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4596  I was treated 3 times. 7 days apart for bed bugs. They advised me that they used gas. I’m clueless as to what the gas they used is called. I simply want a name of this gas. Is that possible? Thanks!

We assume that you mean that a gas was used to fumigate. Fumigation is not a common treatment for bed bugs. The professional who did the treatment is obligated to inform you of what products were used and how they were applied if you request this information.   There is no way for us know what was used. Contact the pest control service that did the treatments. Read more about bed bug control here:  http://pestcontrolcanada.com/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs  

4594  Why do I get moles in my garden beds and how can I get rid of them? what are they seeking in the garden?

Moles eat a wide range of soil inhabiting soft-bodied creatures including some pests but they also consume large numbers of earthworms that are common in most gardens. Getting rid of them can be very frustrating.  There are a number of devices that are supposed to vibrate or make noises to repel moles but we are not aware of any that have proven effective.  The best method of control is trapping but is takes some skill and experience to do it successfully. The best solution is probably to hire a pest professional that specializes in mole control.  This almost always means that the mole dies,  but it is generally quicker and more humane than death resulting from an incorrectly set or dealt with lethal-trap you might buy in a garden centre.

4592  Can mice enter an air intake pipe to a furnace if the outside mesh screen is fine and not damaged?

Mice can enter any hole or crack big enough to get their skull through. (Smaller than a dime).  Look for any small gaps around the pipe and rub marks from their oily fur.

#  4586   Please help. I have tiny little insects in my kitchen cupboard. They are about 1-2mml in size and are black. I have disposed of all open foods and I have bleached the cupboards several times and used white vinegar. I have sealed all the joins and the chip board shelves (backs). They now seem to be appearing in new places nearby. It is driving me crazy. I have 2 young babies in the house and am worried about using chemicals when I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know what to do and I’m not sure why they are despite hours of Google searching. Please can anyone help me?

You could call a professional that will inspect, identify and treat the problem safely. Find a professional in our directory of professionals:  http://pestcontrolcanada.com/directory-of-professionals

or send us a photo for identification. http://pestcontrolcanada.com/send-us-your-photo-for-identification

Virtually all of reliable sources on bed bug control state that heat or steam treatments are the most effective method in controlling and eliminating bed bugs. Aside from the safety features of these methods they also destroy their eggs which can stay dormant for years and probably longer. Since bed bugs tend to be `homely` creatures, typically found within 2 meters of their victims, sleeping humans, why aren’t these methods promoted to a far greater degree, especially since they are superior to the employment of chemically based treatments like pesticides and insecticides?

While heat treatment is considered a good method of controlling bed bugs, it is not always 100% effective. When heat is applied bed bugs will try to escape through cracks and crevices or following plumbing and wiring to a cooler location in the building.  Most bugs and eggs in the heated area will be killed.  Once the rooms have cooled down, there is no residual effect to prevent a re-invasion. Many successful professionals use a combination of treatment methods to ensure an effect and long lasting control program.  Most important is a very thorough inspection to locate problem areas.  Beds are just one likely spot.  Thorough vacuuming can remove some live bugs and eggs.  Insecticide sprays will flush out some from hideouts that heat may not penetrate.  If residual pesticides are applied in appropriate locations before heat treatment, those attempting to escape will be affected.

Fumigation is not considered an effective method of control.

We have a cluster fly infestation on our ranch near Williams Lake B.C. Is Dragnet FT EC the best insecticide to use? If not what would you recommend ? Regards, GWN

Dragnet can only be purchased and applied by a licensed pest professional.  
To eliminate cluster flies, your should first understand their life cycle.  They breed outdoors in the summer and hibernate indoors in the winter.  Blocking off the entry points is the best solution but it can be very difficult caulking all the cracks and crevices around a building.  A pest professional could fog an attic in the fall but it may take more than one treatment and may not solve the problem. Read more about cluster flies:  http://pestcontrolcanada.com/flies/cluster-flies

How do you get rid of squirrels in the attic. 

