BIRD & BAT PROBLEMS? PEST CONTROL CENTER CAN HELP
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White Pine Aphids
 I remember the first time I saw these insects. It was the summer of 1979 I was a relative newbie in what we used to call the tree spraying business, working for a company called, "Green-up Spray Service." I was with Dave, the General Manager, treating residential landscapes in a suburb of Seattle, WA. The infestation was on every branch and the trunk of an Eastern White Pine. I had never seen aphids so large. They were easily ¼ inch long, with long spindly legs. They were almost spider-like in appearance. As I stared at them the entire mass was in constant motion as they swung their abdomens side-to-side as they fed, sucking the sap of life out of the tree. It was actually, for lack of a better term, creepy. It is an image that will stick with me for life.
The White Pine Aphid, Cinara strobi (Fitch), Aphididae, HEMIPTERA, can be found wherever the Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus) or Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris; family, Pinaceae) are cultivated and grown. The body is shiny dark brown with a white stripe down the center of the back. Its legs are long and black. As with most aphids the adults are usually wingless and during spring and summer reproduce asexually, giving birth to live young. If there is a need to relocate, winged females are produced. It is also these winged females who lay their blackish eggs in the fall for the species to overwinter. Sometimes, in mild winters, such as most United States West Coast winters, adults may also overwinter. As with all aphids they feed by sticking their piercing, sucking mouth parts into the tissues of the plant and draw sap from it. They feed in large quantities and in sufficient numbers can cause serious decline and even death of the host plant. Their waste product is honeydew, a sugary substance that often attracts ants who, in turn, feed on the sticky material and may act in a protective manner toward the aphids. When an aphid population is large, this honeydew can accumulate on the foliage, branches and twigs of the plant and on any surface below, encouraging the growth of sooty mold. On lawn furniture this mold is unsightly. On plant foliage it can block light, slow photosynthesis and hasten the decline of the tree.
Control of these aphids is not difficult for Pest Control Center. Our horticulturis can take care of the problem quickly and economically. If you must do it yourself here are the steps recommended: In the spring, prior to new growth, use a Parafin-based dormant oil to smother the overwintering eggs. For populations discovered during the growing season, treatment with an appropriate pesticide (synthetic or natural) labeled for use against aphids, about two weeks apart will, if applied according to label directions, significantly reduce or eliminate, the population; To the point where they are no longer a danger to the tree. Be sure that the pesticide you intend to use is registered for use in your area.
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Selling Your Home?
 Need an Inspection?
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DO-IT-YOURSELF PRODUCTS FROM PEST CONTROL CENTER
Pest Control Center carries a variety of products at our retail counters. Visit the location closest to you .
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SUMMER 2010 NEWS FOR HOMEOWNERS |
Greetings!
A lot of folks know that Pest Control Center is a structural pest and termite control company, but not everyone is aware of the horticultural side of our business. Because it is a quickly growing segment of our customer base we decided to lead with some landscape related articles this month.
Sincerely,
Your Pest Contol Center Team
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Ladybird Beetles, Destroyers of Plant Sucking Pests
 Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home...Its an old nursery rhyme that most of us are familiar with. But not everyone knows how truly beneficial the Ladybird Beetle (or Ladybug, as she's called here in North America) is in the garden. To be sure, large numbers of them can be a nuisance, especially in the spring when they tend to congregate on the sunny side of a building shortly after coming out of hibernation. Or in the Autumn, when they are looking for quarters in which to hibernate and end up wandering into buildings. They can also be a problem if they taint wine grapes. In these cases, control may be warranted. But, in the long run, it is better to have them around to protect your roses, birches, crape myrtles and other plants that are susceptible to aphid infestation and damage.
Both the adult and the larvae of Ladybird Beetles are voracious consumers of aphids. If given the opportunity, they are capable of making short work of any aphid  infestation.
If you plan to use these beneficial insects in your garden try to enlist the cooperation of your neighbors. By this I mean get them to do the same. When you purchase Ladybugs from your local garden supply store, they have usually been kept in cool temperatures, as if in hibernation, and their first instinct will be to fly, mate and disperse to lay their eggs. If you are the only gardener releasing them, you may lose most of your new assistants. However, if your neighbors also do a release at the same time, you will all benefit from the increase in the Ladybug population. When using these beetles as a natural means of aphid control, be sure  that you are not using insecticides that may affect them.
