Mid-Georgia Pest Control

Termite Damage-Greatest Risk to Your Home!

2012-03-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Did you know that termites cause over $5 billion in damage in the United States each year? Your home has a greater risk of being damaged by termites than fire, flood, or wind!

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

Here is some basic information on termite damage and what to look for:


photo courtesy of termiteweb.com

Subterranean termites have colonies underground in loose, damp soil. They build mud tunnels to reach food sources above ground. These are usually seen near the foundation of infested homes, but they can also make their way up support piers and floor joists.

photo courtesy of acepestmanagement.com

photo courtesy of termitesgonewild.com

Mud tubes are about the size (diameter) of a pencil, but can also be thicker. Termites use these tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground nest and the structure, or food source.


photo courtesy of old.termiguardusa.com

Termites primarily feed on wood, but they can also damage paper, books, cardboard boxes, and insulation. These small pests are capable of compromising the strength and safety of a structure to the point that it becomes unlivable! Unfortunately, damage may not become noticeable until an infestation is full-blown. An infestation may go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, and insulation. Serious damage can sometimes take three to eight years to become apparent. Picture a basic 2" x 4" board. It takes a colony of 60,000 worker termites around five months to consume one foot of that board.


photo courtesy of brothersexterminating.org

Damage caused by termites can sometimes appear similar to water damage such as buckling wood or swollen floors and ceilings. There may also be a mildew or mold scent present.


photo courtesy of termites.com

Termite damaged wood is usually hollowed out along the grain, with bits of dried mud or soil lining the feeding galleries. Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be an indication of termites tunneling underneath. Other signs of termite damage include wood that sounds "hollow" when it is tapped and soft wood that is easily probed with a knife or screwdriver.
There is no way to know the age of recently discovered damage without a known reference point of time that no damage was present. It is very important to have annual termite inspections to help reveal conditions that might suggest damage exist. Mid-Georgia Pest Control would love to serve you and help protect you home. Call us today at 770-962-4240!


photo courtesy of uark.edu

Swarms of termites!

2012-03-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

photo from cals.ncsu.edu

When a termite colony reaches maturity, they will produce male and female reproductive "swarmers." These are the young king and queens that leave the colony to start a new one. Termite swarmers will emerge when the outside weather conditions are right. This is generally on a warm, moist day, most often from early spring to summer. Swarms will often take place after a rain storm.
Termite swarmers have wings to help them make their journey to a new home. However, they do not fly well and use the wind to carry them. They will also try to fly towards a light source. Indoors, they are commonly seen on window sills or around doors. Once they land, termite swarmers will break off their wings, pair off to mate, and look for a place to begin a new colony.

photo from ardentermite.com

Seeing a swarm of termites outside your home or on trees near your home may not be a reason for alarm. Swarmer termites do not cause damage to your home. However, seeing them inside, especially if you are seeing more then a couple, is a likely indication a colony is present in or near your home. The worker termites, the offspring of the new king and queen, are the ones that eat and destroy the wood in and around your home. If you think you are seeing termites in your home, call Mid-Georgia today for an inspection at 770-962-4240.
Termite swarmers can often be confused with flying ants. For more information on determining the differences, check out the previous blog, Termite vs. Ants!

photo from termites.com

Termite vs. Ant

2012-02-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

Termite season is among us. Do you know what they look like? Termites are often confused with ants, so here’s a quick course in the differences to help you determine which pest you have.

Termites have rectangular shaped bodies with no constrictions.

Ants have a narrow, constricted waist.

Termites have straight, beaded antennae.

Ants have bent antennae.

When wings are present, termites have wings of equal length.

Winged ants will have a shorter hind wing and longer front wing.

Termites are generally light in color.

Ants are usually dark in color.

Termites only eat wood, including paper products.

Ants will eat just about anything!

Roly Poly Fun!

2012-02-23T16:07:00.000-05:00


Photo of a pillbug by Joe Buckingham at photographicdictionary.com

This morning I was trying to get some cleaning done which included picking up tiny legos on the floor before they got sucked up in the vaccuum never to be seen again! Then I noticed a small dark thing on the floor that wasn't a lego at all. It was a roly poly, which my 3 year old and I then preceded to play with for a few minutes. I decided to learn more about them, and here are some of the interesting facts I learned:

Roly Polies, also called pill bugs and potato bugs, are in the Armadillidiidae family of woodlice. Despite the names we call them, they are not bugs at all. They are crustaceans, more closely related to shrimp than insects. Like their sea cousins, they use gills to breathe. Although they need moist environments to breathe, they cannot survive being fully submerged in water.

Pill bugs roll themselves into a ball through a process called conglobation. This little trick is where most of it's names come from. This rolling action is a key defense against predators and may be triggered by stimuli like vibrations or pressure. I barely touched our roly poly friend and he curled right up. As he unrolled, he was lying on his back, and my little boy said, "Ew, it's legs are spikey!" After seeing the little legs wiggle in the air my son was ready to move on to the next fun thing that did not involve "bugs."

