In the United States billions of dollars a year in repairs are spent due to the destruction caused by termites. With over 3,000 different species of termites found across the world, these pests are notorious. Termites work 24/7, never stopping. Without effective treatments, they will continue to demolish the cellulose resources, leaving your home or business and other wooden structures in ruin. The infestation does not always start in the structure, but it can start in the surrounding trees as well. Eastern subterranean termites and arid land subterranean termites are the most common termites in New Mexico. They live and nest within trees and wooden structures. When they get to your tree first, it is only a matter of time before they get to your home. Spotting the symptoms of a tree infested with termites can save your home before they get too close for comfort. To help you save your home and your trees, we at Bugman Pest Control of… more »
Birds and bats can pose numerous challenges. Both can carry harmful diseases and can host other pests like fleas, lice, ticks and mites. Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease caused by a fungus and is transmitted to humans by airborne fungus spores that grow on bird and bat droppings. Birds can also carry cryptococcus which is an infestation with yeast like fungus that can cause tumors in the lungs and can spread to the brain. They can also transmit psittacosis, another infectious disease that can result in death. Their droppings and nesting materials can also become unsightly and bird droppings can become a slipping hazard. Bats can also carry and transmit rabies. Even a bite or a scratch from a rabid bat can result in transmission of the virus. While it is extremely rare to be infected with rabies, it can happen. Symptoms develop anywhere from 3-12 weeks after exposure to an infected animal. If it gets to the central nervous… more »
Deer mice are fairly common throughout New Mexico. They have white feet and underbelly and are typically brown everywhere else. They scurry around on four feet that extend from their round-shaped body. These mice average 5-8 inches in length and are common across the U.S. Generally, deer mice emerge from their hiding places at dusk and dawn to feed on nuts, berries, seeds, insects and small fruit. Outdoors, deer mice will find shelter in hollow tree logs, piles of debris, and old fence posts. During the late fall, deer mice have a tendency to seek refuge from the harsh winter temperatures and infiltrate into houses, garages, sheds or rarely used vehicles to seek shelter. Once inside your home, they are more attracted to basements or attics and will build their nests stuffed furniture, storage boxes, drawers and wall voids. Do All Deer Mice Carry Hantavirus? Today, we at Bugman Pest Control of New Mexico bring up deer mice because of… more »
According to entomologists, Africanized honey bees otherwise known as killer bees will sting without provocation making them dangerous for homeowners who are unfortunate enough to come in contact with them. If you notice a lot of bee activity around your backyard adhere on the side of caution and contact your knowledgeable Bugman Inc. professional for proper identification and removal. You backyard may have become a home for Africanized honey bees and if you disturb them you run the risk of being attacked by possibly thousands of agitated stinging insects. When killer bees move into attack mode they are both aggressive and relentless and the summer months are when Africanized honey bees are most active. Where Did Africanized Honey Bees Come From? The Africanized honey bee is a hybrid of the Western honey bee originally produced by cross-breeding the African honey bee with various European honey bees in order to increase honey production. The Africanized honey bee was first introduced into… more »
Insects come in all shapes and sizes. Some are completely benign while others are extremely dangerous. Some like to exist in isolation while others prefer groups. Some have only a few variations on the species while others have hundreds of variations. Some insects are frequently found in or around homes and businesses while others stay away from humans. Today we will be taking a look at the wasp. The wasp is one of many insects that humans will most likely have interactions with at some point in their lives. Where Do Wasps Live? The scientific classification for the wasp is Hymenoptera Apocrita. Wasps made their first known appearance millions of years ago during the Jurassic period. Over the years tens of thousands of wasp species have been discovered. With the exception of the polar regions, wasps can be found in all parts of the world. Some wasps are social wasps and some wasps are solitary wasps. Wasps range in size… more »
With the school year coming to a close, you and your family might be planning some fun family vacations. However, this is the time of year where bed bugs become a major problem and can easily be picked up in hotel rooms, resorts, or even by visiting family or friends. Bed bugs are hitchhikers and will crawl into bags, purses, and on other linens, such as clothing. They are also very hard to detect and often most people don’t even know they are there until their home becomes infested. Bugman Pest Control of New Mexico will share some basic signs that your home is infested with bed bugs and how you can help control them. How to Tell if You Have Bed Bugs on Your Mattress & in Your Home Bed Bug Bites – Bed bug bites are somewhat easy to determine. Bed bugs will bite humans while they are sleeping and feed on their blood. When bed bugs bite… more »
Lawns and desert landscapes can be negatively impacted by some different weeds and invasive insects. These same problems can prove to be a challenge to control if left unchecked even for a short time frame. Attempting to remove the unwanted weeds around your prize cactus and in between the heavy rocks can be especially problematic. Some trees and insects can quickly infest and take over an entire garden or lawn, depriving it of the nutrients it needs and ultimately destroying it. With our Lawn Fertilization and Yard Insect Control services offered throughout all four seasons of the year, we can keep your lawn looking amazing. We at Bugman Pest Control would like further expound on the lawn fertilization and yard insect control services. Grass Fertilizer An important role of healthy grass in addition to proper watering, mowing, and pre-emergent, is adequate fertilizing. It is a common misconception that your turf needs fertilizing once a year, but really, a healthy, well… more »
The most common termite species found in New Mexico is the Eastern subterranean termite. An Eastern subterranean termite colony can consume five grams of wood each day. They will eat cellulose material like structural wood, wood fixtures, paper, books and cotton. They are most destructive to Douglas fir and other wood used in construction. They will destroy the inner sections of the wood, eating mainly the spring wood and leaving the harder summer wood behind. This will leave wood extremely weak and can destroy billions in property every year. Termites can greatly devalue a home with the damage they cause. Eastern Subterranean Termite Family Caste Subterranean termite colonies are slow to grow and can take years before signs of damage are seen. When a colony reaches maturity, it can number 20,000 to 5 million workers, with an average of about 300,000. The queen of the colony will add 5,000 to 10,000 eggs each year it is active. Colonies are typically… more »
Ants are the most common pest in households and are the pests that get more calls to professional pest control than any other pest. Ants are very successful social insects with colonies that can be small to large and the warm climate and desert landscape climate in New Mexico is ideal for them. Types of Ants in New Mexico Odorous House Ants– These ants are probably the most common infesting ants. They are small ants that have dark brown bodies that can look black. They get their name from the rotten coconut smell they release when they are crushed. They can be very hard to deal with as they will nest inside walls. Fire ants– Fire ants are red and can sting. They live in soil mounds around your home and like areas that are open and sunny. They can get as big as a quarter of an inch and their painful bite is the reason they have the reputation… more »
The deer mouse, Latin name Peromyscus maniculatus, is a relatively small rodent which can be found in many areas throughout the United States. These tiny rodents are known for their agility and speed along with their ability to jump. The deer mouse is considered a particularly dangerous species as it is known to carry several deadly diseases including Hantavirus and Lyme disease. Both of these diseases can infect individuals directly or indirectly through contact with saliva, urine and feces. According to the knowledgeable experts at Bugman Inc., the deer mouse is the main carrier of Sin Nombre virus, a Hantavirus strain found in New Mexico. While the deer mouse prefers agricultural areas, they can also be found in residential and commercial areas. Deer Mouse Identification The deer mouse is fairly small compared to other species of mice at barely four inches long. It can be easily identified with its two-toned colored body and large eyes, soft gray fur on the… more »