It’s no secret that bed bugs are a hot topic of conversation.  They have become a nuisance everywhere, not only in hotels but in restaurants, movie theaters and even stores!  Even more concerning is the virtual ineffectiveness using traditional means of eliminating bed bug infestations.

That’s because bed bugs are becoming resistant to the pesticides that have been used to treat them.  Massey Services began to understand that this was occurring and so five years ago, we began testing alternative treatments to eliminate bed bugs and developed our bed bug heat remediation program.

This treatment completely eliminates entire populations of bed bugs – from egg to adult.  The process uses forced air heaters to raise the temperature in bed bug infested areas, killing bed bugs at all stages of their development.  These heaters, in conjunction with an integrated pest management approach to pest elimination, have proven to be significantly more effective than other methods of bed bug control.

Our bed bug heat remediation treatment was recently patented as well!  Click here for more information.

Here in the Southeast we can usually depend on plenty of afternoon thunderstorms to bring ample precipitation to our yards. But along with the natural benefits of rain, come a few problems as well. Summer rains leave standing water that can create a mosquito breeding ground.

There are 80 species of mosquitoes in Florida and they vary in biting preferences, breeding habits and location around the state. The Florida Medical Entomology Lab (FMEL) has produced a database of these species and their distribution, habits and importance.

There are a few simple precautions you can take to help avoid mosquitoes:

• Make sure windows and doors are closed and screens are well-sealed.

• Avoid working or playing outdoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

• When outdoors, be sure to wear loose fitting light-colored clothes, and apply an insect repellent containing DEET.

• Use mosquito netting to protect children under 2 months of age.

• Discard old cans, tires, bottles, broken appliances and other items that can accumulate stagnant water.

• Remove stagnant water at least once per week from bird baths, kiddie pools, outdoor toys or potted plants.

• Make sure gutters drain properly so that they do not hold stagnant water and that gutter drains are not clogged.

• Cover boats and stored vehicles with tarps to prevent water accumulation.

Now that the warm weather is back, unfortunately so are fleas and ticks.  Even worse, they’re seeking out your pets as a host.

Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent fleas from becoming a problem for your furry companion:

• Always check your pet’s bedding daily for evidence of fleas.  The eggs are slightly smaller than a pin head, oval and cream colored and are usually found in cracks, crevices and bound with strands of carpet.
• If pets are to be outside at all, be sure you have a veterinary-prescribed flea treatment that is applied regularly according to the label.  Adult fleas usually stay clinging within the fur of the pet but will die if a flea protection has been regularly applied to the pet.

If fleas are discovered, here are a few additional tips to follow:

• If fleas are found on the pet, comb out or remove and kill the fleas.  Vacuum all areas of the floor, especially under sofas and chairs and under sofa and chair pads.  Throw the vacuum bag out and replace with a new bag.
• If fleas are found, inspect your yard for fleas by dragging an old towel or rag across areas where pets usually walk.  If fleas are present they will jump onto the towel.  If this occurs, the yard will need immediate treatment.
• If live fleas are found indoors, a flea treatment should be performed immediately.

Fleas can get out of hand fast so it’s important to stay vigilant and constantly inspect for the above signs of infestation.

Many pest service providers only service the interior and immediate exterior of their commercial properties.

To have a truly integrated pest program, a service should focus on identifying conditions, avenues and sources of pest activity. Many times these sources  can often be found away from the structure along property lines, plant bed areas, parking lot islands, trash collection areas and other property features. Inspecting these areas and putting into place corrective and preventive actions is critical to keep pests from getting in and coming back.

When selecting a pest service provider, be certain to look for one who takes these steps to assure the program is truly preventing pests and not reacting to them after they enter the structure.

To find out more about Massey’s PrevenTech Commercial Pest Prevention Program or to get a Free Pest Inspection, call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Don't let bed bugs take up residence in your hotel!

Bed bugs can get into ANY structure, so the potential for a 5 star luxury resort to have bed bugs is similar to that of an economy hotel. Why you may ask? Well… because unlike ant and roach populations, bed bug infestations are not impacted by the level of sanitation.

So how do bed bugs get in? They are almost always introduced by humans. So when guests arrive for a stay, they may be unintentionally bringing more than just their toothbrush and socks. They may also bring bed bugs that snuck in from a previous night’s hotel stay or their own homes.

Since there’s no known prevention for bed bugs, the most important step a hotel operator can take to manage bed bugs is to train their room staff. Teaching cleaning and maintenance personnel to look for early signs of bed bug activity is your best bet. Taking corrective action is much easier before the population becomes larger and more difficult to eliminate.