Pill bugs are decomposers. They digest material from dead plants and animals and waste products (including their own-yes, they eat their own poop) and return essential nutrients back into the soil. They are often found in decaying organic matter and in gardens.

Like a kangaroo, a mother pill bug carries her young in a pouch under her belly.

Pill bugs can contract viral infections causing them to look bright blue or purple.

Because of hemocyanin in the blood which contains copper ions, their blood appears blue.

photo from wikipedia.org

Amazing Bugs You Probably Didn't Know Exist!

2012-02-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

Take a few minutes to check out this youtube video. Whether you like bugs or not, you will be amazed at some of the images in this video!

We want to hear from you!

2012-02-16T14:16:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already, go to www.facebook.com/midgapestcontrol and "like" us. Then post any bug questions, comments, topics you'd like to see covered on the blog, or crazy bug stories of your own! We'd love to hear them. See something interesting around your house? Take a picture and post it on our facebook page. Not sure what something is? Let us help you identify it. Help us make this blog fun and informative!

Love among bugs!

2012-02-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

It's the season of love with Valentine's cards and gifts everywhere you go. So, here are some interesting facts about mating among insects:

-Courtship rituals among mating insects include serenades, dances, physical touch, chemical aphrodisiacs, and gifts.

-Male balloon flies present a female with a small, balloon shaped cocoon as a gift. Sounds sweet, right? The reason they do this is because the female will eat the male if given a chance, and unwrapping the gift keeps the female distracted long enough for the male to love her and leave.

-The male gypsy moth can smell the female from 1.8 miles away!

-The female praying mantis initiates mating by ripping the male's head off (ouch!).

-Male crickets chirp to attract a female mate.

-Mosquitoes sing duets with each other.

-A female firefly flickers her light in a specific way to let passing males know her species, her sex, and that she is interested in mating.

-Male mealworm beetles apply anti-aphrodisiac pheromones to the female after mating to make her less desirable to other males.

image from Lawrence Wee on free-stockphotos.com

Eavesdropping Spiders

2012-02-06T13:55:00.000-05:00

wolf spider observing video playback of male courtship (credit: George Uetz)

So did you ever try to outdo potential competition when it came to winning the heart of that special someone? According to a recent article on sciencedaily.com, a study has been done to show how male wolf spiders use eavesdropping during mating to match or even one-up the visual signals of their rivals. This type of behavior is common among humans and other animals, but it has only been seen in vertebrates until now. This new revelation among spiders shows us they may be more complex and intelligent than we realized.

In this study, male wolf spiders were collected from the wild, placed in a lab with a video of a "virtual" male spider that was sending out courtship signals, and observed. The signals include a leg-tapping mating dance. The researchers found that experience matters. This behavior was first noticed in the wild during mating season. Previous studies on lab-raised spiders, however, were inconclusive, leading them to believe the spiders in this study had been exposed to these courtship traits previously in nature. The spiders reacted as though their "virtual rival" was courting a nearby female.

Ants Take Flight!

2012-02-03T10:25:00.000-05:00

Ants are divided into three castes: workers, males, and queens. The ants that people see looking for food are the worker ants. These are sterile, wingless females. The males and queens are the reproductive members of an ant colony.
Queens are the largest members of the colony. They have wings, but they lose them after mating and finding a new place to build a colony. Males also have wings, and their sole purpose is to mate with new queens. They will die shortly after mating.
Males and queens will usually mate mid to late spring or summer by swarming, or flying, from their nests. Occasionally swarms will emerge during late winter on warm, sunny days. Swarming typically only lasts for one day, and colonies in the same area will swarm at the same time.

photo by Sharon Warner (bugguide.net)

Ants nest in a variety of places. Some build their homes in soil, producing characteristic mounds. Others may nest in decaying or moisture damaged wood. Ants can also be found building nests indoors behind mouldings, baseboards, or countertops.
If you see swarming ants indoors, this means there is either an ant nest inside, underneath, or very close to the structure of the home or building.

Winged ants are sometimes mistaken for winged termites, which also swarm. If you have swarming termites inside, it is an indication that there is a termite colony in your home. To help identify the correct pest, look for these differences:
Ants-narrow, constricted waist; bent antennae; hind wings shorter than front wings
Termites-rectangular shaped body with no constrictions; straight, beaded antennae; four wings of equal size and shape

Meet Carl Harris!

2012-01-31T16:07:00.000-05:00

Carl Harris has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since September 2011, but he has been in the pest control buisness for 14 years. He is originally from Springfield, Massachusetts.
Carl and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 12 years. He has two high school children, Trenton and Taylor.
In addition to watching his daughter play softball for Archer High School and cheering on the tigers, Carl is a big fan of the New England Patriots. He also enjoys riding dirt bikes and 4-wheelers and spending time with his children.

Meet Brian Robinson!

2012-01-26T10:19:00.000-05:00

Dacula native, Brian Robinson, has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since December 2008. He is a 1998 graduate of Dacula High School, and he graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002. Brian and his wife, Crystal, have been married 10 1/2 years.
Brian's favorite food is Mexican food. In his spare time, He enjoys playing golf and softball. He also enjoys using his woodworking skills to build things with his hands.

