Ant Researcher Nearly got Arrested!

Dr. Laurel Hansen We at Cascade Pest Control have known Dr. Laurel Hansen for decades. In fact, nearly 40 years ago, and prior to the inception of Cascade, I (Kurt T.) was collecting carpenter ant samples from around the greater Seattle area and sending them to Dr. Akre, her professor. I later found out that I could have been better directed as some of what I collected was not quite what she needed. But I did my best to contribute samples and she went on to earning her PhD. Since then she's been perhaps North America's expert on campnotus...carpenter ants. And we at Cascade have attended her lectures and even brought her in for training. But the funny thing is that some years ago when Ms. Hansen was conducting research at night following carpenter ants with red-shaded flashlights. She had permission of the property owners, but apparently the property owners hadn't mentioned her nighttime studies to their vacation-time house sitter. The house-sitter called the police who found her and her, along with some entomological colleagues, "lurking" about in the dark shining red-colored light onto the ground. It took some explaining but eventually the police let her go, but not without her teaching them a thing or two about ants! :)

Shown here is 'damage done by carpenter ants' and 'lone carpenter ant worker.' For more information on carpenter ants. http://www.cascadepest.com/ant-control/ Cascade Pest Control provides Carpenter Ant and other Ant control in the greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Kent, Lynnwood, Woodinville and beyond. Cascade also provides rat and rodent control. Don Leland

What is this winged ant I'm seeing???

The carpenter ant "reproductives" are out! What's a "reproductive"? We are starting to see carpenter ant swarms (i.e. the reproductive queens and males) in and around homes and businesses. Carpenter ants produce large numbers of queens and males during the late summer that emerge from nests the following spring (also happen during late winter) for their nuptial flights. After mating, queens search for suitable sites to begin new nests. Once they land, their wings break off and each queen attempts to construct a new nest. These are some great pictures sent to us today from a family in Sammamish, WA. If you see these around your home, give Cascade Pest a call at 425-641-6264.

Crazy Ants in Seattle? Crazy ants in Northwest? Bellevue?

Crazy ants are tiny, but come in huge quantities--one mane vacuumed five gallons of them out of his air-conditioner that had quit working! 5-Gallons of tiny ants! They don't bite or sting but do smell musty and they are known for their huge numbers and their attraction to electrical and electronic devices. They have been know to shut down laptop computers, televisions and many other devices. This would be an important pest in the greater Seattle area with all our software and aerospace companies--besides all of us being so electronic dependent. But so far crazy ants are mostly remaining in the Texas area and other Gulf States. What we have to watch for--pest wise, here in in King and Snohomish counties would be crazy ants hitch-hiking on people's belongings when they move from a crazy ant infested area. Also, shipments of manufactured or other goods from areas like Texas could also transport crazy ants. Those of us considering pest control here in the Seattle--Eastside--Bellevue--Everett areas need not be too concerned about the widespread and "crazy" nuisance of crazy ants spreading from vacant lands or even necessarily from house to house because they need a warmer climate than what we have to offer. However, our indoor climates are controlled and crazy ants can survive and maybe even thrive within our homes and businesses. Speculating from a lifetime of pest biology and control, if they do get a foothold indoors it most likely could be in larger apartment and condominium buildings. But for the time being we have lucked out! If you encounter ant problems contact Cascade Pest Control today. Crazy Ants Covering Grounds Crazy Ants Shorting Out Electronics Don Leland

Seattle Carpenter Ant Seminar

ALL STAFF(except owners) Attended a seminar Thursday 4-17-08. The seminarwas held at Univar in Kent. This was a panel discussion with Corey Chantry of All Seasons Pest Control as the moderator. The panel consisted of Scott Deland of Willards Pest Control, Art Bader of Whitworth Pest Solutions and Bob Anderson of Sprague Pest Solutions. The panel discussed the importanceof expectations, inspection and patience. They talked about the biology and behavior of the ants and the difficulty in locating nest sites. Someof the newer products on the market were discussed as well as baits, repellants and non-repellants that are currently in use. Where to look, conducive conditions, exterior vegetation were all mentioned. Unusual scenarios and treatment intervals were talked about at length. The participation from the audience was great!
Report from Al Brown, Service Manager of Cascade Pest Control (425)641-6264 (206)525-0882 www.CascadePest.com