Brushtail Possum Information

The brush tail possum belongs to the family Phalangeridae being the common variety of the possum found in New Zealand. It is the species known as Trichosurus Vulpecula. These imported pests from Australia came into the country in the mid 1800′s as a food source and as a product for trapping and skinning for the pelt. The possum is a marsupial animal, called because after birth the young are carried in a pouch found on the mothers belly.

The color variations are wide and range from grey to nearly black. The belly fur shaded from a grey-white to black-brown color. It can live anywhere and generally do, the initial possums started in the South Island and in the past 150 years have spread through out New Zealand. Their preferred food are plants and leaves, particularly the broad leaves of the metrosideros and rata vines but including many native trees and shrubs. They will eat the flowers, bark, and ferns, ending with the death of the plant or tree. They will also eat carrion, eggs, insects’ cicadas and weta’s. The weight range of the possum 2.5kgs to 6kgs. The density of possums in one area is can be as high as 10 to a hectare of land.

The possum is a nocturnal animal and is capable of moving 1 km up to 2.5 km a night. Possums seen in the daytime hours are generally in ill health. They communicate by scents or vocally, the animal has a wide range of sounds or noises. From this information, they are able to deduce the ages or social status of other possums.They live in dens found in trees, burrows of rabbits or kiwis. They also like hay barns, log piles and woolsheds! The individual possums may use five to ten different nests.

They lead solitary lives except for the breeding season that coincides with the shortening days leading into autumn. Both sexes mature in one to two years. The females have an oestrus of 26 days. The young are born after 17-18 days gestation. They climb into their mothers pouch and lock on to a teat for the next 70 days. Some may have a second breeding season August to November.The babies start growing their coats when they are 90 -100 days old. Their eyes open ten days later. They finally emerge from their mothers pouch from about 4 months of age most by six months. They may continue to suckle until aged 8 months. The survival rate is high up to ninety percent but can vary of course. They are susceptible to mites, tapeworm, Leptospirosis and Tuberculosis both of which can affect both stock and people.

Maman is a sixty plus liberated woman despite having a husband and four children.

She trained as a nurse and remains interested in health issues. Spent many years farming achieving farm management qualifications and a real insight into animal husbandry. The next career change included a Diploma in Real Estate and business management, covering buildings and their construction. Growing older then included some time in the hospitality industry and business. http://possuminformation.com

The Right Cockroach Trap For a DIY Extermination

The proliferation of roaches in residential areas is a common occurrence. The truth is that almost every one of us has dealt with these dirty insects. Many people feel embarrassed when cockroaches attack their homes. These tiny bugs will not leave your home without a good fight, which sometimes becomes a lost battle. The roaches become a problem within a very short duration. You will notice just one or a few extra bugs first. Within a week or more, the cockroaches’ numbers will have gone up. With the best cockroach trap, extermination is easy and you could end the problem.

However, some cases of roach extermination are beyond your control. This is when their number is too high and continues to go up. You might in this case, try different roach traps with little or no success. You should instead contact professional exterminators in your locality, to show these insects the way out of your house. If you indeed want to avoid this cost first, you could try out the cockroach trap. Products such as these are easy find in your local chemical stores.

However, you will be doing yourself a huge favor by researching first. Remember you are not the first person to buy any of those products, nor are you alone in this cockroach extermination challenge. Now you do not have to visit the local library or experience any information shortage. The Internet platform is available for everyone’s use. By browsing the web, you could easily read about products and the cockroaches’ eradication techniques.

By the time you pay for any roach trap, you will have enough knowledge to deal with the problem. A good example of this is the victor M256. This is a twelve-pack magnet trap, which is non-toxic. It is the best, if you want a multi-purpose product. The following are brief features of this product:

• You can use this trap to capture ants, silverfish, palmetto bugs, crickets, cockroaches, centipedes and even the scorpions.