A Fly Diva!

2012-01-23T07:50:00.000-05:00

Australian National Insect Collection researcher, Bryan Lessard, recently named a horse fly after Beyonce' and described it as the "all time diva of flies." This previously unnamed species was first collected in Australia in 1981, the year Beyonce' was born, and it has been sitting in a fly collection since.

The official name is Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, but I have a feeling we'll just know it as the Beyonce' horse fly. This horse fly's glamorous golden bottom led 24-year old Lessard to describe it as "pretty bootylicious" ("Bootylicious" also being the title of a Destiny's Child song, which is Beyonce's previous group). He hopes that this will let people see the fun side taxonomy, the naming of species.

We're growing!

2012-01-19T14:17:00.000-05:00

Exciting things are happening at Mid-Georgia Pest Control! As of January 1, 2012, we have acquired Prime Maintenance Turf Management, a full service landscaping company that has been serving their customers since 2005. We can now offer our customers a variety of landscaping services including full maintenance, pine straw/mulch, aeration, weed control, fertilization, irrigation, sprinkler systems, plant and tree installation, and seasonal flowers. Our lawn care specialists can create custom packages for your home based on your needs.

Check out the Prime Maintenance website at www.prime-maintenance.com or give us a call at 770-652-3056. We would love to serve you in 2012!

Meet Emily McInnis!

2012-01-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

So, who writes these blogs anyway? Well, that's me, Emily McInnis. I guess I'm still the new girl at Mid-Georgia Pest Control. I've been a part of the team since September 2011. I am originally from North Carolina where I graduated from Richmond Senior High School. I then went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!), but after marrying a UGA grad, I now also bleed red and black (go Dawgs!).
My husband, Carter, and I have been married almost 11 years, and we have 4 wild and wonderful boys: Morgan (7), Tanner (5), Walker (3), and Brooks (1). After being a dental hygienist for 10 years, I've spent the last several years just enjoying being a mom!
I am very involved in the children's ministry at my church, and I also help out at my son's preschool whenever I can. I love mello yello and sweet tea. I also have a weakness for cookies and cheesecake!

Meet Brandon McCoy!

2012-01-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a year since Brandon McCoy joined the Mid-Georgia Pest Control team. He is one of our technicians at the Griffin location. He is a native of Griffin, GA, where he graduated from Griffin High School in 2010.
Brandon's favorite food is baby back ribs. He also enjoys motorcycles and spending his spare time fishing.

Meet Drew Edwards!

2012-01-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

Drew Edwards has been at Mid-Georgia Pest Control since March 2011. He was born and raised in Lawrenceville where he grew up with one younger brother. His education includes graduating from Brookwood High School in 2001 and Gwinnett Technical College in 2004.
Some of Drew's favorite foods are steak and BBQ. He is also a sports fanatic, cheering on the Braves, Falcons, and UGA. Drew enjoys playing baseball and softball himself in his spare time.

Meet Bruce Griffin!

2012-01-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

Bruce Griffin has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control for 2 years. He is originally from Columbus, GA and attended Kendrick High School before continuing his education at Georgia State. Prior to joining the Mid-Georgia team, Bruce retired from Bell South after 34 years.
Bruce has been married to Cyndee for 38 years. They have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Some of Bruce's loves include dogs, steak, and any kind of potatoes. His passion, though, is his family and football!

Exciting New Year's at Mid-Georgia

2012-01-01T12:34:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Brent and Shannon Boozer on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Aubree Elise. She made her entrance into the world early New Year's Eve weighing 7 lb 8 oz, 20 in long. What a great way to end 2011 in the Boozer family!

Meet Chris Jones!

2011-12-30T08:41:00.000-05:00

Chris Jones has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since February 2011. He is a 2010 graduate of Griffin High School and currently attends Southern Crescent Technical College.
Chris has one brother, and his family all lives in Griffin. In addition to eating pizza, Chris enjoys hunting, fishing, and hanging out with his friends.

Meet Margo Powers!

2011-12-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

Griffin native, Margo Powers, is the office manager at our Griffin location. She has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since October 2008.
Margo has three children: Micah, Savannah, and Ryan. She enjoys gardening, music, and reading. If you ever think of dropping a treat by the Griffin office, Margo likes anything chocolate, especially cake!

Party at the Blue Willow!

2011-12-19T14:57:00.000-05:00


Mid-Georgia Pest Control Staff

Last Friday night, the Mid-Georgia team had the pleasure of celebrating Christmas together as a staff with our spouses at the Blue Willow Inn restaurant in Social Circle, GA. Yummy southern cooking, beautiful decorations, and the company of friends made for a fun and enjoyable evening. Each year, Brian honors one member of the team by giving away a MVP of the year award. Congratulations to Bruce Griffin for receiving this award for 2011. We appreciate the hard work of everyone at Mid-Georgia Pest Control. Thanks for a fun time together!

Meet Shannon Bell!

