Learn More About Maintaining A Pest-Free House, Business, Or Living Complex

Our recent blogs have discussed the threats posed by the Arizona bark scorpion and Africanized bee, and provided an introduction to thermal bed bug remediation. To explore either of these topics further, check out the resources below. To schedule an inspection or pest control treatment at your Arizona home, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992.

Check out this ABC News article to learn more about exterminating bedbugs with a chemical-free heat treatment.
This University of Florida IFAS Extension publication discusses the difference in behavior between European and Africanized bees.
Learn more about Africanized honey bees in the U.S. by reading this University of Georgia publication.
Read about common symptoms of scorpion stings at the Mayo Clinic online.
This Smithsonian Institutes publication discusses the advantages of using integrated pest management to control and eliminate the presence of pests on your property.
Find out about a recent FDA-approved treatment for bark scorpion stings in this Wall Street Journal article.
Learn more about bug proofing your home from ants, roaches, and scorpions in this University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences cooperative extension publication.
NationalAtlas.gov has a section of its website devoted to Africanized honey bees and ways in which Americans have adjusted to living with them.
Read more about the importance of integrated pest management for commercial pest control at UltimateRealEstate.org.
Visit PestWorld.org for an overview of the impact of bed bugs on everyday American life.

European Bees vs. Africanized Bees: What’s the Difference?

When you are having a picnic in the great outdoors and a bee buzzes up to you, you may panic or become uncomfortable; but you generally just try to stay calm and remain still until the bee has lost interest and buzzed away. When you discover that a colony of bees has taken up residence on your property, the feelings of frustration and anxiety that you experience are on an entirely different level. To learn how to handle a bee problem like the latter—and for tips on distinguishing between European and Africanized bees, read this article.

Which bees are “killer bees?”

Africanized bees are those that are commonly referred to as “killer bees.” Originating in Africa, several African Honey Bee colonies were imported to Brazil in the 1950s. After escaping from an experimental lab where scientists were trying to cross-breed the African bees with local bees, the honey bee population grew and gradually migrated northward. By 1995, Africanized bees were present in Arizona, California, and Texas. Africanized bees are called “killer bees” because they attack in swarms and are more easily irritated than their European counterparts, making them more of a threat to humans who make them feel endangered.

How can I differentiate between European bees and Africanized bees?

In general, the appearance of Africanized bees is no different from that of their European cousins. There are, however, a handful of differences in the lifestyles of the two that make it possible to distinguish one type from the other without the use of a microscope and computer analysis tools.

Behavior: Africanized bees seem always to be on their guard, aggressively defending their hives and considering anything that passes by to be a threat. They also deploy themselves in larger numbers than European bees do, putting humans in the vicinity at risk of enduring multiple stings at once.
Hives: Africanized bees nest in smaller cavities, making them more likely to select your home as a ground for breeding and honey production. Living a more mobile lifestyle than their European counterparts, they do not invest as much time and energy into their nests. Africanized bees often favor exposed tree limbs, man-made structures, and accessible underground air pockets for nesting.

Are you an Arizona resident who has discovered bees swarming on your property? Do not try to eliminate them yourself, but hire a bee removal professional to safely and efficiently remove them and treat your property. For high-quality service in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. “Killer” or Africanized Bees - Bee Removal “Killer,” or Africanized, bees aggressively defend their colony’s living grounds, even if they were recently set up and are likely to be temporary. Trying to remove a colony of Africanized bees from your property is extremely dangerous, and is not something you should attempt to do on your own.

To find out why Africanized bee colony removal is a process that should only be carried out by trained pest control professionals, watch this brief demonstrational video clip. From it, you will learn about the colony-removal process and the special pesticides and protective gear that can keep a professional safe in the midst of swarming “killer bees.”

Africanized bees can be deadly, and it is difficult to distinguish between them and European bees. If a tree or section of your home’s exterior has been converted into a beehive, entrust the task of removing it to a trained professional. For thorough and efficient service in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. Signs and Symptoms You’ve Been Stung By a Bark Scorpion

36 species of scorpion can be found in Arizona. Of these, the bark scorpion poses the largest threat to humans who are stung by scorpions. To learn more about the bark scorpion, its poison, and the signs and symptoms that you have been stung by one, read on.

About the Bark Scorpion

Thriving in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, bark scorpions feed on crickets and roaches, and commonly take up residence in family homes. These light brown arachnids can grow to three inches in length, but require only 1/16th of an inch between your floor and your door to sneak into your home. The Arizona bark scorpion is the most venomous scorpion in North America.

What You Feel Following a Sting

If you are stung by a bark scorpion, you can expect to feel excruciating nerve pain, numbness, and tingling for anywhere from one to three days. Unless you are allergic, a small child, or you have a compromised immune system, bark scorpion stings are not life-threatening. Following a sting, you may experience convulsions and temporary loss of breath. It is common for no stinger marks, redness, or inflammation to occur following a bark scorpion sting, so it is helpful to be aware of these signs.

Potential Dangers of Bark Scorpion Stings

Bark scorpions are rarely deadly, but scorpion stings should be taken seriously and treated carefully. Clean the area around the sting with soap and water, apply a cool compress, and take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to cope with the pain. If you experience strong convulsions or froth at the mouth, you should seek medical attention. To decrease the likelihood that you will be stung again in the near future, hire a pest control professional to solve your scorpion problem.

If you are looking for an experienced pest control professional to take care of your scorpion problem in Phoenix, Tucson, or elsewhere in Arizona, Burns Pest Elimination can help you. Call (623) 201-4992 to find out more about our experience eliminating bark and other scorpions from Arizona homes or to arrange an inspection or pest control treatment at your home today. Get Rid of Roaches Organically Roaches are truly despicable creatures, and most humans prefer to encounter them as infrequently as possible. If you are an Arizona homeowner who would like to solve a minor roach problem in your home without the use of chemical pesticides, you are in luck.

Check out this brief informational video to learn about a natural way to eliminate roaches from your home. All that you will need is a few teaspoons of baking soda and the same amount of powdered sugar.

Of course, you should take preventative measures like keeping your house clean and eliminating sources of standing water to keep roaches from exploring your home in the first place.

If you have seen numerous roaches scurrying around your property in the past few days, your problem may be too big for homemade organic pesticides to solve. An experienced pest control company, Burns Pest Elimination can solve your problem for you. Call (623) 201-4992 to find out more about our pest control services today! Heat: The New Enemy of Bed Bugs

With the incidence of bed bugs on the rise in America’s larger cities, they’re no longer something that people only have to worry about while traveling. Bed bugs can now be carried home from work or a night out at the movies. Until the discovery that bed bugs could be eliminated using thermal energy, bed bug treatments were complicated and often used large quantities of powerful chemicals. To learn more about the chemical-free thermal bed bug elimination alternative, continue reading this article.

What is thermal remediation beg bug treatment?

A safe, environmentally friendly alternative to the application of pesticides, thermal remediation uses intense heat to eliminate bed bugs at all stages of life. Because temperatures inside your home could reach 140 degrees, you and your family will be asked to leave your home during thermal remediation. Certain decorative objects, such as oil paintings, will also have to be removed from the premises so that they do not melt.

How does it work?

A mobile heating unit will be set up on your property to heat the rooms that are being treated to the target bed bug-extermination temperature. The unit is heated by a generator that Burns Pest Elimination will bring to your home. To spread the heat to hard-to-reach cracks and crevices, the bed bug exterminator may set up fans.

Is thermal remediation effective?

Thermal remediation is highly effective, oftentimes eliminating all traces of bed bug life from a property with just one treatment. Serious infestations in larger areas may require multiple treatments, but the bed bug population should at least be severely compromised after the first one.

How long after a treatment can I return home?

Because thermal remediation is chemical-free, you simply have to wait until your home’s indoor temperature has reached a comfortable level to return after a treatment has been carried out. In some cases, this may only be only a couple of hours.

