Spider control in Salt Lake City, UT Play Now | Play in Popup | Direct Link

Spiders continue to be a recurring concern for many people.  Although they may be beneficial for the environment, once spiders, or most other insects penetrate the living space, many people prefer to eliminate spiders from their home.

There are three medically significant spiders which articles report being present in the Salt Lake City, UT area.  Those spiders are the black widow, the hobo, and yellow sac spiders.  All of the information I have read regarding the presence of the brown recluse spider asserts that the brown recluse is not present in Utah.  If you have information stating or proving otherwise…please send me an email with supporting information to carl@extermiman.com.

This summer could yield a very high number of earwigs for many residential homes.  We have experienced a very wet spring which should contribute to very good reproductive conditions for this occasional home invader.

Once temperatures begin to break 80 degrees, and as they continue to climb, earwigs should become more apparent and noticeable in and around the home.

Earwig infestations will normally be found in areas around the foundation of a structure where stones, debris, pots or other materials where they make contact with the soil.  Removing these items from the environment should assist in reducing habits for earwigs.  If it is not possible or practical to reduce harborage areas then insecticides may be used to reduce populations.

Control Tips:  Chemical applications should focus on the aforementioned habitat areas as well as structural entry/exit points and ground cover leading up to the structure itself.  Once earwigs have penetrated the interior of the building, the only way to rid yourself of those pests are to treat inside.

Extermiman® is able to implement highly effective control strategies to significantly reduce overwhelming and nuisance earwig populations.

According to a recent ranking report by Orkin, Salt Lake City ranks 50th in the U.S., for cities treated with bed bugs, by their organization from January to April of 2011.

The sited reference may be found at: http://www.pctonline.com/Orkin-Top-Bed-Bug-Cities.aspx

Mosquito season is quickly approaching.  Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in the mud close to water sources such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, etc., and those eggs may survive up to ten years, the high water levels this year will likely result in an explosive mosquito population this season.  Once the temperatures turn warm these pests are going to be very active.

Mosquito abatement districts will be doing their job dealing with those lands and areas where they are contracted to control these pests.

As for individual homeowners, it is a different story.  If you are interested in a control program that goes beyond non-chemical treatment strategies, please contact us for a free consultation to reduce and control mosquito populations around your home and property

Non-chemical control tips from the EPA’s website include:

1. Remove their habitat (where they live and breed)
   • Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
   • Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.
   • Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.
   • Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
2. Prevent your exposure to mosquitoes
   • Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents when necessary and follow label directions and precautions closely.
   • Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes.
   • If there is a mosquito-borne disease warning in effect, stay inside during the evening when mosquitoes are active.
   • Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight.”
   • Replace your outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights which tend to attract less mosquitoes than ordinary lights. The yellow lights are NOT repellents, however.

If you are dealing with a difficult to control gopher problem in your landscape Extermiman can help!

Extermiman primarily uses a trapping solution to control gophers.  There are a few benefits to trapping as opposed to baiting.  With trapping there are no pesticides involved in the process.  No residual baits, poisons or toxins left in the ground for accidental discovery by children or pets.  Trapping also allows us to provide proof to the customer that the critter(s) have been caught.

On the initial service call we setup the traps and typically return to check them in 2-3 days.  In most residential situations, the problem involves a single gopher and the issue is resolved by the time we return to check our traps.

Call us today for a free consultation and quote. 801-296-5960

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Pigeon under eave in Utah

If you are looking for a pigeon exterminator in Utah then Extermiman® can help you.

Extermiman® can remedy nuisance pigeons from your residential or business dwellings.  Call us today for a free on-site analysis and estimate.

If you are looking for a termite exterminator in Utah then you have arrived.  Extermiman® has the experience and expertise to eliminate termites from your home.  We also provide a warranty against reinfesting termites.  Your termite warranty is transferable to new ownership.

If you suspect termites, Extermiman® will provide a free analysis of your situation.  If it is determined that termite activity is or was present, then we will provide an estimate to remedy the problem.

Codling moth is the culprit for the famous worm in the apple.  It is the larva stage that is responsible for entering the fruit after egg hatch out.  They may also infect pears, walnuts, plums and other fruit.

Females lay some 30 to 70 eggs on or near growing fruit.  Eggs typically hatch in 1 to 3 weeks.  The newly hatched larvae then seek refuge inside of the fruit approximately 24 hours after hatch out.  They then spend the summer and fall feeding on the fruit especially the seeds at the center.  After passing through 5 larval stages the fully developed larva emerges prepared to pupate.  The pupal stage may be spent on the bark of the tree or on other nearby materials where they spin a cocoon which will house them as they go into diapause (a state of suspended animation for insects) for the winter.

When spring arrives the adults emerge from their cocoon in search of the opposite sex.

Control options include dormant oil sprays, insecticides, biological controls.

Presence may be established through the use of pheromone traps.  Spraying schedule normally involves four treatments starting near the end of May, mid June, beginning of July and the beginning of August.

Extermiman® prices are based on the number and size of trees to be treated.

When you begin to observe the leaves on your trees dying, turning brown, bronzing and sometimes with webbing present it is very possible that you have spider mites.

If you want to know whether mites are present you may try the following test.  Place a clean sheet of white paper on a flat surface.  Take a few of the leaves that look like they are damaged.  Hold them about 3 to 6 inches above the white sheet of paper and flick the leaves in the direction so that anything that may be on them will fall onto the paper.  After several flicks you should see small flecks on the paper. Use a pen to make small circles around several of the small specks on your paper.  The penned circles help with seeing movement.  If the specks begin to move then mites are definitely present.

Spider mites tend to become more active as temperatures increase.  Stressed trees and shrubs that are suffering from water and nutrient deficiencies become more vulnerable to accelerated damage because of their inability to fend off mite damage by plant health and vigor alone.

Some control options include horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, insecticides/miticides/acaricides and predaceous mites.

Extermiman® has the equipment needed for trees that are larger than those that a person can reach with hand held equipment, back pack sprayers and small ladders or situations where many trees and shrubs are present.