2011-12-15T15:35:00.000-05:00

Griffin technician, Shannon Bell, is originally from Manchester, Tennessee, where he attended Coffee County Central High School. He continued his education at Griffin Technical College and has been with Mid-Georgia since September 2004.
Shannon has been married to Michelle for 12 years and they have 4 children: Tony, Jessie, Aaron, and Jon.
Playing the drum and bass guitar, as well as singing, are some of Shannon's talents. He also enjoys steak or anything off the grill!

Meet Kelly Teal!

2011-12-12T14:01:00.000-05:00

Grayson office manager, Kelly Teal, has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since April 2008. She is originally from Roswell, GA where she graduated from Roswell High School in 1994.
Kelly and her husband, Darrell, have been married for 8 years. They have 3 daughters, Hallie (15), Megan (12), and Madison (8).
Kelly is involved at her church and also enjoys Italian food and being a softball mom!

Meet Brandon Boozer!

2011-12-08T14:10:00.000-05:00

The final Boozer brother to introduce is Brandon Boozer. He has been with Mid-Georgia since July 2008, and his focus is on the Grayson Turf Care and Lawn Maintenance Division of Mid-Georgia Pest Control. Brandon is originally from Snellville where he graduated from Brookwood High School in 1997. He then continued his education at Georgia Perimeter College.
Brandon and his wife, Jessica, have been married for 8 years, and they have one son, 2 year old Braden.
Brandon is a fan of buffalo wings and the outdoors. Some of his favorite hobbies are Motorcross and hunting.

Meet Dawn Robinson!

2011-12-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

Our Operations Manager, Dawn Robinson, has been with Mid-Georgia since March 2004. She is originally from Whitehouse, OH but has called Georgia home for 25 years. Dawn is a graduate of Anthony Wayne High School and Bowling Green State University.
In her spare time, Dawn enjoys home renovations, decorating, reading, and camping. She also loves Chinese food.
Dawn and her husband, Craig, have been married for 27 years, they have 2 gorgeous daughters (now young ladies)-Megan (26) and Shelby (23).

Meet Brent Boozer!

2011-12-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

Brent Boozer has been with Mid-Georgia Pest Control since March 2004, and he is well known and loved among many customers from our Grayson office. Although Brent is originally from Snellville, he is a 2002 graduate of Grayson High School.
In addition to killing bugs, Brent enjoys dirt bike racing and eating ribs!
Brent has been married to Shannon for 3 years, and they are expecting their first daughter later this month. Make sure to check back for the news and pictures of their new little princess!

Meet Brian Boozer!

2011-11-29T14:21:00.000-05:00

What better place to start introducing the Mid-Georgia team than the owner himself, Brian Boozer. Brian is a native to Gwinnett County where he graduated from Brookwood High School in Snellville in 1996. From there he continued his education at Georgia Southern University and was part of the class of 2000. Brian took over Mid-Georgia Pest Control in March 2004.
In his spare time, Brian enjoys golf and is a college football fan. One of his favorite foods is BBQ.
Brian has been married to his wife, Catherine, for 11 years, and they have 3 beautiful children: Cadence (6), Brock (5), and Boden (2).
You can find Brian at both the Grayson office and Griffin office.

Meet the Mid-Georgia Team

2011-11-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

Over the next couple of months, we are going to highlight each member of our team here at Mid-Georgia Pest Control. From office staff to technicians out in the field, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about us on and off the job! Check back each week to meet a different team member.

Griffin Trick or Treating

2011-11-03T15:10:00.000-04:00

Our Griffin office had the pleasure of taking part in the Historic Downtown Griffin Trick or Treating Event last Friday, October 28th, to kick off the Halloween weekend. Our very own Hermite the Termite was there greeting the 800 children that came by! Thanks to Chris Jones and Margo Polk and her kids for working so hard at this event.

Praying Mantis

2011-11-02T20:27:00.000-04:00

Our Grayson Office Manager, Kelly, took these photos of a praying mantis outside her window.

Praying mantises get their name from their typical "prayer-like" stance. Ironically, the word "mantis" comes from the Greek word for "prophet." Mantises are sometimes confused with grasshoppers and crickets, but their closest relatives are actually termites and cockroaches!

Praying Mantis is often misspelled "preying" mantis, but this name also fits them because they are natural predators. Mantises mostly prey on insects, however, they will eat anything small enough to capture and devour. Some known victims have been scorpions, lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, fish, and small rodents. They will wait on their prey to come close and then ambush it. They catch their prey with their spiked forelegs, and this reflex is so quick it is almost difficult to see with the naked eye!

Green and brown are typical colors of the mantis which helps it stay camouflaged. When a mantis feels threatened, it will stand tall and spread it's wings to look bigger and more threatening. Although they can bite, a mantis has no venom.

Some other interesting facts about mantises are:
They have a triangular head with large compound eyes.
They can turn their heads 180 degrees.
Some martial arts styles mimic the mantis.
Some gardeners uses mantises as a form of natural pest control.
The European Mantis is the state insect of Connecticut.
They often engage in cannibalism especially during mating.

