Wasp Nest Removal

July 1st, 2009 Posted in Wasps | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART

Now that you have selected a spray, it is time to treat the area. The ECO Approach provides an easy-to-remember method for removing nuisance nests:

E – Evening - Wait until evening.

It is important to get rid of paper wasps in the evening, as they become less active and the temperature cools. (The colder it is, the more difficult it is for wasps to fly.) If, for some reason, you are unable to spray in the evening, early morning is an acceptable alternative.

Tip: The best time to kill paper wasps is in June, when the nests are still small. If you wait until the end of summer, when wasp food-gathering patterns change, they will become more aggressive. If you wait until fall, nest elimination might not be necessary, as the upcoming cold weather will eventually kill the colony.

C – Control - Establish control.

Once you ensure that the situation is under control, and that you are not about to spray into a frenzy of wasps, stand a safe distance from the nest and coat it with a wasp-specific insecticide. Once the nest is fully soaked, immediately leave the area.

O – Observe - Observe the results.

Check back the next day to observe the nest. If live wasps are still visible, repeat the treatment. When there is no longer activity at the colony, wait at least 24 hours before removing the nest.

For more information about how to get rid of wasps, check out our common questions about wasp control or send us your questions.

Author, Jennifer Gilchrest

Niagara Region Goes Green

June 30th, 2009 Posted in Eco Updates | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART

Everyone knows that the Niagara Region is known for its great wineries and produce, but this leader in the industry is now stepping it up a notch. Not only is the Niagara Region leading in the industry, but they are going green as well.

In order to do this they have taken a five-pronged approach:

  • Wine reinvention
  • Produce-a-plenty
  • Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation
  • GO Train
  • The Waterfront Trail

As a way to reinvent the wine in this region, they are going green in their practices. For example, the Frog Pond Farm in Ontario is the regions’ only certified organic winery, but many others are not far behind. Some of these practices include having chemical- and insecticide-free hand-picked grapes; sheep eat the lowest level of leaves to expose the grapes to more sunlight, and birds to keep away grape-eating nuisances.

Because of the great climate for growing produce and fishing, the supply is just about endless about 6 months out of the year. These farmers and fishermen do not even have to think about using chemicals and hormones to increase the volume of their products. This contributes to the green practices in the region as well, keeping it al naturale.

The Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation is built near a century old mill, and instead of trying to tear down the natural landscape, it is built over it, uneven floor and all. The plumbing system utilizes rain waters, and this saves 73 percent of utility and operating costs. This Centre is a leader in the industry, and it seems as if this is going to be the future of green construction.

The GO Train is another great way that this region is trying to go green. They have trains that go from the Niagara wine region to both St. Catharine’s and Niagara Falls. They think that people will be more willing to use this public transportation than driving everywhere. This is only one of their transportation ideas to make the region greener.

The last and probably the best way that they are promoting being eco-friendliness in the area is the Waterfront Trail. This is an 800-km long bike trail that connects many Ontario communities along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. For those that are brave enough to do the whole thing, go for it. For those that aren’t quite up for the whole thing, there are many fruit stands and wineries at which to stop along the way.

Clearly, the Niagara Region is showing a strong commitment to going green and should be applauded for it. However, there are simple ways that you too can start going green. Going green is easier to incorporate into everyday life than one would think. Recycle, plant some trees, and use EcoSMART, the safe alternative for pesticides, around your home.

By Kyra Pritchard

Wolf Spiders

June 26th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


The name alone is intimidating, and most people who see these creepy arachnids are given quite a fright. They’re big, hairy, and often seen toting hundreds of little baby wolf spiders on their backs–not exactly something you want hanging around your house. But let’s get more specific; what exactly is a wolf spider (besides scary looking)?

Wolf Spider Breakdown

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, which is the Greek word for wolf. There are over 2000 different kinds of wolf spiders in the world and at least 200 kinds in the United States alone, making it likely that you’ll run into one in your lifetime. Wolf spiders are generally pretty large. On average they are at least 1/2 in. long, but plenty of wolf spiders grow over the 1 in. mark. They range in color from gray to brown with black striped patterning on their back.

