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Colony Collapse Disorder:  How Science is Working to Help Hives Thrive

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that is fairly recent.  Beginning in 2004, keepers of Western Honey bees (Apis mellifera) began noticing hives that had plenty of food stores and brood material, but dramatically reduced numbers of adult worker bees. This was true even in hives that showed no increased mite or parasite activities, queen-related problems or damage to the hive or comb.

Since that time, much investigation has been done to try to find a specific cause for CCD.  Western honey bees are not only valued for the production of honey but also for their role in pollination of a significant number of agricultural products.  These crops would be reduced or even fail completely without the help of pollinators like the honey bees. In fact, researchers have calculated that although there has been an almost 50% increase in world honey bee stocks over the 100 years, it has not been sufficient to keep up with an almost 300% increase in pollinator-dependent crops. This makes CCD and its possible causes and cure a hot topic for many.

CCD is not the only reason that a hive may lose its population, and bee hive management requires much knowledge and attention to details. CCD however, has presented as a significant threat to overall bee population.  At this time, there continues to be much conjecture and theory, but no specific identifiable cause.

A62THJD55EQ6 © 2016

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Why is service every 30 days for a Crazy Ant infestation ideal for getting them under control?

The crazy ant, – Paratrechina longicornis, is not native to North America, it is not entirely known where it originally came from though it is believed to have arrived at the United States from Africa, or Asia. It is also thought they may have been brought in from the Carribean. Named the crazy ant because of its movements and behaviors, it is familiar to the northern states, and northeastern areas. The crazy ant is also very common in the southern states, and some of the states out west such as California and Arizona. Hawaii and Canada are also acquainted with the crazy ant.

Adults are typically 2-3mm in size with long legs. Crazy ants feed on an array of things which make them omnivorous. Their diet contains dead or live insects, composts, fruits, sweets, grease, meat, plants, and various liquids. They love environments like trash, rotting trees, plants, and soil. You may even find nests under large rocks or timbers. They have been found in top floors of tall buildings as well as the kitchens of normal size structures, though they are not believed to fly. A bad infestation can invade a home causing extensive damage to property and they are also known to short electrical units. They may forage long distances from their nest, making infestations even more difficult to control. A crazy ant worker will carry food on its back long distances to its nest to feed the colony. Crazy Ant Colonies are actually quite moderate in size and several queens (8-40) might reside in one colony. When a Queen has mated she will then lay her eggs in the nest for the worker ants to care for. The life cycle of a crazy ant is typically 76-84 days. These nuisances don’t sting, but they will bite and these minor bites are treated easily, not typically requiring medical attention.

If the crazy ant isn’t controlled they can become a larger problem. These destructive and abrasive insects reproduce quickly which makes controlling them more of a challenge. These ants aren’t attracted to the typical ant baits or red ant baits. Commercial products do not have an impact on the crazy ant. The best solution to these pests is contracting a qualified pest control specialist. After the treatment, any ants that survive may relocate their colony. Treatment is recommended every 30 days because these ants are known to re-invade, which makes them nearly impossible to eradicate.

W.J. Arnold. © 2016

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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://wjarnold.carbonmade.com/.

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Why is quarterly service important?

Quarterly service is highly recommended , it will save you in the long run both financially and time. And what is more valuable than time? By having us come out to your house once a quarter, that’s only once every one hundred and twenty days. You can guarantee yourself that not only will you not see us , you wont be seeing any pests either. We make sure that we get to pests before they become a problem, we do that by thoroughly going over your home inside and out. We make absolutely sure that your only guests are the people you let in!

A simple service that we are experienced and professional at will save you countless costs and give you unending piece of mind. You don’t work hard to put a roof over the head of unwanted guests who bring diseases and filth with them. Let us do the dirty work so you and your family can stay safe and secure in your pest free home.

  • Why wait until there is a problem?
  • Why let them live at the expense of your family?

With a quarterly inspection you are protected with us as your shield. You are never surprised at how much it is, the costs stays the same small small fee over the life of the contract. You never have to remember to call, we will call you and you pick the time and the date of the quarterly inspection. You can get up in the night turn on your lights without a care in the world. Your property will remain pest free as long as you allow us to care for it.

Once we give you our thumbs up, you and your family can sleep peacefully and blissfully knowing that the they are in no danger from unwanted pests. Because we are experts at what we do, not only can we identify and prevent problems before they can become problems. We can identify the cause of the problem and take steps to stop it from ever starting. Sleep easy let us fight for you. You work hard to be able to enjoy your family ,there is no reason in the world your weekends should ever be spent fighting pests. You should not even be thinking about it.

