If you thought last mosquito season was intense, this year doesn’t promise it will be any easier. Mosquitoes live in humid, tropic areas – which is why we like Florida too! So while your getting ready for a birthday party in the backyard, or heading to  a state park for some fun – here are some tips to keep you from buzzing about mosquitoes ~

Eliminate standing water:

• Evaluate/maintain standing water issues on a weekly basis
• Don’t forget to check trash cans, trash can lids, recycle bins, etc
• Change the water in bird baths
• Repair any leaky pipes or outdoor faucets
• Empty wadding pools or store them without water
• Clean out gutters, drains and ditches

Some other helpful tips:

• Keep your lawn cut and shrubs neatly trimmed
• Use LED or yellow bug lights for outdoor lighting
• When going outside wear repellent
• Wear long sleeved light colored clothing

All of these tips will help keep you and your loves ones free of bites this summer – and let Brandon take care of the rest of your pests! Call us at 877-423-4453 for a free estimate.

Irrigation systems – Make sure your entire system, from the clock to the positions of the sprinklers, is fully functional. Test each zone for coverage and watering time. Make sure once your system is calibrated properly to check it once a month. Sprinkler heads can malfunction forcing the system to waste water running up your bill. This maintenance will not only keep your lawn lush and green, it will also help keep some green in your wallet!

Lawn Mowing – Get your mower ready for the season. Make sure the blades are sharpened and set at the tallest mowing height – promoting healthier, longer blades and a better root system. Make sure you alternate your mowing direction. This will keep your root system from weakening and prevent ruts.

Lawn Aeration – Aeration is a great way to improve your lawns root system. Your lawn should be aerated 12-24 hours after your irrigation system has run and can be performed from March to July/August for North Florida temperatures. An aeration penetrates deep into the root system where the healthy grass germinates making your lawn grow faster and thicker.

Call Brandon for all your sod installation, fertilization, weed control and aeration needs. Make some spring time memories while the weather is beautiful. Make your lawn lush, green and the envy of all your neighbors!

Brew at the Zoo

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

370 Zoo Parkway

Jacksonville, FL 32218

October 5th 7:00pm

http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/index.php/support/wild_things_events

Columbus Day

October 8th

Dogtoberfest

Metropolitan Park

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 13th 11:00-3:00

http://www.fcnmhp.org/events/dogtoberfest-2012/

Halloween Doors & More

Jacksonville Fairgrounds

510 Fairgrounds Place

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 19th – 20th

http://www.supportcommunityhospice.com/site/c.ktJWJ9MLIsE/b.5148163/k.BDEE/Home.htm

Spooktacular

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

370 Zoo Parkway

Jacksonville, FL 32218

October 19th – 21st and

October 26th – 28th

http://spooktacular.jacksonvillezoo.org/

Race for the Cure

Metropolitan Park

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 20th

http://northflorida.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/JAX_NorthFloridaAffiliate?pg=entry&fr_id=2498

Yappy Hour Howl-o-Ween Bash

Jacksonville Landing

2 West Independent Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 21st 2:00-5:00

http://www.jacksonvillelanding.com/events/4th-annual-yappy-hour-howl-o-ween-bash?on=2012-10-21

Florida/Georgia Game

1 Everbank Field Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 27th kickoff at 3:30

http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Events/Georgia-vs–Florida-Weekend-Festivities.aspx

Barktoberfest

Paws Park at Wingate Park

605 Penman Road South

Jacksonville, FL 32266

October 28th 3:00

http://www.pawsparkjaxbeach.com/

Walk for Awareness

Metropolitan Park

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 28th

http://northflorida.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/JAX_NorthFloridaAffiliate?pg=entry&fr_id=2584

Greater Jacksonville Fair

Jacksonville Fairgrounds

510 Fairgrounds Place

Jacksonville, FL 32202

October 31st – November 11th

http://www.jacksonvillefair.com/

Halloween

October 31st

Daylight Savings time

November 4th

Election day

November 6th

Annual Pirate Gathering

70 West Castillo Drive

St Augustine, FL 32084

November 9th – 11th

http://www.pirategathering.com/

Veterans Day

November 11th

Veterans Day Parade

November 12th 11:00

Downtown Jacksonville

http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Events/Veterans-Day-Parade.aspx

San Marco Art Festival

1971 San Marco Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32207

November 17th – 18th 10:00-5:00

http://www.artfestival.com/Festivals/San_Marco_Art_Fest_Jacksonville_Florida.ASPX

Thanksgiving

November 22nd

Hanukkah

December 8th – 15th

Yappy Hour Christmas Paw-ty

Jacksonville Landing

2 West Independent Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32202

December 16th 2:00

http://www.jacksonvillelanding.com/events/yappy-hour-christmas-pawty-1?on=2012-12-16

Christmas

December 25th

Bats vs Birds

Bats and Birds are both winged animals that have a light bone makeup and a keeled sternum which provides a point of attachment on their flight muscles. They also have streamlined body structure that aids in reduced wind resistance during flight. Here are the breakdown of the differences between bats and birds. 

