Probably not, they are more likely carpenter bees looking for some nice soft wood to burrow into. This bee “drills” a hole, usually about ½” in diameter, in places like fascia boards. After she enters the wood she turns at a right angle and chews with the grain sometimes for great distances. When she finally locates the spot she desires, she lays her eggs and stuffs a dead insect in for the prodigy to feed on as it grows old enough to drill its own hole.

If you are having a problem with carpenter bees or any other type of bee feel free to contact us for more information.

Request a Free Quote!

For more information or a free estimate contact American Pest Control at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

Call today to take advantage of our early season discounts!

We Provide Complete Elimination or Your Money Back – IN WRITING!!!

1. WHAT ABOUT INITIAL TREATMENT COST?
   American’s “ORGANIC” program is designed to efficiently eliminate any existing problems without costly “clean outs” as well as protect the premises from new infestations as they occur.
2. HOW TOXIC ARE AMERICAN’S “ORGANIC” MATERIALS?
   Our materials are the same as those used in eye wash compounds and hypo allergenic cosmetics. One of our organic products is made from chrysanthemum flowers.
3. WHAT ABOUT ODOR?
   Unlike conventional pesticides, organic materials do not smell.
4. WHAT ABOUT STAINS?
   Organic materials do not leave unsightly residues on surfaces like conventional pesticides.
5. WHAT PREPARATION IS NECESSARY?
   American’s organic material can be applied any time with no inconvenience to the establishment or it’s employees. There is no preparation necessary!
6. WHAT ABOUT EXPOSURE?
   There is little or no exposure to you, your staff or your customers. Organic materials are applied inside wall voids and in cracks and crevices where insects hide.
7. COST EFFECTIVE?
   Costs compare favorably with conventional treatment programs.

Organic Integrated Pest Management Program

Even if you don’t have a problem presently, you will benefit from our Organic Integrated Pest Management Program. Let our state certified technician design a custom program for you now. There is no obligation.

You Know What to Do…

Contact American Pest Control at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com or 1-800-404-3033

General Pest Information:

Black swarming carpenter ants are usually seen in small numbers, that is, less than 100, and usually appear in the cooler part of a hot humid day. They are attracted to light and are usually found swarming around electric light bulbs or other light sources. The adult winged female is usually larger than the winged male. Placing a low pan of water, such as a pie pan, under the light source will attract the ants that are flying under the light source. The presence of winged carpenter ants is an indication that a colony has established itself in the nearby area. The carpenter ant colony is usually associated with damp, wet wood. In hunting for sources of infestation, pay particular attention to fireplace logs, hollow wood porch supports, or other wood members where moisture may have collected. Most infestations are difficult to find unless the source of moisture is rather evident. Metal flashing around chimneys, vents, roof valleys, and adjoining porches should be checked for leaks. Driving rain can sometimes cause moisture to be absorbed into hollow wood posts of porches, behind loose fitting boards, or un-caulked areas under and around windows, doors and other openings. The nesting area for these ants must be kept damp. Carpenter ants are often difficult to locate, since the point of entry may be quite a distance from the place where the galleries and nesting areas in the wood are located. Carpenter ant infestation is usually established in new locations, either by a fertile queen or through migration of all or part of an existing colony. Houses in wooded areas or in damp, humid locations are most likely to become infested, although they can at times infest dwellings in thickly populated areas of the city. Where an infestation has been established for a long time and the colony has grown to be a large one, usually numbering several thousand ants, structural damage may be extensive enough to require major repairs to the infested areas.

Carpenter Ant Life Cycle:

Carpenter ants prefer temperatures in the normal range of 70 to 90 degrees fahrenheit. A normal period from egg to adult is from 60 to 75 days. This growth rate may be slowed during the winter months. The winged adults are usually observed from the middle of May through summer and fall up to the first freezing temperatures. There may be more than one queen in a colony, especially in large colonies numbering two to three thousand worker ants. These ants may vary in length from 6mm to 15mm long. The colony is usually started by one queen who begins to pick her nest in damp decaying wood, in a hole dug in a tree, in the soil or under a rock. The wood damaged by carpenter ants has a tunneling effect, without the soil or mud placement as with subterranean termites. The tunnels or galleries of carpenter ants are irregular in shape, much like our caverns and caves in the earth, whereas the subterranean termite galleries follow the grain of the wood with a characteristic placement of soil. Branches of trees overhanging at the roof of a building are one common source of infestation. Most of the work in the carpenter ant colony is done by the small sexless workers. Carpenter ants do not feed on the wood that they infest. They only use the wood as a nesting place, from which they scavenge for food. Therefore sawdust will usually be found in the area immediately beneath the infestation. They will eat almost anything preferring liquids or fluids. Other insects, sugar, jelly, fruits, meats, grease, fats, plant juices, are all part of their diet.

