Precision Pest Control

What can bee keepers do to control tick and mosquito activity, while managing risk to their honey bees?

Mavrik Perimeter is a broad spectrum insecticide that is non-repellent and non-toxic to honey bees once application has dried.

Mavrik® Perimeter – PestWorld

The Curious Case of Bird Fleas Infesting a Home An infestation in a California home is believed to be the first record of a structural infestation by the bird flea Dasypsyllus gallinulae perpinnatus.

It's Tick Awareness Week! Follow along throughout the week as we share what you need to know about these pests, the threats they pose to health and how to protect yourself from bites. Be sure to visit our tick awareness portal TickTalk.org for more resources!

Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Tick-Borne Red Meat Allergy Explained What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome? Learn about the symptoms of this tick-borne meat allergy, prevention tips, and the importance of awareness for those affected.

Termites are rare in Maine. They are most commonly found in southern Maine.

Here, you can see some subterranean mud tubes traveling up this fence in Newfield, ME. These termites create these tubes in order to maintain the necessary moisture level.

Quite a large Bald Faced Hornets nest. This nest was discovered beneath a set of stairs behind a customer's home.

If you need a tick identification or tick testing, check here for instructions to send it to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

Tick Lab - University of Maine Cooperative Extension Submit a tick for identification or testing and learn about ticks in Maine.

As you're doing your yard clean up, here are some recommendations to help prevent ticks without the use of pesticides.

If you are interested in more methods of tick control, contact Precision Pest Control for options and pricing.

Here is an interesting macro shot of a mosquito's foot. Mosquitoes will soon become active as warm temperatures are sustained.

Currently, tick activity is being reported so be sure to check yourself, your children and your pets.

Precision Pest Control offers traditional mosquito and tick treatments but also non-traditional methods such as Tick Control Box System for ticks and the In2Care system for mosquitoes, which help reduce populations WITHOUT broadcast pesticide applications.

If you would like a free quote for mosquito and tick control options, please call, text or Email.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20220809/pfizer-begins-trial-lyme-disease-vaccine

Pfizer Begins Trial for Lyme Disease Vaccine Pfizer has launched a late-stage clinical trial to test a vaccine that could protect against Lyme disease, the company announced Monday.

This bald faced hornet's nest was found in a bush behind a Standish resident's home.

If you need assistance with removing a stinging insect nest, call or text 207-291-0840.

Q: “What can I do to prevent tickborne disease in my family?”

TickExpert: After reviewing 10’s of thousands of tick encounters across North America, 3 of the most common things people need to work on to prevent complications from tick bites are: 1) protecting pets from October- May; 2) stop believing the tick wasn’t attached very long when it’s tick growth estimate suggests it was (http://bit.ly/Ticks_Change_Appearance) ; and 3) having a good pointy tweezer for safe tick removal. Don’t squeeze, burn, or suffocate the tick with Vaseline or botanical oils. Just get a pointy tweezer (http://bit.ly/pointytweezers), grasp the tick close to the skin, and pull it out immediately.

Powassan is rare but awful stories like this should be a reminder to check ourselves and our loved ones whenever we have been anywhere that might harbor ticks.

https://www.pressherald.com/2022/04/20/maine-resident-dies-from-tick-borne-illness/

Maine resident dies from tick-borne illness A Waldo County resident died from Powassan, a rare tick-borne virus, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ticks on the back side of the shoulder can be hard to see without help. The tick is biting exactly where a shirt would drape over the shoulder and restrict the tick from continuing to walk upward--a very common place to bite. So look there! Check out our daily tick check card and put them in your bathroom to remind everyone to DO A DAILY TICK CHECK! https://bit.ly/tick_check_cards1

Happy April Fools Day. Have some harmless fun with your friends and family. 🤪

Spiders native to Maine are generally considered beneficial.

If you find yourself dealing with any pest issues, call 207-291-0840 to set up a free inspection.

Precision Pest Control 13 years serving the Southern Maine community for their pest control needs.

https://wgme.com/news/local/new-research-shows-increase-in-ticks-in-midcoast-maine

New research shows increase in ticks in Midcoast Maine ARROWSIC (WGMA) -- New research shows there has been an increase in ticks carrying Lyme disease in Arrowsic’s Holt Forest. The problem has gotten worse over the past 30 years. Also read:Evidence of a rare tick-borne virus found in Maine deerTwenty years ago, Jon Cole was bitten by a tick and h...