Immediately after dispersing, the adult females will go to work feeding on aphids, scales and other sucking insects. They will also lay large numbers of eggs and the emerging larvae will also begin feeding. Within a few short weeks they will have eliminated the majority of your aphid population. Each year I experience this miracle, without having to introduce any Ladybird Beetles, because I already have a large, native population in my yard. It's a pleasure not to have to worry about aphids and just let nature take her course. Unfortunately, there are times when you may have to treat your plants with insecticides to control aphids. At those times I recommend the use of a systemic insecticide because systemics, when properly applied by a licensed, trained professional, have the least chance of adversely affecting the environment, or beneficial organisms, such as the Ladybird Beetle.
Use of photos licensed under the Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
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The Importance of a Pest Inspection
Sometimes it is better to have someone else say something that you would like to say because it lends more credibility to the opinion. This is as true with Pest Inspections prior to real estate transactions, when the company offering the  advice is in the business. So, although the opinions expressed may not all be those of Pest Control Center, Inc, I've decided to present this article for your consideration:
By Jim Hirschman from Sarasota Real Estate, in lieu of offering my own opinion: The excitement of buying a new home and the desire to save money can lead the potential homeowner down a dark, crumbling drywall road. Some people think that a pest inspection is an unnecessary and costly step in the home buying process, especially if neighboring houses don't have a problem or the owner swears upon the sanctity of their mother's grave that there are no bug problems. However, I believe that it is a lot more costly to pay to evict two million tiny squatters and repair the damage they cost you. Some people are of the opinion that pests only infest lower-quality houses and condos, but this is fallacious in the extreme. Any residence can serve as a cafeteria for wood-destroying organisms. And, if you're paying several hundred thousands of dollars more than the homes you would think would be more prey to this kind of problem, doesn't it make sense to make sure that money is well invested in a solid structure? A pest inspection is often called a termite inspection because termites are the most infamous of the pests who like to snack on your house and belongings. However, there are more critters out there that like to argue the merits of pine vs fir. Some of these include carpenter ants, carpet beetles and silverfish. All of these pests like wood, but they can leave different evidence that only an experienced person can detect. Like the home inspection, the pest inspection should be part of your paperwork. Your offer to purchase the home should be conditional upon the home meeting a standard that you have determined that you can live with. Sometimes a small nest of nasties can be eradicated with a small outlay of time and noxious chemicals. However, if the supports of the house resemble birds' bones, you should take your down payment and back slowly away. A good pest inspector is going to take their time to thoroughly inspect your house. Since a lot of pests don't always go out of their way to yell, HI! I'm HERE!" to the concerned home buyer, pest inspectors have to crawl into out-of-the-way spots, like the attic or basement, to check for signs. It's sometimes a dusty and dirty job, but most pest inspectors are prepared for this. Before you invite a pest inspector to look over your future domicile, it's wise to ask them questions, check out their references and check their licensing. Licensing can vary from state to state, so be aware of the laws of your area. During the inspection, the inspector should be willing to answer your questions and point out problem areas. You should get a full report and an estimate of the standard that the home meets. Keep in mind that a pest inspector is not Superman; X-ray vision is beyond them. They cannot guarantee that your future residence is free of pests; just that it appears free. Many recommend regular inspections, to catch problems before they become a serious threat to the soundness and equity of your house. Let Jim Hirschman, Realtor guide you professionally through your Sarasota real estate transaction. Check SarasotaLandAndHomes.com to view all the Sarasota community listings, including Downtown Sarasota real estate.
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In the greater Sacramento, CA area call Pest Control Center for a thorough inspection from one of our licensed inspectors. Every home should be inspected at least every 4 to 5 years to avoid the big, serious and expensive problems that naturally come over time. Water & fungus problems are some of the main causes of damage to homes. Termites will infest approximately 20 to 30 percent of homes in the Sacramento region. If you live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains or in a location with lots of trees, the percetage is higher. Don't wait. Call us today to schedule your inspection. |
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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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Pest Control Center Has a Blog!  Stay informed on pests and related topics. go to: http://www.pestcontrolcener.com/blog/ and feel free to offer your own feedback.
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Sacramento & Surrounding Areas: (916) 344-4400
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