How to Control Black-Winged Carpenter Ants:

One of the first things to be considered in carpenter ant control is to find the source of moisture and eliminate it. Carpenter ants have been known to nest in hollow core doors, around warm chimneys, and in the soil adjoining the building. Structural defects allowing moisture to get into the wood should be corrected immediately. Control of carpenter ants can be a very difficult problem if the infestation is enclosed in plastered or finished walls. Dusting powders into cracks and crevices of the walls, plus the use of liquid pesticides are very important. Where the location of the infestation permits, drilling into the infested area and applying a residual pesticide is very effective. Surface application of residual pesticide along baseboards, toe strips, around doorways and ant runways to the outside is very effective. An occasional ant may be observed after this treatment. Unless the source or colony can be found and destroyed, the customer should always be warned that application of residual pesticide is not an immediate instantaneous cure all for carpenter ant infestation. Stray insects from overhanging trees can continue to be an annoyance to the home owner, even though the infestation and colony have been eliminated. In sections where large wooded areas surround the dwelling, the owner should be warned that surface infestations may reappear. For this reason, regular periodic inspections and possible re-treatments are recommended.

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or would like further information on this subject, contact Doc Pickhardt of American Pest Control at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

Moles damage our beautiful (and expensive) lawns by burrowing under and in the root systems of lawns and gardens. They eat mostly worms and sometimes grubs but rarely feed on grass. However, their burrowing kills the grass leaving ugly scars and mounds.

Voles also burrow under ground mostly in gardens where they feed on roots and other vegetation.

Moles become semi dormant in winter but voles do not. Because voles are active year round, they must continue to feed often damaging expensive plants in our gardens by chewing on tender bark especially after snow and other winter elements deprive them of their regular food supplies

Control of Moles:

Recently Bell Labs, a manufacturer which services the pest control industry, did a much needed study concerning mole control. The result of their extensive research was the development of a worm like product that works. The product replaced lawn sprays and repellents that were questionable at best.

Control of Voles:

Expensive shrubs and trees can be protected with hardware clothe wrapped around the trunks at ground level to approximately 1 inches. American Pest Control Company can help by placing protected bait stations in gardens which are serviced regularly.

Need Help Getting Rid of Moles or Voles?

If you have any questions or would like further information or a free estimate on moles or voles, contact American Pest Control at: info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com

The moth fly, drain fly and sewer fly are really all the same fly, they are hairy, tiny little flies that breed and inhabit our buildings. Although usually thought of as nuisance pests, there have been cases where inhalation of their body parts caused bronchial asthma.

Moth flies appear delicate and fuzzy when seen close up. They are yellow to black in color. Moth flies are poor fliers and are usually found near their breeding sites which include floor drains and any moist organic matter. Treatment usually requires professional help but if you can find the breeding source sometimes sanitation can correct the problem.

Request a Free Quote

For additional information or to request a free quote to remove moth flies, email Doc Pickhardt at info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com or call (800) 404-3033.

Late summer and fall is the time to be careful about stinging insects. In spring bees, hornets and wasps are pollinators in search of sweets and other carbohydrates. Late in the year they begin to search for proteins such as insects which the place in their nests to feed next years brood. They become aggressive especially around their nests.

Prevention

Never try home remedies for stinging insects. Wear light loosely fitting clothes. DO NOT use perfumes i.e. under arm deodorants etc, when around bees, wasps and hornets. My best advice is leave them alone but if its necessary to remove them call a licensed pest management professional. If you are allergic to bee stings be sure to carry one of the benedryl type treatments with you.

Request a Free Quote

For additional information email Doc Pickhardt at info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com or call (800) 404-3033.

Types of Cockroaches

There are six important cockroach species and many more that are not usually significant to us.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach (Blattela germanica) is the most important. This cockroach is ½” to 5/8” long, usually tan to light brown with two (2) dark stripes on it pronotum (the area directly behind the head). The female may have an egg capsule protruding from the end of her abdomen, each egg capsule contains thirty to forty (30-40) young which can become adults in only fifty (50) days. No wonder they become so numerous in a short time. They are usually found in kitchens and bathrooms.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach (Periplanta Americana) is quite large measuring 1 ¼” to 2 1/8” long this cockroach is also known as the waterbug or palmetto bug. They are found in the north and in the south where they thrive outdoors. American cockroaches are usually a light mahogany color with a light horizontal stripe behind the head on the pronotum. They prefer dark moist areas near food sources.