• It specifically ensnares the eggs and nymphs to prevent further infestations

• It has a patented box design that fits into small, taut hidden areas

• You can place this cockroach trap in many entry points

This is a very effective trap, which really works to force the insects out of your house. If you want to buy this product, you should search for it online. You will find many similar products on eBay or other big sites like Amazon. Other small or moderately big sites exist as well. Just take your time to search and to compare products. In addition, you could search for forums or sites that feature product reviews.

You will read and discover what everybody else feels about a given product for cockroach extermination. As you decide to buy it, you will have enough information about a given product. You may also want to consider your budget. However, when you have a serious roach infestation problem, do not let money be the obstacle. There is a reason why a cockroach trap would be more expensive than another one is is. One of those reasons is the effectiveness of the traps.

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from get rid of roaches to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!

House Centipede Control Information, The 3 Big Myths About Controlling Centipedes

House Centipede Control is difficult and there are three major myths floating around about them. But knowing the truth about these myths is key to finally ridding yourself of these scary, disgusting little guys! The three biggest myths are

Myth One

An exterminator will take care of the problem. This is not true, and exterminator can give you a temporary solution at best. Those chemicals that they are spraying are not permanent they eventually get washed away and then the centipedes come right back. In fact they can make the problem worse by eliminating the bugs that the centipedes normally compete with for food, like spiders.

Myth two

Boric Acid will get rid of your centipedes. Again this in not true. It’s a similar affect to the exterminator. And while, thankfully, boric acid isn’t nearly as toxic as the chemical the exterminator is using, it still washes away with time and loses its affect.

Myth three

Killing all the ones you see will work. Unfortunately this is not true. Centipedes each lay on average about 60-120 eggs. And centipedes can complete their life cycle from within your home. This mean that even if you kill a mature centipede, in a little while those eggs will hatch and you are back to square one.

So now that you know what doesn’t work, let’s go over what does work. In order to get rid of those centipedes you need to have a step by step plan to eliminate the reasons they are in your home to begin with.

House Centipede Control can be tough, but it is achievable! The hardest thing for most people is to come up with a plan of attack, since centipede control is a multi-step process, and it can be overwhelming.

But there are already plans available that will guide you through the process and ensure they won’t come back! Get yourself a house centipede control plan, and rid your house of these little monsters for good.

How to Prevent Fleas – Simple Tips on Preventing a Flea Infestation in Your Home Or House

How to prevent fleas is a common thought among many pet owners, especially those that know the real aggravation and nightmares that can come from a flea infestation within their home or house. Because a single flea has the potential to lay thousands of eggs during her lifespan the control process can become quite difficult and frustrating at times.

In fact, if these nasty critters are allowed the opportunity to multiply the only real treatment left is to contact a professional exterminator which can be costly. For that reason, it is important that you get a handle on your flea problem before it gets to far out of hand.

Fleas along with many other pests such as ticks are very fond of cats and dogs but even if you are not a pet owner your home still may be subject to an infestation. This is because fleas are known for hiding out in tall grassy areas and then attaching themselves to the first thing that crosses their path no matter if it is a person or a pet.

Dogs and cats can usually be treated in several different ways with many pet owners opting to use products such as Advantage formula or Frontline. These methods usually will kill fleas within 24 hours and for the most part they are generally safe to use with your household pets.

Unfortunately removing fleas from your house is not quite as easily done and unless you remove the eggs for these pests before they hatch you will find yourselves in for a very difficult time when it comes to getting rid of these insects.

There are many different sprays and traps which can be used to control and prevent the outbreak of an infestation. One simple to implement home remedy such as vacuuming daily has been known to help prevent infestations. This should be done regardless if you have carpet or hardwood floors and you should also make it a habit to vacuum your bedding and upholstery.

The standard flea season usually runs from April through September although warmer climate areas such as California have a much longer cycle to deal with. Fleas are not just a mild annoyance to people. They can also pose a serious health risk for your pets and proper treatments must be performed in order to avoid having these nasty insects from setting up camp in your home. Don’t let your house become a victim to a flea attack!

