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Arizona Bee Control Company

USDA Begins National Survey of Honey Bee Pests and Diseases

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the beginning of a 13-state survey of honey bee pests and diseases conducted cooperatively by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU). The survey will help USDA scientists to determine the prevalence of parasites and disease-causing microorganisms that may be contributing to the decline of honey bee colonies nationwide.

“Bee health is critical for the success of pollination-based agriculture, which produces about a third of our diet in the United States,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “There has been a disturbing drop in the number of U.S. bee colonies over the last few years while the demand for commercial bee pollination services continues to grow, and this survey will help us to better understand the factors threatening our honey bees so we can take effective action to protect them and the crops that they pollinate.”

The voluntary survey includes 350 apiaries across 13 states and will last through the end of the year. APHIS developed the survey protocol jointly with ARS and PSU and allocated $550,000, provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill, for the survey. Survey kits have been mailed to state apiary specialists, who will collect samples of bees and debris from the apiaries in their states. ARS and PSU scientists will test the samples for specific pests and pathogens. APHIS is particularly interested to know whether foreign mites of the genus Tropilaelaps have entered the United States.

The survey will take place in Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Once all the samples have been analyzed, APHIS will summarize the results and post the summary on its Web site.

Beekeeping is an essential component of modern U.S. agriculture, providing pollination services for more than 90 commercial crops and adding $15 billion in value. Since the 1980s, however, a number of factors have contributed to the declining health of U.S. honey bee colonies. These include the introduction of several honey bee pests into the United States, such as the small hive beetle, which can damage honey comb, stored honey and pollen, as well as deadly bee parasites such as the Varroa mite ( Varroa destructor), tracheal mite ( Acarapis woodi) and single-celled gut parasite Nosema ceranae. Honey bees also face a number of newly introduced diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi.

In addition, beekeepers began to report in 2006 a new threat to honey bee health that scientists have named colony collapse disorder (CCD). In colonies exhibiting CCD, adult bees leave the hive and never return, abandoning the queen and eggs. APHIS, ARS, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and a number of other organizations have formed a CCD working group, which is researching the possible causal agent(s) of CCD. The survey results will provide valuable information in this effort.

For more information about the survey, please visit the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/honey_ bees/survey.shtml.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_gAC9-wMJ8QY0MDpxBDA09nXw9DFxcXQ-cAA_2CbEdFAEUOjoE!/?contentidonly=true&contentid=2010%2F06%2F0309.xml

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Arizona Rodent Control Experts

The 2010 version of “10 Things Your Exterminator Won’t Tell You” which appears on MSN.com on June 2, 2010, is nearly an exact reprint of the August 2007 article published in Smart Money magazine, which negatively portrays the positive impact the professional pest management industry has on the health and safety of American families and homes. So far the article only appears on MSN.com, not SmartMoney, but we will be keeping an eye out for any publication on SmartMoney as this appears to be an annual highlight. Check out Arizona Pest Control’s response to the questions raised in the article.

“Bed bugs are back ‐ and I have no idea how to treat them.”

Bed bugs are VERY elusive, transient and nocturnal pests. They are often found in other areas besides the bed, and are known for being hardy pests. Through vigilance, regular inspection and proper treatment, Arizona Pest Control CAN control bed bugs.

“You can’t sue me ‐ my contract’s ironclad.”

When you are hiring a pest professional, there is no need to rush into a decision. Before signing a contract, the public should be sure to fully understand the nature of the pest to be controlled, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem. As pest professionals, we suggest that you find out what type of guarantee is given, particularly as it relates to termite control. The two types of termite contracts are for damage only and damage and repair. We suggest that the public fully understand what they are signing.

“Either I’m not using enough juice for the job…or else I’m using waaay too much.”

This industry has 19,000 companies and over 100,000 service personnel and the percentage of companies providing quality service is extremely high. Customers looking to hire a licensed, qualified pest professional should visit pestworld.org and check the National Pest Management Association’s tips for selecting a pest professional.

“If your neighbors don’t hire me too, this treatment is worthless.”