Serving Phoenix and Tucson, Burns Pest Elimination uses the most advanced and effective thermal remediation treatment available. If you have a bed bug problem in your home or business and are looking to find out more about our bed bug detection and elimination services, give us a call at (623) 201-4992! Keep Your Tenants Healthy and Happy With Monthly Pest Control Treatments

If you're a landlord, the owner of an apartment complex or a hotel manager, one of your primary goals is to keep your occupancy rate high. One essential component of keeping your tenants happy and your units occupied, is providing a pest-free environment and quick responses to any termite, bed bug or scorpion problems that may arise. To find out more about what a monthly pest control service plan can do for your property and tenant satisfaction levels, continue reading this article.

Keep common areas pest-free.

Laundry rooms and recreational living areas are breeding and feeding grounds for roaches, rodents, bed bugs and other pests. The last thing one of your tenants wants to see, as he or she is folding his laundry, is a roach crawling across the floor or a scorpion moving toward his or her feet. With the perimeter protection provided by a monthly pest control treatment from Burns Pest Elimination, your tenants are unlikely to encounter creepy crawlers in your building’s common areas.

Show your tenants you care.

Expediently addressing an insect or bird problem on your property is a good way to let your tenants know that you care about their concerns and value their well-being. If a pest control problem does crop up, contact the pest control experts at Burns Pest Elimination immediately and it should be resolved in no time.

Prevent infestations.

It's best to power spray your building’s structural base, outer walls, dumpsters and storm drains on a regular basis. This will keep pests from taking up residence on your Valley area property.

Keep one tenant’s trash from becoming another tenant’s pest control problem.

Messy tenants are more likely to attract pests than clean ones. Allow the clean tenants to realize the pest freedom that comes with picking crumbs up off the floor and making sanitation a priority by matching their efforts with frequent termite inspections and pest-management service visits.

Are you the owner or operator of an apartment complex or hotel in the Phoenix or Tucson areas of Arizona? Burns Pest Elimination will bring its services to you. To find out more about our multi-family and commercial pest control treatment options, call (623) 201-4992 and speak with a knowledgeable member of the Burns Team. What are Bed Bugs?

Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius) are tiny insects that solely sustain themselves on the blood of warm blooded animals. Wingless creatures, they are referred to as nest parasites and can often be found in bird’s nests and bat roosts. Also, they sometimes live in the “nest” or beds of human beings. Bed bugs are extremely small. However, they can be seen by the human eye. Though this is true, they often go unnoticed because they hide when they are disturbed and are most active one hour before the sun rises, when most people are in a deep sleep. Bed Bug hatchlings (newborns) are similar in size to a poppy seed. The adults are a bit bigger, measuring at about .25 inches long. The bugs are flat and oval shaped.

Bed Bugs are Becoming More Common

When Bed Bugs infest a home, they can often be found in beds (hence the name), couches or any type of soft furniture. In recent years, bed bugs have become increasingly problematic. News stories reporting about hotel rooms being overrun by Bed Bugs have become common. Hotels, however, aren’t the only places experiencing an increase in these blood sucking insects. They are also showing up in growing numbers in people’s homes, dorm rooms, homeless shelters and cruise ships, amongst other dwellings. The thought of one’s home or bed being full of bugs is distressing enough. Adding the knowledge that the bugs bite and suck your blood and the result is a rather nightmarish scenario.

When Bed Bugs Attack

Bed Bugs “attack” warm blooded beings, both animals and humans, when they’re sleeping. The host is typically unaware that they are being bitten because they can’t feel it. When Bed Bugs bite, they secrete saliva into the skin of their victim or host. If the bugs come back to the same host and continue to secrete saliva into their skin, overtime, their body will become increasingly sensitive to it and an allergic response will occur. This reaction could be mild or quite severe, depending on the individual. It may even cause lesions that are similar in appearance to mosquito bites. Many people will assume that this is what they are and never suspect Bed Bugs.

Often, Bed Bug bites cause allergic reactions in human beings. Recently, there have been an increasing number of outbreaks across the country. Though Bed Bug bites can be uncomfortable and the thought of sleeping with blood sucking insects is frightening, the bite’s effects aren’t typically serious or harmful. There are, however, exceptions to this.

At Burns Pest Elimination we take bed bug infestations very seriously. We know that K9 detection is the most accurate way to confirm a bed bug infestation. Burns' K9’s and inspectors are certified in multi-stage insect detection, independently trained and re-certified every three months to ensure accuracy.

For effective bed bug elimination in the Phoenix and Tucson area, trust the pest control experts at Burns Pest Elimination. We effectively treat and manage bed bug infestations. Burns Pest Elimination adheres to NPMA guidelines for proper bed bug management. To learn more, read the following consumer's guide on bed bug best practices (view pdf). For more information about our services, please call 623-201-4992. K9 Bed Bug Detection – The Most Accurate Way to Confirm a Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are a home owner’s worst nightmare. At Burns Pest Elimination we take bed bug infestations very seriously. We know that K9 detection is the most accurate way to confirm a bed bug infestation. Burns' K9’s and inspectors are certified in multi-stage insect detection, independently trained and re-certified every three months to ensure accuracy.

Identifying Bed Bugs:

Bed Bug eggs are pearly white and 1mm long.
First stage, immature bugs are pale in color and somewhat translucent.
Adults are about 1⁄4" in length and are a reddish-brown color.
Females can lay 3-7 eggs per day.
After 6-10 days, the eggs will hatch.
Bed bugs are mostly inactive between blood meals and can often be located in their hiding places.
Bed bugs are very resilient and can survive up to a year without a blood meal.

Bed bugs can normally be found hiding closest to where they feed, like beds, but have also been documented to travel 100-150 feet to obtain a blood meal. It’s unlikely that an infestation will diminish simply by leaving an area unoccupied.

Bed bugs do not have nests, but they do gather in areas that can be marked by dark spotting and staining of dried excrement. Eggs, shells, brownish molted skins of nymphs and the bugs themselves will be present.

For more information about bed bug elimination from Burns Pest Elimination, visit BurnsPestElimination.com or call 623-201-4992.

Burns Pest Elimination adheres to NPMA guidelines for proper bed bug management. To learn more, read the following consumer's guide on bed bug best practices (view pdf). Helpful Blog Resources from Burns: Bed Bugs, Termites, Scorpions

At Burns Pest Elimination, its important to provide informative resources in regards to pest control and other pest-related information. With this in mind, take a look at the links below to read more about bed bugs, health code ratings, termites, scorpions and what it's like to be a health inspector:

Read this article from the Orlando Sentinel to learn how bed bugs are attacking the homeless.
For more information about how health code ratings are determined, check out this article from Western Washington University.
The University of Kentucky offers the answers to questions many homeowners may have about termites.
Did you know that scorpions can live to be eight years old? For more facts about this particular pest, check out the National Geographic website.
One British health inspector discusses what her job entails in this recent article.
For 24/7 emergency pest control services contact Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix and Tucson. Right now, receive 10% off pest control services. We know you'll be 100% satisfied or you'll get your money back - guaranteed! For more information call (623) 201-4992.

Learn why Bed Bugs Left this Woman Burned

On Monday, firefighters in Lantana, Florida rushed to put out an apartment fire. However, this wasn't the average apartment fire started by an oven that was left on too long.

"Jamaiya Pigrid says his wife torched their bedbug-infested mattress during a fit of rage."

Apparently, Mr. Pigrid's wife was upset with him for not throwing out the mattress earlier. As a result, she set the mattress on fire and seriously burned her face. Currently, she's in fair condition at Delray Medical Center.

Greg Rice, spokesperson for Hulett Environmental Services emphasized the fact that bed bugs can make people a bit crazy!

Read the full article here from WTSP.com.

Unfortunately, setting your mattress on fire will not rid your home of bed bug infestation. Instead, you'll end up wasting valuable time and money. Not to mention, the little critters will still make it into your NEW bed.

At Burns Pest Elimination we take bed bug infestations very seriously. We know that K9 detection is the most accurate way to confirm a bed bug infestation. Burns' K9’s and inspectors are certified in multi-stage insect detection, independently trained and re-certified every three months to ensure accuracy.

