AZ Pest:: Arizona Pest & Termite Control

If you missed the show Dirty Jobs last week, you are in for a real treat. Mike Rowe and his gang visited the Ghann’s Cricket Farm in Augusta, Georgia. The farm supplies pet stores with 9 separate sizes depending on what is requested. The lifecycle of a cricket is anywhere from 6-8 weeks and the farm has 20-25 million crickets on hand at any one time. (Apparently the cricket business is booming) It’s a really cool episode and Discovery lets you watch it online at http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/dirty-jobs-cricket-farmer/ The link below is a small clip from the show, enjoy!

• Termites are insects. They have hard, saw-toothed jaws that help them to eat lumber, wallpaper, plastics, and fabric made of plant fibers.

• There are four different groups of termites: dampwood, drywood, subterranean and mound builders. Dampwood termites like to live and feed in very moist wood. Drywood termites can survive in very dry conditions and do not need moisture or soil. Subterranean termites are very common and live and breed in soil. Mound builders live in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia and part of South America; they are able to build large earthen towers 25 feet or higher.

• Termites can be found in almost every state as well as Mexico and parts of Canada. They favor warmer climates and actively avoid light. (See range map below)

• As a species, termites date back to the time of the dinosaurs.

• Termites are 24/7 bugs, which means they eat non-stop – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They feed on wood and may also destroy paper products such as books, cardboard, boxes and anything containing cellulose. Even buildings with steel framing and masonry walls are targets because of the wooden door and window frames, cabinets and shelving within the buildings.

• Termites live in underground colonies, some containing over two million members.

• The social structure of a colony includes the queen, king, winged reproductive swarmers, soldiers, and workers. Worker termites are small creamy white insects. They are the most numerous and the cause of all the termite damage.

• Swarmers, or winged reproductive’s, are termites that leave the colony to mate, reproduce and start new colonies.

• In a large nest, a queen and king may live for 15 years, with the queen laying up to one egg every 15 seconds for most of her life.

• Termites can cause serious damage to structures often long before they are discovered, i.e., more than $1.5 billion in property damage a year to over 600,000 homes in the United States.

• How do termites enter the home? The most common termite, the subterranean, builds its nest in the ground. These termites construct mud tubes that are used to explore for food and connect their underground nest to that food source. They can enter a building without direct wood contact with the soil through such tubes. They can find their way into a structure through an opening as small as 1/32 of an inch (smaller than the size of a pinhead!).

• AZ Pest techs are termite control specialists, and can provide protection from termite infestations. Our termite inspectors are trained to locate specific areas in homes where a termite attack is most likely to occur. If termites are found, we can design a treatment plan to control current infestations and to protect homes from future infestations.

AZ Termite Inspection & removal

We received a letter from Google the other day informing us that we’re “A favorite place on Google.” They informed us that because we are so popular on Google Maps we were being presented with a window decal informing customers that we’re a favorite place on Google. They informed us that, “The sticker includes a special bar code that potential customers may scan with cameras on their phones.” It is some pretty cool, high tech stuff so swing by our office and check it out for yourself. Google exclaims on their site, “Over 100,000 businesses were identified as Favorite Places, representing less than 1% of the 28 million U.S. businesses. We believe that our standards for selecting businesses are as selective as or more selective than other companies which have run similar initiatives.”

Do you think your job involves creepy crawlies?…check this out! The top 7 most creepy crawly jobs out there right now waiting to be seized.

 

1. Funeral Director, Median Salary – $46,000

Qualities that funeral directors must possess include a calm demeanor, having soothing words and paying close attention to detail.  Their duties include ensuring that funeral services go smoothly, the coordination of transportation and the burial of the body.  James Olson, owner of Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, says, “I don’t think of what I do as creepy.  Being able to give a person the opportunity to grieve for their loved one is an honor.”

2. Pest-Control Worker, Median Salary – $35,600

Are you not afraid of spiders, rodents and roaches? Then you may make a perfect fit as a pest-control worker.  This position requires training and certification by law.

3. Phlebotomist, Median Salary – $27,400

Job duties of a phlebotomist include drawing vitals of blood for medical tests, blood collection and donation.  Phlebotomy work can be found at hospitals, neighborhood health centers, public facilities, HMOs, diagnostic labs and physicians’ offices.  There is recommended training, education and certification programs offered through groups like the National Phlebotomy Association and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

4. Archaeologist, Median Salary – $47,200

Archaeologists regularly uncover human remains and ancient artifacts to discover more about our ancestors.  The job involves history and working outside.  A bachelor’s degree can get your foot in the door with an entry level position as a research assistant or a writer.  However, a PhD offers the best employment opportunities.

5. Theatrical Makeup Artist, Median Salary – $44,300

Theatrical makeup artists recreate anything from a gashed lip to a missing eye to five freshly burned fingers.  This job offers the benefit of a flexible work schedule; however the hours can be grueling at times.  The greatest number of makeup artists work in Los Angeles and New York City.  A college degree is not always required although a state cosmetology license is.

6. Night Security Guard, Median Salary – $28,700

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this field is expected to grow 17 percent through 2016.  A license is required in most states to be a security guard.  However, if the job requires carrying a gun then there’s more training and licensing needed.  Greater exposure to danger can increase earnings like working at a nuclear power plant or weapons installation.

7. Sewer Pipe Cleaner, Median Salary – $35,900

Would you like to work in a cramped, smelly and somewhat creepy place?  Well if you do then you might have a career as a sewer pipe cleaner.  They work in the cities’ massive sewer systems.  It’s easy to get started as on the job training is common in this profession.

The key to faster H1N1 flu vaccines hides in the cells of caterpillars. This according to a Connecticut based protein Sciences Corporation. The idea is to use insect proteins from caterpillars instead of the traditional egg proteins when developing the vaccine. Australia will be the first to test this vaccine and will be the first to benefit from this newly found method. To read the full article check out H1N1 flu vaccine ‘in months’

Photographer Thomas Shahan specializes in spectacular portraits of insects and arachnids, taken very up close and personal.   Click here for more amazing photos and checkout the video below!

 

 

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