New York City Termite Pest Control, Exterminator, Inspection and Fumigation

Over the last year, as travel began to resurge in the U.S., restless Americans and bed bugs were hitching rides across the country for a getaway. As consumers plan for travel in 2022 amid the evolving pandemic, it's easy to forget that bed bugs are still very much a threat. Taking into consideration the staffing shortages associated with the hospitality industry, it might be the case that bed bug introductions are not being monitored as often as desired, which is why diligent examination is key.

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatmentsfrom December 1, 2020 November 30, 2021. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

Typically, bed bugs are 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in color and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping humans. These pests are hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source. They can travel from place to place with ease, clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings.

"Bed bugs are a concern for everyone because they are master hitchhikers, traveling home with people when they likely don't realize it," said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. "Their nature of hiding in difficult-to-find cracks and crevices can make them hard to control, which is why involving a trained professional at the sight of an introduction is recommended."

Bed bugs are known for rapid population growth. Females can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. They can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so they're likely to emerge when a food source, e.g., humans, become available.

"Unfortunately, many hospitality businesses are facing staffing shortages, and while the industry remains committed to cleanliness, now more than ever, travelers should be mindful of bed bug sightings and proactive in inspection efforts." said Hottel.

Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs:

At Home:

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

With well over a century of knowledge and experience with bed bugs and state-of-the-art tools and products, Orkin is well-equipped to assess your bed bug problem, offer trainings for short-staffed hospitality teams and mount a strategic response to rid your home of the pest and provide maximum protection.

For more information about bed bug prevention and bed bug control, visit Orkin.com. You can also find additional detection tips in Orkin's video on "How to Check for Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms."

About Orkin, LLCFounded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. The company is committed to excellent service and operates more than 400 locations with more than 8,000 employees. Through Orkin's Points of Service process Investigate, Protect, Fortify, Keep Watch, Report and Follow Up Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States and has nearly 100 international locations in more than 65 countries. Orkin is committed to studying pest biology and applying scientifically proven methods. The company collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and eight major universities to conduct research and help educate consumers and businesses on pest-related health threats. Learn more about Orkin atOrkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary ofRollins Inc.(NYSE: ROL). Follow us onFacebook,LinkedIn, YouTubeand Instagram.

SOURCE Orkin, LLC

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Chicago Takes Another Top Spot for Pests, This Time Ranking #1 on Orkin's Bed Bug Cities List - PRNewswire

SciBite Virtual User Group Meeting 2021: What we discovered

Cambridge, UK SciBite, the award-winning semantic technology company, recently hosted its annual User Group Meeting virtually for the second year running. Held over three days, we brought together our customers and partners to have discussions around Ontologies and Ontology-Powered Entity Registration, FAIR data ecosystems, Data FAIRification, and Knowledge Graphs

Originally posted here:
Semantic Analytics & Clean Data Intelligence Experts | SciBite

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Beautiful farmhouse and 13 acres in Rehobeth School District! Custom farmhouse features reclaimed pine floors from original homestead house, metal roof, solid oak cabinets, energy efficient AC unit, screened in porch, patio, and more! 3 barns on the property! 100x80 open barn with attached 40x50 enclosed room, 47x80 metal barn with kitchenette, and beautiful older wooden barn great for storage.

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Newly listed homes for sale in the Dothan area - Dothan Eagle

Winter is in full swing across the Puget Sound, and while you might think of rain, ice and snow as the biggest concerns for your home in the wintertime, Boggs Inspection Services wants to remind you that there is one concern you should keep in mindpests. Home is a comfortable place for people and pets, but the same things that make your home comfortable for your family, also make it comfortable for pests. Wintertime pests arent just a nuisance, they can be destructive and spread disease, but there is good news. There are steps you can take to keep your home comfortable for you, but not pests.

There are a wide variety of creatures that would like to move into your home in the winter, from small and solitary insects and arachnids to rodents and even other mammals such as racoons. Reducing the likelihood of pests in your home is a very simple formula, says Dwayne Boggs, CEO for Boggs Inspection Services. You want to seal your home top to bottom, prevent easy access, and reduce areas around your home where pests can nest and multiply.

Rake bark back or level it out so that it doesnt pile up against your foundation wall. This prevents wood-to-soil contact on your siding, which serves as a highway for moisture ants, termites and even rats.