Whether it's the graceful stance or the alien-like head, the praying mantis is certainly a fascinating creature!

Paper Wasp Nest

2011-10-31T08:31:00.000-04:00

Paper Wasp nest

One of our technicians recently brought this paper wasp nest back to the office. These nests are commonly found under eaves of homes or buildings. Paper wasps build their nests by gathering fibers from dead or decaying wood and plants. They chew up the fibers and mix them with their saliva to make a paper-like material (the wasp version of paper-mache). The nests of paper wasps have open combs with cells for their young and a constricted stalk that anchors the nest. These wasps secrete a chemical that repels ants which is spread at the base of the anchor.
Although paper wasps are less aggressive than other bees, hornets, and yellow jackets, they will attack if their nest or the wasps themselves are threatened.
Twenty-two species of paper wasps have been identified in North America and approximately 300 species have been identified worldwide. However, if you include the species of subfamilies that also make paper nests, there would be closer to 1100 species!

Paper Wasp-photo from rivaitphoto.com

Mid-Georgia's Newest Employee

2011-10-25T14:21:00.000-04:00

Exciting things are happening at Mid-Georgia Pest Control! We are happy to share with you the newest addition to the Mid-Georgia family:

Brenden Aden Vick was born to proud parents Joey and Hannah on October 19, 2011. Brenden weighed in at 8 lbs, 13 oz and was 22 in long.

Congratulations Joey and Hannah on your healthy, handsome little man!

Bat Cleanup

2011-10-19T16:31:00.000-04:00

A customer in Milner, GA recently found droppings on the air conditioner outside his home and also heard screeching sounds from upstairs. Our team found bats in the gable vents of the house. A water-hot sauce mixture was used to run the bats out of the house and the gable vents were sealed from the outside. We then gave the guano, or bat excrement, about three weeks to dry out. At that time, all of the guano and contaminated insulation was removed and new insulation was placed.


New insulation and no more contamination. Great job, Chris Jones!

Bat droppings can carry a fungus known to cause Histoplasmosis, which primarily affects the lungs. It is important to take the right precautions when cleaning up guano, such as wearing a respirator, coveralls, gloves, and goggles. Because of the health risks posed by guano, do not attempt to clean it yourself. If you find you have bats, give the experts at Mid-Georgia Pest Control a call!

Halloween and Spiders

2011-10-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

Mid-Georgia's pet tarantula

With Halloween approaching, there's no doubt you've seen decorations with spiders and spider webs. They have been the stars of many "scary" movies like "Arachnophobia" and "The Giant Spider Invasion." It's no surprise that we group spiders in with the other symbols of fear like witches, ghosts, and monsters around Halloween. After all, arachnophobia, or the abnormal fear of spiders, is one of the most common specific phobias. For many of us, just thinking about a spider on us can make our skin crawl! In reality, by Halloween, when there's a chill in the air and colorful leaves all over the ground, most spiders have laid their eggs and died. During fall and winter, a few spiders may still be found hiding in a dark corner of the house or basement, but they are not running rampant like we portray in our "haunted houses."

Interesting facts about spiders:
-they are found on every continent worldwide except for Antarctia
-there are approximately 40,000 species of spiders
-they have 8 legs
-unlike insects, spiders do not have antennae
-they have the most centralized nervous system of all arthropods
-most detect their prey by sensing vibrations and they mostly prey on insects and other spiders
-most have 4 pairs of eyes
-females are usually larger than the males
-they have been around for over 200 million years

Despite our fears, most spiders only bite humans in self defense. The effects of a spider bite are usually no worse than a mosquito bite or bee sting. A few spiders that can produce medically serious bites, such as recluse and widow spiders, are actually shy and bite only when they feel threatened. Unfortunately, this can happen by accident.

brown recluse spider (photo from Wikipedia)

black widow spider (photo from Wikipedia)

Spider venoms are being investigated for beneficial uses such as an alternative to conventional pesticides and medical treatment for cardiac arrhythmia, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and erectile dysfunction.
Spiders are also part of people's diets in other parts of the world and cooked tarantulas are a delicacy in Cambodia. I'm not so sure I want this to appear on McDonald's menu any time soon!
Even though the average spider is not something to be fearful of, enjoy the spooky spiders this Halloween and maybe you'll even see a few cute ones.

