An Explanation Of What Green Pest ControlIs

 In these days of eco-friendly practices and environmental awareness, it just makes sense that the profession of pest control has taken major strides to lessen their own impact on the environment. While toxic pesticides still exist, their use is steadily declining, in favor of more humane practices and the use of more organic methods of pest control. In this article, we will be taking a look at green pest control, and the various tactics currently in use.

Pest Awareness And Management

 A big part of green pest control is being aware of the environment around your home, and what potential you have for invading pests. Practitioners of green methods take educating their clients seriously, and will make sure that you understand why a particular pest invaded your home, what attracted it, how it was able to get in, and how you can prevent it from returning.

 The other side of the coin, pest control management, deals with choosing the correct solution for the resident pest, how to best effectively implement it, and what impact it will have on the area’s ecosystem. Some pesticides on the market still retain some toxicity, and if organic measures do not work, may be the only viable solution. This is the reason behind good ecosystem management, so that little impact is made on the home environment as possible. This includes the water supply, plant ecology and the impact on living beings within the home, including pets and children.

Removing Opportunity From The Situation

 As with any pest control situation, the first step should be to identify the invading pests. This can be done through examining infestation evidence, like debris left behind, tracking patterns of activity, and looking for the presence of a nest. Eyewitness accounts from the client will also help the pest control technicians in identifying exactly what they are dealing with, and what measures might be required to remove it completely.

 Next, the technician will look for points of entry, and take measures to correct the situation. The methods for doing so are quite simple, and easy to learn, so that future invasions do not occur. This is known as exclusion, and basically involves removing the reasons to enter, as well as the access point. Trimming bushes, trees and plants so that they are not in contact with the walls of the home will prevent insects like ants from using them as bridges, sealing up any cracks in the foundation and walls to keep mice out, or screening over any openings like vents to keep birds or raccoons out.

 Removing the reason for entering through the method of exclusion means taking away the chances for food, water and shelter. Stop storing food attractors like flour and sugar on kitchen counters, fix any leaking pipes in the home, do not store food trash in open cans near the home, and make sure that all cans and woodpiles are not only securely covered, but at a distance from the home. Mice just love woodpiles and no raccoon can resist a full garbage can.

Organic, Low Impact Measures

 If it is decided that the client wishes organic pest removal measures be taken, there are several options available to the technicians. For pests like bats, mice, rats and raccoons, there are humane traps that can be employed so that they can be caught and taken away from the area. In the cases of insect infestation, low impact plant-based oil pesticides can be used to drive them away, or sonic waves used to drive them out, followed by the application of pheromones to prevent them from returning and breeding.

 It should also be remembered that every pest control situation is different, and one or more of these measures may have to be taken before success is achieved. In any case, nothing will be done that will have a lasting, negative effect on the home environment. With organic pesticides, there is no danger to pets or children through exposure, and no allergens will be introduced. Always ask about the ingredients of any treatments to be done, for your own peace of mind. The pest control technicians should be willing to explain anything you need to know, before applying the pesticide.