Shrubs and tree branches touching your house also offer pests an easy way into your safe haven, says Dwayne. Prune those back when they start to get close. Each season inspect for shelter tubes, the super highways that termites build for themselves when they are moving into your home. Clean up yard debris and trash including leaves and wood piles that can provide shelter and hiding places for a variety of pests, not just the insect colonies. Wasps also find the same conditions helpful. Pregnant female wasps overwinter in yard debris before they start a new colony in the spring, and ground nesting wasps love abandoned wood piles.

You might think of mosquitos as a summer pest, but with the mild climate in the Pacific Northwest, winter temperatures often edge up into the ideal climate for hibernating mosquitos to pop back up. Mosquitos are not just an irritating nuisance, they also spread disease. Removing standing water from around your home is the surest solution to put a stop to mosquitos, but standing water might not be obvious. Look up! Its important to remove any debris from gutters and downspouts to avoid standing water, says Dwayne. You may not notice the water is pooling above your head, but the mosquitoes will, and their larvae will multiply rapidly. Clearing your gutters will also have the added benefit of protecting your home from water damage.

If you have a problem with spiders and their webs, simply sweeping webs away from lights, windows, and doors removes their homes, says Dwayne. Most spiders will relocate if their web gets knocked down enough. Reducing the availability of their food, namely insect pests, is the best way to reduce the spider population in your home.

Rodents multiply quickly, love cozy and warm spaces, and carry disease. Rats and mice tend to look for warmer attics and crawl spaces to nest in, says Dwayne. Their colonies can cause thousands of dollars in damage from chewing entry points and contaminating insulation, he adds. Mice can squeeze to enter your home through a dime-size opening. Sealing and securing any small openings is the best prevention to keep mice from getting in. Regularly inspect the areas of your home that you dont frequent to ensure any cracks or holes are filled. It may seem obvious, but make sure to keep doors and windows shut, especially the garage door, so nothing sneaks in. Check vent covers to make sure they are secure and intact to prevent pest entry. Rodents, squirrels, possums and even racoons might find your garage, attic or crawlspace comfortable enough to call it home, so dont make it easy on them.

Follow these few simple steps and your home will be a cozy, comfortable place for you, your family, and only your invited guests this winter season. If youd like a trained set of eyes to help with a thorough inspection of your home, Boggs Inspection Services offers Pest Inspections as well as a variety of other home inspection options to fit your needs. Give them a call at 360.480.9602 or check out the Boggs Inspection Services Website to set up an inspection in any of their service areas throughout Western Washington.

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How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free This Winter with Tips from Boggs Inspection Services - ThurstonTalk

When your home is infested with termites you are completely unaware of the damage they are doing to the foundation of your home. As the strength of the beams and basement diminishes you go happily about your life.

Republican termites are eating the foundation of our democracy one bite at a time. Voter suppression is a subtle means to make sure only the right candidates are elected. Gerrymandering is a process that takes place in the dark and destroys the democracy our founders imagined. Add to that the spread of conspiracy theories and lies, and the rot continues.

Free and fair elections are our only protection from the infestation of the people who would trade power for your freedom. Ignoring the infestation because the house is still standing is the fatal mistake that allows the termites to prosper and your home to collapse.

Mike Quinn lives in Bismarck.

This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.

Continue reading here:
Letter: The Republican infestation - INFORUM

Modern humans emerged in eastern Africa at least 38,000 years earlier than scientists previously thought. That conclusion was drawn from traces of a colossal volcanic eruption used to date the earliest undisputed Homo sapiens fossils.

The remains, dubbed Omo I, were discovered at the Omo Kibish site near Ethiopias Omo river in the 1960s. Previous estimates dated the human fossils to around 195,000 years old. Now, new research published Jan. 12 in the journal Nature, tells a different story the remains are older than a colossal volcanic eruption that rocked the region roughly 233,000 years ago.

The new estimate places the fossils even more firmly among the oldest Homo sapiens remains ever discovered in Africa, second only to 300,000-year-old specimens found at the Jebel Irhoud site in Morocco in 2017. However, the Jebel Irhoud skulls vary enough in their physical characteristics from those of modern humans for some scientists to contest their classification as Homo sapiens. This means that the new discovery marks the oldest uncontested dating of modern humans in Africa.

