Product Spotlight: Cimexa Insecticide Dust

            Over the past few years, the Bedbug population in America has skyrocketed. Whether you travel often or not, you have no doubt heard or experienced horror stories of someone taking a trip and at some point picking up the insect and unfortunately brought it home and spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars to get rid of them. This insect is like an epidemic. This blood sucking bug has become a focal point in many local media channels and as the buzz has spread throughout the country, so has the desire to develop methods to eliminate them. Pesticide manufacturers are developing and introducing the new products almost weekly it seems like. While there has not been any end all be all product just yet, companies like Rockwell Labs have really made some strides and turned some heads with the products they are developing.

            One of the newest products from Rockwell is Cimexa Insecticide Dust. Designed with Bed Bugs in mind, this product is also labeled for fleas, ticks, lice, cockroaches, ants, termites, spiders and much more. The ingredient in the dust is Amorphous Silica Gel which essentially is a dessicant similar to diatomaceous earth. This is not a normal ingredient in pesticides and is much safer for humans than your typical insecticide dusts. According to Rockwell Labs, the silica rapidly absorbs moisture and destroys the waxy cuticle of insects causing rapid dehydration and death.

            Apart from the unique killing action and low toxicity to humans, Cimexa Insecticide Dust also offers many unique options that other dusts simply cannot. First, not only can this product be used as a typical dust, it can be used as a spray application once mixed with water. Once sprayed on, the water evaporates leaving the silica viable once again. Because of this option and the relative safety of the product, Rockwell labs has been able to get a broad label for this product that allows it to be used in almost any areas including the more sensitive application sites such as daycares, health care facilities and food handling and processing establishments. Rockwell recommends applying this product at a rate of two ounces per 100 sq. ft. using a hand or power duster. When mixed with water, they recommend one pound for every gallon of water. When it comes to its main targeted pest, bed bugs, Cimexa Dust has a broad label that allows you to apply it in almost any area including mattresses and box springs. The additional areas are other pieces of furniture, wall voids, cracks and crevices, etc.  

            Rockwell Labs truly has delivered a great product in Cimexa Insecticide Dust. There truly is not another dust out there that allows you to treat for not only bed bugs, but drywood termites as well. Innovation like this should help you believe that this company develops and delivers some of the best and most unique products in the industry. Be sure to check out their other great products and receive fast, free shipping on whatever you find. 

Who Invited You?

          Every Thanksgiving sometime after the big meal, my family has a tradition of watching the movie Christmas Vacation. Why on earth did we begin to watch a Christmas movie on Thanksgiving Day? Heaven only knows. No matter how many times I have seen that movie, it never seems to lose its luster. There is something to laugh about it in almost every scene. For those of you who have not seen it, Eddie, a cousin-in-law to the main character is the fun-loving screw up that keeps many of the scenes light-hearted and easy to laugh at. The premise of the story is the main character desires to have an “old fashioned” family Christmas at his home and everyone is to stay in his home. By everyone, I mean all the guests he actually invited. One particular evening just a few days before Christmas, Eddie appears in the front lawn with his family, uninvited and intend to stay through and beyond the holidays. While Clark Griswold could not prevent his extended family from entering his home, there are things you can do and inspect to keep uninvited guests, particularly rodents, from entering your home this winter.

            There are several measures you can take to keep rodents and other pests from entering your home. Traps can be placed, baits can be used and sprays can be applied to kill bugs before they make it too far. But often times one of the most effective methods of control is simply to make it as difficult as possible for pests to find a point of entry in the first place. With a thorough inspection of your home and maybe just a little work, you can drastically reduce your chances of having a cousin Eddie this winter.

            One of the easiest ways a rodent or any other pest can get into your home is through openings you have “provided” for them. The best examples of this are utilities going into your home. This can be anything from water, to gas, electricity to cable; any opening to allow pipes in or out needs to be examined and sealed off if necessary. Don’t forget about the dryer exhaust vent. Examine the vent on the inside and outside. Rodents are notorious for chewing their way into things and they may just chew threw the stretchable connection from your dryer to the exhaust connection on the wall. Once you have examined these areas, move on to all door frames and window sills. Poorly sealed windows and doors are easy access for unwanted pests as well. Rodents and other pests can follow drain lines as well, examine the point of entry into the wall or floor and seal the cutouts if necessary.