Learn how to prevent fleas now so that you can avoid becoming another flea invasion statistic by visiting http://www.howtopreventfleas.com – a website that provides information, tips and advice on flea prevention, flea treatments and how to detect fleas.

How to Deal With Cinch Bugs in Your Grass

Many people want to have a nice green lawn. It’s a bit disheartening when you do your best to have a nice green lawn to find yellow or even brown spots. At times this problem is actually a pest problem caused by cinch bugs.

These pests are a huge problem for your lawn especially if you are trying to make it look nice. The biggest issue is that they will feed on your grass. This will gradually kill it and turn it yellow and eventually brown. Worst off is that this pest leaves behind residue that will further kill the grass meaning it’s a necessity to get rid of them as fast as possible.

You first need to test your lawn and see if you have a cinch bug problem. Sometimes you might actually have some sort of fungus on your lawn as opposed to this pest. There is a test that can be done with a tin can that will help you find cinch bugs in the lawn.

Get some water and mix it with regular dish soap to form a solution. Secondly take your tin can and make sure that it’s open on both ends. It will look like a tube that you can see through.

Take the can and push it into the ground just a few inches in the spot where your grass just isn’t the right color. Next pour the soapy solution into the can and wait about ten minutes or so. If you see small bugs coming up, it’s likely that you have a cinch bug problem.

There are a few things that you can do to get rid of them quickly. The first is to get a product that is designed to kill cinch bugs. There are many of these that are effective against them.

Consider using food grade diatomaceous earth on your lawn. This will not have any side effects but is effective against pests.

Use less fertilizer as cinch bugs are attracted to lawns with extra.

Murray is an author who loves to learn new things and share his thoughts and ideas on what he has discovered. Having a wide scope of interests on life in general, you can check out his latest findings on iPad Car Accessories which has the latest reviews of the latest released iPad car accessories for those who want to take along their new iPad while on the go.

Control Ants Safely

There are ants in the house. Ants in the kitchen. Ants in the living room. Ants in the bathroom. Ants come in through the smallest cracks in doors, windows and even the foundation of a home. Poisons and pesticides will kill the ants, but they are not healthy around children, pets or even kitchens. There are safe ways to kill ants safely for households that have children or pets.

Here are what is needed for 2 methods of getting rid of ants safely. Method 1 items are, a small spray bottle, some vinegar, water, black pepper and paper towels.

Method 2 items are, a paper plate, some syrup, powdered boric acid, some sidewalk chalk.

Mix equal parts of water and vinegar and pour into a small spray bottle. Fill 2 bottles and keep them in a couple of handy places. Spray ants anytime they are seen, inside and out.

Spray any ants as soon as they are seen in the home with the vinegar and water mixture. The vinegar kills the ants quickly and cleanly. No pesticides needed. To clean them up, just wipe them up with a paper towel and toss them away.

Locate a trail of ants inside or outside. Spray the ants with the vinegar mixture. Dust the trail with black pepper to prevent the ants from taking the same path into the house.

Follow the ants as they rush back to their nest and sprinkle more black pepper in and around the nest. This will repel the ants from their own home, and will cut down on how many are around the house.

The ants will run from the nest, spray the ants with the vinegar mixture as they leave the nest.
Pour hot water down the ant hole to boil and drown any remaining ants.

Another child and pet friendly way of controlling ants in and around the home is using boric acid and side walk chalk. Boric acid is toxic to ants and a few grains of dust can kill the hole colony safely.

Place a dot of maple syrup in the center of a paper plate. Sprinkle a line of boric acid around the syrup. The ants walk through the powder and take it back to their home, killing the whole nest.

Draw a line around the foundation of the home with sidewalk chalk once the ants are all out. Be sure to draw a wide line, with no breaks. This line will keep ants from entering the home.

Kat Oakley
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I have been an unemployed Grandma for 2 years. I have devoted my time to caring for 2 of my grandchildren full time and babysitter duties for the other 5 as needed. I am freelance article writing in my spare time and just love it! I was a stay at home mom for most of my children’s lives. It would have been great to have this venue to earn a living at while my children were growing up!