To inquire about our pest control services, call 623-201-4992.
Blog Resources: Health Code Violations & Other Infestation-Realted Problems

Bugs and other pests can be detrimental to your home, your health and even your business. If you’d like to learn more about pest control and other infestation-related problems, explore these links and call Burns Pest Elimination (serving Arizona state wide) at (623) 201-4992:

This article discusses the damage that health code violations can do to a restaurant’s business.
This article from The New York Times discusses the peculiar infestation-related problems of living above a restaurant.
One apparently corrupt city official is being brought down in large part because of his refusal to handle a bed bug problem.
The FDA has recently approved an antidote to a scorpion sting. Read more at FDA.gov.

Scorpion Identification: Small but Life Threatening large scorpion

There are 36 different species of scorpions in Arizona and all species can sting, causing immediate pain and discomfort with little or no local swelling or redness. There is only one species of scorpion that can cause more serious medical problems and that is the Bark Scorpion.

The Bark Scorpion is a smaller species whose colors vary from light tan to a darker brown, depending upon the environment in which it lives. These dangerous little critters are about one half and one inch in length, it lives both outside in wood piles, palm trees and decorative bark, as well as inside homes or any place that is dark and cool. The Black Scorpion is a climber, having the ability to climb walls and walk across ceilings in your home. They may also be found hiding in sinks or bathtubs. Bark scorpions are the only species in Arizona that are considered life threatening.

Signs and Symptoms of a Bark Scorpion Sting

The following symptoms may occur in the first 2-3 hours. Children under ten are more likely to experience severe symptoms.

    Immediate local pain
    Hypersensitivity to touch at the site of the sting
    Numbness and tingling -moving to parts of the body distant from the sting
    Visual disturbances and/or uncoordinated eye movements
    Difficulty swallowing and "swollen tongue" sensation with excessive drooling
    Slurred speech
    Young children may constantly rub their nose and face. This may indicate facial numbness and tingling
    Muscle twitching
    Restlessness and irritability
    Children may appear "hyperactive" with rapid uncontrolled body movements

Not all of these symptoms, listed in order of severity, will occur in every person stung by a Bark Scorpion.

Rare Scorpion Anti-Venom

In the event that you or a loved one is stung by a scorpion, Burns Pest Elimination currently has the rare scorpion anti-venom called Anascorp®. With Anascorp®, a child who has been stung can go home within a few hours of receiving the drug, verses having to go into intensive care. Contact Burns Pest Elimination for more information about Anascorp®.

Have You Seen Scorpions in Your Home?

If you’ve seen scorpions in your home, contact the scorpion control experts at Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix. The BURNS TEAM is consciously concerned about the importance of your world. Rest assured that you will receive the attention and top service that you expect and deserve.

Whether your problem is roaches, scorpions, crickets, termites, weeds, or birds, Burns is your one-stop pest elimination source. We will eliminate pests from your home, office, restaurant, or multi-housing property.

For more information about termite control, bed bug elimination or general pest control concerns contact Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts: Hissing Roaches

We all want to be creative on Valentine’s Day, but the Bronx Zoo is taking Valentine’s creativity to a whole new level. For just $10, the Bronx Zoo is giving people a chance to give their Valentine something that will last forever (it can last through a nuclear explosion anyway). What gift is this? A cockroach, what else?!

Currently, the Bronx Zoo is allowing you to name a cockroach after a person of your choice. “The Bronx Zoo is home to 58,000 Madagascar hissing roaches, and for a mere ten-spot, you can slap a moniker on one of them and present a certificate saying you've done just that this Valentine’s Day.” Additionally, for an extra $15 you can add the “Cocoa Roach” to your Valentine’s Day cockroach package. This “Cocoa Roach” is a CHOCOLATE replica of the cockroaches being named for Valentine’s Day. Not only can you have a cockroach named after you, but you can buy its chocolate twin and eat it too! Yum, Yum!

If you’re looking for a creative Valentine’s Day gift, consider naming a Madagascar hissing roach after your loved ones. Moving into a New Home? Be Sure to Have a Professional Home Inspection Before You Buy!

When you’re looking for a new home, it’s always important to remember that no matter how good the house looks on the outside, there may still be plenty of problems on the inside. Here are a few reasons why it’s important to get a professional home inspection before you buy a home:

Faulty Wiring

Electrical fires are a very real danger. It’s therefore incredibly important that you have a professional inspection done in order to ensure that all the wiring is up to code or can easily be fixed. Additionally, your home inspector will be looking for evidence of rats and other vermin near any wiring, as rodents often cause electrical fires by chewing through wires.

Bad Plumbing

In many cases, a savvy house-hunter can spot bad plumbing by looking at the ceilings in a home. For instance, if there are discolored spots or it’s obvious that someone has painted over a spot then the previous tenants most likely had a leak in their plumbing at some point. This kind of evidence is easy enough to discover, but other issues, such as old and unsafe pipes, will need to be inspected by a professional.

Pest Infestations

One of the most important parts of getting a home inspection is when the inspector examines your potential home for signs of infestation. Your inspector from Burns Pest Elimination will look for termites, cockroaches, rodents and even birds, to make sure that there isn’t a problem. While most people can spot an obvious infestation, there are more subtle signs of growing pest problems.

If you’re in the process of buying a home and want to make sure that you’ve picked the perfect place, consult with Burns Pest Elimination. Burns Pest Elimination offers home inspection services in addition to pest control. We can check your home for plumbing and wiring damage, as well as offer termite, weed and bird control. We also eliminate bed bug and scorpion problems. For more information, call (623) 201-4992 today.
Keep that Health Inspection ‘A’ in Your Window by Calling Burns Pest Elimination

Nothing is more dangerous to a restaurant’s financial wellbeing than the sighting of a pest in the dining area. Fortunately, Burns Pest Elimination has a great pest control program that is tailored specifically to the needs of food service providers. Read on to learn more about how we can help you keep the ‘A’ in your window:

Exterior Solutions

Bugs can get into your restaurant through an adjoining business or from the outdoors. There’s not much you can do about how another business conducts itself, but you can protect your restaurant from outdoor invaders. At Burns Pest Elimination, we have a multi-step process that takes into account virtually all ways in which insects might make it into your building.

To begin with, we spray the walls and the base of your building with powerful repellents. Burns Pest Elimination will also be sure to treat all exterior water sources, since many insects are attracted to moisture. To keep moisture down even further, Burns Pest Elimination will also add a granulating agent to the soggier parts of the soil near your building. Doing so will make your soil less attractive to insects. Finally, Burns Pest Elimination will put out bait and traps for the more common problem species such as crickets and ants.

Interior Solutions

Exterior treatments are a great first line of defense, but your restaurant is still going to need protection when it comes to the indoors. That’s why Burns Pest Elimination will make sure to treat areas where the bugs are likely to get inside, such as cracks and drains. In addition, we’ll pay close attention to your dry storage areas. Bugs love things like flour and grain, so we’ll watch those areas most carefully.

If you own a restaurant or other food service business in the Phoenix area, consult with Burns Pest Elimination about how to keep your business clean and pest-free. For more information, call (623) 201-4992 today. 5 Ways You Can Terminate the Threat of Termites Termites are nasty little insects that can completely devalue your home by eating right through it. However, you can prevent a termite infestation from literally eating you out of house and home by following these 5 simple tips:

1.      Control Moisture

Termites thrive in moist soil, so the easiest way to make sure that they don’t get into your home is to control the amount of water around your foundation. To that end, have your plumbing regularly inspected for leaks and also be sure that the soil around you home is graded so that rainwater rolls away from the house, not towards it.

2.      Plug Holes

Termites can get through some extremely tiny cracks, so it’s important that you caulk all of the little cracks and crevices that you find in the walls of your home.

3.      Use Treated Wood

If you’re building an addition to your home or you’re repairing a pre-existing room, the best thing you can do is buy treated lumber. Wood treated with chemicals to repel termites can save you a lot of money, time and trouble in the long run.