Related: See photos of our closest human ancestor

Unlike other Middle Pleistocene fossils, which are thought to belong to the early stages of the Homo sapiens lineage, Omo I possesses unequivocal modern human characteristics, such as a tall and globular cranial vault and a chin, study co-author Aurlien Mounier, a paleoanthropologist at the Muse de lHomme in Paris, said in a statement, referring to the globular cranial vault as the space where the brain sits inside the skull. The new date estimate, de facto, makes it the oldest unchallenged Homo sapiens in Africa.

The remains were found in the East African Rift valley, an active continental rift zone where the African tectonic plate is in the process of splitting into two smaller plates, the Somali Plate and the Nubian Plate. Despite discovering the fossils more than 50 years ago, scientists have found it difficult to give the Omo I remains a conclusive age. The fossils lacked nearby stone artifacts or fauna that could be dated, and the ash they were buried under was too fine-grained for radiometry a method that quantifies the amounts of certain radioactive isotopes (versions of an element with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus) with known decay rates.

To get around these issues, the researchers collected pumice samples from the Shala volcano more than 248 miles (400 kilometers) away, grinding them down until they were less than a millimeter in size. By performing a chemical analysis on the pumice found at the volcano and comparing it to the ash layer in the sediment above where the fossils were found, the researchers were able to confirm that both shared the same chemical make-up, and therefore came from the same eruption. It turned out the pumice samples, and the ash layer, are roughly 233,000 years old meaning that the Omo I fossils found below the ash are at least the same age or older.

First, I found there was a geochemical match, but we didnt have the age of the Shala eruption, lead author Cline Vidal, a volcanologist at Cambridge University, said in the statement. I immediately sent the samples of Shala volcano to our colleagues in Glasgow so they could measure the age of the rocks. When I received the results and found out that the oldest Homo sapiens from the region was older than previously assumed, I was really excited.

It is probably no coincidence that some of humanitys earliest ancestors lived in a geologically active rift valley, Clive Oppenheimer, a volcanologist at Cambridge University, said in the statement. The tectonic activity created lakes that collected rainwater, not only providing fresh water but also attracting animals to hunt; and the 4,350-mile-across (7,000 km) Great Rift valley of which the East African Rift valley is just a small part served as an enormous migration corridor, for humans and animals that ran from Lebanon in the north all the way to Mozambique in the south.

Despite having found the minimum age of the Omo I samples, the researchers still need to find a maximum age for both these fossils and the wider emergence of Homo sapiens in eastern Africa. They plan to do this by linking more buried ash to more eruptions from volcanoes around the region, giving them a firmer geological timeline for the sedimentary layers around which fossils in the region are deposited.

Our forensic approach provides a new minimum age for Homo sapiens in eastern Africa, but the challenge still remains to provide a cap, a maximum age, for their emergence, which is widely believed to have taken place in this region, co-author Christine Lane, a geochronologist at Cambridge University, said in the statement. Its possible that new finds and new studies may extend the age of our species even further back in time.

Originally published on Live Science.

See more here:
Modern humans lived in eastern Africa 38,000 years earlier than thought - The News Motion

Board and batten siding consists of large boards and narrow strips of wood that are known as battens. Boards and battens are alternated to give a house a layered, rustic appearance. Boards can be installed vertically, horizontally or both, depending on the houses design and the owners preference.

Attractive, Durable and Long-Lasting SidingIf you want to make a good impression on your guests and neighbors, board and batten siding is an excellent choice. It can dramatically improve your homes curb appeal. If you decide to sell your home in the future, board and batten siding can help you attract a buyer and negotiate a good price.

Board and batten siding is durable. Because of the way its installed, board and batten siding is weathertight and can resist damage from strong winds. With proper maintenance, it can stand up to harsh weather and last for decades. If you plan to own your home for a long time and youre looking for a long-lasting investment, board and batten siding is a good choice. If a section gets damaged, its easy to replace it since the siding is installed in individual pieces.

Wide Range of MaterialsWood is a popular choice for siding because its an attractive, natural material. The downside is that it can be damaged by moisture and termites. If you want the appearance of wood without the risks, you can choose another type of siding thats manufactured to look like wood.

Vinyl is attractive, durable and among the most affordable siding materials. Fiber cement is durable and long lasting, and it can resist damage from weather and fire. Steel is one of the most durable and long-lasting siding materials. All of these materials can be engineered to resemble wood.

Installation and CostSince board and batten siding is made with lots of pieces, it takes longer to install than other types of siding. If youre not in a rush, you may decide that its worth the wait to have beautiful siding that will last.