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Fleas – An Irritating Household Problem

Anyone who has ever had flea problems within their home can testify how frustrating and difficult it can become to exterminate them. The typical scenario would be spotting a flea, grabbing it firmly between two fingers and squeezing, throwing the flea into the trash, then watching it hop back out unharmed and scurry off to find another victim. Not only do the fleas readily bite and feed on any mammal within the household, but they also seem capable to withstand a variety of pesticides and flea baths designed solely to kill them. A flea sting not only causes local pain and skin irritation, but within many allergy sufferers serious rashes or other complications can quickly develop. Their colony can spread very quickly and if left unchecked a large infestation can occur in a very short period of time.

Fleas range in size from 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch but their size is often deceptive. They have a streamlined body that allows them to pass through hair and feathers with very little resistance, and their compact frame allows them to cover long distances without expelling large amounts of energy. This species is among the greatest jumpers in the modern world and they are able to propel themselves some 200 times further than their own body length; this would be the equivalent of a human toddler leaping across an entire football field. Their tube-like mouth is optimized for extracting blood and this species can feed several times per day on a single or multiple sources.

Because of their size they are able to hide nearly anywhere but prefer nesting close to their host. A mature flea normally lays fifteen to twenty eggs, shortly after feeding, either directly on or near the actual host and once the eggs hatch the flea reaches adulthood within a month. Fleas are also associated with the spread of sickness and disease in both humans and animals, so it is vital that this species be exterminated as early in their reproductive cycle as possible.

If fleas are discovered within your household, it will often require professional intervention if the situation is not handled properly. The likely host that allowed this species access to your home would be your pet, so flea baths with proper shampoos will exponentially slow the breeding cycle. On top of caring for your pet, also make sure to wash their sleeping quarters in hot water to rid this species from that area. Frequent brushing of your pet will help to remove any flea eggs from their hair and skin, and the resulting hair can be vacuumed up and disposed of outdoors immediately. The same techniques also work for humans…wash all sheets in hot water and thoroughly vacuum around your sleeping area. If this does not rid your home of these pests, then insecticides in the form of an aerial spray, also known as a bug bomb, will be necessary. This technique will require ample preparation, leaving your home for an extended period of time, and several hours of clean up afterwards. If any further questions arise, a pest control specialist will happily help you determine the proper course to rid your home of fleas.

Gary Dorris is a Napa pest control professional. His company, Hydrex also provides Vallejo Pest Control.

Liquid Deer Repellent – Is it Cost Effective?

Most commercial liquid deer repellents are generally more effective than home remedies like soap, hair or mixtures cooked up in your kitchen. One major benefit of commercial-grade repellents is their ability to provide longer-lasting protection before reapplication is needed.

However, commercial repellents can be expensive and may not be cost-effective for many homeowners. To help you evaluate your own situation, answer these questions:

1. Do you have low to moderate deer numbers in your area?

An occasional group roaming through is OK but if you have a herd every day, it is unlikely any repellent will prevent significant damage.

2. Have you or your neighbors only experienced light to moderate deer damage in the past?

If all vegetation under 8 foot has been deforested in your yard, you’re in deep trouble if you want to protect a freshly-planted flower bed!

3. Is the area you are trying to protect with commercial repellent relatively small?

Generally, a half-acre (22,000 sq.ft.) or less can be cost-effectively controlled with a liquid deer repellent.

4. Can the area be treated with no more than 3-4 applications in a growing season?

The staying power of commercial repellents vary greatly. Make sure re-application isn’t required every week.

If you have answered the questions favorably, the next decision is whether to choose a liquid spray or pellet. A liquid repellent is usually applied directly to plants and will remain effective for up to 30 days. The downside…they usually work by generating a foul odor that is not only offensive to deer but also to humans. A pellet is sprinkled on the ground in the general vicinity of areas you want to protect and may last up to 45 days. It usually does NOT generate a foul odor.

Consider these other factors before deciding to use a commercial repellent.