Earwigs

2011-10-05T15:23:00.000-04:00

photo from Wikipedia

Earwigs have been around since the late Triassic period, but they were introduced into North America in the early 1900s. These insects get their name from an old myth that they crawled into people's ears while they slept and burrowed into the brain. In reality, earwigs are not really harmful to humans.
Earwigs can be easily identified by the long forceps pincers extending from the back of their abdomen and their membraneous wings. The pincers in the male are curved while the female's pincers are more straight. They are mostly noctural and prefer dark, moist areas such as leaf piles, bark, or weeds. They eat other insects, flowers, seedling plants, soft fruits, and corn silks, so they have been known to cause damage to crops.
The male and female will mate in the fall and live together in debris, crevices, or soil about 2.5 mm deep for the winter. In early spring, the male will leave or be driven out by the female. Shortly after, the female will lay 20-80 eggs in 2 days. The eggs are white or cream colored and oval shaped. They will turn more brown and kidney shaped right before hatching (about one week from being laid).


female with her eggs (photo from Wikipedia)

female with new hatchlings (photo from Wikipedia)

Unlike many insects, the female earwig is very maternal, watching over her eggs and offspring until after their second molt (it takes 5 molts to reach adulthood). The mother will also continuously clean her eggs to protect them from fungi.
Reducing possible hiding places such as debris, heavy ivy vines, or wood piles especially around your garden can help to control problems with earwigs.

Helping Save the Georgia Market Bulletin!

2011-09-27T20:58:00.000-04:00

logo taken from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website

Since 1917, the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin has served as a medium of exchange for farmers and consumers all over Georgia. Think ebay or craigslist for agriculture needs. In addition to being a venue for advertising to farmers and consumers, the Bulletin also offers a variety of information about agriculture and the Department of Agriculture, as well as columns on recipes and gardening. Special editions are published throughout the year. Some of these popular editions include a listing of "pick your own" farms in the spring and summer and a list of the state's "choose and cut" your own Christmas tree during the Christmas season.
The Market Bulletin contains ads for a wide variety of categories including: ag seeds, flowers, livestock, cattle, bee-keeping equipment, feed, hay and grain, fertilizers and mulches, farm machinery, goats and sheep, and poultry.
As the need to cut costs has grown, the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin has been hit. This once free, weekly publication is now bi-weekly with a subscription fee. Although it may not be cancelled completely, there have been thoughts of only maintaining the Bulletin online.
The Georgia Pest Control Association (which Mid-Georgia Pest Control is a member of) recently presented the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, Gary Black, with a $1,000 check to be used for the publication of the Market Bulletin. Dennis Judy, the president of the Georgia Pest Control Association, added "we would like to challenge other groups and associations that are served by the Department of Agriculture to match our contribution and support the Department of Agriculture's efforts to maintain and grow agriculture's influence in the state of Georgia." Commissioner Black appreciated the contribution and said he would encourage other groups to accept this challenge. Way to go, Georgia Pest Control Association!

Prepare for Rodents

2011-09-21T15:17:00.000-04:00


Norway Rat

As fall approaches, mice and rats will start looking for warmth, food, and shelter. Most rodents live in woods and fields, but there are three species of mice and rats that live with people. These are the house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rat. All three of these species live in Georgia.
A mouse only needs an opening the size of a dime to enter your home. The most common entry point is at the base of exterior doors and garage doors. Other entry points include areas where pipes, wires, or cables enter the house. To keep unwanted guests out, seal up these entry points and replace weather stripping if any gaps are present. If you are in the house or garage and can see light coming through under the door, a mouse can probably get through, too. Cleanliness can also help to avoid attracting rodents to your house, so cover all garbage cans and keep the area around the house clean and free of debris.


This would be a sign there are mice around

Check around the house and seal up any possible entrances

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?

2011-09-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

This looks like your typical backyard sandbox, right? They provide hours of fun for many kids. Unfortunately, my children often do not put the lid back on. After the lid got left off, a storm came and days later this is what our sandbox looked like.

My boys went out to play and came in to tell me there were little tadpoles in our sandbox. Then our fifth grade neighbor sees it and tells us it's mosquitoes. I decide to investigate the sandbox. Sure enough, our once sandbox was now the home to mosquito larvae. The fifth grader was right!

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. This can include large bodies of water, standing water (like swimming pools), or areas of collected standing water (like tree holes or gutters). The eggs hatch into larvae or "wigglers" which grow to about 1-2 cm in length. This stage lasts from days to several weeks. Then the larvae change into pupae or "tumblers." This stage only last 1-4 days. The pupae then encases itself and transforms into adult mosquitoes.

Photos from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

To reduce the population of mosquitoes, eliminate any sources of standing water in your yard. If you have a small pond, you can stock it with some fish that will eat the mosquito larvae.
Take a lesson from us, and don't let your once fun sandbox become a breeding pool for mosquitoes!

A Successful Fly Baiting!

2011-09-12T15:56:00.000-04:00

Brian Boozer grilling some yummy hotdogs!

On Labor Day Weekend, our church had a "Tailgate Sunday Worship." The entire worship experience was held outside underneath a high school rotunda. Everyone brought food and we ate during the service. We had grills going, tailgate tents up, and nice weather. It was the perfect storm for a massive fly infestation!
This was our second annual "Tailgate Sunday." We decided to take a lesson from last year and do something to stop all the flies that could threaten to terrorize our tailgate.

Maxforce Fly Spot Bait was our product of choice. After checking all the labels and reviews, we decided this product would be a good fit for our needs. This outside tailgate would be the best opportunity to see if Maxforce was up for the challenge. The product was mixed according to label directions and applied to various places around the rotunda. It was applied to window and door ledges, the building roofline, around trashcans, and around the perimeter of the dumpster area.