4.      Be Observant

Termites can be hard to detect when they’re already deep inside your house, but if you make a point of regularly inspecting your walls and the soil around your home for signs of termites, you can catch a problem before your home is severely damaged.

5.      Schedule Professional Inspections

You might be able to spot a termite infestation in the early stages, but you almost certainly won’t be aware of one once the bugs are deep inside your house. This is why it’s important to have a professional from Burns Pest Elimination inspect your home for termites as often as once a year.

If you want to maintain a termite-free home, call Burns Pest Elimination. Burns Pest Elimination, in Phoenix & Tucson, can help you with your termite problem, as well as any problems you might be having with bed bugs, scorpions or other pests. Weed control services are available as well, because Burns knows that pests who crawl are not the only pests that will invade your home. For more information, call (623) 201-4992 today. How Do Bed Bugs Feed on Humans?

Bed bugs are very well-adapted pests. They have evolved over the years to blend into the environments that allow them to feed on us as we sleep. Take a look at the video above to learn more about bed bugs.

This video explains some of the adaptations that bed bugs have developed to successfully feed on human blood. The narrator details the techniques that bed bugs use to find and feed on sleeping humans. Watch the video to learn about their carbon dioxide sensors, numbing agents and anticoagulants.

If you have a bed bug problem, then you should contact Burns Pest Elimination. At Burns Pest Elimination, we handle everything from bed bugs to weed control. We also do bird, scorpion, and termite control. For more information, call (623) 201-4992 today.
Reasons to Call a Professional When Pests Invade your Home

Virtually everyone has had a pest problem at some point or another—and virtually everyone has tried to use home remedies before calling in the pest control experts at Burns Pest Elimination. Here is a look at three reasons why you should always call in the professionals at the first sign of trouble:

Preventing Further Infestation

When a person notices an ant or cockroach infestation in his or her home, the first instinct is usually to try home remedies as a cost-saving measure. This rarely works and in the time it takes you to realize that you should have called a professional, the bugs will further infest your home.

You’ll Save Money in the Long Run

The insecticides you can buy at the supermarket may seem cheaper than hiring an exterminator, but the truth is that you may be wasting your time and money rather than calling the professionals to get it done right the first time. With supermarket insecticides, you’ll have to constantly re-use the product. Individually, these products aren’t that expensive, but over time they can seriously add up. Not to mention, constantly spraying insecticides in your home isn’t great for your indoor air quality.

Keep Your Family Safe from Toxic Chemicals

The professional pest control experts at Burns Pest Elimination do use chemical insecticides, but they’re trained to use the least amount possible and only use them in areas where they will not endanger children and animals. The average homeowner, however, does not have this kind of expert knowledge and may accidentally expose children or pets to dangerous chemicals.

Don’t waste your time and money or endanger your safety by trying to solve a pest control problem by yourself. Instead, call Burns Pest Elimination. At Burns Pest Elimination, we can take care of your scorpion and bed bug problems, as well as offer weed, termite, and bird control. For more information, call (623) 201-4992 today. Termite Control: Signs That a Home Has Termites

Termites pose no significant health threats to humans, but they do have the ability to wreak havoc on the integrity of a home. Watch this brief video clip to learn how to identify the signs of termites in your home.

A pest control expert demonstrates how termites can be detected by taking a closer look at your home’s drywall or baseboards. Termites often spend up to two years eating away at a home’s foundation before obvious signs of termite infestation appear. Unfortunately, a great deal of damage can be inflicted by these wood-munching insects.

To keep your Phoenix area home protected from termite infestations, have your property treated with a non-toxic, odorless termiticide. To find out more about termite control, or to arrange to have your home inspected and treated for termites, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. Scorpion Stings & Pigeon Droppings: How Dangerous are They?

Insects and birds are two things we’ve all encountered at one point or another here on mother Earth. If you’re bothered by the presence of scorpions or pigeons then these helpful resources from Burns Pest Elimination may be of interest to you. Learn more about the evolution of scorpions and the different types of scorpion stings. Also, learn about the different diseases transmitted from birds to humans and why pigeon droppings are extremely dangerous. For more information about scorpion and bird control, or to arrange a home inspection, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992 today.

Scorpion Resources:

Scorpions may be scary, but they can be interesting to learn about as well. Read about the evolution of scorpions at earthlife.net.
Most scorpion stings—although painful—are harmless. Some are not. Read about both types online at mayoclinic.com.

Pigeon Resources:

The Centers for Disease Control has posted a helpful guide to diseases transmitted from birds to humans on its website.
Learn about the diseases humans can contract from contact with pigeon droppings at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website.

How to Control Pigeon Poop pigeon

Pigeon droppings are odorous, unsightly, and harmful to human health. These bothersome hazards seem to be a constant nuisance in many parts of the world. If you would like to protect your home’s exterior and your family’s health from the unpleasant effects of pigeon poop, consider the following measures.

Have pigeons removed from your property.

If pigeons are breeding, nesting and pooping on your property, the first step to take toward controlling their droppings is to expel these birds from your rooftop, gables, awnings and other popular pigeon hangouts. An experienced bird control specialist can help resolve even the troublesome of pigeon infestations by setting highly effective traps and removing pigeons from your property.

Properly clean existing droppings.

Pigeons are called “flying rats” for a reason—these relentlessly pesky birds carry ornithosis, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella and a variety of other diseases. These illnesses are typically transmitted to humans via direct or indirect contact with pigeon poop. For this reason, it is essential to wear proper protective clothing and respiratory gear when removing pigeon droppings. Because of the dangers of removing pigeon poop without experience and because scant traces of pigeon poop attract other pigeons, a bird control specialist should be entrusted with this task.

Enact bird control and repellent measures.

Once all traces of the expelled pigeon population have been removed, protect your property with pigeon prevention devices. You can choose to erect bird spikes, lay pigeon nets or install an electric bird repellent system. A combination of these measures is sure to deter pigeons from causing further damage to your home, cars and health.

Are you a Phoenix homeowner who is sick and tired of dealing with pigeons on your property? Call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992 and we’ll arrange to have an experienced bird control professional come out to pigeon proof your home. Scorpion Problems: Why You Should Step Away and Call a Pest Pro!

For most people, the mention of scorpions invokes images of long, black arachnids with dangerous tails roaming exotic deserts and rainforest. Many Arizonans, however, do not need to think of a location more exotic than their very own backyard to imagine a scorpion problem. Scorpions pose a great threat and can be extremely aggressive if provoked. Continue reading this article to find out why it’s smart to leave the extermination and prevention of scorpions on your property to a professional.

Scorpions are good at hiding.

Scorpions have had nearly 500 million years to evolve and adapt to varying environments. In the past, this meant climbing over rocks, crawling through cracks and burrowing in sand. Today, it means that they can find plenty of places to hide in and around your home. Burns Pest Elimination has trained household and commercial pest control professionals with years of experience that can track and catch even the sneakiest scorpions in your home or office building.

Scorpion infestations pose a threat to your family’s well-being.

Arizona is home to 36 species of scorpion. Each of these species can sting, but it may be comforting to know that most of these species do not pose a serious threat. Nevertheless, scorpion stings are always painful and they can be particularly dangerous to infants, the elderly and other vulnerable individuals. Even healthy adults can put themselves in danger by trying to exterminate scorpions without taking certain precautions. If you stumble upon a cyclone of scorpions and they feel threatened, the combined venom from multiple stings could put you in serious danger.

To ensure your family is safe in your home, have a pest control professional who specializes in scorpion detection and extermination inspect your property. For help in making your Phoenix property a scorpion-free zone, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe from Termites termite

The state of Arizona provides a favorable environment for four termite species. These include desert subterranean termites, arid-land subterranean termites, western drywood termites, and desert dampwood termites. Even though each of these termite species affects Phoenix area homes in a different way, they can all be deterred from taking up residence in your home and feeding on its framework. Continue reading this article for some helpful tips on keeping your home termite free.

