q1637 We have a small bird who
seems to have made a nest well inside a vent for a fan from a second
floor bathroom. What should we do to get her to move out? Joan.
Halifax.
You will have to remove the vent cover and pull
out the nest using a long pole with a hook on the end. If you
leave it there it will clog the vent. |
Q1636 hi what type of bug or worm
would be eating my concrete foundation im finding tunnels through the
concrete I cant for the life of me figure it out thanks john.
We are not away of any insect that can chew through concrete. Rats
can chew through very poor crumbling concrete. |
Q1635 I have a mouse infestation
within my walls and have not yet determined how they get in. A US-site
has a plug-in product named "Dual Technology Electronic Repeller:
Ultrasonic & Electromagnetic" which claims to rid mice within walls.
Would this work? I really wish to use a no-kill method if at all
possible. Many thanks!! Lois. Pierrefonds, Quebec.
Electromagnetic devices are totally useless, in
fact the manufacturers should be charged with fraud. Ultrasonic
devices will only discourage rodents that are directly in front of the
sound waves which travel in straight lines like light waves.
Rodents have no problem finding "shadows' where there are no ultrasonic
waves. Live trapping and relocating mice can be cruel. They
are cannibals. They are territorial and may not survive when
moved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We bought a "humane" trap, caught a mouse, released it into the
garden, reset it and forgot to look again for a while. Yep, when we
finally remembered we looked again and we had another mouse, but this
one was dead. So we got ourselves an ultrasonic device and left
it in the kitchen on the worktop stupidly thinking we were protected. My
wife a few days ago noticed some shredded sponge under the sink and
reset the trap. This time we checked and sure enough we had another one,
which we released into the wild several miles away. So, we placed the
ultrasonic device actually into the under sink cupboard and reset the
trap. Couldn't believe it when just now the trap started banging again
as it rocked back and forth with its new occupant. It's sitting outside
in our garden right now, awaiting morning when it will join its brother
or cousin in the woods next to the canal. Can't believe we fell for the
marketing spiel. All these things do is waste electricity! John
UK |
Q1634 Re: ultrasonic pest control
devices--is it possible that the pest control professionals DO NOT want
the consumer to discover how EFFECTIVE the devices are because if the
consumer did discover how effective these devices were, the
professionals would be out of business? My wife refuses to come
back home because she saw a mouse. I need the ultrasonics to work to
save my marriage! Cynical in NYC.
If pest management professionals used these
devices, they would be considered incompetent and not properly informed
about rodents. If they were effective every professional would be
selling them and installing them where they would be most effective.
|
Q1633 i have two questions. the
first being, that i caught a mouse in a snap trap and killed it. my room
mate got rid of the carcass but left the trap. i re-baited the trap. a
new mouse showed a week later. it would not touch the trap or the other
two new traps i set. my question is can the mouse sense an old kill from
a used trap and there fore tell danger? my second question is can
mice climb door frames and the average wall? I've been told they can
climb anything. i have a over active phobia and am going crazy over
these creatures. thanks for your help.------bubba. Vancouver.
The smell of mice attracts other mice. Do not
clean traps that have caught mice. Mice can climb almost any
rough surface. |
Q1632 I've been living in my
apartment for two years with no problem of pests whatsoever. Recently my
boyfriend moved in with me and it's been about a month that he's been
there. About two weeks into living together, he's discovered a few
patches of red bumps on his arms and back that are very itchy. He's gone
to the doctor but they don't know what it is. My question, as we've
exhausted the doctor, is can bed bugs choose who they do and don't
bite??? I mean, can we be sleeping in the same bed and only he be
affected by them? I have no marks at all on me but he's got quite a few.
Please let me know!! Much appreciated!
Tasha. Edmonton
A small infestation of Bed bugs may feed only on
the nearest person to their hiding spots. Some people have no
reaction to bed bugs while others can have a severe reaction. |
Q1631 what is the best way to
remove the odor of a dead rat from your home?
Find and remove the dead rat. They often die
in a wall cavity where there is plumbing and sometimes under bath tubs.
If you cant find it, then purchase an odor absorbing product and
ventilate the area with a fan. |
Q1630 We have recently build a home
at a nearby lake and we are having a problem with woodpeckers. They have
pecked approx. 30 holes into the cedar siding. This happened last spring
and again this spring. They seemed to have chosen the same area on the
outside of the house. Our house is not finished inside ( no insulation
or drywall). We have tried plastic owls, hanging crows made of tar paper
and coat hangers and other strips of foil. no luck. Someone told us that
since our home is hollow the birds are pecking the siding this would
make a loud sound and ideal for a mating call. Help! Karen.
Vancouver
Woodpeckers use hollow trees to send out mating
calls in the spring. Your unfinished home is an ideal sounding
board. You may have to hang some fish net to temporarily
discourage them. Be aware woodpeckers will also make holes in the
siding of homes if they hear insects (carpenter ants) in the walls. |
Q1629 How can you tell the
difference between a male and female pill bug? This is for a school
project. Thank You. Jon.
On the underside, females have leaf-like growths
at base of some legs. These brood pouches hold developing eggs and
embryos. The first two appendages on the male abdomen are modified as
elongated copulatory organs. These characteristics are very difficult
for most people to see. |
Q1628 My friends who live in a
rural setting are being plagued with she thinks is a milk snake. It has
been right in her house. Is there anything at all that will prevent
this. She does not live near a farm. It is actually an old school house
without a basement, only a crawl space, It seems to come up through or
around pipes that go to the outside, ie..washing machine. Mary.
Ayton, Ontario.
Milk snakes are predators of small rodents and
other snakes. There is probably a mouse problem in the crawl space. The
best solution is to plug the entry holes with steel wool. |
Q1627 Is it possible for
cockroaches to make a home in articles of clothing that are hanging in a
closet? Is it likely? How do they get at book bindings?
Jimmy
It is not likely to find cockroaches in clothing.
If books are near a food source they may provide a hiding place. |
| Q1626 We have a backyard pool
that's become the sitz bath of some large mammal - raccoon or possum
probably. It wouldn't be as bad but it's chosen to poop on the steps IN
ou |
