Firewood Pests: What Are You Bringing Into Your Home?

Due to the colder temperatures, many people are starting to utilize their fireplaces to help keep their homes warm and cozy. While having a fire in the fireplace can help save you money, you need to be aware of the firewood you are bringing into your home. A B Pest Control & Insulation knows that your firewood might be home to many different insects.

When firewood is outside, it offers insects shelter, food, and water, essentially everything they need to brave the cold winter. If there are pests in that firewood, you are carrying them right into your home when you bring the firewood in. Your Lake of the Ozark’s pest control company is sharing with you some common firewood pests you might inadvertently be inviting into your home.

Termites
Wood stacked on the ground can become infested with termites. Their presence is not usually noticed until the wood is moved during the summer or fall. Infested wood may have mud tunnels on the outside, or tunnels may be noticed if the wood is split. Termites may appear dormant during the winter months in these areas. Fire wood should not be treated with insecticides. Termites accidentally brought indoors with firewood will not infest structural wood. Their presence in firewood, piled close to the home, may warrant a home inspection for termites, however.

Bark Beetles

While these pests typically aren't a concern for indoor structures, bark beetles beetles are a large group of small beetles that may occasionally be found infesting firewood. Most are less than 1/8 inch in length and are brownish or black. These beetles and their larvae tunnel and make extensive galleries just under the bark of dead and dying trees. 

Carpenter Ants
Firewood stacked on the ground for a long period of time or not allowed to dry out sufficiently can be subject to attack by carpenter ants. These large black or reddish ants may be up to 3/8 inch long. Bringing carpenter ant infested wood into the home generally will not spread the infestation inside the home. Only wood that is higher than normal in moisture content is susceptible to carpenter ant damage.

Spiders

While most spiders aren’t the worst house guests to have since they are great natural pest control, the black widow and brown recluse are most certainly not any guests you want hanging around! The brown recluse spider typically does not bite humans unless threatened. These spiders can produce painful bites and cause open sores. These spiders love to build their webs in warm, dry, and dark environments, such as piles of firewood. Similarly, black widow spiders do not seek out humans to bite; however, when they do bite, it can be extremely painful, especially for children and the elderly. These spiders spin their webs close to the ground and are most often found in woodpiles and quiet, undisturbed areas.

A B Pest Control & Insulation Can Help 

One thing to remember if you store your wood close to your home for convenience purposes, if you forget to move it away from your home come spring time, you could be creating a haven for all mentioned pests to easily make your home theirs. To be safe, store your wood away from your home's foundation to prevent pests from entering your home throughout the winter and spring months.

If you find any evidence of these pests in your firewood or even in or around your house, give A B Pest Control & Insulation a call. While using the fireplace during the winter months is a great option for many people, your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company wants to remind you that it’s important to properly store your firewood and check it before you bring it into your house. To keep your home pest free this winter, and all year long, give us a call!

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

13 Fun Facts About Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th... A day that people often correlate as a day of bad omen. But why is it considered an unlucky day? Does anyone really know the answer? If you're a believer of superstitions, then this age old question has probably crossed your mind a time or two. In light of yet another Friday the 13th in the year that everyone already considering to be unlucky, we at A B Pest Control & Insulation thought it'd be fun to dive in and learn a little bit about this superstitious day. So, we're sharing some history and some fun facts about Friday the 13th in this week's blog!

Why is Friday the 13th Unlucky?

"According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion." - History.com

While many believe that the Last Supper is the origination of why Friday the 13th is a day of bad omen, negative superstitions have swirled around the number 13 for centuries. While Western cultures have historically associated the number 12 with completeness, 13 has a long history as a sign of bad luck. 

As an example, the union of day and date has also been traced back to King Philip IV of France arresting hundreds of Knights Templar on Friday 13 October 1307. According to folklore, there were trials, torture, and many of the Knights were burned at the stake, eventually leading to the superstition of Friday the 13th as a cursed and evil day. 

13 Fun Facts About Friday the 13th

Regardless as to what one believes, we may never know the true reason for the fear of Friday the 13th. Now that we know potentially where this superstition started and why so many dread the day, let's take a look at some interesting facts surrounding the day.

1. On Friday April 13, 2029, a large asteroid will fly close enough to the Earth to be visible without a telescope in Africa, Europe and Asia, according to NASA.

2. The word for fear of Friday the 13th is "paraskavedekatriaphobia." The word for fear of the number 13 is "triskaidekaphobia."

3. Taylor Swift thinks of 13 as her lucky number and has some connections with Friday the 13th: "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first #1 song had a 13-second intro," she told MTV in 2009.