Treated Lumber

If you are about to start a home-building or renovation project, consider using lumber that is specially treated for termite prevention. Your contractor should also be able to provide you with a number of other termite-resistant material options for flooring and siding.

Wood Storage

Avoid storing wood materials and paper products near your home’s foundation. Firewood, spare lumber, cardboard boxes, mulch and old newspapers can attract termites to your property. When you store these materials near your home’s foundation, termites may move into your home and start eating away at its floors and walls.

Proper Drainage

Termites are drawn to moisture as well as cellulose. A termite colony will be less likely to make your home its own if your drainage is designed to move water away from your home’s foundation.

Professional Termite Control

If you have past experience with termites, you already know that periodically having your home inspected for termites is a good investment. To make sure that your home is protected, have your local family-run pest control service inspect your home for termites every six months.

Have you detected signs of termites in your Phoenix home? If so, contact Burns Pest Elimination today. Call (623) 201-4992 to find out more about the pest control services offered by our friendly and knowledgeable professionals. We’ll eliminate bed bugs, roaches, scorpions, birds, rodents, bees and more!
Resources to Help you Keep your Phoenix Property Pest-Free

If you would like to learn more about eliminating the presence of termites, scorpions, pigeons, bed bugs, and other pests from your home or office, the following resources may be able to help you control the pests in your home. For more information, or to arrange a home inspection, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992 today.

Read about the increased presence of bed bugs in the workplace in this AZCentral.com article.
For some helpful bed bug prevention tips, check out this informational New York magazine article.
Proper drainage is an essential component of most effective termite-prevention plans. Find out why with this North Carolina State University resource.
For everything you want to know about drywood termites, check out this University of Arizona publication.

6,000 lbs. of Food Raised Thus Far!

Burns Pest Elimination would like to say thank you for your support! We're so thankful that we've been able to raise 6,000 lbs. of food so far! How to Maintain a Bed Bug-Free Home Infested with bedbugs

Fifty years ago, bed bugs were all but eradicated from American soil. But, over the past decade, they have returned with a vengeance. Residents of large cities, such as Phoenix, are especially susceptible to bed bug infestation. Fortunately, bed bug experts have identified methods through which most bed bugs find their way into homes. Here are some ways that you can keep your home free of bed bugs:

Stop Scavenging for Furniture

Free furniture sometimes comes at the price of a bed bug infestation. If you like to scour the streets of Phoenix during popular move-out times for furniture steals, you are at a higher risk of bringing bed bugs into your home than most. Pest patrol experts recommend against bringing foreign furniture into your home. If you simply cannot resist a piece of used furniture you find, examine it closely for signs of bed bugs and have a bed bug expert treat it before you bring it into your home.

Decontaminate Clothes After Traveling

The bed bug’s preferred method of transportation is the suitcase. The next time you return home from a trip, carefully unpack your luggage upon arrival. Wash all machine-washable items in scalding hot water and freeze non-washable items in sealed plastic bags for at least five days. Then, carefully inspect each of your suitcases for bed bugs and call an exterminator if you find any of the blood-sucking critters in your belongings.

Don’t Bring Them from the Office

In between homes, bed bugs often spend time in office settings. To avoid bringing bed bugs home from work with you, keep jackets and briefcases on personal coat racks, desks, or high tables and avoid using communal storage spaces.

Check Your Home

Another important step to take in maintaining a bed bug-free home is to regularly inspect your home for bed bugs and signs that they may be present. Check your mattress, box spring, pillow seams, sheets, walls and bedside furniture for small, flat bugs and dark brown or reddish blood spots.

If you detect bed bugs in your Phoenix-area home, contact a bed bug elimination specialist right away. At Burns Pest Elimination, our skilled pest control technicians can find and eliminate all bed bugs and their eggs in your house, office or apartment. Call (623) 201-4992 to arrange treatment for your home today. Rodent Control – Dangers of Rodents

House mice, pack rats and other rodents are carriers of numerous diseases that can be easily transmitted to humans. To find out more about these diseases and other problems associated with rodents, check out this informative video clip and contact the experts at Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix.

The parasites and diseases that use rodents as hosts can cause skin lesions, intestinal disorders, kidney failure, high fever and sometimes death. Even homeowners who are neither disgusted nor annoyed by the presence of rodents on their property should take precautions to protect their homes and families from the dangerous health risks associated with rodents.

To have rodents removed from your Phoenix area home in a safe and efficient manner, contact Burns Pest Elimination. Call (623) 201-4992 to speak with a friendly pest control expert today. Why you Should Hire a Professional for Effective Bed Bug Removal

Bed bugs are hard to get rid of, yet when many people find out they have a bed bug infestation, they try to remove the pests on their own. Ridding your home of bed bugs is difficult, even for professionals.

Why is it so Difficult to Exterminate Bed Bugs?

Bedbuginfo.com emphasizes that their biology is part of the problem. “They only feed on your blood. This makes it hard to poison their food source. They are physically very robust and have developed resistance to many modern insecticides. “

As a result, exterminating bed bugs is more difficult than exterminating other pests found in your home. Bed bugs can get away rather easily which makes it very challenging to target the critters during treatments. Bed bugs have the ability to hide in very small places, making it difficult to see them, let alone exterminate.

At Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix, we take bed bug infestations very seriously. We know that K9 detection is the most accurate way to confirm a bed bug infestation. Burns’ K9 inspectors are certified in multi-stage insect detection by the Florida Canine Academy, and re-certified every three months along with their handlers to ensure accuracy.

For more information about bed bugs and the different treatment options available, call Burns Pest Elimination for professional pest control services at (623) 201-4992.

Additional Resources from Burns Pest Elimination

Are you interested in learning more about bed bugs and where they hide? Or perhaps you're looking to rid your home of pesky cockroaches. Burns Pest Elimination has provided these helpful resources in hopes to better educate you in regards to household pests. For more information about these topics and more contact the professionals at Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix at (623) 201-4992.

The Mayo Clinic has put together a comprehensive article on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of bed bug bites. Read this article to learn more.
You can learn more about where bed bugs hide, the signs of infestation, and how bed bugs can affect your health by reading this great article from WebMD.
Over time, bed bug populations have developed a resistance to certain chemical pesticides. This U.S. News and World Report article describes how scientists used gene mapping to learn how.
This humorous and informative article at ArizonaOddities.com deals with cockroaches in the Valley and how to get rid of them.
Need some ideas on how to bug-proof your Arizona home? This University of Arizona article has some great tips on how to proof your home against roaches and other insect pests.

Fight Back when Unwanted Guests Invade your Home

When unwanted pests invade your home, it’s essential that you know how to fight back. If you have any lingering questions about keeping your home free of pests, check out the links below or contact the professional pest control team at Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992.

The University of Arizona has put together an illustrated list of the most common insect pests that can live in our homes. Check out the website to learn more.
You can learn more about the many indoor and structural pests of Arizona and how to prevent them from entering your home by reading this eHow.com article.
This article from ScottsdaleAZ.gov gives a great overview of how invasive weeds affect the Sonoran Desert.
To learn more about the Arizona monsoon season and what causes it, check out this informative article from Arizona State University.

K-9 of the Year Award

Meet the winner of Burns Pest Elimination's K-9 of the Year Award. Congratulations Speedy! Home & Lawn Pest Control: How to Prevent Pigeons—Home & Lawn Pest Control: How to Prevent Pigeons

In nearly every city in America, you’re bound to run into dozens and dozens of pigeons. Since they’re dirty, reproduce easily, and can make quite a mess, it’s no wonder they’re often called “rats with wings.”

If you’re experiencing a pigeon problem, you should watch this short video featuring pest expert Jim Harmon for advice on dealing with the pests. After showing us the kinds of places where pigeons like to roost, Jim discusses how to get rid of pigeons and keep them away.

