We have previously looked at the many reasons why packrats (also known as woodrats) can be one of the most destructive and stubborn pests your Arizona home can attract. The question we often get is whether or not packrats carry the dreaded hantavirus (HPS). Today we are “unpacking” the facts about hantavirus and if you should be worried about a packrat infestation exposing your family to this potentially life-threatening viral infection. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Health and Environment’ Category
Can Packrats Bring Hantavirus To Your Arizona Home?
Tuesday, January 8th, 2019Bed Bugs: What Every Arizona Homeowner Needs To Know
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018You might have heard the cute saying “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” but would you be surprised to know that you are more likely to be bitten by a bed bug today than you would have been 50 years ago? These persistent parasites were almost completely wiped out in North America thanks to the invention of DDT, but have made a comeback since the early 2000s thanks to a pesticide-resistant species that has taken homes and bedrooms by storm in recent years. This species is hiding in your sheets and they are coming for your blood. However, how harmful are bedbugs and how worried do you need to be about an infestation? (more…)
5 Ways Weed Control Can Make Your Home Pest Free
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018One of the most underrated ways to keep your home pest-free begins in your front yard. Many of the creepy-crawlies that call Arizona home are often found in the weeds before they move into the house. Letting weeds grow wild in your yard encourages infestation by virtually building a bridge right into your home. Pests including mice, termites, and ants may use these weed patches as shelter or even a food source during some times of the year. Today our spotlight is on some easy steps you can take to control your weeds and the population of pests that they enable. (more…)
Common Cockroaches In Arizona And How To Deal With Them
Monday, August 13th, 2018Of all the possible pests that may find their way into your Arizona home, cockroaches may be the most unwelcome. These revolting guests misbehave in a variety of ways: making messes, contaminating food, and despoiling your floor with their droppings and shedding of their skin. Many cockroach species are to be found in Arizona, and today we are taking a look at some of the more common ones you are likely to find crawling around your home. (more…)
Five Arizona Pest Control Myths
Wednesday, March 28th, 2018Four of the worst pests for Arizona homeowners are rodents, termites, bed bugs and cockroaches. Keeping your house protected from these pests is important, but many owners use methods of prevention that are based on myths, founded on faulty knowledge of the facts. Following are five myths about these pests, widely accepted by the general public as true, and the real facts, based on scientific research. (more…)
Tuscon’s Busy Bees and Their Benefits
Thursday, March 15th, 2018If you hear a buzzing noise, you may be in Tucson. According to desertmuseum.org, “The region around Tucson, Arizona is thought to host more kinds of bees than anywhere else in the world…” While bees often get a bad rap, three important benefits that bees provide are pollination and the production of both honey and beeswax. (more…)
Barbecue Lovers Beware: The Tick That Can Make You Allergic To Steak
Thursday, November 9th, 2017In past articles, we have talked about potential health problems that can be caused by bites from the bloodsucking hitchhikers known as ticks. While many of them are life-threatening, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Fever, there is a new tick-related illness on the horizon that might change your way of life. Would you believe it if we told you that one bite from the wrong tick, and you might never be able to eat your favorite foods again? It is a possibility. (more…)
What is a Brown Dog Tick? Why You Should Be Worried
Wednesday, August 30th, 2017North America is home to many insect varieties that feed on the blood of larger animals, including mosquitoes and bed bugs. One of the most dangerous parasites threatening the health of your family and pets is the brown dog tick (rhipicephalus sanguineus). As the only species of tick that infests both dog kennels and human homes, this cold-adverse bloodsucker is an equal opportunity feeder that presents a special health risk to residents of sunny Arizona. (more…)
Bed Bugs on the Rise in Tucson
Wednesday, July 26th, 2017We’ve all heard the expression, “Snug as a bug in a rug.” For those of us who reside in Tucson, the phrase takes on totally different connotations. If the bug that’s made itself comfortable in your home is red, and it’s not alone, you may have a problem on your hands. (more…)
Lyme Disease – Making Inroads Into Arizona
Tuesday, April 25th, 2017What do bedbugs, hantavirus, Zika virus and Lyme disease have in common for somebody who lives in Arizona? One answer to this is, “stuff you never used to have to worry about, but now you do.” (more…)