Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, OH MY!

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and this weekend will be packed full of turkey, family time and holiday shopping. A B Pest Control & Insulation is excited about the holiday season and we hope you are too! To help get you into the spirit, your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company has some fun facts about Thanksgiving and Black Friday for you to enjoy.

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The first Thanksgiving Parade that Macy’s hosted looked different than the Parades they host now. During the first Parade, there were animals in the parade. That’s right, bears, camels, elephants, and monkeys who all came from the Central Park Zoo.

The Turkey State

Minnesota produces more turkeys than any other state in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they raised almost 46 million turkeys in 2015.

We Love Turkey

According to The National Turkey Foundation, around 88 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Turkeys are also becoming more popular in the American diet.

The Turkey Hotline

Butterball has a Turkey Talk-Line hotline in case you have questions about cooking your turkey. This hotline started back in 1981 with 6 home economists. That year they answered 11,000 calls about cooking a turkey. Today, the hotline gets about 100,000 calls every year.

Black Friday Fun Facts

Black Friday got its name back in the 1960s when account books for stores were kept using ink. This day’s sales helped to move stores out of the “red” (losses) and into “black” (profits).

Doorbusters Are Rare 

Doorbusters are extremely discounted products that are usually only available for a small window of time. Because of this, the reality of actually getting your hands on one of these outrageous deals isn’t great.

Some Discounts Are Inflated

Deals may be hard to grab, but they can also be misleading. A NerdWallet study from last year found that sometimes inflated the amount of some Black Friday discounts to make deals appear better than they were.

Read ALL The Fine Print

It’s a good idea to make sure you are well informed before heading out to go Black Friday shopping. Some discounts only last for a few hours and then those items will go up in price. Some items have a very limited quantity available in store. Read all of the fine print to make sure there aren’t any surprises.

Cyber Monday Fun Facts

Marketing companies came up with the term Cyber Monday as a catchphrase to persuade people to shop online. Cyber Monday is now one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Since 2010, Cyber Monday has been the highest online spending day during the year in the U.S.

Cyber Monday is not an official holiday, but it is an international day recognized by many consumers.

Happy Thanksgiving

There’s a lot to be thankful for this year and A B Pest Control & Insulation is thankful for all of our amazing clients. If you need to prepare your home for the holiday season, give your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company a call. We hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving! 

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

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How Does Cold Weather Affect Insects?

Now that the weather is starting to cool down, you may be wondering what happens to those pesky bugs in the winter. How do they survive until the spring? Where do they go? Does anything kill them? You may be asking yourself these types of questions when you see a spider making a new home on your window screen or a trail of ants walking through your kitchen. For many insects, winter is the end. Other insects have adapted to the extreme temperatures and winter has no effect on them. A B Pest Control & Insulation knows that whether insects seek shelter inside of your house, or they have other ways to survive, insects are persistent and if you understand their cold tolerance levels, you can control them better. Your pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks has some information to help you deal with insects this winter.

When the Seasons Change

Most people notice a drop in the number of insects, both inside and outside of the home when the season changes from summer to fall. This shows that the colder weather does have some effect on insects, but what exactly happens to them?

Hibernation

Like certain animals, some insects will go into hibernation to avoid the cold temperatures. When the temperature begins to drop, some types of insects will go dormant. When they go dormant, the insect’s metabolism slows, and energy is conserved. When the temperatures begin to warm up, they are able to use that energy and their metabolism goes back to normal.

Freeze Avoidance – one of the most popular cold-temperature defense mechanism for an insect is freeze avoidance. This is just another way to say that insects “hunker down for the winter”. Insects that use freeze avoidance will retreat into rotting trees, they will bury themselves beneath the soil, or they will make their way into your home or another structure in order to ride out the cold temperatures.

Freeze Tolerance – a few insects, usually those with habitats in extreme latitudes, have developed the ability to survive ice formation within their tissues. They can create a natural anti-freeze which allows them to survive in the coldest of temperatures. This anti-freeze prevents the formation of damaging ice crystals and allows the insect to survive until the warmer temperatures allows them to thaw.

Migration

Some insects outrun the cold weather by migrating away from it. These insects usually take part in a one-way migration to warmer climates where they reproduce, die, and then send the new generation back to start the cycle again.

Death

Many insects do die when the cold weather strikes. It’s not as bad as it seems, many insects are able to fulfill their mission in life before the winter hits. That mission is to reproduce. Before the cold weather hits, many insects will prepare the next generation for the upcoming spring. They do this by laying eggs in specific areas or by providing larvae with food and shelter to make it through the winter.   

Where do Spiders Go in the Winter?

The spiders you see in your house have been there all along. These spiders colonize your home thanks to eggs sacs that are brought into your home. Most spiders avoid humans. The spiders you do see in your home are more than likely male spiders that are looking for mates. Many outdoor spiders are cold-tolerant and hide from predators before they go dormant for the winter.

Where do Cockroaches Go in the Winter?

These extremely pesky insects acclimate to cold temperature quite well. Inside of your home, cockroaches have no problem at all during the winter. Cockroaches that are outside look for a place to take shelter once the cold weather hits. They look for: food, warmth, and a daytime hiding place.