You must find and block off all entry points the squirrels are using to access the attic.  You should also place traps outside near the entry points to prevent them from chewing their way in again. You should also cut back any tree branches that touch or are near the roof.  If this seems too difficult you could hire a professional that has the knowledge and experience to know the likely entry points and the materials to block them off.   Poison, noise makers and other devices are not recommended.   Read more about squirrels control here:  http://pestcontrolcanada.com/wildlife-control.

What product do you sell for springtails??
What would be the shipping to newfoundland??

We do not sell any products on this web site.  Please contact one of the advertisers on our suppliers directory page.

My daughter has moved into a newer home ( 3 yrs old) and has discovered the red flour beetle in her pantry and upstairs on the bedroom level – what is the best method to get rid of them? she has put all cereals and flour into sealed containers.

Pantry pest beetles lay eggs close to a food source. In a home they may lay them on the rims of dry food containers where they may fall into the food. It would probably be wise to dispose of all dry stored food and thoroughly clean the containers. The cupboards must also be cleaned paying careful attention to any cracks or gaps around the edge of shelves. You may have to spray an insecticide then after a day or two wipe away any residual pesticide before putting the food containers back.
Read more about panty pests.

4563

We recently had an exterminator spray our home for bed bugs. A few days after it was sprayed we noticed spots on some of the items in our home. Most of the spots that we have noticed are on things which are made of plastic such as the plastic border around our television, the plastic around our digital picture frame, the plastic case of our CD player and also spots on our DVD player. We have tried using a mild detergent and water and also Armour All, but none of these things removed the spots. It’s almost like the spots have set into the plastic. Do you have any ideas of anything else that we could try that might work? I would also like to know if nothing takes the spots away if the exterminator is liable? I would surely think that the exterminator would have some type of insurance to cover these situations. Our television is only about a year old and now it looks terrible with the spots all over it. Thank you.

Sorry we are not cleaning experts.   Contact the pest control company and ask exactly what product was sprayed.  Ask if they can provide you a copy of the label. Contact the product manufacturer for information about restoring the items with spots.  Most products used in pest control are mixed with water and have been tested for staining.  
Larry Cross   Webmanager@PestControlCanada.com

4561

In question 4081 you suggest that a book could be put in the microwave to kill “almost any living creature”. Question 97 suggests “a few minutes” or in the oven at 150 deg.  Is there not a danger that a book could burst into flames in the microwave? How long is “too long”? Presumably less time for smaller books? If in the oven – again, how long? Gabriola Island

Microwave ovens generate heat in liquids and moist items only. Any insects in a book would be heated enough to kill them without harming the book. One minute would probably be enough, depending on the moisture content in the book. The ignition point of paper is much higher than 150 degrees so a regular oven should not burn the book. If there are plastics in the book composition, they will melt. A microwave oven would be safer.

I have springtails all around my house since last summer! I found some in the basement to! Maybe they get in by the windows of the basement! I have crush stone on one side of the house and grass on the other! No water stay near the foundation and no exterminator have pesticide for that bug! What do you suggest me to do? Thanks for your help! Max .  Ottawa

Springtails are harmless scavengers, feeding mainly on decaying organic matter. Some species may damage plants by chewing on the roots and leaves of seedlings. Springtails rarely cause enough damage to plants to warrant control measures.  The key to managing springtails is to reduce moisture and excess organic matter in gardens, plant pots, and around building foundations. Also screen or caulk cracks that provide entryways for springtails into homes. Pesticides should not be necessary and won’t provide long-term control by themselves.

Hello. I have had a reoccurring sow bug problem for a couple years. Normally, I’ll find a dead one about once a day. But during some months, for weeks/months straight, I get about 30+ a day. I have cleared my yard of places they can hide, and I keep my oven on and room heaters on all day to dry them out. However, I still get a disturbing amount of the bugs. There is a well about 20 feet from my house. Can this be attracting them? Thank you.  Ben Merill Boston, MA

Sow bugs are a symptom of a much more serious problem in a building:  Too Much Moisture.  You should check for leaks in your roof and plumbing, poor ventilation in your attic and crawlspace, plugged rain gutters and downspouts, excess vegetation touching house,  soil levels too high around perimeter.    If you can’t find the cause, call a professional building inspector.