August 9, 2010 (Glendale, AZ) – The movement toward “going green” has significantly influenced businesses ranging from construction to printing and now, pest management.  As green pest control services become a preferred choice among customers, Invader Pest Management is proud to announce its new designation from the National Pest Management Association as “GreenPro.” This new designation from the NPMA highlights corporate commitment within the pest management profession to controlling household pests while also addressing environmental concerns. This honor not only reflects Invader Pest Management’s exceptional pest management services but more, its commitment to cultivating an environmentally-responsible business.

“Now, more than ever, consumers are seeking pest management methods that not only address their household pest problems but also, address their concerns regarding the protection of the environment,” says Owner/President Fred Willey.  “In proactively seeking – and receiving – our GreenPro designation, we are not only responding to the need to be environmentally sensitive but also to the fact that 61% of consumers seek out pest control services they perceive as “green.*”

GreenPro services offered by Invader Pest Management include:

• Green Residential Pest Management Services
• Green Commercial Pest Management Services, LEED compliant IPM Programs
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools
• Green Termite Control Options
• Green Weed Control Options
• Preventative (Pesticide Free) options such as Home Sealing, Night time Black Light services and Trapping.

“As a designated member of GreenPro, we are fully committed to providing customers not only with outstanding services but outstanding green services,” commented Fred Willey. “We recognize that our customers want to be confident that the services performed in their homes are environmentally sensitive.  Invader Pest Management can assure customers of this as our practices and our business philosophy reflect green thinking.”

For more information regarding green initiatives within the pest management industry, please visit www.invader.net and www.npmaqualitypro.org.  For further information on GreenPro, please visit www.npmagreenpro.org.

Invader Pest Management has been nominated as a Best of Arizona business. This annual public poll is the largest business opinion poll in Arizona. The results are published in the fall: “Ranking Arizona, The Best of Arizona Business”. I am asking you to show your support for Invader Pest Management by voting in this online poll.

Here’s how to cast your vote for Invader Pest Management:

Go to this link: http://rankingaz.azbigmedia.com/index.php 

1. Click on the Browse by category to vote
2. From the Main Category drop down menu, select Real Estate Residential
3. Then from the Sub-Category drop down menu, select Pest Control Services
4. Then from the Company drop down menu, select Invader Pest Management

It’s easy and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Voting ends in TODAY!   

HURRY ….your vote counts

At Invader Pest Management, we are concerned with all types of Arizona pest control and wanted to pass along to you the following press release that the Arizona Department of Health Services issued not too long ago regarding rabies:

Bobcats and Bats Force Rabies Back into the Spotlight

Recent bobcat attacks and bat exposures remind Arizonans that rabid animals can be found throughout the state. Three bobcats attacked people and pets in three counties in April.  The bobcats tested positive for rabies at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory (ASPHL). One person was vaccinated after exposure to prevent rabies infection and one pet dog had to be put down because it was not vaccinated against rabies.

 Also, in the last few weeks, several bats were sent to the state lab for rabies testing. In two cases, students had been playing with bats found on school grounds.

 “Students may have picked up the bats, unaware of what they actually were,” said Program Manager Craig Levy, ADHS Vector Borne & Zoonotic Disease. “Bats can look like small fuzzy animals, so children might think it is safe to handle them. It is not!”

It is important to teach children not to pick up or touch a bat or other wild animal, especially if it is on the ground since it might have rabies.  For that matter, any wild animal that appears ill or approaches people should be avoided, including wild animals encountered on hiking trails, in campgrounds or in your own backyard.

ADHS worked with other agencies like the Arizona Game & Fish Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a video to help teachers and school personnel learn about rabies and bats in the school yard.  It is available for free on the AzDHS You Tube channel and DVDs are being prepared for school district offices throughout the state.  The video features interviews with state and federal rabies experts and the only person known to have survived rabies encephalitis.

The best way to protect your pet from rabies is to keep all pets current on vaccinations and to obey leash laws.  Whenever people or pets come into contact with confirmed or suspected rabid animals, you should contact the local animal control office for assistance.  If a pet owner cannot prove vaccination, the pet will either have to be quarantined for six months at the owner’s expense or euthanized.

Also, there have been a number of confirmed cases of Rabies this year and mostly with dogs coming in contact with skunks. Here of course, not only could rabies be a problem, but it is a very stinky situation! For all your Arizona pest control needs, please call Invader at 623-435-0228, or visit us on the web at www.invader.net.