Sunbathers: Box Elder Bugs and Red Clover Mites - by Kelly Garvin

Have you ever ventured into your backyard to enjoy the sunshine when you looked at your patio and realized it wasn’t as stationary as you once thought? Look closer. Closer. That’s right, your patio has now come alive and is moving like the black and white fuzz on the television, only it’s red now, kind of disgusting and a lot more irritating than your common qualms with cable TV. What you’re witnessing is the mass gatherings of clover mites that have come to enjoy the sun just as you once intended to do. Depending on the trees you have in or around your yard, you might also be noticing the black and red box elder bugs grabbing some rays in your favorite lawn chair.
Here in Columbus, Ohio we have intermittent spring and summer like days and with each frequent change it brings around a new swarm of creatures. It’s helpful to know what it is you’re seeing and if they are harmful to you and yours. It might bring about a teensy tiny bit of solace to know that those teensy tiny red bugs you’re noticing are not at all harmful albeit incredibly annoying and somewhat sickening, which upon reflection is probably putting a big ol’ dent in aformentioned solace. They do not bite or sting as they are far too small for that and when you see them in your home they are either there by mistake or they are looking for a warmer place to stay.
Box elder bugs are much bigger and more easily recognizable because of their black ovular bodies with a distinctive red X on them. On sunny days they take the whole brood to the sunniest, most desirable spot in the yard to bask in the glow of the summer sun. They are neither an agricultural pest nor do they pose any real threat to humans, but they poop all over the place and that might irritate some people. 
The only fool proof way to eliminate these pests from your life is to never come into contact with trees and/or nature. It may be best stay indoors at all times and never leave your house without your hazmat suit. No, but seriously, these bugs are seasonal and it is INEVITABLE that at some point in your life you will come into contact with them. They will go away on their own just as soon as the weather changes, and in Ohio that could be several times in a day.  A good way to ensure smaller populations of clover mites is to make sure your grass is trimmed and any vegetation growing around your house is at least two feet away from the foundation. They will seek warmer areas if the weather becomes cooler, so make sure any gaps or cracks are sealed around doorways and window sills. Unfortunately box elder bugs hang around the box elder tree and feed and reproduce on it, so the only way to lessen their numbers is to actually get rid of the trees in which they dwell.

Centipedes versus Silverfish

Both creepy crawleys most people hate by Kelly Garvin

Listen, I too have a mounting list of unwarranted and totally irrational fears that has undoubtedly been compounded by film masterpieces such as Arachnophobia and Starship Troopers. You are not alone. But as I learn about each insect, each pestering rodent and every crazy animal that might wander into my backyard, I become a little less frightened. Still, on a scale from one to terrified I become about an eight whenever a centipede or silverfish mosies it’s way into my line of site. I discovered some amazing super-power type capabilities apropos of these tiny terrors. Turns out I can spot a dime sized insect’s movement from across an extremely large and dimly lit room, and on occasion, I can identify them from within another room with pinpoint accuracy. I have yet to discover any applications relevant to my specific set of skills. I do find, however, that the best defense in the ongoing battle of the bugs is to become acquainted with them and to be knowledgeable about them.

Many people get confused between these two species as they are similar in their appearance. Both have whispy, yet unnerving, antennae that extend the length of their bodies. Other than the shared trait of freakishly long feelers, these bugs are very different creatures.

Silverfish
A truly primitive being, silverfish are one of the first animals to emerge from the prehistoric ocean to walk on land (which means they’ve been terrifying people since cavemen.)  They are about a half inch to three fourths of an inch big and are covered in fine scales. They can be a brownish color, but as they age they develop that silvery shine they’re known for.  They do not have as many legs but have long antennae similar to that of the centipede which causes people to confuse the two. It also has long antenna like appendages on its rear called a ‘cersi’. Silverfish can be potentially damaging to your home and belongings because its diet consists of sugar and starches. It’ll consume everything from the adhesive from your wallpaper, to the old photos and memorabilia in your closet. They may even eat clothing and carpet. You’ll find silverfish in moist areas as they require 75%-95% humidity to survive, this definitely includes basements and attics and anywhere you might have a leak.

Centipedes

The common house centipede is about 2 inches big with a ridiculous amount of legs. Actually, a centipedes leg count can be between 15 and over 300, but your common house centipede probably only has about 15 pairs or less. They are carnivorous and will eat all the other creepy things in your basement, like the aforementioned silverfish. Believe it or not, a centipede or two are very good bugs to keep watch over your basement and attic as they consume all the bugs that are truly damaging and harmful to you and your belongings. They are quite shy and don’t travel in posses , so you will most likely only encounter one or two every now and then.  If you must get rid of them, the best thing to do is to catch them and release them outside so they can be your own little pest control unit around your house, if not in your basement.

