Governor Bob McDonnel proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Virginia. This year he signed the Lyme Disease Testing Information Disclosure Act of 2013 into legislation. This made Virginia the first state that requires “health care providers to notify anyone tested for Lyme disease that current laboratory testing can produce false negatives, especially in the early stages of the disease”. The governor’s home was lit up in lime green in congjunction with the new legislature, and the National Capital Lyme Disease Assocation provided green bows to state senators and delegates that supported the bill.

  The original article can be found here: http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2013/05/governor-sheds-light-on-lyme-disease-awareness.php

Even though June is now upon us, Lyme Disease will continue to be a persistent threat throughout the summer, as ticks are most active during this time of year. Lyme Disease, however, is not the only pathogen that ticks can transmit. In fact, they can transmit various bacterial or viral infections, including: Relapsing Fever, Typhus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, Colorado Tick Fever, Babesiosi, Cyatauxzoonosis, and Tick Paralysis. Also, ticks can transmit more than one pathogen at a time, which can make diagnosis and treatment very difficult. Symptoms generally present themselves about 4 hours after being bitten by the tick, and can occur up to 6 months after having a tick bite. Lyme Disease in specific can take 3 to 30 days before the typical “bulls-eye” rash appears, though it takes 36 hours for the tick to attach itself and transmit the disease. While most people will have a rash, others might have a fever without a rash. Commonly experienced symptoms for all of the above illnesses include body aches, fever, fatigue, joint paint, and rashes.

The best way to avoid illnesses spread by ticks, is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Pathogens inside the ovaries of a female tick can cause larva to be infectious immediately upon hatching, so it’s always important to be prepared when in a tick-prone area. The easiest way to do this is to limit exposure to wooded areas. Tick reppelant should always be used, on both exposed skin and clothing. Shirts should be tucked into pants, and pant legs into socks, and clothing should be washed immediately if exposure occurs. Always be sure to inspect for signs of ticks after spending time outside, including on any pets that were outside as well.

If a tick is found, fine-tipped tweezers can be used to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and using a steady upward force to remove it. This avoids leaving behind the mouthparts of the tick. Professional tick removal tools are also available. A more simply and safe way to remove ticks was discovered by a nurse that causes a tick to automaticlaly withdraw itself. Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball and cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a 15 to 20 seconds. The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when it is lifted away. Use disposable gloves or a paper towel when handling ticks. It is also important to disinfect the bite thoroughly after removing the tick. Dispose of the tick by placing it in rubbing alcohol in order to kill it. The tick can also be stored in an airtight container in case of any signs or symptoms of infection. This way a clinical professional will be able to identify the issue much more easily.

While there is no foolproof way to avoid ticks when camping or spending time in wooded areas, PermaTreat offers an excellent solution for preventing ticks in the vicinity of your home. Our Yard Guard treatment is specifically designed to protect your yard against ticks, as well as fleas and mosquitoes. So while you need to take all the precautions mentioned above when hiking or camping, you can at least feel free to relax and enjoy your back yard!

  People have an entrenched idea of what a Pest Control Technician looks like. They picture him wielding a large contraption that pushes out thick plumes of smoke. They picture him going around and corralling nature with a flippant disregard for the environment's well-being. This image is outdated, but still pervasive. The field of Pest Control is not static, it has grown and changed as the years ticked by. As the population started to think “green,” so did the Pest Control industry.

The primary task of the structural pest management industry once was to spray pesticides. During the past decade, however, the industry gradually evolved, shifting to both integrated pest management (IPM) and reduced risk pest management strategies. These processes begin with the identification of pest problems and are followed by the implementation of a comprehensive pest management plan that may involve application of pesticides. Today base-board spraying is “out,” and techniques that minimize the use of pesticides, e.g., crack and crevice applications as well as baits, insect growth regulators, and other approaches to pest management have become the norm. Most customers are unaware of these changes and so continue to expect an 'exterminator' to walk in the door with a compressed air sprayer in hand (Kramer, 1998).