West Nile Virus Update

The first Arizona West Nile Virus (WNV) fatality has been confirmed by the AZ State Health Laboratory.

The case patient was an elderly woman in Maricopa County who developed WNV encephalitis back in June.

Maricopa County is issuing a press release this afternoon.

The current human case count in Arizona is 11 cases, including ten in Maricopa County and one in Pinal.

Mosquito Update

Current Stats (as of July 13):     109 mosquito pools have tested positive for WNV:

• Maricopa – 90
• Pinal – 18
• Yuma – 1

The East Valley (Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, etc.) continues to be a zone of intense WNV activity.

Please protect your families and pets by wearing mosquito repellant, reducing stagnate water around your property, and calling Maricopa county vector control when you spot “Green” pools in your neighborhood. 

For more information on Mosquitoes and their control call Invader Pest Management at 623-435-0228.

Mosquito control in Arizona is becoming an extremely important issue especially in Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale and all surrounding valley cities.  I just received my regular weekly report on mosquitoes and the tracking of West Nile Virus and there is a growing concern due to an up rise in human cases of the West Nile Virus.  There will be a press release sent out by the affected Counties and Arizona Department of Health Services later today, and all the news stations will probably pick this up. 

What can you do to protect yourself?

• Make sure you and your family are wearing mosquito repellant when spending much time outside.
• With Monsoon Season here, make sure that you have nothing around your property that will collect and hold rainfall.  Mosquitoes only need 3 days to breed.
• Make sure your doors and windows are properly screened.
• Utilize bug lights or shut exterior lights off (where possible).
• Make sure you don’t have a “GREEN” swimming pool next door.
• Call your city or county to file a complaint, this is also important for tracking purposes.
  • In Maricopa County
    • File a complaint   Call 602-506-6616
    • http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/Complaints/Forms/ComplaintInput.aspx?category=39
• Call Invader Pest Management for Mosquito Control  623-435-0228

Below is today’s report

Human Cases

The WNV picture has taken a more serious turn this week.

Six clinical human cases of WNV have now been reported, including five in Maricopa County and one in Pinal County.

Most of the cases have neuroinvasive infections (meningitis and/or encephalitis).

Also reported are thee WNV viremic blood donors identified through the blood screening programs of the blood collection agencies.  One of the viremic donors developed clinical illness and is also counted among the six cases.

All of the cases and viremic donors have occurred within the WVN hot zone in the East Valley (as identified by mosquito surveillance efforts).

Mosquito Update

As of July 7, 2010, there are at least 89 WNV+ mosquito pools reported in three counties.

• Maricopa –  80+
• Pinal – 8
• Yuma – 1

Because of the appearance of human cases, a joint press release between the ADHS and Maricopa and Pinal counties is being drafted for release.  It will most likely go out today.

Now that human WNV cases are being reported, and the numbers are changing frequently, we will try to update these WNV numbers once a week – usually on Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning.  The idea is to try to keep everyone on the same page, same stats, and same time so that consistent messages and stats are going out from different agencies.  On rare occasions, we may have to issue updates off-schedule  –  such as when there are significant events (e.g. WNV fatality, new location, media release, etc.).

The bedbug (or bed bug) is an insect of the family Cimicidae that lives by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. The name comes from its preferred habitat:  mattresses, sofas, and other furniture. Although not strictly nocturnal, bedbugs are mainly active at night.

Bed bug infestations often go undetected until they are widespread. They are elusive, coming out mainly at night to feed on their sleeping victims and then go back to their hiding places undetected. They can however get onto clothing, luggage, backpacks etc and be transmitted from place to place.

Bed bugs are an issue that schools across the country are facing. There is an infestation in a home. Bed bugs gets onto a backpack or piece of clothing by an unknowing carrier and is brought to school, it then transfers to another backpack and goes home to a different house. And the infestation grows.

The article below is about an Elementary school in Denver that is investigating a possible bed bug outbreak.

The video below shows how one school in Indiana has begun to educate their teachers and community on these pests to know what to look for and ways to get rid of the bed bugs, because numerous other schools in the town have had issues with bed bugs.

How do I get rid of bedbugs? Call Invader Pest Management for professional help with bed bugs in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, Tempe Areas at 623-435-0228. We have highly qualified and trained staff that specializes in bed bug treatment and control efforts. We are confident that with your cooperation, we can help you sleep better tonight! Make an appointment on line at www.invader.net.

