Truly Nolen Pest Advice Blog » Pest Database

Winter Pests Are a Reality in Charlotte

Truly Nolen of Charlotte NC — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:10:20 +0000

Some people think that winter pests dont exist in Charlotte, NC but they most certainly do, and infestations are no joking matter! It is much easier to prevent a pest problem than to face one head on. Wintertime attracts termites, stink bugs, roaches and other crawling critters into your home through the cracks and crevices in your walls, chimneys and other entryways unless you take proper preventive precautions. Common Winter Pests & Their Destructive Qualities Pests target the warmth in your home as a safe and appealing place to survive the winter. Heres a list of destructive qualities of pests that you can avoid altogether this winter through prevention: Physical damage to the structure of your home and personal belongings Contamination of walls and surfaces Infestation of food products Adverse effects to your health by spreading germs and irritating allergies Disruption to your comfort and sense of well-being Spiders, mice, roaches, termites and more are some examples of the critters you could find in your family room, garage and basement so best practice is to take action and prevent the problem before it starts. What to Do for Winter Pest Issues To safeguard your home from pests this winter, here Read More

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The Remarkable Bee Brain: Why Humans and Bees May Share the Same Love for Novelty-Seeking Activities

TrulyNolen — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 13:00:32 +0000

While we know that bees live in highly organized, efficient societies with each bee performing distinct duties in the colony in the service of the queen, researchers have come to the conclusion that some bees, like novelty-seeking humans display exploratory tendencies, indicating that some bees respond in the same way some humans do to thrill-seeking activities. In a 2012 study published in the journal Science, University of Illinois professor and Institute for Genomic Biology director, Gene Robinson, along with a team of graduate students, discovered that humans and bees share some of the same gene activity patterns in molecular pathways related to thrill-seeking and an innate sense of adventure, formerly thought only to exist in humans and other vertebrates. Only a few bees in a swarm exhibit the drive to find new food sources and new homes Bee adventurers go the extra mile for the survival of their colonies. In bee hives, only certain bees leave hives to hunt for new food sources and to find new accommodations once populations outgrow their current hives. These scout bees, all females, take the initiative to fly out and hunt for new nests at a critical point when the hive divides and swarms Read More

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Bed Bugs: Fact vs. Myth

Truly Nolen of Charlotte NC — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:40:23 +0000

The holidays can call for very hectic traveling schedules for many people. Hotel rooms, fold out couches, airport benches, extended family living quarters and a friend of a friends man cave may be some of the exciting destinations holiday travelers will experience this winter. To keep your mind off bed bugs and on more important topics like food, family and the warmth from the fireplace, its helpful to be able to differentiate between truth and myth when it comes to bed bugs. Top 5 Common Bed Bug Myths Exposed Bed bugs are invisible! False. Adult bed bugs, nymphs and their eggs are all visible to the naked eye. Bed bugs live in filthy surroundings or prefer dirty places.Bed bugs prefer to live in clutter, however they are not drawn to the dirt but rather to the warmth. Blood and Carbon Dioxide (C02) are also magnets for this pest but dirt itself is not appealing to bed bugs. Bed bugs can only bite you at night.False. Although they prefer darker lighting, bed bugs can and will bite you at any time, that is, if they are hungry and you are around. Popping on the light unfortunately does not deter this pest. Read More

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Roaches: Scary, Gross and Possibly Zombies

TrulyNolen — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 14:00:09 +0000

From their pre-historic origins, for over 280 million years, these dreaded creatures have been wandering the globe. Over 4,000 species exist worldwide, with one species or another either creeping around in your basement, flying right at you, dropping on you from trees and ceilings in the dark of night or others scattering in throngs of thousands, when caught invading your kitchen, cockroaches are one of our most terrifying pests. Huge cockroaches live in South America and they can fly While gargantuan South American cockroaches, the stuff of nightmares, grow up to almost 4 inches long with a 6-inch wingspan, the most common cockroaches in the US include American cockroaches (also known as: palmetto bugs, water bugs and fudgies), German cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches and brown-banded cockroaches. Cockroaches transmit dangerous pathogens, cause respiratory viruses and allergic reactions Not only do these creep show characters give us the heebie-jeebies, some transmit respiratory viruses, such as the Hantavirus, provoke asthma attacks and cause allergic reactions. Spreading over 30 human pathogens, in addition to a variety of parasitic worms and viruses, cockroaches can spread food-borne illnesses by transmitting Salmonella and Ecoli viruses picked up on their legs as they roam around in waste and decaying Read More

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Treating for Bed Bugs in a Commercial Setting

TrulyNolen — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 18:42:01 +0000

While hotels, along with multi-family and single family homes still rank as the top three places in the US for reported bed bug problems, according to a 2015 survey from the National Pest Management Association in conjunction with the University of Kentucky. Bed Bugs without Borders discovered that from hotels to hospitals, from daycares to dorm rooms and even to the corporate environment, bed bugs can be found just about anywhere people gather to relax and sleep. Hitching rides in luggage, on clothes and even in electronics, bed bugs travel wherever theres something they can catch a ride on. Fast-moving, bed bugs can also travel rapidly from unit to unit in multi-family properties, dorm rooms and rooms in healthcare facilities through the walls and holes made for plumbing and electrical installations. Bed Bugs on the move The survey also points out that one of the reasons bed bug infestations are on the rise in the US centers on our increasingly mobile lifestyles. As more people fly to their business and travel destinations and stay overnight, as we use public transportation and even as we Uber around town, we encourage bed bug activity. Fortunately, the survey also shows that people are Read More

