Symptoms of an Arizona Bark Scorpion Sting

Arizona Bark Scorpions are considered the most venomous species of scorpion in the United States, and not surprisingly these scorpions are found here in Arizona, in home across areas like Phoenix, Surprise, Mesa, and more. Most scorpion stings provide similar pain to that of a bee sting: painful, but only severe and problematic to those with a significant allergy.

But the Arizona Back Scorpion is different. These scorpions have venom that is harmful to humans, and although it is very rare to die from a scorpion sting, the resulting pain and discomfort can be significant.

What Happens After a Sting?

If you or someone you love has been stung by a scorpion, don’t panic – there are many scorpions that look like Arizona Bark Scorpions but have much less venom, and the amount of venom you receive can differ between stings. Even after an Arizona Bark Scorpion Sting, some people experience almost no symptoms at all.

But if you are stung by this type of scorpion, the symptoms can be very distressing. Common symptoms include:

• Severe pain at and near the site of the sting.
• Numbness or tingling in the affected area.
• Muscle immobility, twitching, or convulsions.
• Difficulty breathing/rapid breathing.
• Vomiting and Nausea.

The pain can be severe, even without too much envenomation, but it should be limited to the targeted area. However, some individuals experience worse symptoms, especially children, seniors, and those that are immunocompromised. In those individuals, you may see symptoms that include:

• Paralysis
• Foaming at the Mouth
• Seizure-Like Symptoms

As mentioned, deaths attributed to the bark scorpion are rare. It is estimated that only 2 individuals have died as a result of these stings. But the other symptoms are a common problem, with thousands of very painful scorpion stings reported each and every year.

Protect Yourself from Scorpions

Scorpion stings are very pain. But they are also preventable. At Green Home Pest Control, we have a variety of highly effective solutions that can help you protect your home from scorpions and eliminate any that are on your property. For more information about our scorpion control services in Arizona, please call us today at 480-405-5930.

See the original post: Symptoms of an Arizona Bark Scorpion Sting on our official Green Home Pest website.

7 Tips to Avoid Fruit Flies in Summer

 

In the hierarchy of scary pests, fruit flies are somewhere near the bottom. But when a fruit fly infestation gets too severe, they are some of the most irritating bugs that you can have in your home.

Fruit flies may be small, but they breed extremely quickly and love feasting on your food, and nothing makes your home feel less clean than walking into your kitchen and seeing hundreds of them flittering about.

How to Stop Fruit Flies

What makes fruit flies so upsetting is that they are so preventable. Unlike house flies, mosquitos, fleas, and spiders, you’re unlikely to find these pests in a random room. They are almost always found in the kitchen, and almost always found on old food that was left out too long.

That is why the best ways to avoid fruit flies are with prevention. Consider the following:

• Throw Away Ripe/Overripe Fruits and Veggies – The most common reason these flies invade is because they sense old and rotting produce. Only buy as much fruit and veggies as you need, keep it in an easy to access location, and make sure that you eliminate (or freeze) any that are about to go bad.
• Seal Your Garbage – Of course, throwing away your produce is only one step. You will also need to make sure that you seal off your garbage can, and try your best to take out the garbage as close to every day as possible. Easy access to old food in the garbage will attract fruit flies.
• Clear Your Dishes – If your family tends to leave dirty dishes in the sink, try your best to either clean them or rinse them. Any leftover food or drink runs the risk of attracting and feeding fruit flies.
• Run the Disposal – Similarly, food left in the disposal is not at all hidden to fruit flies, that can sense that type of food from far away. It helps to make sure that you have successfully emptied the garbage disposal every time you dump food in there.
• Throw Out Your Flowers – Food may be the main attractant for fruit flies, but flowers can be almost as problematic. When flowers age they quickly become nutritious food for hungry fruit flies, so disposing of them quickly is a great way to protect your property.
• Keep Your Windows Closed – Fruit flies can fit through spaces as small as a millimeter, so it doesn’t take much space for them to invade. But it helps to not make it easy. Seal any holes in your windows and keep them closed if any food is on your counter.

What is perhaps most interesting about these six prevention tips is that they are also treatments. If you have a fruit fly problem, eliminating all of their food sources for an extended period of time also tends to eliminate the flies. There are also many do-it-yourself traps for fruit flies, and vacuuming them is often enough to eliminate them.

The 7^th way to prevent fruit flies is to call Green Home Pest Control in Arizona. Our skilled pest control specialists can help eliminate any of your pest problems, and ensure that you are able to comfortably live fruit fly free. For more information, please call our team today at 480-405-5930.

See the original post: 7 Tips to Avoid Fruit Flies in Summer on our official Green Home Pest website.

Common Mistakes Homeowners Make With Termites in Arizona

There are many different types of pests. But perhaps none are as destructive as the termite. Capable of producing thousands of dollars worth of property damage, as well as putting your home at risk for fires and energy loss, termites are not just a nuisance – they are a huge hit to your financial and physical safety.