Bed bugs suspected in Denver Elementary School

Fox 59 Bed Bugs in School Video

Well, we are finally at our summer time temperatures hitting 110 degrees.  Many people in the Phoenix Area will be finding ways to keep cool all summer long.  A lot of people will head to the ocean a mere 5 to 6 hours west of us in either San Diego or Los Angeles areas, some will travel North to Flagstaff and East to the White Mountains which will take 2 to 4 hours to get somewhere cooler than the heart of Phoenix.

Now some of you might wonder where this is leading to, on a pest control blog, obviously people want to stay cool when it’s hot! Duh…  Anyway, I want to talk about travelers, little hitch hikers.  You know, our friends the Ticks and Bedbugs.

When we go camping or hiking in Arizona’s cooler spots – there is a strong likely hood that we will take the dogs, and that your dog will be roaming the beautiful mountainside sniffing, rubbing under bushes and shrubs, playing in the creek, etc…  all the time – putting themselves at risk of picking up those hitch hikers that will travel all the way back home to move into their new permanent residence with you, your family and your pets. 

Or when you stay at a hotel/motel or even worse a hostel – you too are susceptible to picking up the occasional traveler – the Bed Bug and bringing them straight back to your bedroom at home.  I’m not focusing on Bed Bugs on this blog, but you can read additional information on the Bed Bug resurgance under bed bugs category here on my blog.

Arizonans should take precautions against tick bites because some ticks carry germs that cause disease, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  In order to prevent exposure make sure to avoid areas where ticks live, such as outside of the trails on the margins, in brushy and grassy areas, and leaf litter in forests.  Try to avoid contact with logs, tree trunks and fallen branches.

Check yourself, children and pets after recreating in wooded areas, and remove ticks promptly and properly. 

How to properly remove a tick:

1. Use tweezers to grasp ticks by mouth parts as close to skin as possible and pull back gently.  Or, use your finger nails covered with tissue paper.  Avoid squeezing the body of the tick, if possible.
2. Immediately was the bite site with soap and water.
3. Save the tick for identification.  State health officials can identify the tick to determine if it is a species that may transmit disease.
4. Preserve tick(s) in 70% alcohol and send to: Arizona Department of Health Services: Vector-Borne Diseases Program, 150 North 19^th Avenue, Ste 140, Phoenix, AZ  85007  

I found this website http://www.tickpicture.com/pictures/american-dog-tick.html  that had some great pictures of ticks and some good information, so rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I am including their link in my blog.

For more information or Tick control services, contact Invader Pest Management at 623-435-0228 or visit www.invader.net.

Invader Pest Management, a 16 year veteran Phoenix pest management company, has earned the QualityPro Schools designation. Invader Pest Management recognizes that pests in schools need to be managed in a careful and environmentally responsible way. 

Becoming a QualityPro Schools company means that Invader Pest Management has taken extraordinary steps to ensure that schools can rely on us. In addition to fulfilling the thorough and in-depth QualityPro requirements, Invader Pest Management has trained all of its schools technicians and salespeople on specific school IPM techniques above and beyond any state requirements.

Taking these steps clearly demonstrates that Invader Pest Management cares about protecting children in the school environment.

“Becoming QualityPro Schools was important to me, because I believe the management of pests in a sensitive environment like a school demands special care,” said Fred Willey. “This designation, like the QualityPro program, offers schools solid proof of the careful way my company offers its services in schools.”

QualityPro Schools companies have met qualifications built around five key principles: Business Operations, Consumer Relations, Environmental Stewardship, Technician Training, and School Integrated Pest Management. These qualifications include employing only highly trained, credentialed employees; offering a clear, easy-to-understand warranty and termite service agreement; maintaining a drug-free workplace; advertising truthfully and ethically; and maintaining an up-to-date insurance policy.

Invader Pest Management is proud to be serving our community as a QualityPro Schools company. For more information about how we can serve you better, contact Fred Willey or his staff at 623-435-0228.

QualityPro and QualityPro Schools are the mark of excellence in pest management. This program is increasing the professionalism of the industry through self-regulation; stimulating consumer demand through increased confidence and a higher public perception of industry professionalism; and providing marketing opportunities to participating companies by recognizing commitment to excellence and higher performance standards. For more information, visit www.npmaqualitypro.org. 

Public service announcement from Invader Pest Management

Please wear mosquito repellant if spending any time outside, especially on the weekends when people tend to play outside a lot.