Bats

Unlike the flapping motion of a bird, which flies with its whole arm extended, a bat’s wing motions are more like an exaggerated breaststroke. In a slow-motion photograph, one would be able to observe the elbows rising out to the side with finders extended, the arms and fingers pulling forward, down, and up again. If one looks closely at a bat’s wing, one will see it is a membrane, or skin, that is almost transparent. It is stretched over the short bones of the bat’s arm and the long extended bones of its hand, so that the bat actually flies with its fingers. The important function of the long fingers of the bat’s hand is to support and spread out its wing.

The bat’s wing is similar to the structure of the human hand. The birds, in contrast, have a forearm and short hand bones that support its many feathers. Together, these produce the characteristic up and down flapping. The wing’s structure is shaped similarly to an upside-down, flattened saucer.

Bats are found in almost all parts of the world, and they perform fundamental ecological roles. There are approximately 1,100 bat species. According to scientists, bats comprise twenty percent of all classified mammal species. More or less, there are about seventy percent of them who feed on insects (insectivores). The rest of their family is comprised of fruit eaters (frugivores).

Birds

Birds dwell in ecosystems across the world, starting from the Arctic towards the Antarctic. At the present time, birds vary in size from the 2in (5cm) bee hummingbird to the 9ft. (2.75m) Ostrich. Fossil records show that birds developed from the therapod dinosaurs in the Jurassic period, roughly 150 to 200 million years ago. The earliest known of such animal is the Late Jurassix Archaopteryx.

Difference between Bats and Birds

The variation between bats and birds is their structure and class. Bats came from the Chiroptera and Aves family. Bats are webbed structured flying animals while birds are feathered winged animals. Bats are mammals, so they don’t lay eggs, compared to birds that are known as egg-laying animals. When flying, bats don’t flap their forelimbs completely compared to birds. Generally, bats have teeth which help them when eating while birds have beaks in picking up food and eating them. Bats are nocturnal animals; they hunt and go around their business at night and sleep during the day while birds work and hunt for food during daytime and sleep at night.

Despite their differences bats and birds exist to keep the equilibrium in the environment. They are essential in dispersing seeds (fruits) and important for pollination.

Call Brandon Pest Control at 877-423-4453 for any of your bird control needs!

Many people confuse butterflies and moths. Of all the insect groups, we are probably most familiar with the butterflies and moths. We see moths fluttering around our porch lights, and watch butterflies flutter around flowers in our gardens.

However, there is no real difference between butterflies and moths, and both are classified in the order Lepidoptera. This order contains over 100 families of insects worldwide, some of which are moths and some of which are butterflies. However, there are some differences in physical and behavioral characteristics that are easy to learn and recognize.

The physical differences between Moths and Butterflies

Shape of Antennae

The most visible difference between moths and butterflies is in their antennae. Most butterflies have thin filament-like antennae that are club-shaped at the end. While moths often have comb-like or feathery antennae. There are, however, exceptions to this rule and a few moths have clubbed antennae. Some butterflies, like examples from the forests of central Africa, lack the clubbed ends.

Moth vs Butterfly Pupae

Most moth caterpillars spin a cocoon made of silk within which they metamorphose into the pupal stage. Most butterflies on the other hand form an exposed pupa which is also termed as a chrysalis.

However there are many exceptions to this rule, for example the Hawk moths form an exposed chrysalis which however is underground. Gypsy moths sometimes form butterfly-style pupae, hanging on twigs or tree bark, although usually they create flimsy cocoons out of silk strands and a few leaves, partially exposing the chrysalis. A few Skipper butterfly larvae also make crude cocoons in which they pupate, exposing the pupa a bit. The Parnassius butterfly larvae make a flimsy cocoon for pupation and they pupate near the ground surface between debris.

