A Late Valentines Day Tip!

Valentines Day is synonymous with spreading the love, but that isn't the only thing that it can spread.  With millions of freshly cut flowers being circulated there is ample opportunity for insects to hitch a ride directly in to your home.  

You may have picked up the flowers at the corner store, but they likely came for thousands of miles away in South America.  Columbia and Ecuador are responsible for 90% of the flowers imported to the United States. The US Customs and Border Patrol inspects millions of imported flowers each year in an attempt to stop this "bug trafficking" .  

While there are measures in place to prevent such intruders, it is always a good idea to check those fresh flowers thoroughly.  Be sure to inspect between the petals and on the stems as well.  Ants and aphids are most common bugs you will find in floral arrangements.  

If you do happen to find some don't toss those flowers just yet!  Usually a gentle rinse under the shower head is all it takes to get rid of the bugs.  

This blog was inspired by a call we had where tainted flowers lead to a kitchen ant infestation.  Keep an eye on those flowers or you may need a pest professional!

Calm before the storm

Well we are finally starting to see an uptick in the temperatures here in Las Vegas.  This warmer weather seems to be appreciated by almost all forms of life.  Everyone enjoys getting back to the outdoors for boating, hiking, camping, and all those fair weather activities.  Also appreciative of the surge in ambient temperature are some things that could be considered less welcome.  Weeds sprouting,  birds flocking, and bugs reclaiming that which was their domain in the previous warmer months.

Most people know the best way to deal with the weeds is a preventative treatment to keep them from sprouting in the first place.  What could be deemed as less common knowledge is that bugs should be treated in the same way.  Rather than spraying for bugs as a reactionary response to an infestation, preventative bug spraying can keep you from having to worry about bugs all year round.

Monthly bug spraying from a pest control professional means not only means a cleaner and safer home, but it means more time for those barbecues and pool parties.  Ever wonder why you never see any bugs at certain homes?  This is no accident.  A little forethought goes a long way when it comes to pest control!