B'town - Exterminator

[Curmudgeon]

baking soda, mixed with powered sugar to get bugs to eat it will kill many bugs, causes them to explode.

[CaptainCorruption]

the "billy" guys knows his stuff and his bugs/animals.

I've watch it numerous times with my granddaughter and he isn't just some dumb hick... though his looks and speech steers you that way. He has shown considerable knowledge for his field.

But then again catching bobcats and alligators is a bit more complex than killing bugs. Just saying.

Individually sure but there are 150,000,000 bugs for every one human (and bobcat, and alligator). Killing bugs individually doesn't get one very far.

[madchemist]

Thanks FW, I'll give them a call.

Once upon a time I was an exterminator, It only took a few days reading to be proficeint. And that was before the internet.

No you weren't proficieint in a few days. Where you actually able to indentify the specie of bugs you saw? Did you have any idea about the properties of the AI you were using? Anyone that thinks they're proficient in a few days is a danger to himself and his clients.

Yep, It turns out that killing bugs is as easy as everything else is. "KISS"

"MSDS"

LOL you've just proven my point. If you put enough insecticide down, you can kill most anything. MSDS gives some physical and potential health issues, it doesn't begin to explain what species the AI is most proficient at controling or if another might be more appropriate for your particular application. It's this type of applicator that causes 90% of the issues with pesticides.

And it isn't the only resource available either. It is pretty simple to kill a bug, and there are simply not that many basically different types of bugs. A normally intellegent person could read enough to know how to confront his specific bug problem without any great effort. But then again you probably call a plumber or pay someone to change your oil.

Wow just wow. Your knowledge of entomology is less than you knowledge of the financial market and I didn't think that was possible.

[coltsfan1955]

the "billy" guys knows his stuff and his bugs/animals.

I've watch it numerous times with my granddaughter and he isn't just some dumb hick... though his looks and speech steers you that way. He has shown considerable knowledge for his field.

But then again catching bobcats and alligators is a bit more complex than killing bugs. Just saying.

Individually sure but there are 150,000,000 bugs for every one human (and bobcat, and alligator). Killing bugs individually doesn't get one very far.

That's what Churchill and Sadam said about the Kurds.

I'm a do it myself kind of guy. I am not going to get intimidated by a simple task.

[Curmudgeon]

That's what Churchill and Sadam said about the Kurds.

I'm a do it myself kind of guy. I am not going to get intimidated by a simple task.

well a simple task for a simple guy...

[coltsfan1955]

That's what Churchill and Sadam said about the Kurds.

I'm a do it myself kind of guy. I am not going to get intimidated by a simple task.

well a simple task for a simple guy...

Common maintenance is not that complicated.

And there are resources on the world wide web for even simple tasks.

[madchemist]

That's what Churchill and Sadam said about the Kurds.

I'm a do it myself kind of guy. I am not going to get intimidated by a simple task.

well a simple task for a simple guy...

Common maintenance is not that complicated.

And there are resources on the world wide web for even simple tasks.

Here's a partial list of household pests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... hold_pests and several of the cateragories are multiple species which will react differently to a given insecticide. Not to mention that there are many harmless (ladybug for instance) that might invade your home, but don't warrent an application.

To assume that you are proficient with a few days or weeks studying is absurd. Yes you can probably find an insecticide to kill what you have, but are you applying the best and the least amount, or are you overdosing and helping to establish resistance?

In an are I'm more familar with, herbicides. Weed-B-Gon has multiple products with that name, but you need to read the next words on the label. Not everything that says broadleaf herbicide Weed-B-Gon has the same AI. You need to know what weeds you have and so which combo you need. That's one reason I'd never use a lawn service. I treat my yard on a as needed basis, which a select combo for the weeds I'm trying to control, minimizing the total I'm putting in the environment. The same applies to insecticides, a custom application is best, and you can't get that in a few days of internet reading.

[Curmudgeon]

Geography has much to do with it also.

Back when I lived in Arizona I made it a habit to make sure nothing was in my shoes in the morning when I got up and such. We occasionally went completely through the house to make sure we didn't have any scorpions wander in unnoticed, as I did at my work after turning the equipment on in the mornings while waiting for them to come up to operating temps.

My uncle and aunt lived in Texas and had to check their laundry for tarantulas...

[dd]

I've got an 18-week old, 35lb pitbull puppy (yeah, he's gonna be a big 'un), who I'm sure would be happy to assist.

Plus, it'd wear him out.

Win for your pops, and a win for me.

[Coach Red]

I've got an 18-week old, 35lb pitbull puppy (yeah, he's gonna be a big 'un), who I'm sure would be happy to assist.

Plus, it'd wear him out.

Win for your pops, and a win for me.

I was thinking on similar lines... A couple of cats would do the trick unless it's a major infestation. If that's the case, the cats will control the problem in the future after the vermin are eradicated.