4. One popular thought of its origin points to a 1907 book by a stockbroker named Thomas Lawson. Titled Friday, the Thirteenth, it tells the tale of a stockbroker who picks that particular day to manipulate the stock market and bring all of Wall Street down.

5. On Friday, July 13, 1923, the United States got a brand new landmark as the famed Hollywood sign was officially christened as a promotional tool for a new housing development.

6. According to heavy metal lore, the genre was born Friday, February 13, 1970, with the UK release of Black Sabbath's self-titled debut album.

7. The folks of French Lick, Indiana decreed all black cats in the town were to wear a bell around their neck every Friday the 13th in the 1930s and extending into the '40s

8. In order to prove that there was no curse on the number, Captain William Fowler—who had fought in 13 Civil War battles—started a club in 1882 that spat in the face of superstition, the secret society called The Thirteen Club

9. For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the month must begin on a Sunday. 

10. Three Friday the 13ths can occur in a leap year as well. If January 1 of a leap year falls on a Sunday, the months of January, April, and July will each have a Friday the 13th.

11. Celebrities and well-known personalities born on a Friday the 13th include actors Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen; novelist and playwright, Samuel Beckett; and former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro.

12. The commercially successful Friday the 13th enterprise includes 12 horror movies, a television series, and several books that focus on curses and superstitions. 

13. An Asteroid Will Safely Fly By the Earth in 2029. On a Friday the 13th! Friday, April the 13th, 2029, to be exact. 

As you can see, there's some good and some bad that has historically occurred on Friday the 13th. So what do you think? Is Friday the 13th really as ominous as many people think? Do you tend to treat it as any old normal day, or do you take extra precautions to avoid any possible mishaps? 

We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about Friday the 13th. We've enjoyed diving into the history and learning a little about the day ourselves! If you find yourself unfortunate enough this Friday the 13th to stumble across a pest problem, be sure to give A B Pest Control & Insulation a call. We'll take the uncertainty right out of your problem and eliminate your pests once and for all! 

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

How Are Brown Recluses and People Alike?

Temperatures around Missouri are reaching the 90s! Many people are staying indoors with the nice AC to stay cool. However, you may not be the only thing taking refuge inside your home. Many insects and other critters have the same survival instincts as humans do. If they get to hot or cold, they try to find a more comfortable environment. So, how are brown recluse spiders and people alike? Due to the extreme temperatures we experience this time of year, brown recluse spiders are more noticeable because they're one of those critters, alongside humans, seeking comfort from the sweltering temps.

Brown Recluses Are Out & About
Brown recluses are not very big spiders, as they are about the size of a quarter. They're tan in color and have a dark spot in the shape of a violin on its body. Brown recluses act just like their name suggest - reclusive, so don't expect to see them roaming around during the day. They typically hide in dark corners of the home or in stored items like boxes and closets. Because these spiders like cool dark spaces, you may see them searching for new places to hide during the heat wave.

Be Aware Of Brown Recluses
Brown recluses are not likely to go out of their way to bite people. They will only bite people when they feel threatened. With this extreme heat, it's best to take precaution to avoid these creepy crawlers.

• Shake out clothing and shoes before dressing.
• Don't garden or handle firewood without gloves.
• Keep doors and windows shut.
• Minimize outdoor lights. Lights attract insects, which could attract spiders.
• Don't go out barefoot.
• Shake out bedding before going to bed.
• Eliminate as much clutter as possible in storage areas.
• Frequently dust and vacuum around windows, corners of rooms and under furniture.

Spider Bites
As previously stated, brown recluses are not likely to bite unless they feel threatened. People commonly get brown recluse bites in areas that the spiders have been hiding. It's common to get a brown recluse bite when changing clothes, putting your hands into a pocket or putting on shoes.

Although a bite from a brown recluse is painless at first, within a few hours the bite site will become swollen, red and tender to the touch. In most cases, the irritation ends there and the bite will heal on its own. However, in some cases, the venom begins to break down the cells in the skin and progress into a necrotic lesion that will need immediate medical attention. It's best to get medical attention right away after being bitten to ensure you're aren't allergic.

Get Rid Of Spiders
Brown recluses are one of the trickier pests to get rid of in the area, so it's best to call a professional Lake of the Ozarks pest control company. A B Pest Control & Insulation can help you control the spiders that are making their way into your home to escape the summer heat. Call us today at 573-964-1100 to learn more and to schedule your appointment.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
PEST CONTROL COMPANY

Visit Our Website:

www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

Get Ready to 'Fall Back' this Sunday!