Protecting your home this winter can be as a simple as ensuring all openings and cracks around the perimeter of your house are properly sealed up. As I have learned from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the holidays are all about spending time with the guests you HAVE invited. 

Insect Identities: German Cockroach

          Germany, the fifth largest country in all of Europe has provided the world with many good and bad things. On the one hand, Deutschland has provided us with great beers, even better cars (Mercedes Benz), and my personal favorite, German chocolate cake. On the other hand, tragedies that cannot even begin to be explained happened at the hands of German Soldiers throughout the reign of Hitler’s Third Reich. And yes, you might also think that because of its name, the German cockroach hailed from there as well. But believe it or not you would be wrong. The Blattella Germanica as is its scientific name actually came to America by way of Africa, which is its native country and has become America’s most common household insect.

            When fully mature, the German cockroach can be anywhere from ½ to 5/8 inches in length and will have a tan or light brown color. It is not uncommon to find multiple nymphs hanging around as well which is typically around 1/8 inch long. This particular species has an extremely high rate of reproduction throughout its lifetime. The typical lifespan for a female German cockroach can be anywhere from five to six months. During this time, an adult female can produce four to eight egg capsules which can house anywhere from 30-40 eggs. Similar to the adult German roach, the capsule, or ootheca, is also light brown. Once hatched, it takes approximately 120 days for each cockroach to reach full maturity.

            As is the case with many cockroach species, the German cockroach is considered a scavenger and particularly like starchy foods but also eats sugars, meats, grease and other foods. Simply put, there is not much that a German roach will not eat. This species is also nocturnal, so sightings really only become frequent once the population reaches a larger size. Because of the high rate of reproduction and flexibility of diet, this species can become very common in apartment settings where the infestation can begin in one unit and spread rapidly over a short period of time.

            Control of this particular species is a two step process. We recommend not only using some sort of cockroach bait, but also ensuring that your home is not a conducive environment for them as well. As it states in the name, cockroach bait is intended to be a food source for the roaches that upon ingestion, will begin to breakdown the nervous system of the roach causing death. So when using a bait product, we want to make sure that we keep all food crumbs cleaned up and any bags or containers of food sealed properly so the only food source available is the bait. This will allow for a much faster acceptance of the bait by the insect population. We also want to make sure that we keep the home as neat and tidy as possible while treating for the German cockroach. This species of roach is attracted to clutter because it provides safe places to reproduce as well as hide out during the daylight. 

Guests of Autumn

          This year the first day of fall lands on September 22^nd. That gives us just over a month of warm weather days before the leaves begin to turn and temperatures begin to fall. The intense insect pressure the summer brings is beginning to drop off but just because fall is almost upon us, that does not mean all of the insects will be leaving with the warmer temperatures.

            If you follow this blog with any sort of regularity, then you might have noticed I like to refer to the Pest Control Technology Magazine (PCT) quite frequently. While the magazine is directed towards the Pest Management Professional (PMP), I believe that there is quite a bit of useful information to be found that homeowners can use as well. For instance, in the August issue of PCT, there was a short article written by Hope Bowman entitled “Fall Invaders- Are You Ready?” The article discusses four key species of insect that typically try to enter homes in the fall in attempts of finding an area to winter. The first species is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. To you and me this is the most common species of stink bugs in North America. According to Bowman, “these pests have become an agricultural pest, causing damage especially to fruiting trees…” (Bowman, Pg. 62) The next insect species she discusses is the Boxelder Bug. This particular species is most abundant in the spring and summer typically taking up residence in plants around your homes; once autumn hits though, they begin to work their way indoors.

