Bug Zero

Bug Zero Shares Valuable Bed Bug Info in KY3 News Story

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Bug Zero's, Michael Woodring, featured in a KY3 news story concerning bed bugs. Check out the story here.

Some key points included in the story:

Bed Bugs are being found in hotels, motels, residences, dorms, etc.
Tips provided for inspecting a hotel room include removing the sheets and even the head board to look for bed bug spotting which is an indication bed bugs are in the area.
Do not store clothing in dressers provided in hotel rooms.
Wash all clothing when returning from travel even clothes that you did not wear.
If you have a bed bug issue, contact a professional. The sooner a professional is brought in the better.

Bed Bug Activity in Ozark Area

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Bug Zero featured in Ozarks First story related to increased activity of bed bugs across the country and in Missouri. Check out video and story here.

Japanese beetles

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:20:00 +0000

Bug Zero was featured in a story about Japanese beetles on KY3. Go to this link for the complete story.

Bug Zero Featured in HoneyBee Story

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:56:00 +0000

Bug Zero was featured in a story concerning honeybees on KOLR 10 / KSFX 27 in Springfield. To see the video and read the story check out this link.

Bug Zero Celebrates 20 Years!

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:49:00 +0000

Bug Zero is celebrating our 20 Year Anniversary! Thanks to all of our clients, friends, and family for their support in making our success possible! We are proud to serve Southern Missouri, Northern Arkansas, and Eastern Kansas.

Bug Zero Featured on KSPR SpringField

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Bug Zero's Charles Valentine was featured on the local ABC affiliate station in Springfield, MO, KSPR. The feature discusses ant treatments and a consumers issues when attempting to use over the counter products and home remedies prior to calling Bug Zero. Click here to watch the story that aired on 5/25/10 on the 4pm news.

Bug Zero Proud Sponsor of Ozarks Honor Flight Program

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:37:00 +0000

Bug Zero is sponsoring a World War II Veteran on the next Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Mission of OZARKS HONOR FLIGHT:
To transport, in the safest and most timely means possible, military veterans of World War
II to Washington, D.C. to view their World War II memorial and other commemorative sights
with the highest degree of honor, respect and gratitude at no cost to the veteran.

Congratulations to Mike Garrett!

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Congratulations to Bug Zero's Mike Garrett who recently successfully completed the Purdue University course for pest control professionals.

Bug Zero Featured on KY3 News

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:53:00 +0000

Charles Valentine recently represented Bug Zero on KY3 news. This segment focused on ants and provided tips for prevention and shows Charles providing an ant treatment. Click here to watch the segment.

US Navy Tiger Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Bug Zero's Chris Scrivener recently had the opportunity and privilege to sail onboard a US Navy Tiger Cruise. The Navy allows sailors to invite family members on a Tiger Cruise and Chris was a guest of his sister.

Description per Chris,
"We started in Seatle, WA on March 22 and stopped in SanDiego, CA on the 26th. The pic of the rainbow is from a storm we navigated around so they could continue with the air show. They also did a gun show for us were the helos and the 50 cals on the ship shot special lighted ammo at flares in the water. "

Bug Zero is a proud supporter of our U.S. Military and appreciate Chris sharing his photos with us and our blog viewers.

To see more pictures check out Bug Zero's Facebook Fan page.

April is National Pest Management Month

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Bug Zero Pest Services celebrates April as National Pest Management Month, an observance that has been taking place for more than 30 years. In honor of National Pest Management Month this year, Bug Zero is raising public awareness about the risks posed by household pests and encouraging homeowners to take proactive steps to prevent pest infestations in their homes and properties.

“When most people think of pests, they likely think of the ‘ick-factor’ associated with an infestation, but few people consider the serious health and property threats that pests like termites, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents and stinging insects can pose,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA.

Some pests, including termites, rodents and ants can cause costly damage to the structure of a home. Termites and carpenter ants have the ability to chew through wood beams, walls, floors and even wallpaper. Rodents can spark house fires if they gnaw through electrical wiring or build nests close to heat sources.

Other pests, like cockroaches, mosquitoes and stinging insects pose health threats to humans. Cockroach allergens are known to trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. Mosquitoes, meanwhile, can carry West Nile virus and stinging insects send more than half a million people to the emergency room every year.

“During National Pest Management Month, Bug Zero encourages homeowners to learn more about pest management and to take steps to prevent infestations before they occur,” says Henriksen. “Pest pressure increases significantly in spring and summer, which is why simple measures like sealing cracks and crevices around the home, keeping kitchen counters and floors clean and free of crumbs, sealing garbage cans and eliminating sources of still-standing water on your property now can go a long way in preventing pests from making a home in yours.”

For more information, visit www.bugzero.biz.

Winged Ants vs Termite Swarmers

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Diagram to aid in determining whether an insect pest is a termite swarmer or a winged ant.

Bed Bug Travel Tips Part IV

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Returning Home:

It is best to unpack your bags away from any furniture or sleeping areas.
Place clothing that can be hot laundered into a plastic garbage bag and sealed until they are washed. Dry cleaning items should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed prior to taking to cleaners. It is a good idea to use clear plastic garbage bags to ensure clothing bags are not confused with other trash and mistakenly thrown away.
Items that were placed in sealed Ziploc bags can be taken out of the bags and the Ziploc bags can be thrown away in an outside trash can.
Inspect luggage focusing on spots where bed bugs could be hiding, cracks, seams, zippers, pockets, etc.
It is a good idea to place your luggage in plastic garbage bags for storage in case you missed any bed bugs during your inspection.

Bed Bug Travel Tips Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:06:00 +0000

During Your Stay:

Steps to follow while staying in your travel room:

Keep your clothes in your travel bags instead of unpacking your clothing into the rooms dressers, etc. By unpacking and putting your clothing in closets and dressers, the chance of bringing bed bugs back in your clothing increases.
Throughout your stay keep your bags closed and fully zipped. It is a good idea to keep your bag off of the bed and away from walls. If a glass table with metal legs is present it would be good place to place bags, purses and other travel items. This furniture is less “bed bug friendly”.
Keep your personal items in the sealed Ziploc bags except for when in use.
If you find bed bugs during your stay you should alert the lodging management.

Bed Bug Travel Tips Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:05:00 +0000

Inspecting Your Room:

When entering your room, place bags in the middle of the room away from beds, furniture or walls. Make sure zippers on your bags are closed.
Next using your flashlight and wearing your disposable gloves perform the room inspection.
You are looking for visible evidence like shed skins, spotting(excreted blood which appears as dark spots) and actual bed bugs.
Pull back linens from bed slowly and look for visible evidence. Look behind the mattress and box spring edges for bed bug signs . Bed bugs like to hide underneath of these edges and you should pay particular attention to the 4 corners of the bed. If the bed has a dust cover, pull back dust cover to inspect behind it.
If you are physically able, get on the floor to inspect the underneath of the box spring.
Check upholstered furniture under the corners and seams in the fabric, paying special attention to the fabric skirts along the bottom and the fabric folds along the shoulder of the furniture.
Just because no evidence is found does not indicate that no bed bugs are present, but by completing this inspection the likelihood is greatly reduced.

Bed Bug Travel Tips Part I (Travel Preparation)

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:32:00 +0000

We are going to be sharing some information concerning bed bugs and how to protect yourself against bed bugs when traveling. This information will be separated into 4 different posts, "Travel Preparation", "Inspecting Your Room", "During Your Stay", and "Returning Home".

Travel Preparation

Use hard cased luggage when possible. This type of luggage presents less hiding places for bed bugs and lessens chances of bringing bed bugs home.
Check bags to ensure no rips or tears.
Pack all toiletries and hard goods in sealed Ziploc bags that can be thrown away upon returning from your travel.
Items to remember to pack: flashlight, disposable gloves, sufficient quantity of Ziploc bags for small items and large plastic bags for Luggage(stored in car).
Attempt to pack clothing that can be hot laundered or placed in a clothes dryer on a hot drying cycle.
Prior to leaving for a trip, it is important to make sure that any pockets or zippers on your luggage are completely closed. This is important because it minimizes the chances of bed bugs entering your luggage during travel.

Be sure to check back for Part II of our bed bug travel tips series, "Inspecting Your Room"...

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Checkout this bed bug article published in the Springfield, MO News-Leader. This article contains expert advice from Bug Zero's Michael Woodring for tips of what to look for to determine if you have a bed bug issue.

Bug Zero is a certified Bed Bug Free Company. If you have any evidence of bed bugs contact Bug Zero.

PCT Magazine's Best Pest Photo Contest Finalist

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:27:00 +0000

This photo of a Japanese Beetle was submitted by Michael Woodring of Bug Zero as an entry in the 2009 PCT Best Pest Photo Contest. Michael's photo was selected as a finalist from numerous entries from across the country. This means that Michael's submitted photo was among the 10 best photo's submitted according to the PCT judges and will be printed in PCT's February 2010 issue.

Along with the print version, PCT is featuring the photo on their website. Click here to check out the full profile and see other contest entries from across the country.

Congratulations Michael!

A Very Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Bug Zero held its annual holiday party on December 15th at Flame Restaurant.
Employees and their spouses enjoyed an evening of fine food and fellowship.
A white elephant gift exchange rounded out the evening of fun!

Bug Zero's Service Area Is Growing

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:59:00 +0000

After 19-plus years of service to SW Missouri, Bug Zero has expanded our service area to SE Missouri. Client demand has stretched our original service radius into Arkansas, Kansas, and east to Rolla and West Plains. In order to maintain our standards of customer service and timely response, there is now a Bug Zero headquarters in SE Missouri.

Chris Horrell (right) will operate the SEMO office, based in Cape Girardeau. Chris has the exact blend of qualities necessary to be successful in this endeavor. He has the work ethic learned from growing up on a family farm, a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Southeast Missouri State University, and business experience gained from his position with a major telecommunications company that involved responsibility for architecture, design and development work. Bug Zero and our new Clients in SEMO are fortunate to have Chris at the helm of this office.

While some might be afraid to make such a move in this economy, we at Bug Zero believe the time is always right for top quality service at a competitive price. The first few weeks of operation bear this out as we have been welcomed with open arms.

Associated Pest Services- Atlanta Georgia

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:08:00 +0000

Bug Zero is a proud member of Associated Pest Services, INC. This past week Michael Woodring of Bug Zero attended a sales and managment conference held by Associated Pest Services, INC in Atlanta Georgia.

Associated's mission is to help member pest management firms achieve success. Associated members meet 3 times per year to share ideas and best practices in an open forum.

Member firms are family owned and operated and are among the finest regional firms in the world, employing over 2000 professionals, with $300 million in annual revenues.

This "invitation only" organization is made up of the most highly respected businesses within their communities and the inidustry, Associated has had more Past Presidents of the National Pest Management Association than any other organization.

This organization gives locally owned and operated member firms the ability to be leaders in the latest integrated pest management techniques.

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Michael Woodring and Charles Valentine, of Bug Zero, Inc., attended Bed Bug University, September 14-17 in New Jersey. Bug Zero is now a bedbugFREE Approved Company. Bed Bug University is a one-of-a-kind intensive training program dedicated to effective control of this challenging pest. Bed bugs have emerged as a growing threat to homes, hotels, apartments, and just about any place humans sleep.

Learn more about bed bugs and Bed Bug University at bugzero.biz and bedbugcentral.com.

Spiders

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:39:00 +0000

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/50056087.html

Spider pressure is increasing right now in the Ozarks and will peak in late summer. Homeowners should focus on sealing entry points, minimizing harborage, and positioning exterior lighting away from the doors and windows. Add an exterior applications from

Bug Zero and these pests will be kept in check.

For more information on our residential service offerings to control spiders please visit: http://www.bugzero.biz/insecta-shield.php

Japanese Beetles

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:52:00 +0000

http://www.ky3.com/home/video/50087057.html

Japanese Beetles are thriving in the Ozarks right now. KY3 News sought our opinion. See the link above for the full story.

While pheremone attractant bags are available over the counter, oftentimes they actually attract more Japanese Beetles to the area trying to be protected.
A targeted application of an appropriately labled pesticide, applied by a licensed applicator, is the single most effective means of controlling this pest.

Japanese Beetles were introduced into New Jersey on nursery stock from Japan in 1913. Larvae feed on roots of grass, herbaceous plants and nursery stock, while adults feed on foliage and fruit.
Japanese Beetles feed on over 275 plant species. This includes all deciduous tree fruits, many small fruits, vegetables, grasses, and weeds.
Adults are 3/8-1/2 inch (8-10 mm) long, metallic green to greenish bronze with coppery red wings and small white tufts on the sides and tip of the abdomen (see photo above). Larvae are "C"-shaped, cream-colored white grubs with brown heads and are 3/4 - 1 inch (20-25 mm) long when mature.
Grubs overwinter 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) deep in the soil. As spring temperatures increase, the grubs move up in the soil to feed on grass and other small roots. They pupate in late May to June and adults start emerging in late June to mid-July. Adults which live from 30 to 45 days, feed through late summer or early fall. Females lay eggs 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) deep in the soil during July and August, and grubs hatch in 10 to 12 days. Grubs first feed on decaying matter but soon feed on roots as they move deeper to an overwintering site. The eggs and first instar larvae of Japanese beetle are poor at retaining water, consequently they are vulnerable to drought conditions. A general requirement is for a total of 10 inches of rain over June, July and August. Adult populations are commonly reduced in years following summers of inadequate rainfall.
Both adults and larvae cause plant damage, but the host and nature of damage are usually different. Adults cause damage on foliage and flowers of a wide range of hosts and are most active on warm sunny days. The feeding on the upper leaf surface usually results in skeletonization. The grubs, which primarily feed on roots of grasses cause considerable damage to pasture, lawn and golf courses. Feeding damage on roots reduces the ability of grass to take up enough water to withstand stresses of hot and dry weather, and result in dead patches.

BUG ZERO LEADS COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO SAVE VITAL INSECTS

noreply@blogger.com (Bug Zero) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:42:00 +0000

See KSFX news coverage here: http://ozarksfirst.com/content/video/?cid=161762

Bug Zero recently coordinated the safe removal of a large colony of Honey Bees; arguably the most beneficial insect pest known to man.

Combined efforts through Bug Zero, Evangel University, and local Bee Keeper Paul Harris will ensure this colony of bees survives in order to continue pollinating the Ozarks.

Missouri designated the honeybee (Apis mellifera) as the official state insect in 1985. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature.

About one-third of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and the honeybee is responsible for 80 percent of that pollination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The preservation of this hive of bees is an example of Bug Zero's use of Integrated Pest Management (an ecological approach with a main goal of significantly reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides while at the same time managing pest populations at an acceptable level)