To say the Maxforce Fly Spot Bait worked is an understatement! From tailgate start to finish, there was not one fly seen. The lack of flies was almost unheard of. We had two lines of food set up: meats and sides on one row of tables and sweet desserts on the other. While our worship experience occurred peering over the tables of food, no flies landed on dishes, bothered people as they ate, or hung around the trash.

Awesome job, Maxforce! We are looking forward to using this great bait product to help our customers with their pesky fly issues and help them have fun, fly-free picnics, cookouts, and tailgates.

Come visit "The Bug Shop"

2011-09-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

Over the last few years, we've had homeowners ask us, "What's the best products to buy for pest control if I would like to try it myself?" Our answer by default has been, "Try Home Depot, they have some decent stuff there." Now, Mid-Georgia Pest Control's Grayson office is home to "The Bug Shop."

The Bug Shop is designed for people who would like to have commercial strength products on hand for emergency treatments, or as an alternative for a professional home pest control service. The products we provide are easy to use and economical for the pest problem at hand. Even better, all products come with free professional advice from our qualified staff of technicians.
We invite you to stop by and check out this newest addition to Mid-Georgia Pest Control. Our Grayson office address is 684 Grayson Parkway, next to the Grayson Library. For more information, please call 770-962-4240.

The Good, The Bad, and The Smelly

2011-09-02T08:03:00.000-04:00

Photo by Daniel R. Suiter/University of Georgia

Bean Plataspids, or kudzu eating bugs, were first spotted in Georgia in 2009. They have now spread throughout Georgia, South Carolina, part of North Carolina, and 4 counties in Alabama. They dine on kudzu, otherwise known as the vine that ate the South! Kudzu can grow up to a foot a day (that's 7 feet in a week, which is longer than the average human adult!). Test plots in Athens, Georgia, showed these bugs reduced the amount of kudzu by one-third. This should be good news, right? However, along with good, comes some bad. In addition to kudzu, bean plataspids also like legume plants such as soybeans. It is still unknown what effect they might have on peanut crops.
Bean plataspids are part of the stinkbug family. They also go by the names lablab bug and globular stink bug. They can emit an unpleasant smell, but otherwise are not harmful to humans. However, as the weather gets cooler, these bugs try to enter homes for the winter. They are pea-sized and brown with a wide posterior. They can fly very high. Recent storms may have helped transport these bugs to surrounding states. They are thought to be from somewhere in Asia, so how they traveled to the United States is not fully known.

Orange Striped Oakworm

2011-08-30T09:51:00.000-04:00

We found this specimen of Orange Striped Oakworm last week in Suwanee. We had never run across this pest before. Much like other occasional invaders, we research all the new pests we find. When we see it again out in the field, we will be able to know how to handle the situation.

closer picture of the orange striped oakworm from Bugwood.org

The orange striped oakworm is around 2 inches long. They have long, black spines that resemble horns. These "horns" are used to scare off predators, but they do not have the ability to sting. Adult moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves from June to July. Egg clusters contain hundreds of eggs.

Moth and egg clusters (photo from Brookhaven National Laboratory)

The caterpillars hatch and feed from August to September, and sometimes into October. They defoliate sections of various oak species and sometimes completely defoliate smaller trees. Defoliation usually occurs one branch at a time.
Because of the large amount of intake, they have an abundance of excrement. This makes this insect troublesome when present in oak trees over patios, sidewalks, or driveways. However, control measures are typically not needed.
After feeding is complete, larvae pupate in the soil over the winter. There is only one generation per year.
Thanks, Brandon, for this interesting find!

Yellow Jacket Spread Attack!

2011-08-26T18:08:00.000-04:00

When run effectively, a spread option attack in football is a high-octane offense capable of scoring lots of points and baffling defenses. It is based on the concept of defensive isolation. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets currently employ this type of offense for their football team.
We recently ran into a spread attack from yellow jackets in a Griffin apartment complex. The property residents were complaining of seeing yellow jackets around bedroom windows and bathroom light fixtures.
Our goal: find the nest, treat the nest, and keep the residents safe from yellow jacket stings.
However, finding the nest was not so easy. Since there were no visible entrance or exit holes around the building, we couldn't tell exactly where the nest was located. Most activity was happening in random places like light fixtures and windows.

Our experimentation was to bait the area around the building, hoping to see exactly where the activity was coming from.

To attract the yellow jackets, we used a variety of their favorite foods. We used several placements of cat food. We also mixed up cocktails of apple juice, corn syrup, and salmon paste.

We have caught several yellow jackets to date, but we are still trying to find the nest. Check back for updates!

Red Velvet Ant aka COW KILLER by Kelly Teal

2011-03-03T16:45:00.002-05:00

We got a phone call in the office today from a customer who has numerous holes in his pinestraw beds. Our technician went out and moved the pinestraw and found holes into the soil. The holes looked similar to this:

This my friends is a classic Red Velvet Ant nest.

