Texas Pest Control Association

 

 

Q. Our Outside lights attract insects. Is there anything I can do about this?

A. Bright yard or porch lights attract a multitude of flying and crawling pests. Some of these pests come because of the lights, and others, like spiders and ants, come to eat the other insects. There are several ways to reduce this pest problem:
      Use lower wattage bulbs. A 60 watt bulb with attract insects than a 100 watt bulb.
     Use yellow bulbs rather than white bulbs. Businesses should use sodium vapor lights, which have a low UV output, rather than mercury vapor lights, which are high in the UV wavelength and much more attractive to insects.
     Shine lights toward a door rather than placing them directly above or next to a doorway. The insects will be attracted to the light source, which will help keep more of tem away from the door that will be opening and closing.
     Shield lights (including any light traps, or "zappers") with shrubs or other shields to block the light from shining far out from the building. Light visible from afar attracts pests from a wider area.

 

 

Q. Should a bee stinger be scraped out, or pulled out?

A. Conventional wisdom says that if you pull out a stinger, you pinch it, and that pumps in more venom. But recent tests show it doesn't make a difference how you get it out- just get it out fast. The longer the stinger remains in your skin. the more venom it pumps into you, resulting in more pain and a larger welt. Apparently pressing the venom sac does not pump in more venom at all.
      So next time you (or someone nearby) is stung by a bee, don't stop to argue about the best way to get the stinger out- just get it out quickly.
      And remember, yellow jackets and wasps, unlike bees, don't leave a stinger in your skin, so don't bother looking for one.

 

 

Q. Will clothes moths eat cotton and synthetic fabrics

 

A. Yes. Both cloths moths and carpet beetles prefer to eat products of animal origin, such as wool, leather, and fur. But under certain circumstances they also feed on and damage fabrics of non-animal origin, such as cotton and synthetic fibers. This usually occurs in one of the following situations:


     1) The fabric is soiled- commonly with perspiration, spilled food, or urine. Clothes moths and carpet beetles feed on and damage almost any soiled fabric, even if the fabric is not normally eaten by them. The damage is greatest in the soiled areas. (Tip: store only clean fabrics- even woolens are less likely to be eaten if they are clean.)


     2) The fabric is a synthetic/wool or cotton/wool blend. These pests indiscriminately consume both the wool and non-wool portions of fabric blends to gain the nutrition the wool provides them.

 

 

Q. Can pests start fires?
A. Yes. Many commercial and residential fires are caused by electrical shorts in wiring, and pests are a frequent cause of these shorts. Fire safety experts estimate that rats and mice alone may be responsible for about 50% of all fires of "undetermined origin".
       Rodents cause fires in two ways. They cause electrical shorts when they gnaw through wires to get past them or to get the cottony insulation material for their nests. They also create flammable nests of chewed up dry materials, packed closely together. To make matters worse, rodents have been know to carry matches to their nests. They seem to like gnawing on the flammable ends of matches, and this gnawing with their incredibly hard teeth can cause the matches to ignite.
      Many other pests, including termites and various ants (especially carpenter, Pharaoh, acrobatic and fire ants), are also known to remove the protective insulation and coatings from around wires. Some of these insects are able to detect magnetic fields around wiring, and for some reason they are actually attracted to these fields.
      Even bird nests have caused fires. Nests are made of fine, often flammable materials. Some birds like to line their nests with cigarette butts, and if the cigarette butt is still smoldering, it can ignite a dry nest.
      Some pests cause shorts and damage equipment simply by crawling into appliances or other electrical equipment, and dying or defecating there. This happens with cockroaches, for instance, because they love the warmth that motors produce, and they like to crawl into tight places.
     Pests are just one of many causes of fires, but this is another reason why it's so important to have regular professional pest management services.