According to Griffin Dill with the University of Southern Maine tick lab, antibodies for the Heartland virus was discovered in blood samples from a deer. The Lone Star Tick (image below) carries this virus and is a very uncommon pest to find in Maine. These ticks are also know for causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia and for red meat allergy.

Regardless of which type of tick you discover on you, your children on your pet, it is never a bad idea to photograph it for record. If it was embedded, it is a good idea to save it for identification in the event of an illness. If you have a tick embedded, I have a link below to the CDC which shows the safest tick removal method.

Ticks are already very active so be sure to tuck your pants into your socks, find an appropriate repellent, treat your pets and check yourselves daily.

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

https://wgme.com/news/local/evidence-of-a-rare-tick-borne-virus-found-in-maine-deer

For those that want to battle ticks but do not want pesticides applied on their yard, there are other options. One of the best ways is to modify your yard to make it less hospitable to ticks.

•Remove leaf litter and eliminate tall grass which keeps them moist and shields them from sunlight
•Keep your household items and debris like toys, firewood, storage, etc neatened up.
•Make your yard less attractive to rodents by eliminating hiding spots and food like bird seed and trash.
•Keep a barrier of wood chips or crushed stone, which ticks are unlikely to cross, between your yard and wooded areas.

Another way to combat ticks without broadcast pesticide application is the Tick Box Control System which uses non-toxic bait to lure mice and chipmunks into the box and under a wick, coating them in fipronil (Found in Frontline). This will kill tick larvae and nymphs, which primarily feed on rodents and other small mammals. This stops new generations of ticks from developing into adulthood where they feed on larger animals and humans and lay eggs.

Check out this 3-minute video below of David Whitman discussing the Tickbox Control System. If you would like your property evaluated for this tick control measure, call or text Precision Pest Control at 207-291-0840 and set up an appointment for a no-obligation evaluation.

https://youtu.be/uGhi6qDng-k

Dave Whitman on Tick Box Tick Control System Interview assignment for Aaron Boothroyd's NMD 106 class.

So many great developments lately. Imagine a world with no more lyme disease.

https://www.globalbiotechinsights.com/articles/25944/gene-editing-breakthrough-in-ticks-to-help-combat-lyme-disease

Gene Editing Breakthrough in Ticks to Help Combat Lyme Disease | Global Biotechnology Insights Reducing tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, may now be possible thanks to two new gene editing methods. The methods could allow scientists to alter parts of the tick genome that are involved in harboring and transmitting pathogens.

As we wake up to snow on the ground today, it may not be first on our minds but ticks will be active soon. Last year I saw reports of tick activity on March 21st. It's never too soon to get pricing and locked into a schedule for tick control. Call 207-291-0840 for no-obligation pricing which starts at $75.

Homeowner Special: $125 for preventative ant treatments from now through the end of June.

Also, from now through the end of June, successful referrals will be awarded a 25%-off coupon for use during the 2022 season.

This is a great development. A way to attract mosquitoes to synthetic blood mixed with toxins to kill the mosquito so that broadcast pesticide applications won't be required.

Until a mosquito control measure like this is made available to the public, consider calling Precision Pest Control for free pricing and to schedule your mosquito/tick service for the 2022 mosquito season.

https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/01/07/swedish-scientists-have-developed-synthetic-blood-to-attract-and-kill-malaria-carrying-mos

Scientists have made synthetic 'blood' to catch and kill mosquitoes Scientists claim this cheaper, targeted method of pest control could be an alternative to mass pesticides that impact the entire ecosystem.

Most people expect rodenticide to be the foundation of rodent control. While it is a very important tool in our toolbox, IPM (integrated pest management) includes a variety of other methods which should be employed before or alongside the use of rodenticide programs. Pest Exclusion (sealing them out), Sanitation (eliminating attractants), Housekeeping (making the environment less hospitable) and Mechanical Controls (trapping) are just as important and often MORE important than rodenticides.

If you've had mice nuisance in your home or business and are ready to say goodbye, call today to set up a free, no obligation inspection and pricing.

Today is the first day of Autumn. The mornings are becoming cooler. In order to prevent overwintering pests such as stink bugs, lady bugs and cluster flies from entering your home, consider a fall exterior treatment with a repellent product. There may not be much time left to prevent them from entering.

Once these pests enter your structure to survive the freezing temperatures, it can be difficult to prevent them from entering the living space.