Beware of Crazy Ants!

Be on the lookout – a recent report hit the news that crazy ants are spreading like “crazy” in Central Florida. In some cases, these ants are even known for shorting out electrical systems due to the high numbers of the ants that can cause arcing. And during the summer, a shorted electrical system caused by crazy ants  is about the last thing any of us want to deal with.

Crazy ants are agricultural and household pests found in most tropical and subtropical areas. They can be a pervasive pest indoors in temperate areas. They even have the ability to successfully survive in highly disturbed and artificial areas, including ships at sea.05crazy_enl

The crazy ant is thought to be of either Asian or African descent but has widespread populations from Florida to South Carolina and west to Texas. They are commonly found in residences and warehouses over much of the eastern United States and in California and Arizona.

The crazy ant is 2.2 – 3 mm long, with a slender body and long legs. The body color is dark brown to black.

The crazy ant derives its names from its erratic, jerky movement. They nest in both dry and moist environments, in trash, plants, rotten wood and soil. They also nest adjacent to foundations in landscape mulch and behind thick vegetation.

According to the University of Florida, modular units that were being used as temporary schoolrooms by a North Lauderdale elementary school in 1970 had a severe crazy ant infestation. The principal reported that the units were so inundated by the ant that students were constantly in a state of turmoil. The invasion reached such proportions that the students’ sack lunches were kept in closed plastic bags placed on tables, with each table leg sitting in a pan of water as a barrier to the ant.

Fortunately, with Massey’s Pest Prevention, we’ll prevent these pests from becoming a problem in your home or business. If you’re not a pest prevention customer, contact us today to schedule a free inspection today!

Pests and the Diseases They Cause

There are very few people that enjoy finding a bug in or around their home.  Pests are annoying, not pretty to look at and even worse, can cause a lot of different diseases.  Here are just a few pests that can carry harmful diseases and pass themmosquito-abatement along to humans:

  • Mosquitoes:  In addition to the severe itching and swelling bumps their bites can cause, mosquitoes are also known as the most dangerous insect in the world. They are known to carry malaria, West Nile Virus, encephalitis and dengue and yellow fever.  Malaria has been reported to kill a million people a year.
  • Cockroaches:  Cockroaches are considered health pests because they are closely associated with humans and commonly breed and feed in unsanitary areas such as garbage storage, sewage systems and septic tanks.  They are known to carry salmonella, which can cause food poisoning and gastroenteritis.  Cockroaches can also induce asthma attacks and cause pneumonia.
  • Rodents:  Rodents have the potential for harboring and rapidly transporting diseases.  At one time rodents were responsible for some of the most devastating disease outbreaks of all time.  More than 20 million people have died from rodent-borne diseases in just the last century.  Fortunately, because of modern sanitation, antibiotics and rodent pest management efforts, rodents are not considered the disease threat they once were.  However, they are still known to transmit diseases such as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

There are many other pests that can transmit diseases, so it’s best to have a pest prevention program for your home to prevent these nasty critters from getting inside.  Contact Massey Services for a free pest prevention inspection today!

The Brown Recluse Spider

One of the most common phobias in the world today is arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders. Not many people enjoy coming face to face with a spider, especially since most not only have eight legs but also eight eyes!!

The brown recluse spider is a little different – they have only six eyes that are arranged in three pairs positioned in a semicircle at the front of their shell. These spiders are also known as “fiddleback” or “violin” spiders because of their violin-shaped markings on the top19recluse_enl of their shell, or exoskeleton.

The adult recluse spider will vary from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in body length, with the females being slightly larger than the males. The legs of both sexes are long, with the males generally 1/3 longer than the females.

In the United States, the brown recluse spider is considered to be the most widespread and most important species of recluse spiders. The natural range of the brown recluse is from southern Texas north to Nebraska, and east to eastern Tennessee and Alabama. They appear to be most highly concentrated in the south-central portion of the Midwest.

The brown recluse spider naturally occurs in outdoor situations, living in piles of debris, utility boxes, wood piles, and vehicles, as well as under bark, logs and stones. They have also adapted quite well to indoor habitats where they are commonly found harboring in storage areas, such as closets, attics, crawlspaces, cellars and other dark recesses. They frequently live in clothing, boxes, toys, papers, furniture and other household items, and seem to prefer areas that are “layered,” such as stacks of items or clutter.

Their poisonous bite causes tissue death and the venom’s effects often are generally localized at the site of the bite. The bite may be painless but some have reported a slight stinging sensation. Usually a localized burning sensation develops and lasts about 30 to 60 minutes. During the next eight hours, the reddened area enlarges and a pus-filled blister forms in its center. Within 12-24 hours after the bite, systemic reaction may occur, characterized by fever, malaise, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. The venom usually kills the affected tissue and causes skin loss and necrosis or death of the underlying tissue. Contact a medical professional if you are experiencing these signs and suspect you have been bitten.