Daylight Saving Time is this Sunday, which means clocks will “fall back” an hour. The clocks roll back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. The official time in the U.S. will be 1 a.m. This means that most of us will get an extra hour of sleep but darkness will come an hour early as well. This week, A B Pest Control & Insulation thought it would be fun to share some facts and history about Daylight Saving Time. 

Here are some facts about the twice-yearly time change:

• Sunday, March 10, 2019 – Daylight Saving Time began at 2 a.m. this year
• It is “Daylight Saving Time” (singular), not “Daylight Savings Time” (plural). We are “saving daylight” for the end of the day.
• Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time starts in the United States on the second Sunday in March, and ends on the first Sunday in November.

The timeline of how Daylight Saving Time (DST) came to be:

• 1784 – The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.
• 1914-1918 – Britain goes on DST during World War I.
• March 19, 1918 – The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. DST is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States.
• 1945-1966 – There is no federal law regarding DST.
• 1966 – The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes the system of uniform DST throughout the United States. The dates are the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. States can exempt themselves from participation.
• 1974-1975 – Congress extends DST in order to save energy during the energy crisis.
• 1986-2006 – DST begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.
• August 8, 2005 – President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of the act extends DST starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
• 2007 – Under the new laws, all of Indiana now observes DST, where only certain areas of the state did before.
• Exceptions in the United States: Hawaii and most of Arizona
• The US territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa also do not observe DST.
• About 70 countries around the world observe DST. Japan and China do not.
• Many countries near the equator do not adjust their clocks for DST.

Regardless as to whether you feel that Daylight Saving Time is actually beneficial or not, hopefully we'll all be a little more rested when we wake up on Sunday, November 3. 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

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

Get Back On Track for Back to School

The schools around the Lake of the Ozarks will be starting back up next week, which means it's time to start getting things back on a normal schedule. This week A B Pest Control and Insulation wants to provide you with a checklist of things to help you and the kiddos get back on track for a bright and smooth start to the school year.

Review School Material and Information
For most parents, schools send home a packet with a ton of information regarding their child’s new teacher, important dates to remember, emergency forms, and transportation routines. Make sure that you read through this information carefully, and mark down all important dates on your calendar. This is also a great time to get all the supplies your child will need for the school year, as most schools typically include a supplies list as well.

Get Back into a Sleep Routine
Going to bed late and sleeping in until mid-morning become the normal during the summer. But once school starts back up, those early mornings are going to feel unbearable for both parents and kids if a sleep schedule isn't established. Studies show that children five to 10 years old need 10 to 11 hours, and adolescents 10 to 17 years need eight-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half hours of sleep each night. So, this week is a good time to start implementing bedtimes again.

Make an After-School Game Plan
Make a plan for where your child will go after school lets out for the day. Depending upon the age of your child, figure out if they will go to a neighbor’s house, an after-school program, or be allowed to stay home by themselves. This will help eliminate any confusion during the first few weeks.

Prepare for the Unexpected
Working parents know that it can be difficult to find a sitter when your child is sick. Before school even begins, it’s a good idea to have a sitter already lined up in case you get that phone call home from the nurse saying your child is ill. Inform the school staff of your pickup/dropoff preferences and anyone who is permitted to pick up the kids on your behalf to avoid any issues with your child being released to someone other than yourself.

Have a Great 2019-2020 School Year!
Through preparation and organization, you can ensure that your child will have a smooth transition to the start of the new school year. If you've been in 'Summer mode' yourself and need a friendly reminder of some things you should be doing to prepare your home for the fall months to come, now is a great time to schedule routine fall pest control and turf management. While we can't help you and the kids establish your back to school routine, we can help you with your pest control and lawn service needs. Give A B Pest Control and Insulation a call today for your pest control needs and more!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

Cicada Mania: Does it Seem a Bit Louder Outside to You?

Does it seem a little bit louder outside to you? What is that weird drone noise you keep hearing? Well, friends, that distinct buzzing noise that seems to drone on nonstop and seems to just keep getting louder as the days pass is the sound of the Cicada song. In this week's blog, we're going to provide you with a wealth of knowledge on these intriguing creatures and give you an insight on why they sing so loudly and then seemingly just disappear into thin air.

What is a Cicada?

First of all, you've probably heard the calling of these little critters, but have ever actually seen where all the noise is coming from? Cicadas are oval-shaped, winged insects that provide a buzzing and clicking song heard in nature throughout the summer. Most cicadas appear every year in late June through August, while others emerge only every few years. They live a relatively long time — 4 to 17 years, depending on whether they are annual or periodical cicadas. They spend most of their lives underground as larvae, followed by a short adulthood — from two to six weeks — above ground. This is when you'll hear the song of the Cicadas. 