Coloration of the wings

Most butterflies have bright colors on their wings. Nocturnal moths on the other hand are usually plain brown, gray, white or black and often with obscuring patterns of zigzags or swirls which help camouflage them as they rest during the day. However many day-flying moths are brightly-colored, particularly if they are toxic. A few butterflies are also plain-colored, like the Cabbage White butterfly.

Differences in body structure

Moths need to conserve heat during the cooler nights so they tend to have stout and hairy bodies. Moths also have larger scales on their wings which makes them look more dense and fluffy.

On the other hand, butterflies are able to absorb solar radiation. So they have slender and smoother abdomens. Butterfly scales are finer than moth scales.

Behavioral differences

Time of activity

Most moths are nocturnal or crepuscular while most butterflies are diurnal. Exceptions to this rule include the diurnal Gypsy moth and the spectacular “Uraniidae” or Sunset moths.

Resting posture

Moths usually rest with their wings spread out to their sides. Butterflies frequently fold their wings above their backs when they are perched although they will occasionally “bask” with their wings spread for short periods. However some butterflies, like the skippers, may hold their wings either flat, or folded, or even in-between (the so-called “jet plane” position) when perched. Most moths also occasionally fold their wings above their backs when they are in a certain spot (like when there is no room to fully spread their wings). A sometimes confusing family can be the “Geometridae” (such as the Winter moth) because the adults often rest with their wings folded vertically. These moths have thin bodies and large wings like many butterflies but may be distinguished easily by structural differences in their antennae (e.g. bipectinate).

Go to http://pestfree.com/pest-control-library/ to review the Pest Library for more pest information.

Florida is home to more species of carnivorous plants than any other state in the United States. Many grow only in Florida like the colorful pitcher plants. Carnivorous plants have adapted ways to combat poor boggy soils that do not offer much nutrition. They trap and digest insects then use the nutrients to supplement what the soil can not provide. Many areas in Florida provide a perfect habitat for these plants with open fields and boggy wetlands.

WHY DO THEY EAT INSECTS

Carnivorous plants have adapted to nitrogen-poor soil conditions, trapping small insects and animals and digesting them to obtain needed nutrients. Moist and acid conditions are where you will most often find them, most common in savannahs and bogs which may be found in our area. Carnivorous plants are beneficial in controlling insect populations, but won’t eat them if they get too full. 

CARNIVOROUS PLANT TRAP TYPES

Carnivorous plants have basically four kinds of traps. Active traps, where there is motion in the trapping, have closing traps as in the Venus Flytrap, and trap doors, as in the bladderworts. Passive trap types consist of pitfalls, as in the pitcher plants, and sticky traps as in the butterworts and sundews. The three families and five genera discussed here illustrate each of the trap types.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you want to grow carnivorous plants in your own garden, you might want to begin with Sarracenia pitcher plants, as these are easy to take care of and can be cultivated in a wide variety of climates. They are also quite voracious, and will help you out by killing thousands of ants, flies, and other insect pests. And call Brandon Pest Control to take care of the rest of them! Toll free at (877) 423-4453.

Visiting the Vet 
A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pets get tested for heart worm if they aren’t on year-round preventive medication, especially since dogs tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Fleas and ticks, and the mosquitoes which carry heart worm disease, are more prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to keep these parasites off your dog. The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan can help with the cost of providing quality health care, including preventive medicine, throughout your dog’s life. 

Made in the Shade 
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. Doghouses are not good shelter during the summer as they can trap heat. You may want to fill a child’s wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.

Warning Signs - Heating Up
Symptoms of  overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. 

No Parking! 
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. “On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time-even with the windows open-which could lead to fatal heat stroke,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Vice President of ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states. The temperature inside a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Splash Down 
Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset. Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.

Screen Test 
“During warmer months, the ASPCA sees an increase in injured animals as a result of High-Rise Syndrome, which occurs when pets-mostly cats-fall out of windows or doors and are seriously or fatally injured,” says Dr. Murray. “Pet owners need to know that this is completely preventable if they take simple precautions.” Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured. 

Summer Style 
Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn. Limit your dog’s exposure during the day and apply sun block to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

Street Smarts 
When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun’s heat is less intense.

Avoid Chemicals 
Commonly used flea and tick products, rodenticides (mouse and rat baits), and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Keep dogs off of lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24 hours (or according to package instructions), and away from potentially toxic plants and flowers. Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance. 

Party Animals 
Taking Fido to a backyard barbecue or party? Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol.

