Best Pest Control Services

There are many thousands of different species of flies, however, relatively few interact with humans. Still, those that do are among the most destructive of pest species, spreading many diseases to man, domesticated animals and agricultural and horticultural crops.

The housefly and its close relatives are not true vectors of any disease in the way that the mosquito is inextricably linked with the spread of malaria and yellow fever. But they are capable of harboring disease-causing organisms in and on their bodies, and therefore the control of these flies by pest management professionals should be considered vitally important.

General Fly Biology

The great success of flies as worldwide pests can be attributed to their highly adaptive life cycle. As is true of many insects, flies have a life cycle in which the juvenile stage, the larva, exploits a different food resource from the adult. This characteristic is advantageous for flies, as it allows them to make use of diverse habitats. In addition, the adult female fly, which has an acutely developed sensory system, is able to locate suitable areas in which to lay her eggs, such that the larvae which emerge from the eggs are able to have adequate food, and be in an area of adequate humidity and the correct temperature.

Their mobility is also of great use at the local level where adult flies move in many directions and frequently enter areas of human habitation and work. This is when their status as pests become evident.

Increasingly in areas where humans live, eat and work there is an extremely low tolerance to flies. Houseflies, lesser houseflies, fruit flies and fungus flies can all frequently be encountered in premises where humans are to be found, particularly in areas where plants are grown, as many of the larvae of these flies live on the organic debris that is found in the soil, potted plants, etc.

Controlling Flies

When controlling any insect the proven technique is to concentrate on a vulnerable stage in the life cycle and direct the control measures at the stage. Flies have four developmental stages in their life cycles: the egg, larva, pupa and adult. The egg stage is very short, and the pupae are well protected against the entry of any insecticidal solutions. This leaves only the larval and adult stages as the most effective and realistic targets of control measures.

Larval control is generally carried out by using conventional insecticides to treat the areas where the larvae are feeding or likely to feed. These measures can be highly successful, but they also can be very wasteful, if a large amount of insecticide is used for situations in which it may not be neccessary. Recent advances in the biological control of fly larvae may provide an answer. Bacterial control using various varieties of Bacillus thuringiensis against certain fly larvae, particularly those found in aquatic habitats, has been successful, and further developments are taking place in this area to extend the range of species which can be controlled by these techniques.

For your Fly control needs contact Best Pest Control Services at at (617) 625-4850 or (781) 641-4040 or email us today. Control may include sanitation, installation of Fly Units and/or the use of baits.

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There are over 35,000 species of spiders worldwide, with about 3,000 occuring in North America. Many species of spiders are household pests. Wherever their food is available, spiders are likely to be found. All spiders are predators, feeding mainly on insects and other small arthropods. Controlling spiders involves a six step process:

To find out more, contact us at (617) 625-4850 or (781) 641-4040 or email us today.

Adult centipedes are yellowish to dark brown, often with dark markings, and 1/8- to 6-inches long. The body is flattened with 15 to 177 body segments which typically have one pair of legs each. The house centipede is grey-yellow with three stripes down the back and has very long legs banded with white. The largest centipedes are found int he Southwest.

Centipedes typically overwinter outdoors, and, in the summer, lay 35 eggs or more in or on the soil. Newly hatched centipedes have four pairs of legs; during subsequent molts, the centipede progressively increases the number of legs until becoming adult. Adults of many species live a year and some as long as five to six years.

Centipedes, including the house centipede, prefer to live in moist environments. The house centipede can live indoors in a damp basements, moist closets, and bathrooms and outdoors under stones, decaying firewood, objects on the ground, piles of leaves, mulch, etc. Most centipedes are active at night. The first pair of legs on centipedes has poison glands which are used to kill prey, such as insects and spiders. They obtain most of their water from their prey. Centipedes can bite humans, but the bite is seldom worse than a bee sting.

Centipedes which are a nuisance outdoors can be controlled by removing harborage areas such as piles of trash, stones, boards, leaves, grass and compost. Entry into buildings should be prevented by sealing and caulking gaps around siding, windows, doors, pipes, wires, etc.

House centipedes can be controlled indoors by eliminating their harborage areas where possible. A vacuum should be used to remove exposed centipedes. Liquid and dust applications can be introduced into wall voids, cracks and crevices along baseboards, and into other potential hiding places. To find out more, contact us at (617) 625-4850 or (781) 641-4040 or email us today.

Silverfish are primitive (i.e., older than cockroaches), wingless insects that are 1/2-inch long when fully grown. They are covered with silvery scales and are flattened and somewhat "carrot" shaped. Three long, slender "antennae-like" appendages project from the end of the abdomen giving them the name "bristle tails."

The female lays one to three eggs per day in crevices or under objects. The female molts after laying a batch eggs and sheds her skin as many as 50 times after becoming an adult. The eggs hatch in about 43 days at 72-90 F and at least 50-75% relative humidity. The young silverfish look exactly like the adults, except smaller, and feed on the same foods. Under ideal conditions, they molt every two to three weeks becoming adults in the three to four months. However, under poor conditions, this might require two to three years. These insects are very long-lived, commonly living at least three years. The silverfish are unlike most of the other insects in that they continue to molt after they become adults.

Silverfish are tropical insects that easily adapt to the structural environment. They live in warm (71-90 F), moist locations in the structures; hide during the day; and rest in tight cracks and crevices. They roam great distances looking for food, but once a food source is located, they remain close until the supply is exhausted. They can be found throughout a structure from the basement to individual floors to attics to shingles on the roof. They readily feed on books, cloth, and sometimes dried meats or dead insects. They seem to be especially fond of the sizing on books and paper, and the glues and pastes found on wallpaper, labels, and paper products.

During the inspection, look for activity in areas that provide moisture, harborage and food. Reducing moisture, lowering the temperature, and removing infested items can help eliminate localized infestations. Sanitation is helpful but may not greatly reduce the problem because these pests feed on so many paper products. They can survive for weeks without food and water. To find out more, contact us at (617) 625-4850 or (781) 641-4040 or email us today.