To keep brown recluse spiders and all other household pests out of your home this summer, contact Massey Services for a free pest prevention inspection.

Don’t Let Mosquitoes Ruin Your Memorial Day Cookouts

Mosquitoes. They are considered to be the most dangerous insect in the world because of the diseases they can pass on to humans from one single bite. These include malaria, dengue and yellow fever, West Nile Virus and certain types of encephalitis.

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you can help protect yourself from these dangerous pests this Memorial Day weekendmosquito-abatement and all summer long:

  • Make sure all windows and doors in your home are closed tightly and that screens are well-sealed to prevent mosquitoes from gaining access inside your home
  • Avoid working or playing outdoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active
  • When you are outdoors, wear insect repellant with DEET as an active product
  • Discard water that has accumulated in toys and other items outdoors
  • Drain stagnant water from bird baths, kiddie pools and potted plants on a weekly basis. Mosquitoes breed best in humid and wet climates, in locations with ample standing water.
  • Clear gutters and drains to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water

Massey Services also offers a Mosquito Abatement program, which will greatly reduce the populations of mosquitoes around your home by focusing on the areas where they live and breed. Contact us today for a free inspection.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Super Termite!

The Formosan subterranean termite, commonly referred to as a “super termite,” is the most aggressive and potentially destructive termite species in the United States.

The Formosan subterranean termite received its name because it was first described in Taiwan (otherwise known as Formosa) in the early 1900s. The termite is believed to have originated from southern China, and apparently was transported to Japan before the 1600s. It arrived in Hawaii more than a century ago, and is thought to have reached the U.S. mainland in the mid-1940s on military ships returning form the Pacific during World War II.

Infestations have been discovered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and Southwood_05formosan_enl Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Most inland infestations have been traced to the shipment of infested wood products, particularly recycled railroad ties used in landscaping.

Although its distribution is more limited than some termite species, the Formosan subterranean termite poses a severe threat in areas where it is established. In Hawaii, this termite can cause major structural damage to a home in six months, and almost complete destruction within two years.

In the Southeast, field colonies commonly extend into the millions, foraging over distances in excess of 100 meters. When compared to other termite species, Formosan termites generally cause more structural damage in a shorter period of time – primarily because populations tend to be larger – not because individual termites eat wood faster.

Although Formosan termites ordinarily have colonies traceable to the soil, they are also known to have aerial nests with no ground connection. Aerial infestations account for about 25% of structural infestations in urban southeastern Florida and more than 50% in Honolulu, Hawaii.

With these frightening facts in mind, have you had your annual termite inspection this year?

The Facts on Chinch Bugs

The most damaging insect pest of St. Augustinegrass is the chinch bug.  And depending on the location, one to several generations of chinch bugs can occur each year.

Their damage is caused when they suck the juices from grass blades and inject toxins back into the leaf blade. Chinch bug activity often starts during the drier part of the year in many southern areas and is often first noticed in water-stressed areas such as along sidewalks or in poorly irrigated areas. Therefore, conditions such as poor irrigation design, insufficient watering, or both, help to exacerbate the problem.

Chinch Bug Identification

Adult chinch bugs are about 1/5 of an inch long and black with white patches on the wings.  The white patches can sometimeslandscape-invaders resemble the shape of an “X” on the back.

The young nymphs range from 1/20 inch long to nearly 1/5 of an inch.  The small nymphs are reddish with a white band across the back, but become black in color as they approach adult size.

Chinch Bug Biology

Adult chinch bugs will sometimes hibernate in the winter.  All stages of life are present year-round in most of the state of Florida due to the warm climate, but the primary time of activity in most states is April through October.

Their eggs are laid in leaf sheaths or pushed into soft soil and other protected places.  In the summer, the eggs hatch in 10 days and the young develop to adults in three weeks.  It takes about 20 chinch bugs per square foot to cause damage.

What Does Damage Look Like

Symptoms appear as irregular patches of lawn that resemble drought stress.  These areas gradually turn yellow and then brown.  The dead turf will have a yellowing on the outside margin and the growth of the yellowed grass will be stunted.  Weeds will also begin filling in the dead areas.

If you suspect you may have chinch bugs, call a professional for an inspection immediately.  If left untreated, the damage will continue to spread throughout your lawn.

Cockroaches from Around the World

Cockroaches are one of the most hated pests in the world – they’re big, some can fly and where you see one, there’s typically more hiding near that area.  Not only that, cockroaches have the ability to spread disease wherever they go.

But did you know there are many cockroaches with worldly names? There’s the American, German, Asian and the Australian cockroach!  So what are the differences between these pests?

