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Black Widow Female (She's the one with the dangerous bite.)
"Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly," is an often quoted saying. Whoever originated it may have had this creature in mind. The mere thought of the Black Widow causes most of us to pause and even strikes fear in the hearts of some folks.
Black Widow Male
(Harmeless to humans)
Contrary to urban legend, Black Widows do not agressively come out to bite us. They are shy creatures. which prefer to avoid contact with us or any creatures that may pose a threat to them. If disturbed, as with any spider, Black Widows will flee to a sheltered area and wait until whatever caused it to flee has passed. They tend to inhabit secluded areas, usually low to the ground, where, they are likely to avoid detection. It is this habit, however, that is the main problem. Bites usually occur when unsuspecting humans put their unprotected hands, bare feet, etc. in secluded areas, such as wood piles, shrubs & ground cover plants, rarely used boxes, occasionally used personal articles, like boots shoes stored in dark places, etc. Children's play equipment can harbor Black Widows too: Things like sand boxes, swings, play houses, etc. can have areas where these spiders may hide. Be sure to wear gloves when working in areas where Black Widows may harbor. Check footwear, that hasn't been used for some time, prior to wearing it. Periodically check children's toys and recreational equipment to minimize the chance of an unfortunate encounter.
It is the female that poses the threat when she comes in contact with humans. The bite of the Black widow may initially inflict a sharp pain or, in some cases, may not be noticed at all. However,as the venom spreads through the body, it wreaks can can cause debilitating pain. Although the venom is not fatal for most people, the very young, the very old and those with hypertension can be at risk. It is important for anyone who has been bitten, regardless of age, to seek immediate medical attention.
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BIRD & BAT PROBLEMS? PEST CONTROL CENTER CAN HELP
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SUMMER 2009 |
Greetings!
As Summer approaches we all begin thinking of fun things like back yard barbecues, boating, camping, fishing, baseball, picnics and walks in the park with that special someone. But Summer also brings other things that we don't like thinking about...until they bite us, sting us, get into our food or just make a nuisance of themselves. I'm talking about pests like Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets, spiders (especially Black Widows), ants and other assorted pests that invade our indoor and outdoor spaces, afflicting us, our pets and our landscapes.
In this issue we will briefly discuss some of these pests, what you can do and how a professional may be able to help. |
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Paper Wasp or Yellowjacket?
 Every year they show up. A nuisance that can't be ignored. Yellow Jackets and Paper Wasps. To many people they appear the same, but there are key differences: Yellow Jackets, sometimes called, "Meat Bees," build their nests in cavities such as gopher burrows, hollows in trees and buildings and other places, such as rock walls. They are agressive and will attack readily, with little provocation to defend themselves and their nests.  Paper wasps, on the other hand, are fairly docile and attacks on humans are rare. They can become a problem, however, when they build their familiar, umbrella shaped paper nests near the entrances of structures used by humans.
Another social wasp which many of us are familiar with is the Bald-Faced Hornet. A non-agressive cousin of the Yellow Jacket, this wasp is somewhat larger than the Yellow Jacket and Paper Wasp and is black and white in color. The colony builds the familiar oval shaped nest, which hangs from a tree, shrub or structure. Like the paper wasp, the Bald-Faced is not prone to attacking but will defend its colony, when threatened, so respect and caution is warranted.
 The Mud Dauber Wasp, though somewhat menacing in appearance poses no threat to humans. Mud daubers are black and yellow, thread-waisted, solitary wasps that build a hard mud nest, usually on ceilings and walls, attended by a single female wasp. They are not social wasps but may be confused with them. They do not defend their nests and rarely sting. You can safely remove the nests without spraying.
If you must control wasps yourself caution is the order of the day with most species; particularly with Yellow Jackets. Use a product registered for control of the target insect. Treatment should be done during a time when temperatures are low and the insects are somewhat lethargic, such as early morning. Follow label directions exactly. All that being said, control of wasps, especially Yellow Jackets, is best left to the professionals.
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Scale Insects
Scale Insects
Info Search:  Armored scale insects have a waxy covering that protects them from most pesticides. You'll probably never actually see these things move - they're kinda like currants stuck on the plant. Scales seem to begin clustering in or near leaf or branch junctions as well as on tender new growth. Scale insects can be serious pests on all types of woody plants and shrubs by sucking sap from host plants. If infestations are heavy, they may kill branches or entire shrubs or trees. Scales are so unusual looking that many people do not at first recognize them as insects. Armored scales and soft scales are the most common types of scales on woody plants. Adult female scales and many immature forms do not move, are hidden under a disk-like or waxy covering, and lack a separate head or other recognizable body parts. Scales have long piercing mouthparts with which they suck juices out of plants.  Most scales have many natural enemies that often effectively control them, but ants protect scale from these beneficials. If scale is a problem in your yard, you may also notice ants climbing up the plant as well. So try to reduce the ant infestation to allow beneficials a chance at controlling scale. While some horticultural oils and pesticides claim to control scale, possibly the best and lowest impact solution is the use of a toothbrush, water and mild detergent, such as Simple Green. Oils and pesticides often cannot penetrate the scale insect's wax-like armor, while the toothbrush will easily knock off the insects; following up with a horticultural oil or soap can finish the job for you....
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Proper Lawn Watering
 In recent years California has experienced lower than normal rainfall, resulting in our governor declaring a drought. Although, always a concern, water use has, in recent years, become an issue that is front and center. One of the major uses of water is irrigation and of all the plant materials in our landscapes, turfgrasses use the most. In order to conserve water, limit fungal diseases and promote the over-all good health of your lawn, the following practices should be incorporated:
1. Deliver 2 to 1 1/2 inches of water to your lawn weekly.
2. Water in the hours just prior to dawn to reduce loss due to excess evaporation, yet allowing the moisture to evaporate from the leaf blades in the early part of the day. This aids in reducing the incidence of fungal disease. Alternating watering days is another way to allow proper drying to discourage disease.
3. Water on alternating days, three days per week: Divide the amount of time it takes to deliver the required amount of water by three. This tells you the amount of time to water each of those three days.
4. Rather than deliver the entire daily amount of water at once, divide your watering up into two or three cycles of your system. This will minimize runoff and maximize absorbtion.
Pest Control Center has programs to assist you in maintaining your lawn's optimum health call us or CLICK HERE to schedule your free lawn analysis and lawn service proposal. | |
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Sacramento & Surrounding Areas: (916) 344-4400
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