Where do Bed Bugs Go in the Winter?

Bed bugs tend to stay active during the winter. They tend to go dormant in temperature below 65 degrees, but since your home tends to stay warm throughout the winter, they thrive.

Now that you know what happens to insects during the winter, hopefully, you are more prepared. If you need help getting rid of pesky insects that are still sticking around, give your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company a call.  A B Pest Control & Insulation will make sure your home is pest free and ready for the holidays. 

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

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Veterans Day 2017

Veterans Day is this Saturday, November 11^th and your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company would like to take a moment to give thanks to the veterans that have proudly served this great nation. Without their service and sacrifice, we would not be able to enjoy our freedoms.

The History of Veterans Day

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I. The following year it was commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day. November 11 became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. Armistice Day became legally known as Veterans Day after World War II and the Korean War.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, and it marked the official end of World War I. However, the armistice date of November 11, 1918, marked the end of the conflict for many people. One year later, in November 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The day’s observation included parades and public gatherings, as well as a brief pause in schools and businesses at 11 am.

On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the “recurring anniversary of [November 11, 1918] should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations”. And that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day.

From Armistice Day to Veterans Day

During World War II, American effort saw the greatest mobilization of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force in the nation’s history. In 1954, after lobbying efforts by veterans’ service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday – they had changed the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans”. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From that day forward, November 11 became a day to home American veterans of all wars.

In the United States, an official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, while parades and other celebrations are held across the country.  Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day – a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day honors the American servicemembers who have died in service to their country or because of injuries incurred during battle. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans – living or dead – but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Veterans Day Events at the Lake of the Ozarks

Veterans Day Parade

November 11, 2017

Osage Beach City Hall to Lake of the Ozarks Elks Lodge

Come out and support our veterans!

4^th Annual Veterans Day Parade. Food and beverages will be available at Elks Lodge. Everyone is welcome!

Veterans Patriotic Art Exhibit
November 5, 2017 – November 11, 2017
Lake Ozarks Christian Church
1560 Bagnell Dam Blvd
Lake Ozark, MO, 65049

The 3rd Annual Veterans Patriotic Art Show will be held beginning on 11/5/17 at the Lake Ozark Christian Church with daily viewing available from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. thru 11/11/17. The Award Ceremony & Reception will be held at 2:00 p.m. on 11/11/17.

Happy Veterans Day From A B Pest Control & Insulation

At A B Pest Control & Insulation, we want to thank everyone who has served or is serving our country. To show your support for our veterans, make sure you come out to the Veterans Day Parade this weekend!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

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It's Almost Time to "Fall Back"

Daylight saving time is just around the corner! That means we will “fall back” and we will gain a precious hour of sleep. Daylight saving time has been a staple for the United States since World War I, but it’s origin and effects are still misunderstood. A B Pest Control & Insulation has some common myths are DST. Check them out below!

Myth: It saves energy

The common rationale for daylight saving time is that by extending summer daylight later into the evening, Americans would use less energy. This was the reason that Congress used in enacting daylight saving time during World War I. While it seems like it would be true, it’s unfortunately not. A 2008 U.S. Department of Energy study reported that daylight saving time reduces annual energy use by about 0.03%.

Myth: Daylight saving time was meant to help farmers

The idea that daylight saving time was created to help farmers get their harvests in, is so ingrained into the national consciousness, it’s hard for many to believe that it’s not true. Farmers found hard against the proposals of daylight saving time, arguing they cut productivity and made life harder for them. The lost hour of morning light means they had to rush to get their crops to market. Dairy farmers aren’t fans of daylight saving time either. Apparently, cows adjust to schedule shifts rather poorly.

Myth: The extra daylight makes us healthier and happier.

A little more vitamin D might be healthy, but the way daylight saving time provides it is not so beneficial to our well-being. Experts have warned about spikes in workplace accidents, suicide, and headaches when daylight saving time starts and ends. This can be linked to the possible disruption in sleep cycles.

Myth: Businesses Benefit

Businesses think that daylight saving time is good for the economy, the chambers of commerce lobbied for increased daylight saving time in 2005. The charcoal and grill industries say they gain $200 million in sales with an extra month of daylight saving. When the increase to eight months came up for a vote in 2005, it was the National Association of Convenience Stores that lobbied the hardest. However, not all industries love daylight saving time. Television ratings tend to suffer during daylight saving time and of course, the networks hate it. Airlines are also among those that don’t like daylight saving time. When it was lengthened, the Air Transport Association estimated that the schedule-juggling necessary to keep U.S. flights lined up with international travel would cost the industry $147 million. Daylight saving time might also cost employers in the form of lost productivity. Sleep cycles are thrown off and productivity is lost.

Regardless if daylight saving time is actually beneficial or not, we will all be a little more rested when we wake up on Sunday, November 5. A B Pest Control & Insulation wants to remind you to set your clocks back Saturday night before heading to bed. With the time change, if you happen to find creepy crawlers in or around your home, give your pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks a call. We’ve got you covered!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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