That’s why it is so important to both prevent and eliminate termites effectively. Here at Green Home Pest in Arizona, we frequently see homeowners make mistakes when it comes to controlling their termite population, and we are more than happy to come to your property to assist you with your infestation.

Termite Prevention and Treatment Mistakes

The following are some of the most common mistakes that homeowners make with termites. All homes are at risk for termites, and termite control in Arizona requires an immediate treatment. Avoid the following to reduce your property damage:

• Assuming They Are Not There – There is this belief among many homeowners that termite problems are always noticeable, and that if they have an infestation they’ll “know.” But often by the time you notice termites on your property, it’s already too late. Always check for signs of termites, or call for an occasional inspection.
• Creating a Termite Friendly Environment – Prevention is as important as treatment, which is why it helps to avoid creating a termite friendly home. This means moving firewood away from the home (as it attracts termites), removing tree stumps, and being careful about excess mulch.
• Relying on a DIY Treatment – It is possible to eliminate some pests on your own, especially for mild pest infestations (like spiders or crickets). But DIY termite treatments are just not usually that effective, and the time you spend trying to perform termite control on your own is time that the termites will usually do more damage.
• Disrupting a Termite Treatment – Finally, many homeowners accidentally disrupt their termite treatments by digging up dirt around the home after a liquid treatment or installing untreated wood near the home. Talk to Green Home Pests about strategies that you can use to make sure your treatment keeps working.

Termites are some of the worst invaders, and severe infestations can cause long lasting, irreparable damage. That is why it is a good idea to give yourself a stronger understanding of termites, and try to avoid some of the more common mistakes. It is also very important to consider contacting a trained pest control specialist for any termite problem, because every minute you wait can cost you money.

For more information about Arizona termite control, please call Green Home Pest Control today at 480-405-5930.

See the original post: Common Mistakes Homeowners Make With Termites in Arizona on our official Green Home Pest website.

How to Tell if Rats Are Still Living in Your Home

At Green Home Pest Control, we stand behind our work. If we are unable to eliminate a problem that we’ve promised to eliminate, we’ll come back for free until the job is done.

Yet some homeowners choose to take matters into their own hands, and use their own tools to control the problem. This is especially true of rat invasions. Many homeowners in Arizona lay out their own traps to see if they can control the problem themselves. They may even catch a rat or two, and sometimes that may be enough.

Are The Rats Still There?

Just because you eliminated a few rats, however, doesn’t mean the problem is gone. That is why it is important to keep an eye out to see if there are any signs that the rats are still present. Some of the most common signals include:

• Typical Sights and Sounds of Rats – Of course, the simplest way to know that rats are still living on your property is to pay attention to the same signs that you saw in the past. If you see any rat droppings, hear noises in the wall, or there is evidence that rats attacked your food or trash, you still have rats.
• Smell – Another common sign that rats are still on the property is the presence of “rat smell.” Rats tend to smell like ammonia, and although the smell can occur at any time, it is especially common after rats have first entered a property. NOTE: If the smell is mustier, it may be mice, not rats.
• Rats Outdoors – If you see rats outdoors, then there is a good chance rats are indoors as well. Rats tend to enter from the same spaces as other rats. Unless you also are confident you sealed your home after you first noticed rats, it’s likely other rats are entering.
• Rat Tracks – Finally, be on the look out for rat tracks. These are small lines on tile and hardwood floors that can be seen with a flashlight if you look closely, or if you sprinkle white powder on top of a suspected area. These tracks fade over time, so their presence is indicative of a rat problem.

Rats are excellent hiders and afraid of humans, so you may not see a rat in your home. But rats are not the best at cleaning up after themselves. If you inspect your home thoroughly, you should be able to see signs that rats are still present. If you’re not sure, call Green Home Pest Control today at 480-568-3752, and we’ll make sure the rats are eliminated.

See the original post: How to Tell if Rats Are Still Living in Your Home on our official Green Home Pest website.

What Indoor Pests May Make You Sick?

All indoor pests are a nuisance. But some pests represent a genuine danger to you and your family. Many types of pests carry or contribute to illness, which means that when they invade, they could cause harm to you and your family.

Identifying and Eliminating Disease Carrying Pests

Prevention is important, because many of the most common pests carry some type of disease, or can contribute in some way to making you sick. Some of these pests include:

• Cockroaches – Roaches can carry salmonella, and other bacteria that can make you sick. They also have oils and “roach dust” that can contribute to allergies and asthma.
• Rodents (Rats and Mice) – Both rats and mice carry bacteria and can cause allergens like cockroaches. But these pests can also carry Hantavirus, Plague, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, and many other very dangerous viruses. As such, rodents may be some of the most dangerous of pests.
• Mosquitos – Mosquitos have killed more humans than any other living being, including other humans. They are also best known for their ability to carry disease. Although issues like Zika, Malaria, and other deadly diseases are rare in the US, they may still carry West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, and several other minor diseases.
• Flies – Like roaches, flies have a tendency to carry bacteria on their skin that they spread to foods when they eat. Flies, quite literally, eat garbage and poop, so they come into contact with diseases like salmonella and hepatitis A fairly regularly. That’s why eliminating foods they have contaminated is important.