So relax enjoy your time with your family and we will do the rest . Save your time and money and enjoy your pest free home, you earned it! And a quarterly inspection is the way to safeguard it.

A3SOJWB6AZWZV9 © 2016

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Why do the chemicals last 90 days when exposed to the environment?

The chemicals last 90 days when exposed to the environment because these chemicals are powerful enough to last the 90 days. Its effect lasts so long in order for the chemical to be able to properly and thoroughly perform its job. Because of its such long-lasting effects, these chemicals are extremely potent and powerful. Why these chemicals last so long is because when mixed together, these chemicals work together to create a long-lasting chemical that is powerful and effective.

  • But what effect do these chemicals have on our own environment?
  • Are they safe?
  • Or are they dangerous?

These chemicals can indeed have a negative impact on the environment and can destroy the environment with its potent formula. Many chemicals can be found to be dangerous for our environment while other chemicals expose no real threat to the environment.

But how are we to know which chemicals are safe for our environment and which ones are not?

Each bottle of chemicals has a warning label and an ingredient label located on the back of the bottle. These instructions contain information on what the chemical is made out of and whether ot not this chemical is indeed environment friendly. Many chemicals, however, seem to be harming the environment in some shape or form, which isn’t good in the health and state of our environment. Some chemicals are tested beforehand to see whether or not the chemicals mixed together would harm the environment in any way.

Some chemicals need to be modified and adjusted before it is safe for humans to use in the environment without causing any real physical or mental harm to themselves. These chemicals are usually brought back to be reviewed and tested again until its content is safe for human and environment use. When being reviewed, all aspects of the chemical are considered and it is carefully looked at before it is released to the public. Many professionals will test a chemical and test whether its affects are either negative or positive. If the chemical results in being positive, the chemical is then released to the public and is deemed safe for the buyer and safe for the environment. If a chemical, however, has a negative result, it will be sent back and reviewed and modified again. The chemical will be changed and tested until it becomes safe for the public to use in the environment. It is always recommended to fully read the chemical label on the back of any bottle before using it.

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Why do Carpenter Bees drill perfect holes?

Carpenter Bees are known for drilling perfect holes. Carpenter bees do not build beehives in order to lay their eggs, instead they drill holes in wood and choose to deposit their unhatched eggs there. They tend to drill perfectly round approximately 1/4-1/2 inch holes in their favorite woods like redwood, cedar, pine and cypress. They also have been known to build their nests in wooden frames, usually door frames and window frames, rafters, siding, porch ceilings and the eaves of houses. Carpenter bees do not eat the wood, instead they drill holes for nests to lay their eggs and to provide shelter for their young. Although they are often drawn to most types of wood, they have a natural attraction to wood that is raw and unpainted. The fact that the wood is unpainted draws the carpenter bees because in order to drill the best hole, they need to drill against the grain of the wood. They also prefer wood that is at least 2 inches thick. A thin piece of wood would not allow them to obtain the perfect results needed to build a good nest.

Once the carpenter bee drills holes that are approximately 1 inch deep, they then make a right-angled turn and continue their drilling with the grain of the wood. Since carpenter bees do not have teeth, they use mandibles that they use like teeth to tear away at the wood in circular patterns. This allows them to drill perfect holes which are sometimes several feet long and containing multiple chambers for eggs, all leading off of the main tunnel path. The length of the carpenter bee holes could be impacted by the fact they tend to reuse the same hole multiple times for several batches of eggs.

Carpenter bee holes are about the diameter of a finger which allows easy access in and out for bees but also keeps larger predators out. One of the first signs of a carpenter bee nest being nearby is the evidence of very fine sawdust either outside or beneath the hole as well as the presence of several bees lurking around in the area. These lurkers are guarding and protecting their nests and are prepared to battle with any other species that tries to take over and invade their habitat. After all, building perfectly round holes in wood for nests takes both skill and a lot of time.

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What is quarterly service?

Quarterly service is designed to maintain a pest free environment. It is a standing service, available to the client, that will keep all pest infestation at bay. While each pest infestation is unique, a quarterly service will provide customers with the peace of mind that pests have been terminated and the chance of a new infestation taking place is minimal because of reoccurring service from a well established and extremely knowledgeable and reputable company. It is a piece of mind that can only be provided by a consummate professional.

AK371CK97Q9XM © 2016

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