[coltsfan1955]

That's what Churchill and Sadam said about the Kurds.

I'm a do it myself kind of guy. I am not going to get intimidated by a simple task.

well a simple task for a simple guy...

Common maintenance is not that complicated.

And there are resources on the world wide web for even simple tasks.

Here's a partial list of household pests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... hold_pests and several of the cateragories are multiple species which will react differently to a given insecticide. Not to mention that there are many harmless (ladybug for instance) that might invade your home, but don't warrent an application.

To assume that you are proficient with a few days or weeks studying is absurd. Yes you can probably find an insecticide to kill what you have, but are you applying the best and the least amount, or are you overdosing and helping to establish resistance?

In an are I'm more familar with, herbicides. Weed-B-Gon has multiple products with that name, but you need to read the next words on the label. Not everything that says broadleaf herbicide Weed-B-Gon has the same AI. You need to know what weeds you have and so which combo you need. That's one reason I'd never use a lawn service. I treat my yard on a as needed basis, which a select combo for the weeds I'm trying to control, minimizing the total I'm putting in the environment. The same applies to insecticides, a custom application is best, and you can't get that in a few days of internet reading.

I will not tolerate a single blade of crabgrass.

[madchemist]

Just curious, what do use post for crabgrass?

[coltsfan1955]

Just curious, what do use post for crabgrass?

Once it pops up you are kind of doomed to live with it until next season if you ask me. It takes a few years to get your lawn looking the way that you want it too. Just my opinion. I've had what seems to be the best success using Scotts brand fertilizer the four times a year that it is recomended.

It may not be the best way or the fastest way but after 2 or 3 years it ends up looking pretty good. Just my opinion is all. Making sure that all of the leaves are raked up is pretty important while you are at it for a good looking lawn.

Don't get impatient. You can end up doing more harm than good.

[madchemist]

Just curious, what do use post for crabgrass?

Once it pops up you are kind of doomed to live with it until next season if you ask me. It takes a few years to get your lawn looking the way that you want it too. Just my opinion. I've had what seems to be the best success using Scotts brand fertilizer the four times a year that it is recomended.

It may not be the best way or the fastest way but after 2 or 3 years it ends up looking pretty good. Just my opinion is all. Making sure that all of the leaves are raked up is pretty important while you are at it for a good looking lawn.

Don't get impatient. You can end up doing more harm than good.

The last couple of years, I've had a fall mole attack--don't have grubs--the moles just come in from the area around a new retention pond---theres about 30 feet on turf, that's isn't mine and isn't well tended--had a privacy fence so that's not a big deal but have to deal with the moles tearing about about 20 feet in before they leave. So had to reseed, so couldn't use a pre-emergent. Had some left over corn herbicide, that's no longer sold, and then tried a couple of the sulfonylureas.

Scotts has a good program, as long as you pay attention to the condition of your lawn. Putting fertilizer or herbicide on a dry, dormant lawn is wasting the herbicide and taking a chance on burning the grass. That's another pet peeve I have with applicators--saw them making applications when the lawn was brown.

[coltsfan1955]

Just curious, what do use post for crabgrass?

Once it pops up you are kind of doomed to live with it until next season if you ask me. It takes a few years to get your lawn looking the way that you want it too. Just my opinion. I've had what seems to be the best success using Scotts brand fertilizer the four times a year that it is recomended.

It may not be the best way or the fastest way but after 2 or 3 years it ends up looking pretty good. Just my opinion is all. Making sure that all of the leaves are raked up is pretty important while you are at it for a good looking lawn.

Don't get impatient. You can end up doing more harm than good.

The last couple of years, I've had a fall mole attack--don't have grubs--the moles just come in from the area around a new retention pond---theres about 30 feet on turf, that's isn't mine and isn't well tended--had a privacy fence so that's not a big deal but have to deal with the moles tearing about about 20 feet in before they leave. So had to reseed, so couldn't use a pre-emergent. Had some left over corn herbicide, that's no longer sold, and then tried a couple of the sulfonylureas.

Scotts has a good program, as long as you pay attention to the condition of your lawn. Putting fertilizer or herbicide on a dry, dormant lawn is wasting the herbicide and taking a chance on burning the grass. That's another pet peeve I have with applicators--saw them making applications when the lawn was brown.

I've used Scotts in all common areas bordering my lawn, I know that the common areas aren't mine but I still have to look at them. I had mole problem once about 15 years ago when there was a small creek bordering my lawn where I lived back then. I don't really remember how i defeated it other than going to Lowes and spending a while reading labels on different products.

The only trick using the Scotts is the timing on their application, but like you posted, if you overuse anything you are going to end up with a brown lawn. I like putting down the pellets in the evening right after it rained when it isn't going to rain again for at least a couple of days.