  • American Cockroach:  This roach is the largest of the roaches infesting homes and are commonly referred to11american_enl as “Palmetto Bugs.”  It has reddish brown wings and is a good flyer.  They typically invade sewer systems and heavily mulched areas.  The female attaches the egg capsule, containing 15-18 eggs, in high areas in garages, closets, utility rooms and fireplaces.
  • German Cockroach:  This roach has two dark stripes running from front to back and is found throughout the world.  It is commonly found in restaurants,09german_enl kitchens and stores where food, moisture and harborage are abundant.  Populations build rapidly from egg capsules being produced about every 20-25 days.  Each capsule contains 35 eggs, with the young maturing in about 100 days.
  • Asian Cockroach:  This roach is nearly identical in appearance to the German roach.  Adults are light brown to tan in color and possess two dark stripes on the top rear portion of the head.  They are strong flyers and prefer to live outdoors.  They are attracted to lights, particularly at dusk.
  • Australian Cockroach:  This12australian_enl is a large, reddish-brown to dark brown roach with yellow bars on the front edge of its forewing.  They are good flyers, entering homes through windows, doors, soffits and gables, especially where moisture problems exist.  They breed and live in moist, decaying vegetation outdoors.

If you’ve seen any of these pests around your home, contact Massey Services for a free pest inspection today!

The Importance of Aeration

Roots need more than just water and fertilizer to survive – they also need oxygen! Roots do not absorb water or fertilizer unless oxygen is also present in the soil. Aeration dramatically reduces soil compaction by removing plugs of soil from the lawn and leaving holes which allow oxygen to reach the roots, creating growth pockets for new roots. This practice intensifies rapid and healthy root growth.
A healthier root structure improves your lawn’s ability to reach water and other nutrients deep in the soil. This makes your lawn more resistant to heat and drought.core-aeration

There are 10 key benefits as a result of core aeration. These include:

  1. Helps conserve water
  2. Enhances heat and drought stress tolerance
  3. Enhances soil water uptake and use
  4. Reduces water runoff and puddling
  5. Reduces soil compaction
  6. Improves air exchange between the soil and atmosphere
  7. Improves fertilizer uptake and use
  8. Improves turfgrass rooting
  9. Improves resiliency and cushioning
  10. Enhances thatch breakdown

Essentially, aeration lets your lawn eat, drink and breathe!

Insects and Their Bites

As summer quickly approaches, pests will begin multiplying, which means a higher likelihood to experience bug bites. Some bites can hardly be noticed, but there are others that can cause such severity they become life threatening.

Here are a few bugs that you should be aware of this summer and try to prevent from becoming victim to their bites:

  • Mosquitoes:  Female mosquitoes feed on blood to help their eggs develop into offspring.  When mosquitoes bite, they release saliva into the bite area. Allergic mosquito-abatementreactions to the saliva cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten.  In addition to their bites, mosquitoes are also well-known for carrying diseases.  Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern include St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus encephalitis, and dengue.
  • Red Imported Fire Ant:  The Red Imported Fire Ant was first introduced from Brazil into either Mobile, AL or Pensacola, FL between 1933-1945.  They now fireantinfest Puerto Rico and all or parts of the southern states and western states from Maryland to southern California.  The sting of this ant possesses an alkaloid venom, which is responsible for both the pain and the white pustules that appear approximately one day after the sting occurred.  The remainder of the venom contains an aqueous solution of proteins, peptides, and other small molecules that produce the allergic reaction in hypersensitive individuals.
  • Fleas:  The cat flea is the most important flea species in the United States and attacks both cats and dogs. Adults are 1/16″ long and are usually found on the host. The 16flea_enlflea inserts its mouthparts in the skin, injects saliva and sucks blood. The bite leaves a red spot on the skin. The saliva is irritating to the host, causing dermatitis and hair loss in allergic animals.  Fleas can also transmit tapeworm.
  • Ticks:  Ticks are not insects and are closely related to the spider. Ticks are known to transmit serious diseases to animals and 17tick_enlhumans even though humans are not the preferred host. They are known to be almost as important as mosquitoes in terms of public health importance.  Diseases ticks are known to carry are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and relapsing fever.

There are many other pests to be aware of as the warm weather arrives.  Always be cautious around bugs to help protect yourself from painful bites and stings this summer!

The Threat of Termites

Termites have survived for over 150 million years and cause more destruction to homes than fire and flood combined.  Even worse, homeowner’s insurance typically does not protect against termite damage.wood-destroying-insects

Termites are in constant search for food and do not discriminate between your home and nature’s food sources.  There are varying types of wood destroying insects, including:

Subterranean termites live in large underground colonies.  A single colony can have between 500,000 to over a million termites.  They can gain access inside any home, whether it’s brick, block or even built on a concrete slab.  They invade your home through plumbing or other openings in the slab.  They feed on wood flooring, drywall, framing and valuable furnishings in the home.

They will also build mud tubes to access wood sources above ground and enter through cracks as small as 1/64 of an inch.

Drywood termites do live below ground but instead, inside wood.  Drywood termites swarm and enter your home through cracks, unscreened soffits and gable vents.  Their damage can go unnoticed for extended periods of time.

If you’re concerned you may have a termite infestation or want to protect your home from termites before it’s too late, contact Massey Services for a free, no obligation inspection.

 

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