            Third on Bowman’s list was the ever popular Ladybug. This one everyone knows is most often found right around windows and on the window sills. Lastly, was the Cluster Fly; similar in appearance to the you average house fly, the Cluster fly’s large appearance and relatively slow flying habits are what sets it apart from the house fly. (Bowman, pg. 62)

            While identifying species is essential to good pest prevention around the house, it is equally if not more important to “pest proof” your home as well. What I really liked about this article is that after Bowman went into the species most likely to appear, she also gave some great information about how to “seal up a home” so that these occasional invaders are less likely to invade. The first thing she said is to “seal gaps around windows and doors, including garage doors.” (pg. 64) Any sort of space no matter how small, is a potential open door for these species. She went on to add it is equally important to “look for areas where pipes and electrical or cable lines enter the building.” (pg. 64) If there is any sort of gap, you will want to use expanding foam to seal up the area. To sum it up, I would recommend that before September 22^nd arrives, take some time to go around your home and inspect for areas that insects may try to enter. The more thorough you are now, the less likely you will have to deal with any of these four species coming in with you for the winter time.

Works Cited

Bowman, Hope. Fall Invaders-Are You Ready?. Pest Control Technology Magazine. 2013

Mr. Saccharina

          While few know him by name, most people know of and probably have seen/dealt with Silverfish. The Lepisma Saccharina which entomologists refer to it as can be found all across the country. Like most things, the Silverfish was named by its characteristics. A full adult is a gray blue blend with a shimmer to it that very closely reflects the color silver. And as for the second part of its name, if you have ever watched one make its way across the bathroom floor or a book shelf, you know that its movement mimic closely to that of a fish, just on land of course.

            Being born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri my whole life, I never had to experience the amount of insect pressure that I have become accustomed to down here in Houston. As matter of fact I can never remember a time when my parents had to hire a pest control company or even spray our home themselves. I guess bugs up there just know to keep to themselves. But there was one time in particular that I do recall having a slight problem with bugs getting into one of our bathrooms. Yes, it was Mr. Lepisma Saccharina and he came with quite a few friends. That is beside the point; what we needed to know was what they were looking for and how to get rid of them.

            Silverfish exist on food sources that are high in starch or carbohydrates. Paper items are usually their number one food choice. Areas such as the bathroom provide items like toilet paper or tissues that can attract this insect. Still bookshelves can be highly inviting as well seeing as they also provide a great place to hang out during the day since this insect also happens to be nocturnal. If not attended to, Silverfish can be very damaging to books; an average population can destroy several books in just a few short weeks.

            Controlling Silverfish is relatively easy and is best obtained by using some preventative measures. One of the first steps is to determine areas where they are likely to be. Areas to focus on are: kitchen, bathroom, bookshelves, attics and various cracks and crevices. In all these areas there is a good mix of food sources and harborage areas that can be highly inviting to Mr. Saccharina and his friends. Using a product called D-Fense Dust, treat cracks, crevices, light switch and electrical outlets, and other dark areas that could potentially house a Silverfish. Attics can also be very inviting since the chance of human contact or disturbance is very low. We recommend taking D-Fense Dust and lightly dusting all surfaces in the attic to help prevent a population from establishing. In areas where a dust might not work well such as on bookshelves or in drawers and cabinets, we recommend Dekko Silverfish Packs which are small square pieces of cardboard that has been infused with Boric Acid. This product offers an alternative food source that will help eliminate a Silverfish population once consumed. 

Confused Cockroaches

          Every year, millions of Americans battle cockroaches in their homes or apartments. This epic battle is a constant struggle between man and beast (well sort of). There are so many choices out there today for “roach” control. One of the most popular techniques currently is baiting. No, you do not put a minnow on a hook and wait for a bite. Cockroach baits and other insect baits for that matter contain an ingestible insecticide that is infused into the “food” or inert ingredients. It is that combination that makes of the bait. While baiting programs around your home can be highly successful, as Bill Delaney described in a recent article in Pest Control Technology Magazine (PCT), there are factors that can cause confusion for the cockroaches and ultimately keep them from eating at the buffet you so graciously laid out for them. His article is entitled 12 Reasons for Bait Failure, and he accurately describes scenarios in which baiting for cockroaches may not work. So whether you are battling cockroaches at your home right now or not, you may want to read on to learn some tips that will help you be successful if you ever do find yourself in the ongoing battle that is man vs. cockroach. While all twelve reasons may not be applicable to home life, there are a few worth noting and taking into consideration for the future.