The cost of board and batten siding will depend on factors such as the type of material you choose, its thickness, and whether the siding is insulated or uninsulated. Labor costs in your area and the amount of work involved in the installation process will also affect the overall price tag. If youre interested or you have questions, get in touch with a contractor in your area.

Originally posted here:
Should You Install Board and Batten Siding on Your House? - RisMedia.com

Solar trees in Super Tree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. Coleen Rivas / Unsplash

Did you know that the shape of airplane wings were designed to mimic the sloped wing tips of eagles? That the ridges on whales fins that create an aerodynamic flow in water inspired the shape of the modern wind turbine? That termites drilling holes in their mounds to cool down in the desert summers influenced a method for designing more energy-efficient buildings?

Biomimicry has long been one of my favorite growing areas of science and sustainability emulating models, systems or elements of nature to solve complex human problems. After all, mother nature has been around a lot longer than humans; she has a lot to teach us. So, as a specialist focused on solar energy, Ive often wondered what nature can teach us about how to capture our power from the sun. Enter solar trees.

A solar tree is a device resembling a tree in shape, but with photovoltaic (PV) panels in place of its crown. The leaves of the tree capture solar energy and convert it to electricity, with branches funneling that electricity down through a trunk and into a central battery within. In essence, they provide the same benefits as solar panels, but they use only a fraction of the surface area necessary for an array of solar panels.

Solar trees are not a new invention, but theyre enjoying a rising popularity. Most of our readers may recognize the most iconic solar trees in Singapores stunning Gardens By the Bay, as seen in productions like Crazy Rich Asians and The Bachelor.

As they exist today, more solar trees raise public awareness around sustainability than are used to generate residential or commercial power. Whats more, the trees are still perceived as futuristic, but it might be time we start shifting our mindset about these inventions by incorporating them into our vision of what sustainability looks like in practice. Heres why:

At first glance, solar trees might seem impractical more art than function when compared to the best solar panels. But solar trees offer a few surprising benefits over their ground-mounted counterparts, including:

We mentioned that solar trees serve essentially the same purpose as solar panels but require a much smaller footprint to do so. But are there any other significant differences outside the trees widespread adoption? Lets dig in.

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much energy is produced relative to the amount of sunlight that strikes the panels. So, to compare a standard solar array and solar trees in terms of efficiency, wed need to know the specs of the solar cells used within the tree.

However, when it comes to space efficiency, trees take the crown. This solar tree in West Bengal, India produces enough energy to power five homes in the U.S. Solar trees in Lynn Haven, Florida are capable of powering six to seven homes. Instead of using an entire roof to produce this electricity, the trees do so using only a few square feet of ground space.

Since solar trees are still rare in the U.S., the average installation cost is high. According to top solar tree company Spotlight Solar advertises total pricing to be $40,000 to $80,000. Based on current average solar costs, you could buy a 15-kW to 30-kW solar panel system (for context, the average home needs a system between 5 kW and 10 kW).

Of course, the complexity and size of the solar tree will influence the final price. Until solar trees reach the commercial mainstream, demand will limit their widespread availability.

Solar trees are used to produce electricity that will be used onsite. Storing and distributing the energy generated by the trees (like solar farms and power plants do) would require larger solar batteries and complex systems of transmission.

While solar panels are used primarily on rooftops or mounted on the ground, solar trees offer a different type of utility. In addition to energy, they provide shade and whimsy while taking up minimal surface area. A creative mind could find endless uses for these trees: shade for city sidewalks, parking lots, playgrounds, backyards and more. This brings us to

The metallic, modern look of solar trees might turn off the average reader, but keep in mind that as the technology improves, investment flows and demand increases, theyll become much more similar in appearance to real trees or other plants. This modern mimicry will allow us to blend the trees into our forests, yards, coastlines, parks and cities.

Apart from residential applications, here are a few of our favorite ideas for the uses of solar trees:

Solar trees may still be a few years from the mainstream, but relative to other solar panel alternatives like solar roads, they offer a lot more practical value. The efficiency and versatility of the trees make them ideal for cities and densely populated areas, making us think they will be commonplace sooner than you might expect.

The options are still somewhat limited, but there are a number of organizations that can install solar trees throughout the U.S. Wed recommend starting with these companies:

Smartflower offers stunning designs of solar devices in the shapes of trees and sunflowers, with solar petals tracking, opening and closing with the sun for optimal energy conversion. Were talking about premiere trees here. Each tree has an output of 2.5 kW at peak power, which is about half the power production of a small home rooftop solar system.

