Olympic Spray Service LLC

Carpenter Ants and Diapause

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:55:45 +0000

Carpenter ants are about to enter diapause. You will not see them unless you break into a wall to add on to your structure. If you see one in the kitchen or bathroom it is because she is looking for water. Carpenter ants are feeding right now. They do not eat wood. They eat liquid foods. They excavate out galleries in the wood to house their pupa. After the reproductives fly away from your structure the workers go back out to the queen’s nest to get another batch of larvae. Carpenter ants break dormancy (diapause) in March. The reproductives usually fly by Mothers Day. This year they were a little later. Give us a call at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508 if you are having any problems with carpenter ants.

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Rat in a Trap

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:31:12 +0000

This is a picture of a rat in a trap that I caught on my deck.

The trap was in a bait station. This is a Roof Rat. Notice the tail is longer than the body of the rat. The long tail allows it to have good balance while climbing in high places. The Roof rat originated in the jungles of China. This is why it is often found in attics. Norway rats have shorter tail and are much larger and are usually found at ground level. Trapping and baits has wiped out a large number of the Norway rat. The Norway rat is a natural preditor of the Roof rat. The numbers of roof rats have been allowed to expand because of the shortage of Norway rats. If you are having rat problems give us a call at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

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Fungus is from Moisture Inside

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:19:29 +0000

Fungus Rot Conks on Hardi-Plank

The above picture shows fungus rot conks hanging on HardiPlank siding. These are the reproductive bodies of the fungus rot. The mycelium from which these conks emerge have been in the wood under this HardiPlank for some time. When the fungus rot reaches maturity it sends out these conks to give off spores that create more fungus rot in new places. The fungus is in the wooden parts holding the siding (studs, sheathing). The fungus is allowed to survive because of the moisture in the wood. The moisture is coming from within the structure. It can be coming from the soil under the structure. The moisture can be coming from the breath of the occupants of the structure. It can be coming from shower baths within the structue. Moisture can also be coming from plants, aquariums and cooking, It shows that insufficient provision for ventilation has been made. We recommend that a Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV) be installed. This takes the moisture out as a liquid rather than hoping the moisture will be carried out as a vapor. We also recommend that Icynene Insulation be installed. Icynene is an air barrier that prevents moisture from entering the wall void.

Wood that is showing these conks can be treated with Borates. Olympic Spray Service treats with Tim-bor. We are also an Icynene installer. We can also provide the HRV. If you have a structure that is showing such symptoms of conks growing out of the siding give us a call at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

The problem is not caused by the HardiPlank.

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Round Worms in a Cat

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:07:10 +0000

This picture shows round worms that were “barfed” up by my cat. This is a Veterinary Problem not a Pest Control Problem.

My wife bought some medicine from a Pet store to add to the cats food. These could have been injested from a flea, a bird or a rodent that the cat may have eaten. Usually she is an indoor cat. If you have Fleas then that is a Pest Control problem. Give us a call at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508 if you feel that you have a problem with fleas.

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Carpenter Ants Like Cedar Trees

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:41:00 +0000

Carpenter ant worker

The outside perimeter preventive treatment is probably the most effective control for carpenter ants. This should be done at least three (3) times during the Spring, Summer and Fall. Most often the Queen’s nest is in a log, cedar tree or railroad tie that is in contact with the soil. The queen needs nearly 100% humidity to keep her eggs from drying out. If the eggs dry out the ants will die. The Queen will not have any success. For that reason it is unlikely for the Queen to be inside of your home. The nests inside of the home are satillite nests of the queens nest. You could wipe out the satillite nest but it would be resupplied by the queens nest. When the effectiveness of the insecticide used around the outside perimeter wears off, then the ants can move right back in. This makes it important to retreat in about 60 days to make sure the ants are completely killed. Ants have an amazing ability ti survive. It is important to repeat the Outside Perimeter Preventive Treatment.

If you feel that you have an infestation or you would like to prevent ants from moving in please call us at Olympic Spray Service at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

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Bird Control

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:26:07 +0000

Olympic Spray Service is now doing bird control. Woodpeckers have been found trying to peck through Hardi-Plank siding. They hadn’t quite made it through but probably could. Usually the damage we find is through T-111 Cedar siding. We do not harm the woodpeckers, we just exclude them.

We do other types of bird control such as excluding pidgeons. Starlings can be bothersome as they will go through the bird blocks of your house. Sometimes the HWC has rusted and fallen out. Quarter inch (1/4″) galvanized steel wire hardware cloth (HWC) can be installed over the bird blocks holes. We will do this exclusion.

If you are having problems with birds, please give us a call at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

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Moss Treatment

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:10:43 +0000

Olympic Spray Service uses Zinc Sulfate to control moss on roofs. This treatment may last for up to three (3) years. Olympic Spray Service guarantees it for one year (1 yr.). We tend to treat from the gutters without getting up onto the roof. We never use pressure washers. The material we use kills the moss and then biodegrades the moss so it can slough off of the roof. Some times it is necessary to clean the gutters after the moss releases from the roof. If you would like to set up an appointment for Moss Control please call me at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

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Dandelions in the Lawn

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:00:41 +0000

Dandelions are now abundant in our lawns. Now is the time to get after them. We have materials that can get rid of them. Call us at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

Dandelions in the Lawn

Dandelions are a bit unsightly. They go from this stage to a “Puffball” of parashute like structures that carry the seed for long distances. The leaves also lay across the grass. When the lawn is mowed short the dandelion sends up short stems that may be well below the height of the lawn mower.

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Himilaya Blackberry

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:29:15 +0000

Himilaya Blackberry

: Himilaya Blackberry

This berry is a foreigner to our environment. They should be eliminated. Olympic Spray Service has the materials to get rid of them. Call us at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508.

This closeup photo should help you to identify the blackberry. Blackberries can take up a lot of room. Blackberries may be treated from now on until they just start to bloom.

Several treatments are necessary for blackberries because they have an extensive root system that helps them survive treatment.

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Dead Wasp Nest

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:52:59 +0000

This is a dead wasp nest that was occupied last year. It will not be reoccupied this year. It will not need to be treated as the wasps will not use it again. The nest will deteriorate. Nests this size will not be visible until next July. The wasps over winter as bred Queens. They maybe visible now in a catatonic state and they may look like they are dead. There are no males at this time. The Queen wil start out with a nest about the size of a lemon. She is taking care of this nest by herself. As soon as she can get a batch of larvae developed into flying workers she will go to full time egg laying. She will lay eight eggs for each of the workers. The nest will grow very rapidly from that point on.

Now is the time to put out wasp traps. It will trap queens. Each queen caught will be one less wasp nest. That could make a tremendous difference around your structure. There is no shortage of wasps. Populations seem to be increasing since the first day that I have been involved in Pest Control. There is a new wasp that has invaded from Europe. It is the Polistis type of wasp. It makes an open nest without an outside covering. The beginnings are an open celled nest. They maybe collected along the soffits of your home. The wasps have legs that extend out to the back while they are flying. You may eliminate these as soon as you see them forming. If you want us to put out wasp nests. 4 to 10 should be placed. Please call us at 457-4341 or 1-800-828-5508 amd we will order the number of traps that you may need. It should be remembered that wasps are beneficial insects. They consume many other insects and larvae as a part of their daily life. If you do not have to kill them let them live.

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