If you’re currently facing a nasty pigeon infestation, contact Burns Pest Elimination. You’ll find that our technicians are prompt, courteous, and effective. Don’t let pests make you feel like a stranger in your own home—give us a call today at (623) 201-4992. AMA Holiday Party

Burns Pest Elimination had a great time yesterday at the AMA Holiday Party! In this photo: Clint Von Tobel (Bird Specialist), Tina Greco (Sales Executive), Nick Andrella (Sales Executrive), Bree Rothermel (Executive Assistant) and Juan Ortiz (Bird Specialist). Enjoying Burns Pest Elimination’s Blog Topics? Check Out These Resources to Learn More!

You work hard so you and your family can enjoy your home—the last thing you need is a legion of unwanted guests crowding your space, damaging your property, and causing illness.

Luckily, good, professional help is always available to take care of your pest problem. For more information, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992.

Need help keeping birds off of your property? This article from the Thoroughbred Times can help.

Of all the diseases people can get from birds, Histoplasmosis is among the most common. Learn more about it at this page from PubMed Health.

What health hazards do rodents pose? Find out at this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are bed bugs and how can you detect their presence? Learn the answer by reading this article from the University of Kentucky.

Though they look and sound beautiful, many birds can cause disease. Learn more at this page from About.com.

Do you think there might be rodents in your home? Check out these telltale signs from Family Education.com.

There are tens of millions of stray cats and dogs in the U.S. For more pet statistics, head over to the ASPCA’s official website.

What are bed bugs? What dangers do they pose? Find the answers to these questions and more at this page from the Mayo Clinic.

Give Burns Pest Elimination a call today (623) 201-4992 . iPhone App: iPest3

Although we like to think of our cities as being separate from nature, critters always find a way of getting in. When they do, you should learn as much as you can about their habits and how to get rid of them.

With the iPest3 iPhone app, you’ll learn more about various pests than you ever thought possible. Whether you are a teacher, student, naturalist, or just a curious individual, iPest3 can help you identify common urban pests and learn about their various habits.

If you’re currently under siege from unsavory guests, contact Burns Pest Elimination. Whether you’re dealing with birds, rodents, insects, or all three, we’ll help you get your home back. Give us a call today at (623) 201-4992 to learn more.
Common Signs Rodents Have Taken Up Residence in Your Home

While animated films would have us believe that rodents are adorable and lovable creatures, they can be a terrible burden. Since rats and mice reproduce quickly and can bring fleas, diseases, and other unsavory elements into your home, you should seek to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Here are a few common signs that rodents have infested your home and you should call Burns Pest Elimination:

Droppings - As you might suspect, rodents are not discreet about where they leave their droppings. If you find little bits of droppings that are about the size of a grain of rice, there’s a good chance that you have a rodent problem.

Distinctive smell - Mice and rats also urinate a lot, leaving a musky aroma throughout your home. If you smell a new smell in your home that doesn’t go away after a while, you should call a professional pest control service right away.

Gnaw marks - Rodents are famous for their large, powerful teeth, which they like to use whenever they can. Gnaw marks on wood stairs, walls, and furniture, are another telltale sign that some kind of rodent has been in your home.

Missing food - Although rodents are small, collectively, they can eat a large amount. Much of the time, mice will obtain their food from your pantry, leaving behind nothing but wrappers and a collection of droppings.

Dirt marks - By human standards, rodents do not have much regard for personal hygiene. If mice or rats are present, you should be able to see grease or dirt marks along walls and around holes. Since mice often travel the same path, they will create a little “dirt highway” which can lead you right to their nests.

If you suspect that you have a rodent problem, contact Burns Pest Elimination. Our trained technicians have years of experience eliminating rats, scorpions, birds, weeds, bed bugs, and many other kinds of unwelcome guests.

Give us a call today at (623) 201-4992 and we’ll take care of the rest. Basic Principles of Bird Exclusion

Though birds often enchant us with their beautiful songs and gracefulness, they can quickly become a nuisance. To birds, your home is just another part of the terrain—a place that’s as good as any for roosting and starting a family. However, since you’re the one paying the mortgage, you may be a little reluctant to let them move in. Here’s a brief look at birds and how you can keep them out.

What threats do birds pose? When it comes to germ-covered animals, most people don’t automatically think of birds. However, contact with birds and their droppings can cause a number of diseases, including Histoplasmosis, and Giardia. In addition to creating unsanitary conditions, birds can also cause fairly severe damage to your home as they try to find a way into your attic, garage, or other spaces.

How do I keep birds out of my home? Once birds begin infesting your home, frustration could lead you to try a number of desperate home remedies that involve firearms and poison. However, safer and more humane methods include installing screen wire, caulk, and metal wool around the sensitive areas of your home. If you’re concerned about birds landing on your property, you might even consider spikes or electrified wire.

When should I get professional help? Birds are surprisingly crafty; if there’s even one area of weakness around your property, you can bet that birds will find it and exploit it. To make sure that your home is bird-proof, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional pest control service. If you already have a bird problem, a professional bird control company will safety remove the birds and take measures to ensure that they never return.

If you currently have a bird problem, or are concerned that you may in the future, contact Burns Pest Elimination. In addition to birds, we’ll get rid of bed bugs, scorpions, termites, weeds, and any other pests that are troubling your home.

Call us at (623) 201-4992 to learn more! Why You Should Never Attempt Bee Removal on Your Own

When most people encounter a bee, their heart rates tend to go up a little bit—and understandably so. Many of us have felt the pain of a bee sting, and would like to avoid it if at all possible. One bee is scary enough—now imagine if there were thousands of bees swarming inside your home. Though you may feel a duty to protect your property, bee removal is a job that’s best left to the professionals. Here’s why:

You will get stung - Honeybees have evolved stingers and venom as a means of defense. If anything—or anyone—challenges their community, they come out blazing, stingers first. Even if you think that bee stings aren’t that bad, a couple hundred will probably change your mind. If you are allergic to bees, a single sting could send you into anaphylactic shock and even kill you.
You may damage your property - When most people try to remove bees from their homes, they do so with a swift, decisive blow. However, chemical treatment could replace your bee problem with a chemical one, while trying to squash the bees could do structural damage to your home. Getting rid of bees is a delicate process that should be handled by professionals.
You may be dealing with Africanized bees - Since the late ’90s, aggressive Africanized bees have been attacking the Phoenix area and elsewhere in the Southwest. If you try to remove Africanized bees, they will go after you more aggressively and in much higher numbers than their European counterparts, putting you at a much higher risk of injury. Professionals, on the other hand, know how to properly deal with both European and Africanized bees.

If a portion of your property has been taken over by bees, don’t hesitate to contact Burns Pest Elimination. Our skilled technicians can promptly eliminate bees from your home, as well as termites, bed bugs, scorpions, and other dangerous creatures.

Call us today at (623) 201-4992 for more information. Rescue Dogs are Helping in the Fight Against Bed Bugs

Though bed bugs seemed to disappear in the mid-20th century, the persistent pests have made a comeback in recent years. They’re small, lay lots of eggs, and bite you when you’re most vulnerable—while you’re sleeping. Though bed bugs are notoriously good hiders, we have a particularly effective ally in the fight against them: rescue dogs.

Taken off the streets - Though the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it is impossible to calculate exactly how many stray dogs are in the United States, the number is easily in the tens of millions. These animals aren’t defective in any way—they’re simply lost and neglected. Luckily, thousands of dogs are taken off the cruel streets and given new lives as bed bug detectors.
Put to work - Though we tend to put a lot of stock in our ability to see, sight isn’t too effective when it comes to detecting bed bugs. Luckily, a dog’s heightened sense of smell is ideal for sniffing out bed bugs and their eggs. Of course, finding bed bugs on command takes a lot of specific training.
Thoroughly certified - If you’re skeptical of bed bug-sniffing dogs, you should keep in mind that every dog goes through a rigorous certification process which is overseen by an independent third party organization. The most accurate bed bug-sniffing dogs are recertified every three months, to make sure that they don’t get rusty. If you have bed bugs in your home, it’s important that you know about them and get them removed as soon as possible.

If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your home, contact Burns Pest Elimination. Our bed bug scent detection teams are highly trained and always have up-to-date certification from the esteemed Florida Canine Academy.

