Bulwark Exterminating » Uncategorized

Insects vs. Bugs

SteveBitter — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:36:02 +0000

We all have bug problems. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or how clean you think you are, you have a bug problem. Some problems may not be as big as others, but everyone has one.

It’s OK, though. You don’t need to feel bad about it. You shouldn’t freak out about it or start becoming paranoid about it. However, the sooner you accept it and learn about it, the faster you’ll be able to control it.

DISCLAIMER: This is not me, a pest control guy, trying to convince everyone who reads this that they have a severe problem and that they should immediately order our pest control service. Like I said, some problems aren’t all that big and we hall have varying degrees of tolerance.

But what I am here to do is shed some light on the difference between “bugs” and “insects”. This is nothing official or too scientific, just an attempt to understand the differences between the little creatures we find in and around our homes.

Basically, bugs are annoying and have no place on your property or in your home. They can be dangerous, dirty or just straight annoying. Insects, on the other hand, are simply small creatures that go about their business. They are harmless, sometimes entertaining and even helpful.

So, bugs: bad. Insects: good. It’s semantics, I know, but let’s have fun with it. Let’s start with the bad.

Crickets. If you think about it, crickets are the only bugs around the house that make noises loud enough to actually keep you up at night. Their chirping is just a notch down from fingernails on the chalkboard. Making matters even worse is when they are hidden inside the walls, making them untouchable. Banging that area of the wall might quiet them down for a minute, but it won’ t remedy the problem. They serve no purpose on your property other than to make annoying chirping sounds with their legs. They’re not dangerous, just super annoying.

Roaches. Known for being the garbage men of the bug world, roaches are filthy more than anything. They don’t sting, bite or attack. But they do carry allergens that can affect those with sensitive noses. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t invade your home because its “dirty”. They actually don’t care how dirty or clean your house is. The cleanest houses still offer what they need: shelter, food and water.

Spiders. There’s nothing good about spiders. Even if they aren’t dangerous, they’re still bugs. If anything, they’ll almost always leave a mess wherever they’ve been with their webs. Yes, they are known to eat other bugs on the property, but they are bugs themselves. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Most spiders you find around your house are pretty harmless. Most of the will bite to defend themselves, but very few are poisonous enough to cause any real problems. There is nothing cute or cuddly about about them, so there’s no need for them.

Scorpions. Definitely a bug. Definitely bad. Definitely dangerous. There is nothing useful or beneficial about having scorpions on your property. It doesn’t matter who you are, they’re stings are extremely painful and the discomfort will surely last at least a few days. Depending on who you are, the stings can be life threatening. That’s no bueno.

Bees, wasps, hornets. These guys make up the 101st airborne division of the corps. They all sting and if you have allergies to their toxins, they can pose real complications. Their speed and mobility makes them intimidating. Like all good fighter squadrons, if you look carefully you can see embossed on their transparent wings “Terror of the Skies”.

Zero tolerance. As mentioned, we all have differing levels of tolerance for whatever bug problem we may have. Some have no tolerance whatsoever, while others don’t mind sharing their property with a few visitors. Of the hundreds of bugs or insects that are seeking room and board at your house, as a professional, the few commoners that I’m suggesting you have zero tolerance for are: scorpions, black widows and brown recluses. There are bugs, and then there are these guys. All of them are extremely toxic and all of them can cause long-term damage. Especially if you have small children living at home, we recommend immediate service to get rid of them as soon as you can. Scorpions, in particular, are expert survivors, and are best dealt with by professionals. (That’s my only business plug. I promise.)

Now for our little friends that make our backyards like our very own animal jungle.

Grasshoppers. All these guys do is mind their own business. Sure, they’re a little strange looking, but aren’t we all? They’re completely harmless and can be a little entertaining for kids to examine. In some cultures they are actually used within the diet as a viable source of protein, vitamins and minerals. In others, they are symbols of charm and good luck. Give ‘em a break!

Lady bugs. Even in our culture lady bugs are seen as good luck. Especially if you get one to land on you that doesn’t have black spots. Those are like super good luck, or so I’m told. When it lands on you the trick is to get it to hang with you as long as possible. The longer it lingers, the more good luck you’ll have.

Butterflies. Could you honestly see yourself harming a butterfly? No, I didn’t think so. That’s practically inhumane. Kids love to see and chase them. They’re typically really pretty and pose no inconvenience to you or your home. Let them do their thing. Grab a camera and see if you and your kids can’t snap a few good shots of them for your child’s art wall.

Mantises. The praying mantis is pretty mystical. Cultures of the Far East think very highly of our mantis friends, who actually boast over 2,400 verified species. Known for its prayer-like stance, the mantis inspired two forms of martial arts developed in China. In African cultures, the mantis is viewed as a god-like figure. In fact, “mantis” is Greek for “prophet”. So, as you can see, the mantis builds a pretty strong case for its preservation. They are well-equipped to defend themselves when threatened, but don’t pose any real danger to humans. They are certainly a rarity to see, and they don’t infest locations like other bugs do, so you might as well enjoy it before it moves along its merry way.

Pest Test

service@bulwarkpest.com — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:10:48 +0000

A Pest Control Brain Teaser. Take our quick and easy Pest Test.

Ready, Set, GO!!

Bonus Round?

How many pests are found in this test?

What Bugs Do Turkeys Eat?