The majority of wolf spiders are hunters rather than web builders. Rather than trapping bugs in webs like most of their spider brethren, wolf spiders stalk their prey and attack them with their agile speed….like a wolf! Certain types of wolf spiders create their own burrows to hide in and ambush unsuspecting bug victims, while others seek shelter under rocks and logs. Wolf spiders enjoy nighttime hunting because their eyes have adapted to allow them to see easily in the dark. If you shine a flashlight across the grass one night you may be able to spot one, as their eyes will reflect the shine with a blue-green tint.



Female wolf spiders use their webs to lay their eggs in. They then roll the webbing into a ball. After that, they attach the egg-filled web to their spinnerets and carry it around with them like some sort of bizarre baby spider backpack. When the babies have hatched, they then climb up onto their mother’s abdominal area and hitch a ride for awhile until they are ready to go out on their own. The sight of tons of little spider babies crawling all over their mother’s back is one you won’t soon forget.


Spider Myths: Don’t cry wolf.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the wolf spider. Are they poisonous? Overly aggressive? Evil blood-sucking fiends?

In truth, wolf spiders do inject venom if they bite you. However, the reaction to a wolf spider bite is mild with redness, itching, or swelling at the bite site. Certain types of wolf spiders may have a more painful bite, but wolf spiders are considered fairly harmless in general. There are a few South American and Australian wolf spiders that have been rumored to have a nasty and serious bite, but most research looking into these rumors proves those tales to be false.

In addition, the wolf spider is very similar in appearance to the much more dangerous brown recluse spider, and they are often mixed up. Keep this in mind if you think you are dealing with a relatively benign wolf spider, as a bite from a brown recluse can be extremely painful.

Wolf spiders are also not generally aggressive. They are fairly quick and shy, so any approach by a human may lead to a mad getaway dash that could be mistaken for aggressive movement. Keep in mind they hunt bugs, not humans. Chances are they aren’t coming after you.

Be SMART when you’re around a wolf spider as a general rule. If provoked, they can bite. It won’t be fun, so just don’t try touching them or picking them up and you’ll be fine.


Getting Rid of Wolf Spiders

You want to keep out the wolfy invaders. What do you do?

Prevention

The first step for keeping wolf spiders out is to prevent them from getting in in the first place. Here are some quick steps you can take to stop invasions from happening:

  • Seal all outdoor openings like cracks and holes to cover potential spider entrances.
  • Put screens over any household vents.
  • Keep other household pests controlled. Besides being a pest for you, they’re just food for the spiders.
  • Dismantle any cardboard or wood piles where spiders could hide. Just be aware of spiders that may already be inhabiting such places during cleanup.
  • Try to dry out any moist or dampened areas like basements.
  • Keep outside light usage to a minimum. Lights attract other bugs, which in turn attract spiders.

Wolf Spider Control

It’s too late for prevention. The wolf spiders have invaded your home and are out to make themselves cozy. What now?

You could go with a synthetic chemical bug spray to get rid of them. However, do you really want to breathe in noxious and potentially harmful fumes as you spray in your house? Make sure the pets and kids are cleared out? Let’s hope you’re going to say no…

So, what do you use to get rid of spiders safely and effectively?

EcoSMART: The SMART Product to Use

EcoSMART is an organic bug spray. It’s made with all natural ingredients like peppermint and wintergreen oils. This means it’s safe to use in your house and around your family and pets. In fact, EcoSMART is labeled as ‘GRAS,’ or generally recognized as safe, by the FDA. There are no dangerous chemicals to breathe in and it even leaves a pleasant minty smell behind.

There are two EcoSMART products recommended for taking care of your wolf spider problems.

EcoSMART Ant and Roach Killer: This is a great way to get rid of spiders that have already found their way into your home. It can also be used on any other bugs you find crawling around that may be attracting the spiders.