Don’t let bed bugs bite you and your family—give Burns Pest Elimination a call today at (623) 201-4992. Burns Pest Elimination Lists the Importance of Professional Bird Control Service birds

Fall is here and in addition to the cooler weather you may be experiencing an increase in bird traffic around your home or business. Birds can cause issues during this time due to the peak migration season and larger flocks. Not only are these aerodynamic animals a hassle to deal with, but they may also cause health risks to your family or customers. Here we have listed a few reasons why calling a professional to handle your bird control problem is important.

Health concerns- Birds carry many types of diseases that can be easily spread when they travel in large numbers and populate your home or office. During the colder months, it especially important to be aware of their potential impact.
Different species require different actions- Before taking action, it is important to name the species and type of birds you are dealing with.
Timing- Scheduling time to safely clean up debris and ridding your environment of birds can be a daunting task. We are trained to be efficient in what we do!
Multiple Bird Control Options- There are many types of bird control options depending on your location, your budget, and the species of birds you are trying to get rid of. Examples include bird spikes, bird slopes, sonic and gel repellants. We use products that are non-toxic to humans & animals, prevent further damage to your home and are humane and long-lasting.

Call Burns Pest Control at (623) 201-4992 for professional bird removal solutions. Proposed Law in Arizona to Take Action Against Bed Bugs Earlier this year, lawmakers were working on a bill to help protect residents and homeowners within Arizona from bed bug infestations. See the news clip here: Lawmakers Take On Bed Bugs & Landlords: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Learn more by viewing this video and visiting http://www.myFOXphoenix.com.

If you think your may have been infested with bed bugs, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992 to learn more about our elimination services. Find Out What Attracts Cockroaches in a Home lady and cockroach

Cockroaches are some of the most proliferative and adaptable insects on the planet. They can eat almost anything (even nonfood items like glue, paint, soap, or paper) and can make a home out of just about any environment. Cockroaches do, however, prefer certain living conditions. To keep your home roach-free—and free of the pathogens they carry with them—you have to rid your home of what attracts and sustains them.

Poor sanitation, especially in areas where food is kept or prepared, is the main reason that cockroaches will infest a home. Leaving food or dirty dishes out overnight gives these nocturnal insects ready and ample food sources. Dog and cat food should be sealed in containers overnight and not left in food bowls. Places that accumulate crumbs and food particles such as behind cabinets and under refrigerators should also be cleaned often to prevent roaches from moving in. Cleaning and organization of the home is the best defense against roach infestation.

Ample dark, humid hiding areas are also very attractive to roaches. Make sure any leaky water sources are repaired, as they are always looking for a place to drink. Loose baseboards and molding strips, cabinets, cupboards, and upholstered furniture are all favorite hiding places of the urban roach. To prevent roaches from hiding in your household, seal cracks in the foundation, piping, floors, walls, or any other possible entrances to the home.

Strong smells attract many pests, including roaches. Piles of trash bags or improperly maintained compost will promptly attract these insects. Making sure your compost is in a sealed bin and taking out your garbage often can help make your home a less desirable home for roaches.

Being aware of what attracts roaches and sustains them can help you make the necessary changes to keep them out of your home. If you have any questions about roach infestations or if you need professional elimination services, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. Pest Control: How to Inspect Your Home for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other animals, usually as they sleep. They are tiny creatures, usually about a quarter of an inch long, oval-shaped, and are reddish-brown in color. Their tiny size and ability to hide successfully in small cracks and crevices can make them very difficult to detect unless you know where to look.

In this instructional video, you can learn how and where to inspect your home for bed bugs. These parasitic insects tend to live in dark, narrow crevices that are close to places where they can feed, such as under box springs or under couch cushions. Check out the video to learn more.

If you think you may be unwillingly sharing your home with bed bugs, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992 to learn more about our elimination services. Telltale Signs that Bed Bugs Have Found Their Way into Your Home bed bug on blanket

Cimex lectularius, or the common bed bug, has been recorded as a parasite of humans and other warm-blooded animals for thousands of years. Tiny, flat, and oval-shaped, they can move very quickly and hide in some of the smallest household crevices. Their ability to hide and their nocturnal nature can keep them from being detected for a long time, sometimes until the infestation becomes severe. Here are three telltale signs that bed bugs have crept their way into your home.

You wake up with an itchy rash. Bed bug bites can be easily confused with other insect bites. They can, however, be identified more easily based on the placement and pattern of the bites. Bed bugs tend to bite most on the neck, face, hands, and arms in a rough line or cluster pattern. The bites are usually swollen and red, with a darker red spot in the middle. If you wake up with bites that you don’t remember having before you went to sleep, then it is likely that bed bugs are the culprit.

You see them. Bed bugs are very small, but can still be seen with the naked eye if you know where to look. If you suspect that you might be sharing your room or sofa with bed bugs, check out their favorite places to hide: under box springs, seams in mattresses, folds in upholstered furniture, baseboards, and in the cracks of headboards. You may also notice evidence on your pillowcases or bed sheets, including small blood stains or bug excrement stains.

You smell a sweet, musty odor. Bed bugs have a distinctive smell. The smell is usually faint and localized to where the bugs are hiding, but can be more easily noticed with a heavy infestation. The odor they release from their scent glands has been likened to moldy shoes, coriander, and over-ripe raspberries.

Burns Pest Elimination takes bed bug infestation very seriously and our K9 inspectors are trained to detect bed bugs at all stages with the utmost accuracy. Call us at (623) 201-4992 to learn more about our elimination services.

Tired of Pulling Post-Monsoon Weeds? Call a Pro and Eliminate Your Weeds for Good! weeds

Here in Arizona, the monsoon season is responsible for the vast majority of the year’s rainfall. The rainy months bring welcome relief from the blistering summer temperatures and help to slow the spread of the wildfires that rage during the previous months. The desert plants are given enough water to jump-start their growth and summer flowers finally have the sustenance with which to bloom.

Unfortunately, it isn’t just the mesquites, flowers, and cacti that benefit from seasonal rainfall. Desert weeds, including Spurge, tumbleweed, Desert Broom, and other invasive species, tend to spread quickly and efficiently after the monsoons. If allowed to overtake your property, weeds can damage the surrounding ecosystem by replacing the native plants. These weeds also present a significant health concern, as many of them produce pollens that cause seasonal allergies in many Arizona residents. Once they dry, weeds also become great fuel for spreading fires and pose a serious threat to your home.

Eliminating weeds that have invaded your property can be a daunting task, requiring a significant amount of time and effort. The physical removal of weeds by pulling them out by hand may be an effective short-term solution, but it rarely takes care of the problem for good.

It is also possible to use chemicals to keep weeds at bay, but without the proper technique and knowledge of weed-killing substances, it is easy to cause unintentional damage to your yard. Licensed and bonded weed elimination professionals have the expertise and experience needed to safely remove weeds from your property once and for all.

If you are interested in having a skilled, dependable professional take care of your weed problem, call Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. We offer free inspections and back our weed elimination services with a full one-year guarantee! For more information, visit us online.
Top Pests That Could Be Infesting Your Arizona Home cockroach

Arizona is home to a huge number of household pests, from bed bugs and termites to birds and rodents. While some create only a small nuisance with their presence, others can be destructive or even cause severe medical issues. The pests that could be infesting your Arizona home include:

Roaches

Cockroaches are considered to be one of the nastiest household pests because of their ability to contaminate food and cause allergic reactions with their excrement. They are extremely adaptable insects and can feed on a wide variety of objects, from paints to decaying food.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that take blood meals for food. They tend to infest areas close to where they feed, like under mattresses or in other dark crevices, which can make them difficult to detect unless you know where to look.

Termites

Termites are social insects that live in huge subterranean colonies. They feed on cellulose, a key component of wood and other plants. Termites can invade any part of your home where there is wood-to-soil contact and cause severe damage over time.

Scorpions

There are many species of scorpions in Arizona, and all have the ability to sting and cause varying degrees of discomfort. One of the smaller species, called the Bark Scorpion, can cause severe medical problems.