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Carpenter Ants: Defeating the Army Behind Your Walls

TrulyNolen — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:50:43 +0000

Have you ever wondered what a carpenter ant really is? We can guarantee you that they are not building beautiful furniture pieces. In fact, quite the opposite. You may think, oh, its just an ant, but these ants will give you something to worry about it if not taken care of. Carpenter ants and termites look for new homes in the summer Like termites, in late winter and early spring, young adult carpenter ants, known as alates, swarm to mate and start new colonies. Male and female reproductives mate and form new colonies. These new colonies need places to nest and raise their broods. Unlike termites, these sometimes large black and brown to reddish bi-colored ants do not eat wood, but burrow through it, creating galleries and tunnels, causing structural damage to homes. Measuring from .25 inches to around .75 inches, carpenter ants need a constant source of moisture to survive. Attracted to damp wood around your property or constantly moist boards and siding, carpenter ants like to nest in the damp and rotting wood outside your home, but will move inside by burrowing through damp wood or finding cracks in wood on the exterior of your home. Sometimes, they Read More

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Mosquito Madness in Charlotte

Truly Nolen of Charlotte NC — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 18:14:38 +0000

Charlotte, NC is nationally ranked one of the worst cities for mosquitoes. High temperatures and moist conditions attract mosquitoes, and standing water allows them to breed. Mosquitoes can be identified by their slender bodies and long legs. Adults can live from 10 days all the way up to 6 months. With summer in full force, taking a proactive approach against these pests is key to preventing bites. Do Mosquitoes Favor Some More Than Others? An article from Smithsonian magazine explains that some individuals are more prone to mosquito bites than others. Individuals who have type O blood type are especially favorable to mosquitoes. Larger individuals who emit more carbon dioxide when they breathe are also on this list. This group includes tall people and the obese. Elevated body temperatures, excess sweat and bacteria on the skin are also contributing factors. Prevention and Types of Mosquito-borne Illnesses Families in the Charlotte area should take precautions against mosquitoes, mainly during the months of June, July and August, to reduce chances of the transfer of mosquito-borne illnesses. Mosquito bites are known to spread diseases and cause allergic reactions. Some mosquito-related illnesses that have been reported are Zika, Malaria, Encephalitis, Chikungunya Virus and West Read More

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Keeping Blood Suckers Away During the Summer

TrulyNolen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:24:44 +0000

Mosquitoes are a true sign that summer has arrived and theyre likely to ruin your afternoon of outdoor fun if youre not prepared. The American Mosquito Control Association says mosquitoes are the deadliest animals According to The American Mosquito Control Association, or AMCA, Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism – over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Mosquitoes are responsible for outbreaks of malaria, throughout history, as far back as 2700 BC, according to the AMCA. Contained to tropical climates today, malaria obstructed the settlement of the US east coast colonies and wasnt effectively controlled until the 1940s. Mosquito-borne illnesses afflict animals as well as humans To make matters worse, mosquitoes carry diseases and parasites that afflict our four-legged friends, as well, especially dogs and horses. While weve learned to protect ourselves from mosquitoes with bug repellants, proactive prevention measures and the help of a professional pest control company, such as Truly Nolen, mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other insect, rodent or animal. In addition to the ancient diseases, malaria and yellow fever outbreaks and the current Zika Virus scare, mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting many other diseases, including: Chikungunya Read More

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Summer Pests Get in the Way of Summer Fun in Charlotte

Truly Nolen of Charlotte NC — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:16:28 +0000

Summertime pests can put a real damper on fun in the sun for people living in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. As the heat rises, more and more of these creepy crawlers catch your eye at softball games, picnics and even in your own backyard. Are they ALL dangerous? The answer is no, not all. However, bites from most common pests in the area can leave a red, itchy or irritated mark or bump on the skin, and there is the possibility of diseases being transmitted. Avoiding these pests by educating yourself and using the techniques described below, can prevent discomfort and save your outdoor plans this summer. Wasps, Bees & Hornets Wasps, bees and hornets can become a threat to food stores or homes in Charlotte if the aggressive types of the species begin to rely on people as a source for food. Controlling and managing the situation starts by first determining the species of the infestation – i.e. wasps, bees, stinging insects? Once identified, the pest and its swarm can be removed and further infestations prevented with treatment. Fleas & Ticks Ticks are found outdoors, in parks and in the woods. They are blood-feeders and hosts include both Read More

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Bee & Wasp Control: Infrastructure of a Bees Nest and Why You Don’t Want to Mess with It

TrulyNolen — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 19:41:06 +0000

As backyard entertaining brings the indoors outdoors this summer, your backyard or pool deck may play host to quite a few cookouts and pool parties. But sometimes, uninvited bees or wasps can disrupt summer fun activities. Because bees and wasps pose health threats to humans and pets, Truly Nolen recommends contacting a reliable and reputable professional pest control company to address your bee and wasp concerns. Wild bee colonies Africanized Also, with the sudden threat to honeybee populations worldwide, the thought of relocating a bee colony to an apiary may sound like a good idea to environmentally-aware homeowners but in Modern Farmers interview with Reed Booth, Southern Arizonas Killer Bee Guy, Booth said beehives and nests found under eaves, in walls, in sheds and other places on homeowners properties should be eradicated as most wild bee colonies in the US have become Africanized. This means that due to the interbreeding of wild European honeybees with wild Africanized honeybees, the bees are much more aggressive and will attack people and pets. Pest professionals, such as Truly Nolen, know how to remove killer bees from your property, safely. Honeybees vital to worlds crops and food supply As the globes most important plant Read More

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