Inspect For Bed Bugs

How to detect Bed Bugs:

• Mattresses
• Sheets and Pillow Cases
• Headboards and baseboards

Do’s and Don’ts when Bed bugs are spotted:

• Tell a supervisor
• Bag and seal all bedding
• Secure the room

• Remove bedding from the room
• Make the bed
• Remove any furniture

If you are concerned about the threat of bed bugs in your facility or would like more information on training your staff to spot bed bugs, call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Now My Guy is a Massey Technician

Massey shoots new television spots and, for the first time ever, features Massey’s GreenUP Landscape Services on TV! Completing shooting this week, the new spots had no short order to fill: feature what Massey does differently and get noticed on TV. So how do you do that on TV today? Let us introduce….Barbara and “My Guy Doesn’t Do That!”

The star of our new television spots, Barbara, a nosey neighbor, can be seen in varying places spying on a Massey GreenUP Landscape Specialist servicing her neighbor’s landscape. With every shrub inspection, aeration and irrigation maintenance technique she sees, she exclaims, “My guy doesn’t do that!” When her neighbor catches her spying she states, “Well…maybe you’ve got the wrong guy!”

The new commercial will start running in all Florida and Louisiana markets beginning Monday, 4/20/09. It will air in conjunction with our new Pest spot so be sure to look out for both!

Did you know that vegetation touching your home is one of the most common avenues that ants and other crawling pests can take to transfer from the outside to the inside of your home?

Our climate in the Southeast is conducive to rapid plant growth. Gardens surrounding our homes send up growth more rapidly than around homes up North. We suggest pruning everything away from the home at least 6-12 inches on a regular basis.

Larger tree limbs or nearby palm fronds that touch your home can allow rodents or small animals to transfer onto the roof or eaves. From there, these animals can find access or gnaw through small gaps to create a convenient highway to an attic nest.

White-footed ants are one of the most invasive indoor ants in south Florida and love to get into your home this way. All it takes is one leaf or frond that touches for these pesky little ants to turn your home into their home.

You’ll be surprised how you can substantially reduce the impact on indoor invading pests by simply keeping vegetation from touching your home.

Massey’s Pest Prevention Program is based upon sound integrated pest management principles of identifying the conditions, avenues and sources of pest infestations in order to successfully deal with any pest problem in or around your home. When we find active pests transferring to the home from a small branch or leaf we will prune the vegetation away from the home to prevent pests from getting inside.

To find out more about our Pest Prevention Program, get a Free Pest Inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Not only does spring bring warmer days but sporadic heavy rains can also occur. Both the heat and moisture cause insect activity to increase and the chance of pests getting into your home increases too.

If you’re a current customer, we are always on the lookout for gaps and cracks that pests can use to gain entry and we seal them off.

If you don’t have Massey’s Pest Prevention, we recommend that you have an complimentary inspection to ensure that there are no gaps, cracks or any other unseen entry points for crawling pests to get into your home.

If you do come across any roaches, ants or other crawling pests save it in a zip-lock bag until the pest can be properly identified. Although it may seem icky and gross, it is important that the pest be identified so the proper measures can be taken to eliminate the pest from the home.

Even in the most protected home, there still is a chance for pests to get inside. Opening and closing doors, airing the home out for spring and outdoor fun can all be avenues for pests to come in the home.

If you see a crawling pest or have questions about our Pest Prevention program, contact us for a Free Inspection or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY for more information.

There are several pests that can creep into your stored holiday decorations. So when your putting away your holiday decorations for the year, consider the following tips to ensure your decorations are kept safe from pests until the next holiday season:

• Remove old cardboard boxes and old wrapping paper from your storage area
• Place items made of wool or silk into ziplock or sealed plastic bags
• Store your decorations in plastic storage boxes that have tight fitting lids instead of cardboard boxes. Make sure the lids are well sealed to keep silverfish and other small pests from entering.
• If you label your boxes, cover the label with clear tape and if you include a detailed contents sheet, make sure to place it in a sealed ziplock bag.

We hope you had a safe and happy holiday season!

Nothing is more natural during the summer than kids playing outdoors. But there are a few common pests that can get in the way of that fun.Here are a few common pests that can be aggravations to you and your kids this summer:

• Fire ants. These are the most dangerous ants you’ll find in your lawn. They deliver painful stings, which can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, in some people. In addition to attacking people, fire ants can also sting your pets.  Be sure to teach your kids not to disturb fire ants or their mounds and have a professional take care of the problem.
• Fleas. In our warm environment, fleas can develop from egg to adult in just 2 weeks. Plus, it’s possible for 10 adult fleas to produce over 250,000 offspring in just a month! While fleas are most often found on animals, they will also jump on humans for a blood meal. In addition to causing itching and discomfort, fleas have also been known to transmit diseases like plague, typhus and tapeworm.
• Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more than a summer annoyance;they can also carry harmful diseases. This potential danger makes it important to effectively treat the areas where mosquitoes live and breed, including dense foliage and standing water. To help keep mosquitoes away, be sure to replace all standing water, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if going out at dusk or dawn. If you can’t avoid being in mosquito-infested areas, use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

Pests don’t have to spoil your family’s fun this summer. To keep them under control – guaranteed – contact Massey Services for a free,detailed pest inspection.