EcoSMART Wasp and Hornet Killer: This product should be used on spiders that you find outside or in non-occupied areas of your house like your attic, garage, or basement. It has a jet spray that reaches up to eighteen feet, so it’s great to use on those spiders that have taken refuge in places that are too high to reach.

By Caitlin Leopold

How to Get Rid of a Cucumber Beetle

June 26th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


If you’ve ever grown cucumbers or melons, chances are you’ve had to deal with a pesky little bug known as a cucumber beetle. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert gardener, cucumber beetles can still ruin your entire harvest of cucumbers if you don’t know how to deal with them. This article explains how to get rid of cucumber beetles and enjoy fresh cucumbers once again.

This article will explain:

  • What does a cucumber beetle look like?
  • What are a cucumber beetle’s habits?
  • How can cucumber beetles harm my garden?
  • How can I prevent or kill cucumber beetles?

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Batty Solution to Pest Problems

June 25th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


Some of us will do just about anything to get rid of pests. And officials in the city of Deltona, Florida, located northeast of Orlando, are no different. Throughout the city, they are implementing “bat houses” that they hope will help control the mosquito population.

Bats have been known to eat nearly 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour!

And these “bat houses”, positioned on a 20-ft-high pole and made of cedar (a bug’s worst enemy), are hoped to not only aid in infestation problems, but give bats a home, since the establishment of the city meant the depletion of the bat population.
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Pesticide Spray Compromise

June 25th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


Mark Prado, a writer for the Marin Independent Journal, recently published an article citing that in West Marin, California, efforts are being made to rid the world of harmful pesticides. The 15 members of the West Marin Mosquito Control Coordinating Council convinced the district to sign a 5-year agreement that would prohibit the use of unhealthy pesticides and deploy only biological larvicides that kill mosquito larvae using naturally occurring bacteria.

The two sides of the battle have taken a hiatus, at least for now. Since 2004, environmentally-conscious West Marin and the Cotati-based mosquito district have quarreled over the use of toxic chemicals in the war against mosquitoes. A year later, the WMMCCC was formed. Meetings ensued, and an agreement that started out with a duration of a single year has now morphed into 5.
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Africa Steps Up Environmental Awareness

June 25th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


It seems that nowadays, people are always looking for a pick-me-up. Some do drugs, some plant a garden, and others try to help Africa.

Well, now- Africa is helping themselves.

According to reports by the online publication China View, a recent coalition of environmental and health administrators in Libreville, Gabon, witnessed the adoption of the Libreville Declaration. This document commits governments to taking measures in policies and institutional and investment reforms in order to optimize health and environmental statutes. They will address these issues in an interrelated manner to generate new solutions to social equity and poverty reduction.
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Sowbugs

June 25th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


Often referred to as Pill Bugs, Sow Bugs are those little guys you’d find hiding under rocks as you and a friend or sibling stood by the edge of a lake to see who could make the biggest “rock splash.” No, they are not mini-armadillos, and they aren’t as scary as some may think. Compared with other bugs, they actually cause a lot less damage.

The following article will clue you in on:

  • Sow Bug Identification
  • Sow Bug Daily Life & Inhabitation
  • Sow Bug Methods of Control

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How to Get Rid of Cinch Bugs

June 24th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


Some of you homeowners out there tend to take extra-special care of those plush, emerald green lawns–at least, you strive for that color and feel. But as much as you love your grass, whether it be Kentucky Bluegrass, Bent, or St. Augustine, so do Cinch Bugs. Can’t figure out why your lawn is starting to look like a pale disaster zone covered with yellow spots? It’s not malaria. It’s an infestation of Cinch Bugs! But don’t give up on those lawns just yet.

In this article you will learn the attributes of a Cinch Bug, determining infestation, along with control & Prevention

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Red Harvester Ants: Pest or Ant Farm Friend?

June 24th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART


Remember that prize-winning ant farm you had as a kid?

Well, you may not have been aware of it at the time, but you were farming red harvester ants. While these ants make nice indoor pets for your children, outside these ants can pack a powerful stinging bite when disturbed. And while they are not necessarily a pest, you don’t want these critters near your child’s playground.

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