Fireworks Aren’t Very Pet-riotic 
Please leave pets at home when you head out to celebrations and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets, and even unused fireworks can be hazardous. Many types of fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other heavy metals.

Keep your animals safe and happy this summer and call Brandon Pest Control for all you pest, termite and lawn needs! 877-423-4453

The Pros of Paperless Billing

Still paying and receiving monthly bills by way of snail mail? Consider setting up paperless billing, automatic billing or an online account for the bills you pay each month. If your household has already opted to receive and process billing information online you’re saving 171 pounds of greenhouse gases, 63 gallons of water, and 4.5 gallons of gasoline annually, according to Pay It Green, a coalition of financial institutions and businesses promoting paperless billing.

1. Save Time and Money
Once set up for paperless billing you won’t have to worry about buying stamps, envelopes or checks as frequently. Stamps can cost the average bill payer $30 a year! Paying online also cuts your task time by 2.5 minutes per bill.

2. Keeping Your Costs Low 
A lot of companies save money when you go paperless, which helps keep costs lower for you in the long run. This could mean fewer price increases over the years or even different rewards for signing up.

3. You Can Receive Online Payment Reminders
Curious about monthly usage on an electric bill? You’ll appreciate paperless billing’s instant access to monthly statements and e-mail reminders from service providers when payments are due. Check with your bank to see if you can organize your e-bills in one place, making it easier to keep track of all of your finances.

4. You Can Save Paper and Reduce Clutter
Paper bills pile up, creating clutter and trash. You can reduce personal paper use by making the switch to e-bills. Do you file paper bills for record-keeping purposes? You can download and save them to your computer – and even print bills, if necessary whenever you need them. (Just don’t forget to back up your hard drive!) By paying online, especially if you pay through your bank, you create an electronic trail that is easy to follow.

5. You Can Simplify Recurring Payments
Paperless billing’s close relative ”automatic payment” allows you to deduct a bill’s balance from a personal bank account, and is a convenient way to take care of recurring bills, like mortgages and car payments. You won’t find yourself spending the money on other purchases, because it’s already earmarked for its intended purpose – and, you’ll avoid piles of paper from each identical monthly bill.

6. You Can Sync Your Payments with Budget Software
If you use software to track your family budget, you can usually sync it with billers or banks to streamline the process, allowing you to save time and avoid the errors that can come from inputting data.

To sign up for paperless billing and set up an online account go to https://myaccount.pestfree.com/myaccount/default.asp or call us (877-423-4453) with your email address. Help us keep mother earth green and your home and life more organized!

Is your lawn crunchy in some areas? Is it wilting and drooping even after you water it? Is it yellowing or turning brown in only some areas? You might need to have your sprinkler system evaluated.

Tips

Think of your irrigation system as an insurance policy that protects a large investment – your lawn. To maintain your system you should do the following:

1. Check your system every month. Run each zone and take note of any issues. Set the system to manual to make sure all zones are programed properly.
2. Check your rain sensors. If your sensors aren’t working properly you could be over or under watering at any point. Both can create issues including weeds or diseases and nether are very good for the health or your lawn.
3. Check your sprinkler systems clock. Power outages during storms can reset or even delay your systems clock which can result in watering during unapproved times.
4. Fix spray heads as soon as you know there is a problem. Some heads may be clogged and put undue pressure on the rest of the system. Spray heads that don’t pop up properly may only be watering a portion of the turf they should.

When you’re sure the entire system is operating correctly, schedule regular system checks and adhere to a proper maintenance schedule throughout the irrigation season. Your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood! And call Brandon Pest Control for fertilization, weed and insect control for your lawn!

The Paul Hagarty Customer Service Award is named Brandon Pest Control’s long time employee Paul Hagarty. Paul always put Brandon’s clients first and managed some of the companies largest and most influential accounts. Paul passed away form cancer in February 2011. His clients still speak fondly of him and no one will forget Paul anytime soon.

Brian has been with Brandon since March and is heading our maintenance division. He is a landscape specialist and manages all our minor irrigation repair services, sod installations and aerations. He has worked in this field for more than 3 years and has a sports and recreational turf grass management degree. He is a FNGLA certified horticulture professional and a FDACS certified Commercial Applicator.

Brian won this prestigious award by always going above and beyond for our clients. Every single client he has dealt with is not only ecstatic with the final product but with his level of service and his expertise. Congratulations Brian!

Call us today to schedule some time with our expert! Toll Free 877-423-4453