Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Got company? Got bed bugs?

Are you having company this summer? Can you be sure they're not bringing a few extra unwelcome guests with them?

If you are not sure whether you have bed bugs - or if this is something you worry about even though you haven't seen any indications of infestation - give us a call and we can provide you with bed bug moats for your beds.

Moats help to prevent bed bugs from getting onto your bed ... bugs become trapped in them. Which means that infestations are quickly spotted and far more easily treated. As usual, when dealing with pest control issues, easier = cheaper.

Cottage Country Pest Control is also able to provide soluable laundry bags especially formulated for bed bug infestations.

And, of course, if you DO discover that you have a bed bug infestation, our licensed & insured exterminator will help you to solve the problem.

If you suspect you may have a bed bug problem anywhere in Simcoe County, Muskoka, Tiny or Tay Townships, or in Peterborough or the surrounding area...  give us a call at (705)534-7863 or email us at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com .

No waiting - bed bug problems are our first priority, and in most cases, we are able to provide same day service.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Why you don't want to wait to call...

Perhaps you've seen this story already but if not, I suggest you go read the story "Ontario house a honey pit"

Done? okay, this story is a perfect example for why you shouldn't wait to call a pest control company if you've got a pest. Granted, not every pest is going to cause this type of damage, but if left long enough the damage caused by many pests can get not only bad (or worse than the damage in the story)  but also expensive too.

Why would you want to have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars fixing the problem and damage caused by something that could have been solved for way less money and in less time??

So, if you think you have a pest or you know you have a pest problem give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

For more information about bees (and wasps and hornets) you can check out the past posts:
Bees, hornets & wasps...oh my!
Hornets
Wasp
Bug Bites: Part Two

Don't put it off!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Mosquitoes: Disease & Control

Yesterday's blog was all about mosquitoes-what they are and their life cycle. Today's will cover a little bit about the diseases spread by mosquitoes and controlling the mosquito population.

Mosquitoes are known to be major vectors for disease-causing viruses and parasites in humans. The infected mosquitoes carry the viruses and parasites, which are then spread from person to person.

Some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes include yellow fever, dengue fever (which is commonly found in travelers of the Caribbean, Central America and South Central Asia), malaria, lymphatic filariasis, West Nile virus and Tularemia.

In Canada, among other temperate and developed countries, mosquitoes are generally just a nuisance over a major health concern, however there are still known cases yearly where illness and death do occur because of mosquitoes. In fact, just yesterday (July 3) Toronto's public health department confirmed that mosquitoes  carrying West Nile virus have been found in Toronto. If you want to read the article from the Toronto Sun about this development, you can do so here.

Controlling mosquitoes is where Integrated Pest Management really comes in handy. Some steps to take include:
  • Source reduction- removing stagnant water from your property
  • Bio control- using natural predators of mosquitoes such a dragonflies and bats to naturally control the mosquito population
  • Trapping and/or insecticides- can be used to kill larvae and adults
  • Exclusion- using mosquito nets and window screens to prevent them from entering your home or cottage
If you are having an issue with mosquitoes and you have an event coming up such a family reunion or outdoor wedding, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call. We can come in and spray so that if you are using tents or awnings for example, any mosquitoes that land on them will no longer be an issue.

If you are having a pest problem, remember it is better to deal with is sooner rather than later as it can quickly become a very expensive problem to deal with. To book an appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control, give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Mosquitos

Today's post is all about mosquitoes. Specifically what they are and their life cycle and tomorrow's post will cover disease and control.

Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies that are called Culicidae. Most species of mosquitoes are harmless and even considered useful to humanity. Some species are nuisances because they will feed on blood from living vertabrates, including humans.

A major problem with mosquitoes is that when they feed on the blood of humans and livestock they can transmit some of the most harmful diseases, which is something you can read more about tomorrow.

There are over 3.500 species of mosquitoes found worldwide, except for Antarctica.In warmer temperatures (tropical regions for example), mosquitoes are active year round. In colder temperatures, they will hibernate over the winter months.

Mosquitoes, like all flies go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. In most species, the female adult will lay their eggs in standing water. Some species will lay their eggs near the water's edge and other species attach their eggs to aquatic plants.

The first three stages of a mosquitoes life cycle are mainly aquatic and these stages generally take anywhere from 5-14 days depending on the species and the ambient temperature.

Mosquitoes that live in some regions where there is cold temperatures and lack of water, can spend part of the year in dispause, meaning they can delay their development and continue on with their life cycle only when conditions are ideal for them to continue.

The eggs hatch into larvae, which then grow until they are able to change in pupae. Following the pupae stage, the adult mosquitoes will emerge from the mature pupa as it floats on the surface of the water.

Mosquitoes that feed on blood, have the potential life spans of a week to several months.

If you are having a pest problem, remember it is better to deal with is sooner rather than later as it can quickly become a very expensive problem to deal with. To book an appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control, give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Monday, July 2, 2012