Australian Cockroach

The Australian cockroach (Periplantea australasiae), typically grow up to 1 ¼” long. They resemble the American cockroach in size and color but they have pale yellow stripes at the base of the wing pads and the forward margin of the pronotum. It is not commonly found indoors but will invade when temperatures are high, it can be brought indoors on house plants.

Oriental Cockroach

The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) grows up to 1” long and is a shiny dark brown or black; it cannot fly and is a poor climber on smooth surfaces. Oriental cockroaches are very susceptible to dehydration and are usually found in basements and crawl spaces.

Smoky Brown Cockroach

The Smoky brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa) is 1 ¼” to 1 ½” long and dark uniform mahogany in color, they are found outdoors in the south, hiding in mulch, leaf litter and ground cover. The smoky brown cockroach is sometimes found dead in houses likely due to dehydration. They typically enter homes through attics and other open spaces.

Brown Banded Cockroach

The Brown banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) average 5/8” long and are similar in size and appearance except they have two horizontal brown bands on their wings. Brown banded cockroaches inhabit homes across the United States. They prefer warm climates but can be found in structures in any area. Unlike German cockroaches, brown banded cockroaches are usually NOT found in kitchens, they prefer furniture, behind picture frames, light fixtures and dropped ceilings.

Request a Free Cockroach Control Estimate!

For additional information on cockroaches visit our cockroach control page or email Doc Pickhardt at info@theamericanlawnandtreearborist.com for a free estimate.

What used to be a pleasant interlude has become a disaster in many landscapes today. Deer damage many of our beautiful landscape plants by feeding on them especially because of the large herds we now have. They also cause damage by “bedding down” in bushes and cause considerable damage by rubbing the velvet off their antlers after they are fully grown.

Deer are usually nocturnal feeders but often will feed in the daytime. Because deer do not have upper incisors (front teeth) they must tear their food from the plant causing additional damage.

Deer Repellants

In recent years several companies have developed deer repellants some of which are excellent deterrents. They are usually applied by landscapers and arborists using power equipment. If you are already an American Four Seasons client you can easily add deer repellency to your program. If you would like only deer repellency I recommend using our organic treatment 4 times per year.

For a free consulation or to ask Doc a question call or email us today!

American Pest Control

Troy, Michigan
info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com
800-404-3033

This is the time of the year when lady bugs can become a problem indoors. A rather new exotic insect called the Asian lady beetle moved into homes last fall to over winter in void spaces and attics. Now, since the sun is warming their hiding places, they are trying to get back outside to continue their life cycle.

Basically, these are beneficial insects that feed on aphids and other bad guy bug in the landscape. But when confined in large numbers (usually thousands) the become allergens to sensitive people. If you experience Asian lady bugs in your home this year have your home protected next fall by a professional pest management specialist.

For a free consulation or to ask Doc a question call or email us today!

American Pest Control

info@organicpestcontrolmichigan.com
800-404-3033

It’s tough to kill bed bugs on your own. Learn how to avoid a bed bug epidemic and rid yourself from unwanted bed bugs.

After you select a licensed, certified pest management professional (PMP) you should:

• Remove clutter as it provides hiding places for bed bugs.
• Wash all bedding in recommended water settings. Place all bedding (sheets, mattress covers, bed spreads etc. in a sealed plastic bag.
• Vacuum and dispose of vacuum bag outside the home or rinse the collection bag before re-installing if possible.
• Empty dresser drawers and closets and wash and/or dry clean according to manufacturers recommendations and then place in sealed plastic bags.
• Do not bring home new furniture until bed bugs are completely eliminated (usually 2 or more treatments by the PMP).
• Consult a PMP before disposing of furniture.

Bud Bug Apartment Dwellers

• The faster you act the better the results will be. When you spot bed bugs immediately call your landlord.
• If your landlord doesn’t take action contact your local Housing Code Authority.
• Don’t try to solve the problem yourself.
• Keep your home clean and litter free.
• Carefully follow the pest management professionals advise and recommendations.

Need professional advice on bed bugs? Contact Doc Pickhardt for more information.
(800) 404-3033
American Pest Control