Red velvet ants are a good thing to spot in the landscape if you're worried about yellow jackets. Red velvet ants prey on yellow jackets and other ground-nesting bees and wasps by burrowing into their nest, laying an egg in the bee cocoon. The egg hatches into a grub that feeds on the surrounding bee larvae. Red velvet ants also prey on bumblebees. Adult red velvet ants feed on nectar.These critters aren't aggressive, but the female can deliver a painful sting when disturbed. Males don't sting.

If you see a red velvet ant in your yard or garden, it will try to avoid you; however, if you find a number of them, or are trying to protect children or pets, you may want to kill the ants.

Female Red Velvet Ant has no wings

Male Red Velvet Ant has black wings

Seven Steps to Roach Control by Kelly Teal

2011-02-15T09:05:00.000-05:00

1. Do not leave any dirty dishes in the kitchen sink at night. Wipe ALL sinks DRY. Roaches can live a while without food but NOT without water.

2. Pour a ¼ cup of bleach down all drains (including toilets) at night. This will make the water at the elbow of the drainpipes not drinkable for roaches.

3. Sweep and/or vacuum every night. Just one grain of sugar is a feast for roaches. We treat roaches with a combination of products; bait being one of the most important. DON’T give the bait something to compete with by leaving food granules on the floors and counter tops at night.

4. Take out the garbage EVERY night.

5. Keep all dirty laundry and trash off of the floor.

6. Sweep up and discard all dead roaches and egg sacks. Roaches breed every 30-45 days, so remove any egg sacks when you see them.

7. ALWAYS REMEMBER, CLEANLINESS IS THE KEY TO BEING PEST FREE!

Phorid Flies: By Brian Boozer

2011-02-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

Lately at the Griffin office, we are dealing with a bad Phorid Fly infestation in a multi-unit complex.

Phorid Flies are small flies that have a humpback shape in its thorax (middle section of an insect). They can be easliy confused with fruit flies, however, the Phorid fly does not have red eyes. They are strong fliers, and can reproduce very quickly.

Above is a picture of an adult Phorid Fly.

The key to Phorid Fly control is finding the breeding site. These flies feed on decaying and moist organic material.

In this particular complex we determined the breeding site to be in the drains in the bathrooms and kitchens. Upon inspection, we found this in the bathroom.

Hair, and lots of it in the bathtub, and the drain, well lets say you wouldn't want to see that picture.

Our solution: In the three units in this building that have been noticing the fly activity, we are taping up all the drains. The kitchen sink drain, the bathroom sink drain, and the tub drains, with tape. We plan on going back and checking the sticky side of the tape for the Phorid Flies. Hopefully, we will be able to determine the drains with the problems and apply a drain cleaner to the drains with activity. Check back for the results!!!

Food Drive in Griffin

2010-09-01T20:28:00.000-04:00

Mid-Georgia Pest Control is teaming with the Five Loaves, Two Fish (Griffin Food Pantry). Check out their website here www.griffinfoodpantry.com

When our technician comes out for your service this month, if you have extra cans of vegetables, corn meal, peanut butter, bread, etc. please give them so we can get these needed supplies over to the Food Pantry.

If you are a Mid-Georgia Customer, or you just want to help a great cause that needs our help right now, please contact us at 770-227-5161.

Armyworms In Georgia

2010-08-31T15:24:00.001-04:00

There has been a lot of press lately about armyworms and the damage that they are doing to yards across the Atlanta area. Here is a link to the University of Georgia Entomology Department that can give you more information on these lawn pests.

http://www.ent.uga.edu/veg/solanaceous/otheraw.htm

Our New Office

2010-01-12T16:09:00.001-05:00

Finally, we have a home in Grayson that we can call our own! On January 1, 2010, we moved into 684 Grayson Parkway next door to the Grayson Library! We have room to breathe and grow, and we don't have to share with anyone anymore. Our office also has a 4 car detached garage where we can store our chemicals, trucks, and it also keeps the Mid-Georgia Yacht covered. We are excited about all the exposure that we are already getting being directly on Grayson Parkway!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

We just wanted to wish all of our great customers a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

Lush, Green Yard!

2009-09-15T11:29:00.001-04:00

Check out another one of our customer's yards.

Turf Care

2009-09-01T10:59:00.000-04:00

Check out our tech John treating one of our properties in Dunwoody.

Ants

2009-09-01T10:28:00.001-04:00

We have been blessed lately with a good amount of rain in the North and Central Georgia areas. With the recent droughts over the last couple years, we'll take any rain we can get. However, with the increased rains, ants tend to be pushed closer to the ground surface. You might starting seeing some small, very "red" dirt mounds forming in your yard. Call us today if you want these pesky ants gone 770-962-4240. Being this late in the year, we will spot treat each mound separately.

Welcome to Mid-Georgia Pest Control

2009-09-01T10:03:00.001-04:00

Thanks for visiting Mid-Georgia Pest Control. We will be able to use this blog to let you know whats going on in our world. Our technicans visit on average nearly 100 homes per day. With all our our everday activities, plenty of crazy things happen or are seen