Why Do Cicadas Make So Much Noise?

The noise you hear cicadas making is actually part of their mating process. Interestingly enough, it's the males that create such a ruckus. Males produce this species-specific noise with vibrating membranes on their abdomens. The sounds vary widely and some species are more musical than others. Though cicada noises may sound alike to humans, the insects use different calls to express alarm or attract mates. Some calls can even be heard from over a mile away! 

Since not all cicadas emerge annually, when they do finally come above ground for mating season, they must work fast to molt and mate before they die. This is why some years cicada songs seem much louder than other years. Depending on the cycle of the cicada emergence, there could be multiple species mating at the same time. 

Are Cicadas a Threat? 

If you're concerned about how the cicada emergence will affect your lawn, your family or your pets, you have nothing to worry about. Cicadas do not bite or sting, so they pose no threat to pets or humans alike. As far as your lawn and garden goes, cicadas generally do not leave much damage in their wake. Periodical cicada nymphs feed underground on tree roots, but will not cause significant damage to your landscape trees. In fact, the cicada nymphs help aerate the soil, and bring nutrients and nitrogen to the surface, benefiting plants. Once the nymphs emerge, they spend a few days on trees and shrubs, allowing their new adult exoskeletons to harden and darken. During this time, they do not feed and will not damage your trees.

Cicadas Are Amazing Critters!

As with any kind of insect you may see around your home, especially any unfamiliar ones, seeing a cicada might cause a bit of panic at first sight. However, we feel its important to share that cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. If you notice a buzzing song around your home and see these intriguing insects around, just let them be. They'll soon be finishing out their life cycle and are not harmful to you or your lawn.

While it is our job to provide pest control at the Lake of the Ozarks, it's also our duty to educate you on the insects that are not technically pests, but merely there. However, the next time you’re dealing with destructive pests, call up the best pest control service at the Lake of the Ozarks to take care of your pesky pest problems. 

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

What's the Deal with Lightning Bugs?

Whether you call these little glowing insects lightning bugs or fireflies, it’s hard to deny that there’s a sense of magic when they light up a summer sky. With this magic, comes some mystery. What makes them glow and how do they benefit the environment? A B Pest Control & Insulation has the inside scoop on what makes these bioluminescent bugs so special. Read on to find out more. 

 

What Are They Really?  

Despite their name, fireflies are not actually flies. They are instead a type of beetle. These lengthy bugs typically have colors of black, yellow, red and orange along their bodies and their heads are so small that they can rarely be seen from above. Their eggs are hatched within the soil of the Earth, where they also hibernate during the wintertime.  

Their Glow

Lightning bugs are easily identified by the light that they produce at the end of their abdomens. According to the Mother Nature Network, the light that they produce are the most efficient, especially when you compare this light to human-made light. Close to 100% of the energy produced during a lightning bug’s chemical reaction is turned into light. In comparison, only 10% of a light bulb’s energy is actually emitted as light, and the other 90% is lost as heat. Their light isn't just efficient though, it is also said that their glow helps fend away predators by telling them that they aren't tasty to eat.

Lightning bugs use their glows to attract a mate. According to the University of Minnesota, there are over 200 species of lightning bugs and each species has a particular flash pattern. Males use their patterns to attract females of the same species. Males that glow more often than others and have a higher light intensity are more likely to attract more females. Fun fact: some species sync their patterns up while in groups to gain the attention of females.  

Their Benefit to the Environment 

While lightning bugs are pretty to look at, are they doing anything to benefit the environment? They definitely don’t hurt the environment: they don’t bite, pinch, attack, carry diseases or poison. But due to their diets of common crop and garden pests, they are also helping the environment by keeping harmful pests away from gardens and fields. So, not only are they pretty to look at, they also aid the growing process of produce and crops. 

Where Are They Going? 

Hopefully we’ve gotten you all fired up about fireflies/lightning bugs. If you want to observe their beauty, but are having a hard time finding some in your backyard, there’s a reason why. Sadly, the lightning bug population has been declining due to light pollution and the expansion of urban areas which is destroying their natural habitats. In addition, some researchers are harvesting these glowing insects for medical research.  

Give Us a Call! 

We hope that next time you see a lightning bug, you’ll stop to think about what magnificent critters these insects are. Even though A B Pest Control & Insulation is in fact, a pest control company and most people associate that with getting rid of pests, we value the benefits that many pests offer to the environment. However, the next time you’re dealing with destructive pests, call up the best pest control service at the Lake of the Ozarks to take care of your pesky pest problems. 

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn