New York City rat study illuminates very real public health threat.

A decade-long study of Norway rats has yielded some astounding and unsettling results. Rats were trapped and evaluated to determine what disease-causing pathogens were present. A host of bacterial, protozoan, and viral pathogens were identified, several of which are threats to human health. Among the most noteworthy pathogens were food poisoning triggers (E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium) and illness/disease causing agents like Bartonella, Streptobacillus, Leptospira, and even the causative agent of Seoul hantavirus, which had yet to be found in NYC.

Rodents spread hundreds of pathogens through their urine, droppings and bites that can cause deadly neurological and respiratory diseases like lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Ticks, mites and fleas can feed on infected rodents, then transmit diseases like pox, plague and typhus.

Rodent droppings can trigger asthma and allergic reactions, especially in children.

Rodents will eat human or pet food, and cause damage by chewing and gnawing furniture, clothing, wiring, insulation and piping.

As summer days get shorter, and dusk brings dampness that clings to every surface by dawn, natures most prolific insect predator is showing up for photo opportunities.

More than half the recent photos sent to this web site for identification include some of the thousands of species of Arachnids. We receive so many spider photos we can publish only the best and most unusual.

Most submissions include the question: "Are they Dangerous"? The most common example of an animal-based phobia is fear of spiders, or Arachnophobia. This fear prompts many to scurry for their digital cameras and snap a picture before the little creature bites them and runs away. Most of these fears are unfounded. Humans are not a food source for spiders. More information on spiders can be found at the links below:

Spider Bites

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Pest Control Canada

Biological control is a bioeffector-method of controlling pests (including insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases) using other living organisms.[1] It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. There are three basic types of biological pest control strategies: importation (sometimes called classical biological control), augmentation and conservation.

Natural enemies of insect pests, also known as biological control agents, include predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Biological control agents of plant diseases are most often referred to as antagonists. Biological control agents of weeds include seed predators, herbivores and plant pathogens.

There are three basic types of biological pest control strategies: importation (sometimes called classical biological control), augmentation and conservation.[2]

Importation (or "classical biological control") involves the introduction of a pest's natural enemies to a new locale where they do not occur naturally. This is usually done by government authorities. In many instances the complex of natural enemies associated with a pest may be inadequate, a situation that can occur when a pest is accidentally introduced into a new geographic area, without its associated natural enemies. These introduced pests are referred to as exotic pests and comprise about 40% of the insect pests in the United States.[citation needed]

The process of importation involves determining the origin of the introduced pest and then collecting appropriate natural enemies associated with the pest or closely related species. Selected natural enemies are then passed through a rigorous assessment, testing and quarantine process, to ensure that they will work and that no unwanted organisms (such as hyperparasitoids) are introduced. If these procedures are passed, the selected natural enemies are mass-produced and then released. Follow-up studies are conducted to determine if the natural enemy becomes successfully established at the site of release, and to assess the long-term benefit of its presence.[citation needed]

To be most effective at controlling a pest, a biological control agent requires a colonizing ability which will allow it to keep pace with the spatial and temporal disruption of the habitat. Its control of the pest will also be greatest if it has temporal persistence, so that it can maintain its population even in the temporary absence of the target species, and if it is an opportunistic forager, enabling it to rapidly exploit a pest population.[3] However an agent with such attributes is likely to be non-host specific, which is not ideal when considering its overall ecological impact, as it may have unintended effects on non-target organisms.[citation needed]

There are many examples of successful importation programs, including:

Classical biological control is long lasting and inexpensive. Other than the initial costs of collection, importation, and rearing, little expense is incurred. When a natural enemy is successfully established it rarely requires additional input and it continues to kill the pest with no direct help from humans and at no cost. However importation does not always work. It is usually most effective against exotic pests and less so against native insect pests. The reasons for failure are not often known but may include the release of too few individuals, poor adaptation of the natural enemy to environmental conditions at the release location, and lack of synchrony between the life cycle of the natural enemy and host pest.[citation needed]

Augmentation involves the supplemental release of natural enemies, boosting the naturally occurring population. Relatively few natural enemies may be released at a critical time of the season (inoculative release) or millions may be released (inundative release). An example of inoculative release occurs in greenhouse production of several crops. Periodic releases of the parasitoid, Encarsia formosa, are used to control greenhouse whitefly, and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis is used for control of the two-spotted spider mite. Lady beetles, lacewings, or parasitoids such as those from the genus Trichogramma are frequently released in large numbers (inundative release). Recommended release rates for Trichogramma in vegetable or field crops range from 5,000 to 200,000 per acre (1 to 50 per square metre) per week depending on level of pest infestation. Similarly, entomopathogenic nematodes are released at rates of millions and even billions per acre for control of certain soil-dwelling insect pests.

The spraying of octopamine analogues (such as 3-FMC) has been suggested as a way to boost the effectiveness of augmentation.[citation needed]Octopamine, regarded as the invertebrate counterpart of dopamine plays a role in activating the insects' flight-or-fight response. The idea behind using octopamine analogues to augment biological control is that natural enemies will be more effective in their eradication of the pest, since the pest will be behaving in an unnatural way because its flight-or-fight mechanism has been activated.[clarification needed] Octopamine analogues are purported to have two desirable characteristics for this type of application: (1) they affect insects at very low dosages (2) they do not have a physiological effect in humans (or other vertebrates).[4][dubious discuss]

Read more:
Biological pest control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

US: A cockroach embarrassed a Chicago official in charge of pest control when it took a stroll near him in full view of some aldermen, and its stunt just might have cost it and its buddies their lives.

After a hearing in the city council chambers, fleet and facilities management commissioner David Reynolds had his office call a private contractor to do some exterminating.

The cockroach couldnt have picked a worse time to show its antenna on the wall of the city council chambers, just as Reynolds was testifying during a budget hearing. Alderman Brendan Reilly wondered aloud how much money in Reynolds department budget was devoted to pest control.

I was mortified, Reynolds told reporters after the laughter died down.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reynolds said hes proud of the condition of the citys facilities, before adding that there is no way a 103-year -old building with lots of places for bugs to hide is going to be pest-free.

It doesnt help that City Hall attracts scores of visitors every day. Many workers eat lunch at their desks or in the hallways. The cockroaches are more than happy to dine on whatever people leave behind or drop on the floor.

We often just end up chasing them around, Reynolds said.

Custom urns courtesy of companys 3-D printer

The Eden Prairie-based Foreverence offers urns that are made with a ceramic material that looks different from the plastic material typically produced by a 3D printer. The process takes nearly an entire day, starting with about nine hours of printing, and then followed by several hours of touch- ups, the St Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Each urn is unique and can take the form of just about anything, including ballet slippers, cars and instruments.

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Quirky World ...Cockroach disrupts pest control chiefs testimony

Airgun Hunting - South African Pigeon Pest Control!
Tonight on Team Wild TV is pigeon hunting of a different flavour - we join Air Arms South Africa #39;s Matt Dubber on the dark continent for some problem pigeon ...

By: Team Wild TV

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Airgun Hunting - South African Pigeon Pest Control! - Video

A large cockroach walks across molding in this file photo.

CHICAGO A cockroach embarrassed a Chicago official in charge of pest control when it took a stroll near him in full view of some aldermen, and its stunt just might have cost it and its buddies their lives.

After Thursday's hearing in the City Council chambers, Fleet and Facilities Management Commissioner David Reynolds had his office call a private contractor to come down to City Hall and do some exterminating.

The cockroach couldn't have picked a worse time to show its antenna on the wall of the City Council chambers: just as Reynolds was testifying during a budget hearing. Alderman Brendan Reilly wondered aloud how much money in Reynolds' department budget was devoted to pest control.

"I was mortified," Reynolds told reporters after the laughter died down.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reynolds said he's proud of the condition of the city's facilities, before adding that there is no way a 103-year-old building with lots of places for bugs to hide is ever going to be pest free.

It doesn't help that City Hall attracts scores of visitors every day. Many workers bring lunches that they eat at their desks or in the hallways. The cockroaches are more than happy to dine on whatever people leave behind or drop on the floor.

"We often just end up chasing them around," Reynolds said.

about Associated Press...

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Cockroach disrupts pest control chief's testimony in Chicago

ANTS | SPIDERS | RATS | BEES | WASPS | GOPHERS | EXTERMINATORS | NEWBURY PARK | CAMARILLO
(805) 484-8181 (866) 464-5455 PEST CONTROL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT http://www.kastlekare.com | ...

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ANTS | SPIDERS | RATS | BEES | WASPS | GOPHERS | EXTERMINATORS | NEWBURY PARK | CAMARILLO - Video

Squirrel Removal NJ - Squirrel Control NJ
Squirrel Removal NJ - Squirrel Control NJ http://njpest.org/squirrel-removal/ Squirrel Removal in NJ is what we specialize in here at New Jersey Animal Pest Control Specialists.. We Give...

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Squirrel Removal NJ - Squirrel Control NJ - Video

Another day 2
Pest Control.

By: Nick Randerson

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Another day 2 - Video

CHICAGO, IL - A cockroach embarrassed a Chicago official in charge of pest control when it took a stroll near him in full view of some aldermen, and its stunt just might have cost it and its buddies their lives.

After Thursday's hearing in the City Council chambers, Fleet and Facilities Management Commissioner David Reynolds had his office call a private contractor to come down to City Hall and do some exterminating.

The cockroach couldn't have picked a worse time to show its antenna on the wall of the City Council chambers: just as Reynolds was testifying during a budget hearing. Alderman Brendan Reilly wondered aloud how much money in Reynolds' department budget was devoted to pest control.

"I was mortified," Reynolds told reporters after the laughter died down.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Reynolds said he's proud of the condition of the city's facilities, before adding that there is no way a 103-year-old building with lots of places for bugs to hide is ever going to be pest free.

It doesn't help that City Hall attracts scores of visitors every day. Many workers bring lunches that they eat at their desks or in the hallways. The cockroaches are more than happy to dine on whatever people leave behind or drop on the floor.

"We often just end up chasing them around," Reynolds said.

See the article here:
Cockroach embarasses pest control chief

ANTS | SPIDERS | RATS | BEES | WASPS | GOPHERS | EXTERMINATORS | THOUSAND OAKS | WESTLAKE VILLAGE
(805) 484-8181 (866) 464-5455 PEST CONTROL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT http://www.kastlekare.com | ...

By: T Brann

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ANTS | SPIDERS | RATS | BEES | WASPS | GOPHERS | EXTERMINATORS | THOUSAND OAKS | WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Video