Below is a blurb from the Maricopa County Vector Control that they will be announcing that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in our mosquitoes this year.  With the cooler weather this year more people will be outside having picnics, enjoying their pools, barbequing, etc…  Telling people the importance of using mosquito control while outside on weekends.  There were even stories on the TV news recently about the outbreak of mosquitoes in the north west valley. So even though the confirmed cases of WNV are in Gilbert, we all should take preventative actions and protect ourselves from attack of Mosquitoes!

West Nile Virus Update

West Nile Virus (WNV) has re-emerged just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Maricopa County Vector Control (MCVC) is reporting the first WNV positive result for 2010 in a mosquito pool collected this week in the Gilbert area.  The pool tested positive on RAMP assay and was confirmed by PCR at the AZ State Lab.

Maricopa County will be issuing a press release today or tomorrow.

The information below outlines Invader Pest Management’s Mosquito Control Program.

What You Can Do to Help Fight Mosquitoes

• Empty standing water in old tires, cemetery urns, garbage cans, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquito larva and pupa live.
• Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week if not more often.
• Check for irrigation leaks, keep irrigation valve boxes dry, maintain proper water cycles that don’t over water and cause standing water.
• Make sure landscaping has proper grading to avoid standing water.
• Drain or fill temporary pools with dirt.
• Keep swimming pools, fountains, treated and circulating. Keep rain gutters unclogged.
• Floor drains, bathtub, shower, and sinks should have water regularly ran through to exchange water in pipe.
• Don’t leave dishes, coffee or any unfinished beverages that could create potential breeding site.
• Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight.”
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights.
• Contact Invader Pest Management for any questions about mosquitoes and their control.

Mosquito Control Methods 

An IPM approach includes surveillance, source reduction, larviciding and adulticiding to control mosquito populations.

• Surveillance –   Reporting of mosquito sites, biting, inspection and source location is first step.
• Source Reduction – Controlling water levels – The most important step is to eliminate potential breeding habitats for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days.
• Larviciding –
  • Target larvae – Both chemical and biological measures may be employed to kill immature mosquitoes during larval stages. Larvicides target larvae in the breeding habitat before they can mature into adult mosquitoes and disperse.
  • Mineral oils and other materials form a thin film on the surface of the water which cause larvae, pupae and emerging adults to drown.
• Adulticiding – Pesticides registered for this use may be undertaken to combat an outbreak of mosquitoes in a community.

Also, Rabies so far this year is not as prevalent as last year, however we have had a number of confirmed cases this year and mostly with dogs coming in contact with skunks – not only could rabies be a problem, but the whole ordeal could be a smelly situation! The information below has specifics on rabies cases so far this year.

Lab Confirmed Rabies Positive Animals (includes AZ State Health Lab & USDA testing)

• CDC performs variant testing on domestic and wild animals that are not the usual reservoirs for rabies.
• The javelina from Pima County and the coati from Pinal County were found to be infected with the Arizona grey fox variant.

Exposures to Lab Confirmed Rabid Animals

 Rabies by Month

Statistics are provisional due to USDA direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) testing and may be updated retrospectively due to reporting delays.

Invader Pest Management, a Phoenix pest management company with 16 years in business, has earned the QualityPro designation, the mark of excellence in pest management.

Becoming a QualityPro company means that Invader Pest Management has taken extraordinary steps to ensure that consumers can rely on us. From running criminal background checks on all of our employees to using environmentally sound integrated pest management practices, QualityPro companies are committed to providing consumers with the highest possible services.

“Becoming QualityPro was important to me, because I strive to offer consumers the best in pest management,” said Fred Willey. “This designation offers consumers solid proof of the thoroughness and quality of my company’s services.”

QualityPro companies have met qualifications built around four key principles: Business Operations, Consumer Relations, Environmental Stewardship and Technician Training. These qualifications include employing only highly trained, credentialed employees; offering a clear, easy-to-understand warranty and termite service agreement; maintaining a drug-free workplace; advertising truthfully and ethically; and maintaining an up-to-date insurance policy.

Invader Pest Management is oud to be serving our community as a QualityPro company. For more information about how we can serve you better, contact Fred Willey or his team at 623-435-0228.

QualityPro is the mark of excellence in pest management. This program is increasing the professionalism of the industry through self-regulation; stimulating consumer demand through increased confidence and a higher public perception of industry professionalism; and providing marketing opportunities to participating companies by recognizing commitment to excellence and higher performance standards. For more information, visit www.npmaqualitypro.org.