Odd and Interesting Bug Facts by Rosie’s Pest Control

Odd and Interesting Bug Facts

For every human on our planet, there are about a million ants.
The queen of a certain species of termite can lay 40,000 eggs every day.
It takes almost 100 Monarch butterflies to weigh an ounce.
House flies can taste with their feet as they have taste buds on them.
A House fly lives for about 14 days, only.
Mosquitoes have killed more humans than all the wars in history, put together.
Termites eat through wood two times faster when listening to rock and roll music.
A bee may fly up to 60 miles in one day when looking for food.
All insects on earth would outweigh all animals if they were put on a scale.
Bed bugs can live for several months without a blood meal, which means they can live in your furniture for a long time while waiting for human contact.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T21:03:37+00:00June 12th, 2017|Memphis Insects, Memphis Pest Control Firm, Mosquitoes, Pest Control Memphis|Comments Off

Top 5 Pests In Memphis

Here are the Top 5 Pest Concerns for Memphis Residents

Mosquitoes
Ants
Spiders
Roaches
Roof Rats

All of the insects on our top 5 list are a problem in Memphis all year around. Summertime is particularly bad for these pests. Rosie’s Pest Control has monthly packages that control all of the most common pests in the Memphis area.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T21:39:22+00:00May 23rd, 2017|Memphis Insects, Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis|Comments Off

Wasp Problems In Memphis?

A wasp sting is very painful.

If you are seeing wasps near your home or office in the Memphis area give us a call. We will locate the nest and eradicate the problem for you. We have one time sprays or can keep your home or office pest free with monthly treatments. Rosie’s Pest Control has expert technicians serving the Memphis area. Satisfaction guaranteed!

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T21:11:29+00:00May 15th, 2017|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control|Comments Off

Fire Ant Facts

Watch out, here come the fire ants.

Fire ant is the general name for quite a few species of ants in the genus Solenopsis. They are only a minority in the species, which includes over 200 species of Solenopsis worldwide. Solenopsis are stinging ants and most of their common names demonstrate this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. Many species also are called red ants because of their light brown color, though species of ants in many other genera are similarly named for similar reasons.
Fire ants reside in large colonies made up of up to 250,000 worker ants.
Fire ants are so called because of two reasons – first, they have a reddish appearance and second, they have a very painful sting.
A typical fire ant colony produces huge mounds in open areas, and feeds mostly on young plants and seeds. Fire ants often attack small animals and can kill them. Unlike many other ants, which bite and then spray acid on the wound, fire ants bite only to get a grip and then sting (from the abdomen) and inject a toxic alkaloid venom called Solenopsin. For humans, this is a very painful sting, a burning sensation, similar to what one feels when burned by fire (hence the name) and the after effects of the sting (or multiple stings) can be deadly to sensitive people. Fire ants are more aggressive than most native species and have driven many other species away from their local habitat.
Need help with fire ants? Let Rosie’s Pest Control come out and provide you with a treatment plan and estimate. Click here to have someone from Rosie’s Pest Control give you a call to set up an appointment. Memphis area residents only at this time.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T21:15:11+00:00April 24th, 2017|Dangerous Insects, Memphis Insects, Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis|Comments Off

Warmer Temps Bring Out Early Pests

Warmer than normal temperatures are causing early pests in Memphis.

Temperatures are warmer than normal in the Memphis area this spring. We are already seeing mosquitoes and other pests awakening from their dormant state. The best advice is to spray early and regularly. A mosquito spray includes covering the shrubs and turf as well as french drains and other areas where mosquitoes breed and hide. Our prices vary according to the amount of area we have to cover but we guarantee our prices are some of the best you will find in the Memphis area. Need a free analysis and estimate? Click this link and fill out the very brief form and we will contact you asap. Happy spring to you and we would love to be at your service to help you enjoy being outside this spring!

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:35:33+00:00February 24th, 2017|Memphis Insects, Memphis Pest Control Firm, Mosquitoes, Pest Control Memphis|Comments Off

Affulent Homes, Do They Have Less Pest Problems?

Bigger Homes Do Have More Bugs!

In a survey of indoor arthropods, the most common house spider (arthropods) was a common and repeat tenant. Now, the scientists report that wealthier areas have a wider variety of arthropods.

In wealthy neighborhoods, the houses have a varied palate … of spiders and flies. The interiors of these homes are populated by a more diverse array of arthropods than those in less prosperous neighborhoods, a new study indicates.

The explanation for this abundance actually lies in the exterior of the home. Typically, nicer neighborhoods are also richer in species. Scientists have discovered this “luxury effect” before, in plants and outdoor animals such as lizards, bats and birds. For plants, the connection is very direct; affluent tenants have more funds to direct to landscaping, or live in lusher communities. In turn, a diverse collection of plants offers more food and habitats for animals.

Previously, the team explored 50 houses in and around Raleigh, North Carolina, and determined that more than 100 arthropod species dwell within the average home (most of these tiny occupants aren’t pests). Using data from this “arthropods of the great indoors” survey, the scientists have now investigated how landscaping and socioeconomic status can affect indoor bug diversity.

“There is a general perception that homes in poorer neighborhoods are refuge to more indoor arthropods,” the team wrote August 2 in Biology Letters. Their work indicates that this perception is off-base.

Most arthropods that show up inside are actually outdoor species that made their way in by accident. The majority of indoor arthropods were flies, spiders, beetles and ants, although the scientists also unearthed some more human-dependent critters such as dust mites. Houses in neighborhoods with an average annual income of about $33,000 had denizens from about 74 arthropod families. In neighborhoods with an average yearly income of about $176,000, a given house was likely to carry arthropods from 105 families.