Rodents

Pack rats, field mice, roof rats, and Norway rats can be extremely destructive to homes and property. They often cause expensive damage to vegetation, structures, and vehicles, and their nests and droppings may carry pathogens that pose a threat to your health.

Bees

While European honeybees are not generally aggressive, the American Southwest is now home to deadly swarms of Africanized honeybees that attack much more frequently. Bee stings can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people and their presence on your property can be a huge health risk.

If you feel that your household has become a refuge for one or more of the abovementioned pests, contact the friendly team of state-licensed technicians at Burns Pest Elimination at (623) 201-4992. We offer a full spectrum of services to keep your house safe and pest-free. AACM Trade Show 2011 — at Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa

Get more information online or give us a call at Burns Pest Elimination: 623 201 4992 Check out the Burns Pest Elimination K-9 Team! Get more information online about our K-9 team or give us a call at Burns Pest Elimination - 623 201 4992

Leela and Clay

How Do I Know if I Have Bed Bugs?

Do you suspect you, or someone you know, might have bed bugs?

It hasn’t been since the 1950s that we’ve heard much about bed bugs within the United States. Increased travel, people choosing not to use insecticide sprays, and other factors are contributing to increased infestations. Problems with bed bugs are on the rise throughout the country – including the Phoenix and Tucson areas. They can be found in homes, apartments, hotels, dormitories and more.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether or not bed bugs are present. But, there are several signs you can look for.

How do I know?

Dark stains or spots on your mattress. The easiest way to know if you have an infestation is to look for dark spots on your mattress. These dark spots can be blood, feces, dead bugs or their eggs. Lift your mattress and inspect the underside, crevices and seams, and inspect the box spring. Evidence can also be found by searching nearby curtains and furniture. Inspect drawers, under cushions and in other tight corners and gaps. If you find something that suggests the presence of bed bugs, it is important that you do not remove anything from the room. You risk helping them move to other areas of your home.
Examine your skin. If you see a lot – or even a few – red bumps, large rash-like welts, or redness you should look around your room for bed bugs to confirm they are the cause. Although initially undetectable, after a few hours, bites from bed bugs typically cause intense itching and burning sensations. Without finding other proof of an infestation, the bites can be difficult to diagnose. While rows of welts on the skin are characteristic signs of bed bugs, more often they do not adhere to any particular pattern, shape or size. Despite the bumps or welts, it is important to know that bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.
Catch one. Adult bed bugs are brown, sometimes a reddish-brown, oval-shaped and flat and vary in size. Compared to penny, they can be as small as the “r” in “liberty,” and as large as Lincoln’s head. Catching one can be tough as they are fast moving insects that often feed at night. During the day, it is easiest to find them in dark protected locations. Using double-sided carpet tape beneath your bed as well as along the sides should help you trap a specimen. If you catch a suspect, save it and contact an expert to help you identify the insect.
Call a professional. A surefire way to be certain about an infestation is to contact a pest elimination professional to identify bed bugs inside your home. Qualified service technicians have a trained eye for spotting pest problems as well as special methods to detect pests.

What do I do?
If you suspect an infestation, don’t attempt to apply pesticides on your own. To safely and effectively eliminate bed bugs, it is best to contact a professional. Additionally, a professional can help you determine if you need to dispose of infected items like your mattress or other furniture. Many times, they can be treated and salvaged.

Be aware that bed bugs are highly mobile. Removing items from an infested room can only put other rooms inside your dwelling at risk. If you do need to dispose of furniture, deface or place it inside a dumpster to make it less appealing for others to bring inside their homes.

Are you concerned about bed bugs or other pests? Ask an expert or request a quote online today.

Burns Pest Elimination Introduces New Resources in the Fight Against Arizona’s Fastest Growing Pest

With Bed Bugs making a comeback with all time high reported infestations, Burns Pest Elimination is at the cutting edge of pest elimination. Now introducing K-9 teams and state of the art heat treatments to identify, prevent and control this ongoing epidemic.

“Bed Bugs are becoming a recurring nightmare for businesses and individuals alike,” said Dave Burns the General Manager of Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix, AZ. “Through extensive study and research we found that the most accurate way to detect bed bugs are through K-9 inspections. This allows us to identify an infestation much quicker, more accurately and remedy the situation in a much more timely fashion, saving our customers time and money.”

All Burns’ K-9 inspectors are certified in multi-stage insect detection, trained by the Florida Canine Academy. Each K-9 has over 1,000 hours of training, and handlers have 300 plus hours prior to beginning their first inspection. In addition, Burns has the most complete, state of the art facility used for certification of K-9’s in the western states. All dogs and handlers are re-certified every three months, to ensure each dog is accurate at all times.

The presence of bed bugs can have severe financial, liability, and public relations impacts on many residential, apartment, hospitality and business properties. For this reason, Burns Pest Elimination has invested in a solution that is 100% effective in eliminating bed bugs.

Enviro Heat uses dry heat to kill bed bugs in all stages of life. This heat treatment is designed to raise the core temperature of the infested area to 135 degrees, virtually eliminating bed bugs regardless of location. It enables Burns to completely eradicate a bed bug infestation without the use of any chemical. Among its many benefits, Enviro Heat can be used to treat four rooms at once and has a speedy turnaround time. If after a K-9 inspection Burns finds just one item is infected, thermal container remediation is now available. An insulated container will be delivered on site. All affected items will be deposited into the chamber and heated to 135 degrees, eliminating the infestation completely.

Burns Pest Elimination was founded in 1983. Burns is a service company that has achieved market leadership by providing highest quality services produced by great people. The Burns family remains actively involved, ensuring that the company always offers exceptional service to make sure your experience is one that has value, quality and success.

Proposed Law to Take Action Against Bed Bugs

Lawmakers are working on a bill to help protect residents and homeowners within Arizona from bed bug infestations.

Learn more by viewing this video courtesy www.myFOXphoenix.com.

Lawmakers Take On Bed Bugs & Landlords: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Bedbugs Attack Niketown

Sneaker giant’s flagship NYC store shuts down to rid itself of the pests.

URL: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/bedbugs-attack-niketown-21990658

They Crawl, They Bite, They Baffle Scientists

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Bed Bugs On The Rise

Bed Bugs Can Affect Anyone, Anywhere

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Bed Bug Scent Detection Canine Teams

Bed bug infestations can be detected by specially trained bed bug scent detection canine teams. Because of their abilities, bed bug detection canine teams can be particularly useful in the following circumstances:

When bed bugs are suspected but no live bugs or viable eggs can be found through visual inspection.
For building-wide comprehensive inspections to locate all infested rooms.
In non-bedroom sites such as offices, theaters, schools, public transportation and other unconventional areas.
As an additional method to confirm that bed bugs have been successfully controlled or are not present.
At a minimum, bed bug detection canine teams must be able to detect live bed bugs and viable eggs.
Canine detection teams should be certified.
Certification demonstrates the canine team’s competence by an independent, third-party.
Certification confirms the ability of the team to locate live bed bugs and viable eggs in real world environments.
Certification confirms the canine team’s ability to differentiate live bed bugs and eggs from other odors in structures.
Canine handlers should inform the client of the canine team’s certification status.
Canine handlers should be trained in bed bug biology, behavior, inspection methods and identification.
Effective bed bug detection canine teams must be well trained and their training must be kept up-to-date.
Distracters should be employed as part of the canine teams’ ongoing training program.
Prior to making a treatment, the canine handler or a pest management professional should attempt to confirm the canine alert by:
Visually inspecting the area to confirm the presence of an active infestation, Utilizing a second canine team, or, In some situations, the client may elect to have the room(s) treated without secondary confirmation.

When a scent detection canine team is used for bed bug detection, it shall be performed by a canine team that holds a current, independent, third party certification in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Minimum Standards for Canine Bed Bug Detection Team Certification. The Minimum Standards for Canine Bed Bug Detection Team Certification is contained in Appendix A of these best practices.