by Kevin Boie

PLANO, Texas – It’s a double-punch for termite trouble in North Texas: peak season and the biggest swarms in 10 years.

Texas A&M entomologist Dr. Michael Merchant said the reason for the increase in the number of the wood-eating insects is unclear. But that that one thing is certain — termites can mean big trouble for homeowners. The voracious insects cause $2 billion worth of damage to homes in the United States each year.

Locally, business is booming for pest control companies.

“It is way busier,” said Dennis Jenkins of ABC Pest & Lawn. “We’ve had many, many more calls with swarming.”

Merchant said being able to identify the bug is the first step to protecting property.

“This is your No. 1 clue that you might have a problem with termites — these small, black insects — with or without wings,” he said referring to specimens in his lab.

If you spot suspected termites, the next step is to call a professional exterminator.

Homeowner Kristie Smoot did just that when she noticed a hole in an interior wall of her home.

“I wanted to think it was ants, and I picked at it and kind of saw things moving around, and I called the termite company, and they said it was a swarm,” Smoot said.

The insects had eaten through the wall and were about to begin swarming inside her home.

“It’s pretty scary to think about the damage they can do, and the costs involved,” she said.

Source: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/051010-Mega-Swarms-Spell-Termite-Trouble

Check out this great article from the Killeen Daily Haerald.

By Jackie Stone
Killeen Daily Herald

The low, droning buzz of hundreds or thousands of bees swirling near a home can be panic inducing, but the seasonal swarming this time of year is just part of a bee’s life.

The building heat outside and the lush crop of wildflowers spreading across Central Texas may ring in summer for humans, but they also let wild bees know it is time for the overflowing hives to split apart and find new homes.

Darrell Lister, owner of Bee Buster exterminators, said the old queen will send out thousands of scout bees to find the perfect spot. Unfortunately, sometimes their dream house is already inhabitated and can lead to painful complications.

“Once they’re established and have a honey comb, they’ll protect it,” he said.

Though bee removal experts and county officials said most of the time bees will not become aggressive unless provoked, there are precautions and resources available for concerned homeowners in Central Texas.

What makes bees aggressive

Bell County Extension Office Agent Dirk Aaron said there are a number of things that can contribute to bees becoming aggressive, from environmental provocation to the type of bee involved. Most of the wild bees around Central Texas are a cross between European bees and more aggressive Africanized bees.

Bees that are not on the attack can be provoked by vibrations, loud noise and odor. Their sensitivity to odor sometimes causes bees to attack people wearing very dark clothing because of the smell emitted by the dye.

Domingo Montalbo is the manager of the bees at Walker Honey Farm in Rodgers, but after hours, he is one of the few beekeepers who will still remove bees from properties without killing them.

Montalbo said the average hive holds around 30,000 bees. In a good year, with plenty of rain and wildflowers, a single hive can produce 30 pounds of honey, he said.Most of the time when people see a swarm on their property or around their home, the bees are not looking to attack, but are just trying to find an entrance to the home they are trying to make.

“In a good swarm you’ve got 30,000 bees, and when they’re all swarming trying to go somewhere, you’ll see them hover because all of them are trying to go in an itty bitty hole,” he said. “It usually takes about 30 minutes and they’ll calm down.”

Bee removal

While people may become concerned about a swarm near their home and automatically look to the authorities, that may not result in getting the bees removed, Aaron said. Though fire and emergency services are trained to deal with bees and swarms, they often will not take action unless there is an emergency.

“They are trained to handle a crisis situation, not just a beehive in a wrong place,” Aaron said. “Leave the bees alone until you have a professional out there.”

The extension office keeps a list of exterminators who are trained and experienced with bees.

Bee Buster’s Lister and Montalbo both said it is important to find an exterminator who specializes in bees because of the unique challenges presented.

For instance, Montalbo said if the bees are killed but the hive is left in the wall, whether the bees are alive or not, the summer heat can melt wax and honey and cause seepage and mildew in a home.

Lister advised people against trying to remove a hive on their own, but said if they were determined to they should inform their local fire department and EMS before attempting it.

“Once you have a bee attack, it’s too late to call,” he said.

Contact Jackie Stone at jstone@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7474. Follow her on Twitter at KDHcoveeditor.

Bee awareness

If you have a bee hive on your property:

Call a professional for advice.

Turn off any nearby machinery.

Do not aggravate the bees and keep your distance.

If you are stung, get to a doctor as soon as possible. If you cannot get to a doctor right away, antihistamines can help those who are sensitive to bee stings.

Source: Dirk Aaron, Bell County Extension Office agent. Read more about “bee-proofing” your home, bee safety and more at http://honeybee.tamu.edu/page3/page3.html.

County residents with questions about bees or seeking professional removal can call the bell County Extension office at (254) 933-5305.

Bed bug populations are on the rise across the country and Houston is no exception. Please visit our earlier post on bed bug prevention tips for information on how to protect your family from this pesky invader.

Houston bed bug control

Remember to keep these things in mind when you are dealing with bees on or around your property.

* The best advice we give is to avoid bees at all costs, especially in large numbers.

* You should inspect your property and surrounding environment regularly for colonies and signs of bees. Also be extra attentive for activity when using weed eaters, hedge clippers, tractor power mowers, chain saws, etc.

* If you do get chased by bees, you want to get inside an enclosed structure, such as a house or car immediately. If you cannot reach shelter, run. Most likely you will be able to outrun bees and will lose them within a quarter-mile.

* If you are stung, remove the stingers as quickly as possible. Try to scrape the skin with a driver’s license or other smooth object. The stingers contain protein-based venom that can cause an devastating immune system response in the human body.

* If you are allergic to bee stings or sustain a large number of stings, call 911 immediately.

* Swelling in the area of a sting is perfectly normal. Swelling in other areas or feeling faint from stings could mean you are having a reaction and should seek medical attention. Put ice on sting sites to help the swelling of the stings.

* Please remember to leave the bee control to the experts. When people try to remove bees without training or experience the results can be deadly. It happens all the time, and is a mistake waiting to happen.

Remember for all of your Dallas Bee control & removal services call Myers today!

Check out these tips for finding a pest control professional in the greater Dallas Fort Worth area. Always consider Myers Pest for all your pest and termite inspection needs!

Myers Pest

Tips for Finding A Pro

1. Always deal with a qualified and licensed pest management company. Consider asking to see the license or other credentials of the pest control professional that comes to solve your pest problem.
2. Evaluate pest control companies that are members of national, state or local pest management associations.
3. Ask friends and neighbors to recommend pest control companies they have used successfully and how satisfied they were with the service.
4. Be wary of the exterminator who comes to your home uninvited and offers to give your house a free inspection for pests. He or she may try to scare you into authorizing immediate and costly treatments.
5. If a sizable amount of money is involved, get bids from several pest management companies.
6. Don’t rush a decision. Since you are paying for professional knowledge as well as skillful application of pesticides, look for someone whose judgment you can trust.
7. Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the nature of the household pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.
8. Find out if the pest control company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house or furnishings during treatment.
9. If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing control, prevention and management are necessary.
10. Buy value, not price. Beware of exterminators that offer bargains that sound too good to be true.
11. Homeowners can call state pest control regulatory agencies for information regarding the status of pest management companies. In most states the regulatory agency is the State Department of Agriculture.

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