Most other pests do not make you sick. Bed bugs, for example, may cause numerous itchy bites, but they are not known to carry disease. Scorpions, spiders, and wasps can all cause pain when they sting or bite – and in some cases, this pain can be severe or even deadly – but they do not necessarily carry any diseases. Rather, it is their venom that causes illness and pain.

Still, with most pests causing either illness or pain, there’s a reason that preventative pest control in Arizona is so important. If you are looking to prevent pests on your property this year, call Green Home Pest today at 480-568-3752.

See the original post: What Indoor Pests May Make You Sick? on our official Green Home Pest website.

Common Myths and Facts About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are everywhere. Nearly eliminated in the mid-1900s, bed bugs are spreading throughout the United States, and can be found in every city in Arizona. Of all the pests we treat at Green Home Pest Control, bed bugs are the ones that tend to cause homeowners the most fear, as they are highly resistant to previous treatments and almost impossible to exterminate by hand.

Still, despite how well-known these pests are, they are still widely misunderstood. There are many myths about bedbugs that Arizona homeowners still believe today. Below are some myths and facts about bed bugs.

Myths About Bed Bugs

MYTH: Bed bugs tend to live in dingy areas and spread from cheap motels.

FACT: Bed bugs do not care about the quality of your home, and are just as likely to be at a Motel 6 as they are at a Ritz Carlton. The idea that they are found at cheap and dingy motels is a myth, and one that only exists because there tend to be a lot of motels in areas with a dense population (and thus more visitors).

MYTH: You can only get bed bugs if you stayed somewhere that had bed bugs.

FACT: Bed bugs are not afraid to travel. When they have outgrown one location, bed bugs may leave a house and wander to another home nearby or grab on a nearby pet and hitch a ride. You can get bed bugs even if you never leave your house and never invite guests over. And since bed bugs can theoretically live in offices, movie theaters, and your friend’s houses, you’re always at a slight risk for a bed bug invasion.

MYTH: If bed bugs don’t feed, they die.

FACT: While this is technically true, bed bugs can live for as long as 2 to 3 months or more without a blood meal, depending on the season. Waiting them out is impractical.

MYTH: Bed bugs feed at night.

FACT: Bed bugs do tend to feed at night, but have no problems biting during the day if they are hungry. They are happy to eat when they need to eat.

MYTH: Throwing out my mattress will help.

FACT: Bed bugs are not really bed bugs. They live on couches, in walls, on carpets, in cabinets – anywhere they can find safety and shelter. Throwing out your mattress is often a waste of a perfectly good mattress, as the bed bug population is unlikely to be eliminated.

Eliminate Your Bed Bugs

If you believe you may have bed bugs, and you’re located in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, or anywhere in the Arizona area, call Green Home Pest today at 480-568-3752. We are happy to come visit your home, and see what we can do to eliminate your bed bug problem.

See the original post: Common Myths and Facts About Bed Bugs on our official Green Home Pest website.

How Long Do Pests Live Indoors?

Pests always tend to find a way indoors. They can fit through the smallest of cracks, climb through the thinnest of holes, and make their way up the tallest of stairs. When there is no pest control barrier set up around the property, pests will always find a way inside.

As every pest control company will tell you, when you see one pest, chances are there are plenty more that you simply haven’t found yet. That’s one of the main reasons that monthly, preventative pest control is so important. But not everyone wants to call a pest control company right away, which often leads to a very common question: How long do pests live indoors, anyway?

How Long Do Pests Live Anyway?

Most pests live a surprisingly long time. While some pests live only for about a month (house flies, fruit flies), or 3 months (fleas, mosquitos, and crickets), other pests can live well over a year:

• Bed Bugs – 1 Year
• Black Widow Spiders – 1-3 Years
• Brown Recluse Spiders – 1-2 Years
• Brown Rats – 2-3 Years
• Ants – 1 Year (Queens Can Live 25 Years)
• Mice – 2 Years
• Cockroaches – 1 Year
• Scorpions – 5-10 Years

Even termites live for 2 years each. Pests can live a long, long time, especially given the right conditions and with access to their necessities.

What About Indoors?

The question about how long pests can live indoors is a bit trickier to answer. Pests need access to two things for survival: food and water. Without those, their lifespan is shortened.

But for most pests, including rats, ants, roaches, and mice (among many others), finding food is never a problem. These types of pests can eat almost anything, and need only the small amount of food and water to survive – an amount that is easy to find in any kitchen, basement, or bathroom.

Scorpions feed on other insects, which makes finding food a bit more difficult. But they are also unbelievably efficient – they can go as long as 12 months or more without feeding. So survival indoors is rarely a problem either. Spiders can do the same, as brown recluse spiders can live for 6 months in an airtight, sealed container.

Bed bugs can live 2 to 3 months without feeding, and more when the weather cools. The only pests that die quickly indoors are flies. If flies cannot find food, they tend to live for only 2 or 3 days.

See the original post: How Long Do Pests Live Indoors? on our official Green Home Pest website.