Bulwark Pest Control — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:16:43 +0000

Thanksgiving Turkeys

In 1621 the Wampanoag Natives and Pilgrims got together in Plymouth, Massachusetts gathering around a delectable roast turkey; thus solidifying the birds place in history. “Turkey Day,” as it is sometimes called, is celebrated by millions of Americans each year and culminates with the eating of some five billion pounds of turkey. This year alone Americans will eat over 270 million turkeys over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

A Turkey’s Insect Diet

As much as Americans love eating turkey, turkeys equally love eating insects. While farm raised turkeys eat seeds and cracked corn, wild turkeys are considered opportunistic omnivores. This means they eat a diverse assortment of plants and insects. Throughout the year, turkeys might feast on hundreds of different plant and invertebrate species. Insects are a smaller, but important, element of the wild turkey’s diet. This helps the bird get the protein it needs to survive in the wild.

Pests Your Thanksgiving Turkey Might Eat

Grasshoppers

During the summer and fall months, turkeys head into the fields munching on Differential Grasshoppers. Landowners love having wild turkeys on their property for this very reason. Turkeys eat the grasshoppers and other pests that quickly destroy plants and vegetation.

Crickets

A turkey will listen for the song of a field cricket. That chirping sound, that most of us find annoying, helps a turkey locate these crunchy meals.

Black Carpenter Ants

Black Carpenter ants are a common insect for turkeys too eat. They are easy to find, and are on the turkey’s ground level. When a turkey finds an ant nest, it will dig and scratch away at it gobbling up every ant in sight.

Wolf Spiders

Wolf Spiders are quite a tasty treat for turkeys, when they can find them. Wolf spiders are usually very shy and quickly run away when disturbed.

Chiggers

Chiggers are actually mites, cousins of spiders and ticks. Most of us have heard of them, or have been bitten by them, but don’t know what they are exactly. Chiggers spend most of their lives living in moist soil, and that’s where turkeys will find them.

Centipedes & Millipedes

Turkeys will scratch and ding near tree roots in search for these delectable meals. For more information about centipedes and millipedes, click here.

Earthworms & Slugs

These slimy garden pests are like filet mignon to a turkey… One of their favorites!

Beetles

The crunch of a beetle in the beak of a turkey is something rural farmers love to hear. Colorado potato beetles, boll weevils and the Carpet beetles frequently create insect control problems when they invade and destroy household items and agricultural crops.

Scorpions

While scorpions are not common in most of the Turkey loving/living states, we have evidence to suggest that if a Turkey happened upon a scorpion it would indeed indulge itself to a tasty treat. The evidence lies in the chicken. Chickens will and do eat scorpions in Arizona.

What Would A Turkey’s Thanksgiving Dinner Look Like?

Now that we’ve examined some of the pests a turkey eats, this got this bug guy thinking: “What would a turkey’s thanksgiving dinner look like?”

For Bulwark’s a menu of a full four course Thanksgiving dinner for a turkey, click here.

Bulwark Pest Control

Wild turkeys love eating bugs and other creepy crawlies that can be commonly found in your home and on your property; but you’re no turkey. The thought of eating pests like Wolf Spiders is grotesque. You want them out of your home! If you are bugged by pests like roaches, spiders, ants or scorpions this Thanksgiving or anytime during the year, contact Bulwark Exterminating at 1-800-445-9313.

Make sure your house guests have a pest free Thanksgiving. Sorry if you consider a certain house guest a pest; we have no remedy for him or her.

Happy Thanksgiving!

At Bulwark Exterminating, we are thankful for you and for your business this year. Whether we’ve been a regular visitor to your home for years, or you’ve just been introduced to our Bulwark pest barrier, we’re thankful to have you as a member of our Bulwark Pest Control family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Published by Bulwark

Three Services To Choose From – All Guaranteed.

SteveBitter — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:10:24 +0000

As consumers, we all have different preferences. We all like the same things, but in different forms and even for different reasons. Have you ever been to a restaurant and there is only one item on the entire menu? No variation? No combo meals? No side orders?

Bulwark Exterminating offers three main residential services – Signature, Hybrid and All Natural. While the placement and application of our products stays the same, it is the product itself that changes in degree.

Our Signature service is the most popular and effective treatment we offer. We treat the interior of the home with an in-wall method, removing the face plates of the electrical sockets of all the exterior walls of the house. This is the most effective place to apply product inside the home because this is where pests live. The exterior of the home is treated with two products. We first power spray the perimeter of the house with a 5-foot barrier. Product is applied 2 feet up and 3 feet out, providing maximum protection from invading critters. A granulated product is then applied to all the plant and bush moisture points of the front and back yard.

Once the interior of the home is secured, we work to maintain the exterior barrier. We typically only need to treat the inside of the home during the initial visit. Each subsequent visit is to respray the outside of the home and reapply product to the moisture points.

The products we use in our Signature service is 100% guaranteed to protect you and your family from all the pests native to your area. They have been developed and perfected in scientific laboratories to deliver optimal results. We understand that our customers want the safest and most effective products on the market. While the products we use are, indeed, the best on the market, they are also found under the “Caution” label. Many of the household items we find in our homes are labeled under “Warning”. In fact, one product we use, boric acid, is less toxic than the table salt found in your kitchen.

Bulwark’s Hybrid service is a mix of synthetic and all-natural chemicals. We apply the same products to the exterior of the home and the moisture points. However, on the interior of the home, we use all-natural products that are derived from the natural extracts of certain plants and trees. We apply these natural products as we would our Signature treatment – in wall.

Our All-Natural service features a complete treatment using only our natural products. Again, the product is applied with the same method as our Signature service, so only the chemical itself changes.

All three of our services come with a 100% money back guarantee. If your pest problems persists after we have treated your residence, call us back and we will send one of our technicians out to your home for a follow-up treatment, free of charge. We are confident that our products and technicians will be able to solve whatever pest problem you may have. We have been in service for more than 10 years and a recent annual customer survey reported that 97% of our customers would recommend our service to a friend or family member.