Crickets Control in Calgary: Type of Crickets

There four types of crickets most common: House Crickets, Camel Crickets, Field Crickets and Mole Crickets.

Crickets can be extremely annoying, but unless there are large numbers, they do little damage.

House Crickets

House Crickets live outdoors but may come inside in considerable numbers. Adults have three dark bands on the head, 3/4-1 inch long and are light yellowish-brown.

They will eat almost anything, will chew on or damage silk and woolens. House crickets are nocturnal, staying hidden during the day. They have a distinctive chirping sound. They can be found in warm places like kitchens, basements, fireplaces, also in cracks and crevices and behind baseboard.

House crickets will attack paper, damage silk, woolens, fruits, and vegetables all kinds of foods, and even rubber. However, unless large numbers occur, such damage is usually minor.

Crickets are rather closely related to cockroaches. Both crickets and roaches have a gradual metamorphosis. The young nymphs resemble adults, but the wings are not fully developed.

Field Crickets

Field crickets are widely distributed over the United States. This cricket is slightly longer than the House Cricket and is dark brown to Grey or black. Field crickets are seen in flower beds, overgrown grass and lawns. As an over-wintering insect, they lay eggs in the soil. Their eggs hatch in late spring and develop to adults by late summer.The life of a Field cricket is about ninety days.

Field crickets prefer to live outside, feeding on plants, but will come inside if food sources dry up or there or unfavorable extremes in temperatures.

Since Field crickets are attracted to lights at night, further control can be obtained by turning off these lights. Sealing off crack and crevices to keep them from entering homes and structures should be done as much as possible.

Camel Crickets

Camel crickets are also known as hump-back crickets due to its’ hump-back appearance. Camel crickets are light to dark brown, about 1/2 -1 1/2 inch long.

These insects are not true crickets since they do not have wings.

Their diet is almost anything but camel crickets will feed on clothes. Camel Crickets are most often are found in crawl spaces and basements, but also like any cool and damp area like under logs or stones. Treat camel crickets as you would house crickets, but pay particular attention to crawl spaces and basements.

Camel crickets are light to dark brown, about 1/2 – 1 1/2 inch long. Their diet is almost anything but will feed on clothes. Camel crickets are most often are found in crawl spaces and basements, but also like any cool and damp area like under logs or stones. Treat as you would the House Cricket, but pay particular attention to crawl spaces and basements.

.

Mole Crickets
Adult mole crickets are rounded, winged and 1 to 1.25 inches long. Mole crickets are seldom seen, because, like moles, they stay underground most of the time.

Mole Crickets overwinter as adults in the soil. Mole crickets fly and mate twice a year, spring and fall. At this time, you will find their exit holes of an inch or more. Mole cricket nymphs are wingless but look like small adults. The nymphs can become very numerous and cause great damage to your grass during the warm summer months. Control methods aimed at eliminating mole cricket nymphs yield the best results, simply because they easier to kill than adults. The adult Mole Crickets appear in late winter or early spring and will tunnel throught the soil surface (looks like a narrow tunnel). They are often seen on sidewalks, driveways, around swimming pools, and are attracted to lights. They lay their eggs in the soil in pockets. It is important to wait for the nymph stages in order to treat. Treating adult Mole crickets is very difficult. Treat the nymph stage instead of targeting the adult stages.

If you are not sure that you have Mole Crickets you can soak the suspected area with soapy water. Mix 1-2 oz of a liquid dishwashing soap to a couple gallons of water. Starting at the outer edge of the suspected area, begin to soak the area. If the mole crickets are present, they will begin to emerge as you flush them out . This technique is also handy for searching for Chinch Bugs.

Protect Your Home and Health: Cockroach Control in Calgary

No More Scratching: Flea Control in Calgary

Flies Control in Calgary: Sanitation

Sanitation is critical in a good fly management program. The goal in sanitation is to remove or prevent any medium where fly larvae will develop. It’s also important to remove things that are attractive to adult flies such as garbage and animal waste. Moisture is a critical factor in any fly breeding material. Good drainage is also important, where possible.

• Keep garbage cans and dumpsters clean. Invade Bio Foam is an all natural product, a probiotic used to spray on leftover organic debris in dumpsters. Soldier Fly larvae are commonly found in dumpsters and garbage cans. Keep tight lids on the garbage cans. Flies are attracted to odors. Keep garbage cans as far away from doors as possible to keep them from moving into the structure.
• Repair window screens and doors. Openings to buildings should be tightly screened with mesh screens. Where doors must be kept open for customers, trucks, etc., outfit the doors with air curtains. Air curtains can prevent fly entry if the velocity is 1,600 feet per minute or higher.
• Pick up pet waste in the yard. Flies love to breed and lay eggs on this material because of the moisture content.
• In home kitchens, restaurants, and commercial kitchens, drain flies can become a problem. An excellent product to treat home drains and restaurant drains is Invade Bio Treatment Gel. This all natural product is made of microbes that actually eat the left over scum in the drains.
• Dead rodents and birds can increase a fly problem. Remove the carcasses, because flies lay eggs on decomposing rodents and fowl. The eggs become maggots (larvae) and the maggots become adult flies.
• Do not over water indoor potted plants. The soaked soil will provide a perfect breeding area for gnats. Keep the pots well drained.
• Keep outdoor areas cleaned. Clean away any soiled bedding, decaying plant, straw animal matter.

Squirrel Control in Calgary: Removal with Traps

RATS & MICE Removal in Calgary: Elimination

Pigeons Control in Calgary:

Pigeons are a troublesome bird that are common not only in Calgary, but cities around the world. They produce an easily identified cooing sound. Since pigeons are not a migratory species, they cause year round conflict with humans when they breed and roost in groups around urban dwellings. Calgarians must often contend with high levels of noise and unwanted accumulation of feces. Due to strong instincts to nest in close proximity to their site of birth, pigeons can be very difficult to remove, especially if the basic necessities of food and shelter are being met.

Preventing pigeons

Here are some steps you can take to keep pigeons away:

• Remove potential roosting areas by sealing elevated openings and entrances. Install appropriate-sized bird netting to take away access to ledges and balconies.
• To prevent perching, apply gel to ledges using a caulking gun. The gel makes the surface unpleasant and unstable under the bird’s feet.
• Install posts and wire on window ledges and ridges to prevent pigeons from gaining a foot hold.
• Eliminate all outdoor sources of food and water.
• Make sure garbage is stored in containers or bins.
• Trap with the aid of baits.
• Destroy nests and eggs.
• Employ the use of scaring devices as well as audible, inaudible and sonic devices.

Control products may be purchased at local farm supply stores, hardware stores and garden centres. If extermination is desired, enlist the services of a pest control company.

The problem with pigeons

Pigeons aren’t just annoying – they can cause costly damages as well. Storm gutters can be blocked from the feathers, nesting materials and droppings of pigeons, which may result in structural water damage. Additionally, metal and stone on buildings may become damaged over the long run from the corrosive uric acid component found in pigeon droppings. The accumulation of droppings may pose a safety risk, making ladders and ground cover slippery. There is also a health risk associated with pigeons as they may contaminate food, or transmit fungi, bacteria or ectoparasites in the feces.

Spider Control in Calgary: Elimination