Your plants will only experience problems when new aphid colonies are formed in your region. This usually happens when Aphid colonies become overcrowded and the males grow wings and go and look for other less populated ‘territories’. It is impossible to predict when this happens so in terms of prevention there is no specific time to look out for them. Spring and summer is the season when they are most active but their appearance on your plants may not be limited to the warmer seasons.

What are Aphids?

Aphids are common garden pests that form up to several colonies on a single plant. They are tiny, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects that have long antennae and a characteristic pair of cornicles (short tubes) extending on either side of their abdomen. Their translucent bodies are most usually green, red, brown, yellow or white.

Where do they feed?

As I mentioned earlier, Aphids today feed on just about any plant. They will form colonies underneath leaves, the tips of branches, around growth points and even on soft and tender bark. Aphids pierce the stems, bark or leaves to get to the sap so they will almost always be on the soft places of the plant. If you notice spotty and yellow discoloration on the leaves of your plants then it is more than likely becauso of this common garden pest. By turning the leaves over you will quickly be able to recognize them.

How can I prevent it?

There are a few tips that I will give you on what you can possibly do to prevent Aphids in your garden. It will not always work and even when you have a healthy, great looking garden, these little creatures can become a pest. When that happens, it is always best to consult a professional.

1. The first thing you can do is to make sure that your plants are healthy and eating well. This means giving them prescribed plant food, feeding their soil with the correct types of compost and fertilizer. If you do not know what the best types of soils and fertilizers for your plants are, contact us as we can both advise and supply you with what you need.
2. Try not to have trees, flowers and other plants in your garden with yellow colors. Aphids are extremely attracted to yellow and will give preference to plants with this color.
3. Embed old CD’s, pieces from a broken mirror or even tinfoil in the soil around the base of your plant. This somehow works quite well.
4. Stick yellow double-sided tape around the base of your plants. As this is their color of choice, they will be attracted to this first, allowing you to catch them before they can form a colony.

If you end up in the unfortunate situation of an Aphid infestation make sure that get it sorted out ASAP. Their colonies can grow extremely quickly and do serious damage to your garden if it is not treated properly and quickly. To find out how we can help you feel free top browse through our services.

Spiders are very common in all areas of the county. They vary in size from1/4″ to 1″, large legs make them appear a lot larger.

There are many types of spiders, some of the most popular being:

1. Brown Recluse Spiders
2. House Spiders
3. Black Widow

All of these spiders live in the same environment, be hot and humid areas.

To prevent spiders from entering you home there are many things you can do around your home. This is called Integrated Pest Management. First, take a look around your home and asses it, ask yourself some questions.

1. Are there wood piles around my home?
2. Are there a lot of cracks and crevasse?
3. Are trees touching my home?

You need to know that spiders are moisture driven, and you need to eliminate and moisture that is around your home.

Wood piles and woodchips should be removed from contact with your home. Grass clippings and leaf piles should be moved far away also. This is to ensure the spiders have no comfortable environment to live near your home.

It’s imperative that you keep your windows screened, and that you prevent attracting spiders into your home by lighting. Spiders are attracted to light and hang out around them. Keep your grass cut.

Thank you, Evans Pest Management for the opportunity to talk about spiders. If you need New York Pest Control please do not hesitate to visit our website located at www.NoPests.com

If you are in the Bay Area in California and are interested in our exterminator services, green exterminator services, tree service, or need tree trimming call 408 882 7535 or email us through our website: EvansPestManagement.com.

A couple excerpts:

•Keep outdoor insects under control. This does not mean bombing your yard with pesticides or getting one of those bug zappers (they kill lots of beneficial insects, Antonelli says). Instead, limit outdoor breeding grounds, Miller advises. Insects love wood piles, tarps, kiddie pools (especially the moist underside) and mulch. If you must use mulch, keep the stuff at least six inches from your foundation, she says.

•Keep outside insects out. Repair screens, caulk cracks, replace inadequate weather stripping and outfit door bottoms with tight rubber sweeps. If you can, Miller says, avoid lighting up doorways at night: That attracts insects, which attract spiders, which are then happy to come inside.

You can read the rest here or you can read some advice from Evans Pest Management regarding

• Spider Pest Control
• Palo Alto Pest Control
  
• Ant Pest Control

If you are intested in our exterminator services, green exterminator services, tree service, or need tree trimming call 408 882 7535 or email us through our website: EvansPestManagement.com.

We know that they are often beneficial, eating unwanted insect such as flies. However, when they come into close contact with humans, their bites can be painful at least or fatal at worst.

Clearly, this concern should be managed in advance of an infestation!

Here’s what you can do.

1. Clean the interior of a structure from wall to wall and floor to ceiling regularly. twice a year is ideal. Also, keep it as clean as possible and clutter free all the time.

Even some of the most apparently neat, tidy spaces are rarely cleaned completely. A deep spring cleaning is an important part of pest control, and a totally green approach. I recommend using a cleaner with orange oil. It cleans, disinfects, and has pesticidal properties, besides having a pleasant aroma.

This cleaning requires all furniture to be moved, all drapes to be taken down and all cabinets emptied. Every corner and every square inch of surface area in the building must be cleaned, dusted and kept free of clutter. (This is because spiders can only live in undisturbed places.)

Cobwebs must be removed from even the most hard to reach places: under desks, couches, chandeliers, corner of the ceiling: no exceptions! (This can be done with a feather duster on an extension pole.)

2. The landscaping should be maintained to limit spider habitats.

Spiders often live in or crawl through bushes and trees. The larger a bush, the more undisturbed interior space, which is what attracts and keeps them.

So, regularly trimming all trees and shrubbery is important to spider protection. (Consider hiring a pest management professional to spray the trees as well.) Furthermore, trees and shrubs should be far enough from the structure that spiders are not likely to crawl inside with people.

However, this may not be practical. If a building is surrounded by bushes and trees, regular brushing of the eves for spider webs may be necessary, and regular trimming becomes even more important.

3. Control spiders prey by sealing off sugars and proteins.

Spiders eat other insects, such as flies or ants. These are attracted to protein and sugar via odor. Therefore, keep all food (for humans and animals) sealed and put away. in clean airtight containers.

And if you still have a spider or are intested in our exterminator services, green exterminator services, tree service, or need tree trimming call 408 882 7535 or email us through our website: EvansPestManagement.com.
Evans Pest Management