The entomologists expected to find more types of arthropods in big houses with more surrounding plant cover and diversity. But in affluent neighborhoods, even houses with sparse vegetation carried a wide variety of arthropod families; simply being near other, more verdant homes gave them a boost.

Though intriguing, the survey doesn’t represent bug diversity everywhere; the scientists only sampled freestanding houses in one city. But it does show how connected the interiors of our homes are to the world outside. “The management of neighborhoods and cities can have effects on biodiversity that can extend from trees and birds all the way to the arthropod life in bedrooms and basements,” the team concluded.

If worries about insects living inside your home have you down, contact Rosie’s Pest Control for a free evaluation of your needs.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:38:26+00:00January 5th, 2017|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Common Christmas Tree Pests

While a lot of trees carry microscopic insects, most of them are harmless. Some Saw flies may hatch from their cocoons when they get moved inside. Saw Flies have a short lifespan so this is not too much of a threat. Preying mantis pests can also hatch out in large numbers. Bark Beetles can be embedded in the trunk of the tree as well. Most of these pests don’t pose much of a risk, just a nuisance. Vacuum up these critters and their cocoons when visible.

Happy Holidays from Rosie’s Pest Control!

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:40:41+00:00December 5th, 2016|Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Protect The Bees

Bees are dying off at an unprecedented rate. Some report that our country is losing 30% of it’s hives each year.

At first, no one knew why. In the last few years scientists have complied compelling evidence that points to a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids. These chemicals are widely used in commercial agriculture but can have lethal effects on bees. Some other farming pesticides are also adding to the toll. So are invasive parasites and an overall decline in the quality of bees’ diets.

It’s clear that the combination of factors poses a pretty serious problem for anyone who likes to eat, since bees—both the domesticated kind and their wild bumblebee cousins, both of which are in decline—are the main pollinators of most major fruit and nut crops. The problem is so severe that this spring President Obama released the first-ever national strategy for protecting the health and life of bees and other key pollinators.

Rosie’s Pest Control is committed to doing our part to help save the bees. When we get a call about an annoying and threatening bee colony, we take every effort to relocate the bee hive. We have been working with David Glover from the Bartlett Bee Whisperer to save this vital species.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:43:19+00:00November 5th, 2016|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Rosie's Pest Control, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Memphis Ranks #1 For Roof Rats

Fall is the most common season for roof rats due to their outdoor food source being reduced. Even when our region is experiencing warmer than normal temperatures, natural food sources are drying up. Memphis is ranked number 1 for infestations from this invasive species.

They are much easier to distinguish from some of their rodent relatives because of their long and scaly tails.

According to Andy Long, director of Rosie’s Pest Control, roof rats usually stay out of plain sight but even one spotted is very often times a sign of a serious infestation.

Long also said they are usually active at night and often leave smudge marks as result of dirt and oil. You can also find evidence in droppings around active areas.

Roof rats may enter buildings and structures via holes, soffit vents, cables entering buildings and turbine and box vents on roofs. Inspections by a professional can help identify these entry points so needed repairs and preventative maintenance can be done. Contact Andy Long or Katie Fox with Rosie’s to get your free home or business inspection before the weather gets any cooler.

By adminMWL|2017-08-20T23:42:11+00:00November 3rd, 2016|Memphis Pest Control Firm, Pest Control Memphis, Southaven Pest Control Firm|Comments Off

Protect Your Home From Roof Rats

Tips to keep roof rats away

1. Starve them out

• Citrus, figs, acorns, and various other locally grown plants are a source of food and water for roof rats. Pick fruit, even if it’s not ripe, and pick up any that falls to the ground.

• Don’t leave pet food out overnight, and pick up dog feces.

• Limit use of bird feeders. Either stop filling them altogether or only provide the amount birds will eat in a day. Sweep up any spilled food before sunset. Store bird seed in sealed, rat-proof containers.

• Indoors, store bulk food in sealed, rat-proof containers.

• Keep garbage containers tightly covered.

2. Clean up your yard

• Rake under trees and shrubs.

• Prune fruit trees so the ground under them is visible.

• Remove wood and brush piles. If you have to store wood and lumber, keep it at least 18 inches above the ground and 12 inches from walls.

• Trim or remove dead trees. Roof rats nest in the skirts of old palm fronds, in piles of debris and in hollow trees.

• Thin out bushes so you can see daylight through them. Roof rats like to nest in oleanders in the summer.

3. Seal your home

• Roof rats can enter through openings as small as a nickel, so be diligent sealing cracks and crevices. Use stucco diamond mesh, which is available at building material suppliers, to seal holes and vents. It is easy to cut and mold, but for rats it’s like chewing razor blades.

• Check for holes in exterior walls and near water heaters, washers, dryers, dishwashers and under sinks.

• Caulk cracks, screen the sewer stacks on the roof and stuff air-conditioning lines that run from outside into the attic with steel wool or copper mesh to prevent rats from entering.

4. Be strategic with traps

• Set traps baited with a little peanut butter in areas such as the laundry room or garden shed.

• Place traps away from places they can be found by pets or small children.

• Roof rats can be skittish about unfamiliar objects, so leave the traps in place for at least a week before moving them.

5. Be careful with poisons

• Bait stations are protected places for rats to feed without being accessible to non-target animals. Call Rosie’s Pest Control to set you up with these bait stations. They are professionals and will know the best places to put these stations for maximum effectiveness.

• Don’t wire poison bait blocks directly to tree branches. That could lead to accidental poisoning of cats and birds.

• Make sure your home is sealed before putting out poison bait so the rats don’t enter the house and die, creating a stench it might be hard to get rid of.