This negative conceptualization of the field of Pest Control sprouted roots in the early 1900s. This was during the advent of pesticide-driven pest management. While there were other pesticides used during the early 1900s, DDT or dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane was and will remain the most recognizable name among them. DDT was first developed in the 1940s with the aim that it would be used to quell the effects of several insect-borne diseases, such as malaria, or typhus. It was applied freely through out urban areas, as well as on crops and livestock – people even used it in their gardens (EPA, 2012) . This uptick in use coincided with America's general interest in better living through chemistry – an idea that product use would solve all problems. During the first half of the twentieth century, malaria was endemic in the United States, particularly in the Southern half of the country. The use of DDT was pivotal in the eradication of the specific mosquito species that were carriers of malaria. Total eradication of malaria from the United States was completed in 1951 (CDC, 2012) .

After the end of malaria, the use of DDT in America was condemned by Rachel Carson, the author ofSilent Spring, a book that some would argue was pivotal in the creation of the environmentalist movement. Carter had found that while DDT was considered safe for humans, it was wreaking a slow havoc on several apex avian predators. Through the mechanism of bioaccumulation, these larger birds would build up DDT in their bodies as they consumed prey animals that had been exposed to a DDT-treated pest population. Due to this build-up of pesticide in the birds' bodies, they were producing eggs that had significantly thinner shells than they normally would. This in turn led to an uptick in egg breakage, and therefore threatened the ability to reproduce successfully for several larger birds.

The use of DDT in America was stopped in 1972. The EPA issued a cancellation order that was based upon evidence that the pesticide's use would have a negative impact on the environment, and would continue to weaken certain bird's reproductive capabilities (EPA, 2012). The field of Pest Control learned from DDT in several different ways. Practitioners no longer use products that stay in the soil for prolonged periods of time, they are held to a higher standard by the EPA. Practitioners use a much more non-invasive approach, meaning that they use highly targeted techniques and brain power to create a treatment plan with an environmentally friendly emphasis. In several ways the process of DDT itself sums up the history of Pest Control during the twentieth century. The rise to an almost infallible point, and the realization that there is no one miracle treatment that can solve all pest problems.

References:

CDC. (2012, November 09). The history of malaria, an ancient disease. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/history/     

EPA. (2012, May 09). Ddt – a brief history and status. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/ddt-brief-history-status.htm   

Kramer, R. (1998). Technician's handbook: A guide to pest identification & management. (3rd ed., pp. 6-7). Cleveland, OH: G.I.E Inc., Publishers.

Stink bugs are primarily known to be an agricultural pest, consuming a wide variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, flowers, leaves, and other crops. However, they can also infest peoples' homes, especially in rural areas.   Therefore, steps should be taken to prevent these pests from getting into your home in the first place. Here are some ways you can take preventative measures, as well as some tips on what to do if stink bugs have already invaded your home:

On Plants – The most common time to see damage on plants is during the late summer. Check all plants, especially those with developing seed heads and fruit. Spot spray where they are found to be causing damage, but make sure to pick an appropriate insecticide, as some may also damage insects that are beneficial to plants.

How to Prevent Them from Getting Inside – Preventative measures should be taken by anyone who's household has had stink bug issues in the past. Keep stink bugs out of your home by sealing off all possible entrances. To do so, seal off all cracks in walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows with caulk. Also be sure to check baseboards, exhaust fans, and light fixtures to prevent stink bugs from accessing interior rooms from the basement and attic, and caulk those as well. Use mesh screens on doors and windows, as well as attic and foundation vents.

It is also helpful to cut back on overgrown plants in the yard, especially any that are right next to the house. An additional option is set light traps around the home, as stink bugs are attracted to both light and warmth. Because of this, stink bugs (in particular the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, the most common stink bug found in Virginia) tend to congregate mainly on the south and westward-facing surfaces of buildings (because of the sun). Therefore, extra attention should be given to these parts of the home.

After They're Inside – If stink bugs have already entered your home, avoid sealing cracks as they will be trapped indoors. The best means of taking care of individual stink bugs is to vacuum them up. We recommend using a HEPA vacuum if possible. HEPA is an acronym for “High Efficiency Particulate Air”, and refers to vacuums with an air filter that removes 99.97% of all particles that pass through it. That way no potentially harmful particles that the stink bug may have on it will be released into the air. If you are using a regular vacuum cleaner, be sure to dump the bag immediately after use.

Avoid using insecticides on the stink bugs you can't reach with the vacuum cleaner, as they may die in voids in the wall. Dead stink bugs attract other pests, which may lead to an infestation of the pests that feed on them, such as carpet beetles. If this isn't sufficient in getting rid of the problem, or if you have a large infestation, call a pest control company to get the stink bug population under control and out of your home.