North Carolina-based Spotlight Solar produces models of several different types of solar trees. With flexible configurations, accessory options, efficient panels and quick assembly, Spotlight Solars trees serve as great options for public parks, carports and walkways.

Founded in 2006, Beam Global (formerly Envision Solar) produces patented infrastructure products for the electrification of transportation. The San Diego-based company offers solar trees and solar carports as electric vehicle charging stations.

Karsten Neumeister is a solar energy specialist with a background in writing and the humanities. Before joining EcoWatch, Karsten worked in the renewable energy sector of New Orleans, focusing on solar energy policy and technology. A lover of music and the outdoors, Karsten might be found rock climbing, canoeing or writing songs when away from the workplace.

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What Are Solar Trees, and Could They Replace Solar Panels? - EcoWatch

Did you ever think ants could be healing anything much less entire trees? Scientists didnt either. But absurd as it sounds, its true.

The healing tendency of an ant species that is widespread in Mexico, and Central and South America came to the fore when a high-school student hit a tree with a slingshot forming clean entry and exit wounds only to discover the next day that the injury had almost magically been repaired. In other words, the wounds had been closed up.

To confirm what they accidentally witnessed, the curious group of high-schoolers or, the researchers began drilling holes in trees in the neighborhood. They noticed that each time, they were patched up by ants living inside the trees.

I was totally surprised by the results And I was impressed by how [the students] developed a simple way to test the idea that ants repair damage to their home, said William Wcislo, an ethologist from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, who co-authored the study and helped the five high-schoolers devise their experiment.

Published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, the study found that Azteca alfariants that live inside the Cecropiatreesin Panama, Central America, were behind the repairs almost as if they were fixing up the walls of their homes.

Related on The Swaddle:

Ants Kiss for the Benefit of Their Communities, Finds Study

The reasoning behind hole repair behavior could be because a hole in the wall exposes the ants vulnerable immature stages to external pathogens, predators, or changes in other environmental parameters, the researchers explained in the study.

They noticed that about seven to 10 ants would emerge from their homes within the trees and rush to the wounded area to begin the healing. Working both from outside the tree and within, they patched up the holes using plant fibers bound by tree sap.

Once the hole was sealed they continued to apply plant materials to fill it in completely Eventually the plant formed its own scar tissue, which differs in color, texture, and durability. The initial diameter of the opening was significantly reduced by the ants after [just] 2.5 hours, the study notes.

The researchers also discovered the Azteca ants engaging in repairing the trees more when their eggs housed in the trees are at greater risk.

This appears to be just one aspect of the symbiotic relationship Azteca ants share with their kind hosts. What scientists already knew is thatthe ants will do their best to defend the trees against herbivores, receiving nutritious oily secretions from the leaves to eat and shelter within hollow stems in return, as an article on Science Alert explains.

Related on The Swaddle:

Humans Arent Alone, Ants Freeload on Others Too

Interestingly, healing behavior has been observed in another species of ants before. In a 2018 study, researchers had discovered that Matabele ants, native to sub-Saharan Africa, nursed their comrades back to health following battles with termites after carrying them back into the safety of their homes. This discovery marks the first time non-human animals have been observed systematically nursing their wounded back to health While animals have frequently been observed treating their own wounds, there were only a few anecdotes of animals treating one another prior to this discovery, National Geographic reported.

The study had led scientists to wonder whether other species of ants practice similar behavior. Its quite likely that there are other ant species, or other social insects, that tend to their wounded, Helen McCreery, a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan State University, who studies social behaviors in ants but wasnt involved in the study, had said.

Well, the present study seems to have partly confirmed her theory except, instead of treating of nursing fellow ants, the Azteca species heal trees.

As humans, perhaps, we can emulate their behavior instead of cutting down trees and causing soil erosion, desertification and flooding, and ultimately, climate change all of which harms us too. If ants can understand how protecting trees is also in their own best interest, surely humans should be able to grasp it as well. Maybe, the present study can serve as a fable of sorts, helping us learn from ants.

As Alex Wcislo from the International School of Panama, who led the study, said: Sometimes messing around with a slingshot has a good outcome.

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An Ant Species 'Heals' Wounded Trees That Give Them Shelter - The Swaddle