- Some commercial repellents, even though they may be labeled “organic”, may still contain toxic chemicals. Unless specifically labeled “safe for children and pets”, use only as directed.

- Always follow the manufacturers instructions and never use more than instructed.

For more information and specific recommendations, visit the author’s article, Deer Repellent Strategies.

Suzy T is a mom and avid gardener from New Jersey and has had her unfair share of experience with deer. Visit Suzy’s Garden for more gardening tips, articles and her blog.

Suzy’s other interests include writing, shopping, crafts and her two Golden Retrievers.
She is also an advocate for the rights of children with special needs.

Premise Foam

Termites may become a serious problem if their presence is not detected and you left them untreated. The main problem is not only the difficulty on detecting their presence but also selecting the best products which are suitable with your house and surroundings. In addition, termites may come to your house with more colonies although your house has been treated with termites’ control. Many home insurance companies also do not cover termites’ destruction in their agreement with customers. Therefore, prevention for termites and early detection are the best defense in controlling termites. Prevention means not only treat your house with various chemical substances to control termites but also cleaning your surroundings. However, treatment may also necessary if you notice the termites have started to make damage.

In addition, knowing the types of termites is also very helpful to eliminate them. This will also help you to keep calm if you start to be aware that the termites damage your house. You should know that some termites can destroy wood quickly while other termites cannot. The subterranean termites are the most common type of termites around the Unites States. Their habitat is in soil by making tunnel to the target area. This type of termites is considered the most harmful species of termites because their presence is undetected but the damage that they make is evident. On the other hand, Drywood termites are more visible to homeowner. The rainy season is the best moment to check their presence. Their habitat is around openings in infested wood. If you notice a trail resembling sawdust that leaves trails of fine powder, then you might suspect that this is a tunnel of this species. However, in combating the termites you should also consider the soil around your house, type of you house and its construction and kind of insulating materials used in the home.

If you happen to meet problem related to termites, then you might consider Premise Foam as your best solution. Premise Foam is used mainly to combat subterranean termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites. However, this can product can also be used to control carpenter ants and other infesting insects. Unlike other termites control products which may be harmful and difficult to be used, premise foam can be use easily. You just need to spray on foam from its’ container to treat walls, tiles and other properties made of wood.

Paul Dyke is a staff member at Parsons Pest Management, a distributor of Premise Foam.

Myths About Cockroaches

Many myths go around about killing cockroaches and cockroach behavior. Don’t believe everything you read about killing roaches since quite a bit of it is not true. You can better deal with your cockroach issues if you actually have a better understanding about the truth.

Myth: If you use more poison, it will be more effective.

It is pointless to try to use extra poison. You can’t overkill a cockroach. Extra poison around the house just means that there is more of a chance of a pet or child to later come in contact with residual poison. Use the appropriate amount for the problem at hand. This practice of using too much is wasteful and doesn’t give you any advantage at all.

Myth: Since cockroaches are self-cleaning they are clean bugs.

The reality is that cockroaches are extremely dirty. They go in disgusting places and will defecate and urinate in their food as well as yours if they get into it. They are a health hazard regardless of the fact that they can clean themselves.

Myth: Cockroaches are afraid of light.

This has to do with the idea that when you switch on a light, the cockroaches scatter quickly. What actually happens is that the cockroach falls asleep in the dark. The sudden light turning on scares them awake and they seek out the darkness all over again to fall back asleep.

Myth: If you step on a cockroach, the eggs can get stuck to the shoe and breed in your home.

This is most likely untrue although it has been debated both ways. If you do step on a bug, it’s a good idea to clean the shoe. It’s better to not take the chance of bring in hundreds of cockroach eggs into your home. It is to your advantage to get rid of the cockroaches if you see them, versus letting them get away to breed and cause you a problem later.

Liz has been a freelance writer for over four years. Come visit her latest website over at http://walkietalkie-radios.com/ which helps people find the best deals on all types of walkie talkie radios, including Motorola walkie talkie models.