The beauty of 21st century pest management services is every house and every pest infestation is treated on a case‐by‐case basis. Integrated pest management, the most cutting edge and holistic approach to pest control, teaches applicators to not only eradicate pests but to attack problems at the source – sealing cracks, removing food supplies, eliminating moisture. This type of approach can make every house an island from pests; however, it requires a regular and ongoing partnership between homeowners and pest professionals. Visit www.whatisipm.org for more information.

“We’ll spray even when you don’t need it.”

Many pest professionals are now using integrated pest management, the most cutting edge and holistic approach to pest control. IPM teaches pest professionals to not only eradicate pests but to attack problems at the source – sealing cracks, removing food supplies, eliminating moisture. It requires a regular and ongoing partnership between homeowner and pest professional. Visit www.whatisipm.org for more information.

“I’ll bungle your home inspection ‐ but you’ll pay for it.”

This industry has 19,000 companies and over 100,000 service personnel and the percentage of companies providing quality service is extremely high. Customers looking to hire a licensed, qualified pest professional should visit pestworld.org and check the National Pest Management Association’s tips for selecting a pest professional.

“You don’t need to call me for every bug you see.”

Some pests are best left to professionals such as termites, bed bugs and serious infestations of pests which may contribute to health issues like rodents, cockroaches and stinging insects. However, sometimes pest management comes down to a consumer’s tolerance issue. Some homeowners will be comfortable dealing with or living with a few nuisance ants in and around their homes. Others would prefer their pest professional handle any and all pest problems. We are happy working as partners with homeowners in any and all capacity they would like.

Rodents

Animals that may come indoors during winter include mice, rats, squirrels, and sometimes even raccoons and opossums.
Rodents may come in through almost any opening – pet doors, holes in walls, missing vent screens, openings around pipes, dryer ducts vents, etc.

The roof may also be a handy highway into your home. Rats can climb plants or trees that are too close to the house. That’s where roof rats get their name.

Mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a nickel.

Rats can squeeze through a space as small as a half dollar.

Rodents usually can spread diseases, including potentially lethal hantavirus and arena virus.

In the U.S., rodents try to come inside from October through February.

An estimated that 21 million homes in the U.S. are invaded by rodents each year winter.

House mice constantly give off hundreds of micro-droplets of urine as they travel around their territory every day. A large medical research study showed a protein in house mouse urine called mouse urinary protein (MUP), caused allergies in 18% of the inner city children studied.

You know you have rodents when you can hear scampering or gnawing sounds late at night in the attic or behind walls.
Rodent droppings may be found in undisturbed areas of the house such as pantries, attics, garages, under baseboards, and along walls.

Telltale signs of rodents’ gnawing may be seen on packaged goods, cardboard boxes, and walls near pipes and vents.
Inside, rodents can be very destructive. They chew through wallboards and can eat through cardboard boxes, wood, and plaster.

Rodents gnaw on electrical wiring that could potentially cause an electrical fire.

Diseases associated with rodents

• Rodents carry disease and fleas and leave waste.
• Wild and domestic rodents have been reported to harbor and spread as many as 200 human pathogens.
• Rodents, primarily the harmless-looking deer mouse and pack rats, can spread the potentially deadly hantavirus and arena virus.
• Hantavirus was first identified when soldiers in the Korean War fell ill with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
• Hantavirus is contracted primarily by inhaling airborne particles from rodent droppings, urine or saliva left by infected rodents or through direct contact with infected rodents.
• The Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), while relatively rare, kills nearly half the people who develop it.
• After suffering from flu-like symptoms, victims of lethal cases of HPS die quickly from severe lung damage.

Keeping rodents out

• To keep mice and other rodents out, make sure that all holes of larger diameter than a pencil are sealed.
• Also seal any cracks and voids.
• Don’t overlook proper drainage at the foundation and always install gutters or diverts which will channel the water away from the building.
• AZ Pest can help provide information on and may even do pest proofing.
• If you find rodents in your home, knowing when to call an expert is important.
• Call Arizona Pest Control to identify the problem, survey for, and control the rodents using n Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
• Searching out the hiding places of rodents and other pests and precisely targeting management efforts requires a competent, knowledgeable, and technically-trained specialist.
• A pest management professional has the special training, experience and tools necessary to assure adequate protection against such destructive pests.

Get the Facts at Pestworld.org