1.      Household chemicals: Products like 409 or Windex can have a severe effect on the outcome of your roach bait treatment. Any time you place bait or bait stations out, be sure you do not go back over and spray any type of chemical on or near the bait. Chemicals can act as a repellant for insects and can end up driving them away from the bait before they even have a chance to eat it. For most people, if you drop a piece of steak in the dirt, you probably are not going to eat it; spraying chemical all over the place is the same thing to a cockroach. I go even as far as to wipe down all the surfaces I am going to place bait with a warm, wet rag before applying my product.

2.      What are you using?: The active ingredients play a huge part in the time to kill after the bait has been ingested. There are quite a few baits to pick from out there when treating for cockroaches. Products containing boric acid can take much longer to kill than products that have active ingredients like fipronil. Each product will have its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately you will need to pick which one is right for your situation.

3.      Just how big are they?: Bait placements for cockroaches are usually only the size of a green pea. Well, depending on the size of the cockroaches in your infestation, the bait may be consumed quickly and will need to be reapplied in order to reach the ones that have been unable to feed. Monitoring bait placements daily can help you be successful.

(Delaney, PCT-July 2013 Pg.66-74)

Controlling Crazy

            By definition, the word crazy can mean affected with madness. Until 2002, when a “new” species of ant was discovered in the Houston area, no one would have ever thought to describe an ant as being affected with madness. The Crazy ant as we know them can be seen running all over the ground at high speeds (for an ant) with no sensible pattern to their movements. It appears as if they are running away from something and at every turn are confronted with impassible objects and barriers, so they simply turn and head another direction. Another characteristic of a Crazy ant colony is the immense size of the population. You will certainly know when you have an infestation of these little guys as their colonies can number in the hundreds of thousands.

            At first glance, it may appear as if the dirt around your house is moving, but once you take a closer look you will be able to see that it is actually thousands of ants blanketing the earth. Sometime last year, researchers pinpointed the origin of this species as northern Argentina and southern Brazil. In South America, they are referred to as the Tawny ant. While most people who have had to experience an infestation of this ant have admitted that they seem to force the Fire ants out of the area, they have also admitted that while painful, the Fire ant also did a much better job of keeping to itself. Unlike Fire ants, who stay in their mounds, Crazy ants have found their way inside homes and electrical equipment causing costly damage and time consuming repairs. Because they are such a new species to the U.S., and colonies the colonies are so large in population, control of this ant becomes the next issue.

            From my ongoing contact with pest management professionals, (bug guys), I have heard every answer under the sun for an effective elimination of the crazy ant. The most effective insecticides I have been told contain the active ingredient Fipronil such as Taurus SC or Termidor SC. These products are most often used today as long lasting termiticides but many have found them to most adequately control crazy ants. Fipronil by nature is a non-repellant, meaning the ants cannot “sense” that it is there and since it is slightly slower acting, it allows time for the ants to transmit it between each other to help spread the chemical.  Both products can only be used outdoors and since the Tawny ant does invade homes frequently, different methods are necessary to eliminate them indoors. While they can appear anywhere, most often this ant can be found in areas of high moisture such as the kitchen or bathrooms. In These areas most people prefer baits. Ant baits typically create little or no mess and can be applied much more precisely than sprays. Ant bait stations are easy to use self-contained baits that are usually sugar based and most often used. Still, many professionals are experimenting with more traditional types of bait such as Advance Carpenter Ant Bait that is labeled for Crazy ants. Whatever methods you choose, you will most likely find that this particular ant is a relentless pest and then you too may wish you had your Fire ants back!