The best way to protect yourself from unwanted creatures, as always, is to keep a clean house and yard. Don’t make your place a desirable habitat for them, and they won’t close in on your territory. Both of these bugs love the moisture, so eliminate any potential moisture problems, such as leaky pipes, and you’ll eliminate a potential bug bunker. To protect yourself against silverfish store all your old books and paper products in a seal tight bag or container.  If you give the boot to all the other insects and spiders in your house, you’re giving the boot to the centipede’s diet, which in turn will cause it seek another refuge.  Laying sticking traps are also a useful weapon in the fight against both centipedes and silverfish. When you’re done getting rid of these unwanted critters, make sure all entrances, like cracks in concrete and spaces between doors and windows, are closed off.

Moles, Voles, and other Tunnelers

After months of waiting for the snow to clear it’s finally time to mow your lawn, plant your garden and keep up with Jones’s. But there’s a problem. It appears as though something else has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. Holes are popping up everywhere, you’re having trouble keeping that new tree you planted alive, and your garden doesn’t seem to be thriving like it did last year. Someone or something has infiltrated your fortress, and it’s threatening your curb appeal. There are many burrowing and tunnel digging creatures that could be taking up residence in your backyard as we speak, and as always, knowledge and preventative measures are always the best means of ridding yourself of these nuisances before they start moving in.

Identifying Critters
the largest rodent that could be digging up your yard is the groundhog, also referred to as a woodchuck. Groundhogs live in a burrow and will tunnel several exits for itself, destroying your lawn in the process and in some extreme cases, the foundations of different structures. Groundhogs have been known to displace up to 35 cubic feet of soil. They are about as large as a domestic cat, grey to brown in color, and will occasionally perch on top of its burrow, like a Meer cat, to scope out any impending dangers. Groundhogs are extremely aggressive and will warn other cohabitating groundhogs of any emergencies with a whistle or squeaks and low barks.

More commonly seen in your backyard are moles. A mole is not a rodent, rather it is an insectivore, living off of bugs and grubs found in the soil. Aside from the tunnels and mole hills it creates in its wake, its waste is actually beneficial to the soil, acting as a fertilizer. It also eats insects and worms that might otherwise harm your garden and grass. Any damage to your garden or plants is incidental. They are about 6 to 8 inches in length, have large webbed hands conducive for digging, and are usually eyeless. You know you’re living with a mole when you see their mountainous mole hills and tunnels, or ‘runs’, throughout your grass and yard.

Ohioan Ground Mole

Shrews look like a smaller version of a mole. They are long nosed and mousey, have brown to dark grey fur, and have sharp, spiky teeth. They’re not especially harmful to your yard but can become irritating as they are extremely territorial and have been known to attack house pets and other small animals in the surrounding areas. You might come into contact with them as they often find themselves in precarious situations and end up falling into window wells and other tight spots.

Voles resemble mice but are shorter, chubbier and have hairy tails. They have similar habits to moles, but are more likely to be dwelling below your garden as it consumes the water and nutrients from root systems and small plants. They will also eat dead animals and almost any nut or fruit. When their primary food source becomes sparse, they may resort to eating the bark off of trees. This is known as ‘girdling’ and can be hazardous to your tree. The animal is actually after the inner bark, as this is where all the vital nutrients for the tree are stored. Without those nutrients the tree cannot survive.

Why am I getting moles, voles and other tunneling creatures?
Perhaps you live in an area dense in forestation or by a river. It’s possible that rather than them living in your space, you’re living in their space. It’s also possible that creatures may be moving into your yard simply because their homes are being compromised by city expansion. You’re home may look very inviting to any of these creatures if your yard is unkempt and resembles a forest.
Making your home undesirable for them is as easy as making your home desirable for you! Areas that would make a good home for a burrowing animal would include: piles of leaves, long grasses, and other landscaping debris. So, rake your yard, mow your grass, and remove any riff raff that might look inviting to a digger.