?…ask the Bugman
All Creatures Great and Small
Mosquito control
I got a couple of questions about mosquito control. With the very hot weather and rain, insect activity will increase and you may have to deal with mosquitoes. Here is some information you can use to prevent mosquitoes from being a problem in your yard. First, reduce standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Some species … Continue reading
How to control bed bugs
Is it possible to control bed bugs with non-toxic materials? All you need to start is a EPA Exempt pesticide, which is safe or even just a mixture of alcohol and water with a little dish soap. Mix a gallon sprayer half and half with water and alcohol and a cup of dish soap. Then … Continue reading
Bed bugs, cockroaches, termits? Do it yourself
I just got a call from a woman in Grants who has bed bugs and she called an exterminator who said the price was $600 to get rid of them. This is beyond ridiculous. If you have bed bugs, you can control them yourself and it will probably cost only a few dollars. I won’t … Continue reading
Centipedes
There are several hundred species of centipedes in the U. S., but most of them are very small and belong to two groups. They are the stone centipedes (Lithobiomorpha) and the soil centipedes (Geophilomorpha). Stone centipedes are about an inch long and have 15 pair of legs. Soil centipedes aren’t much longer and have upwards … Continue reading
Hazards of pesticides
This may be long, but if you are interested in the hazards of pesticide use, you may want to read it. I am posting this because warm weather is here and pests will be around. We all know the pharmaceutical industry in this country has outrageous prices and most of the prescription drugs have side … Continue reading
Ant information
When you have ants in the house, you can use safe boric acid baits if you want, such as Terro Bait. What I did when I had a bunch of acrobat ants on the kitchen counter was put some Karo syrup on a piece of paper and all the ants hung around there all the … Continue reading
The pest control industry
I have said many times that I have over 45 years of experience in the pest control industry. Let me tell you a few things I have learned and why I almost never recommend pest control companies. I started in 1972 in Hollywood, Florida where I was hired by a local pest control company. I … Continue reading
Pest exclusion
This is what you need to do to keep pests and pesticides out of your home. The most effective part of pest control is exclusion. Here is how to pest proof your house. The purpose of pest-proofing your home is to help keep cockroaches, ants, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, rodents and other pests out. It will … Continue reading
Bites and Stings
How do you avoid getting bitten or stung by nature’s inhabitants? Here are some scenarios I went through and you will be able to see what not to do. About 37 years ago I was crawling under a house in Bloomfield, NM doing a termite inspection. I wasn’t wearing a shirt. As I was crawling … Continue reading
Earth Friendly Bug Club
We have to do a lot to change the world for our children and grandchildren to be safe. We need to make sure children don’t starve to death and that everyone has a roof over their heads. We need to make all of our food safe and not chemically polluted. We need to have a … Continue reading
Rodenticides
I get specimens in the mail for identification and occasionally from pest control companies. I got a flea in the mail from a pest control company for identification. It came from a ground squirrel area on a property near the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico. The flea was Oropsylla montanus (no common name) and … Continue reading
Earth Friendly Bug Club
You can join my Earth Friendly Bug Club if you want. When you join, I will address any pest issues you have now and in the future via phone or email. I will send you relevant handbooks via email. I will identify any pests you have if necessary. If you want to join the club, … Continue reading
Roaches and ants
The two most common pests that are active now are cockroaches and ants. If you have any of these pests, you can control them yourself. You do not need a pest control company to spray toxic pesticides in and around your home. If you have large brown American roaches or black Oriental roaches you can … Continue reading
Rodenticides
I just got an email from someone about a lot of rodenticide bait boxes in an area in Santa Fe. The company that put them there is totally unqualified in common sense. In New Mexico, we have approximately 107 species of fleas (I counted them). Of that number, about a third are known or possible … Continue reading
Pest Control companies
I started in the pest control industry in 1972. I was living in Florida and saw an ad in the paper about a company that was hiring. I went to the company, applied and they hired me. Pay was $80 a week. On my first day, the supervisor took me to a house to … Continue reading
Pest Tips
Pest Tips; Silverfish: You can trap them by putting some flour in a glass jar and wrapping it with duct tape so they can climb up the sides. They will get in the jar but will not be able to get out. Cockroaches: Pesticides not necessary. You can control cockroaches with beer and duct tape. … Continue reading
Covid-19 pandemic free pest management
I am going to start something effective today because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am starting a business that will help anyone with pest problems via consultations. I do that now with many people, but it is time to expand it because of the pandemic. Many people use exterminators and that is no longer … Continue reading
Safe pest control products
Here is a list of some products you find around the house or that you can easily purchase that will help you manage your pest problems. There are many others, but these may be the easiest to find and use. Baking Soda Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a mined alkaline mineral. When it is … Continue reading
Coronavirus opinion
The coronavirus pandemic is terrible, and I don’t think it is going away. This is just my opinion. It originated from live animal markets in China where wild animals are routinely slaughtered and sold to people on site. The animals live in terrible conditions that creates an environment where the germination and spread of diseases … Continue reading
Pesticide spraying outside
Someone asked me if it was okay to have the perimeter of her house sprayed with pesticides for cockroach control. It is not good for the ecosystem. There are numerous beneficial organisms in every yard and this is one reason, plus your safety, your family’s safety and the safety of any pets you have for … Continue reading
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