Mosquitoes love to breed inside discarded car tires. So why not use this against them? Such is the thinking of Canadian researchers who have developed a DIY mosquito trap that’s already proving its worth in field tests.

The trap is called Ovillanta, and it was developed by researchers from Laurentian University with help from Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health (plus a little money from the Canadian government).

This Low-Tech Trap For Killing Mosquito Eggs Is Brilliant
The egg trap is constructed from two 20-inch (50 cm) sections of discarded rubber car tires. The bits of tire are fashioned into a mouth-like shape, and a fluid release is added to the bottom.Once it’s ready and hung on a wall or tree, a non-toxic solution is added. A chemical pheromone is added to attract the mosquitoes. A wooden strip or paper floats in the artificial pond, where the female lays her eggs.

Twice a week, the strip is removed so that it can be analyzed, and the eggs that have been collected are destroyed using fire or ethanol. The solution is recycled back into the tire, but over time it collects even more mosquito pheromones, making it even more irresistible. From a mosquito’s perspective, it’s actually quite diabolical.

This Low-Tech Trap For Killing Mosquito Eggs Is Brilliant
The researchers recently conducted a 10 month trial of the system in Guatemala where it worked to reduce virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are responsible for spreading viruses like Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, and others. Population control measures to reduce the number of mosquitoes are an important aspect of combating these blights.

Over the course of the 10 months, the Ovillanta system worked better than traditional ovitraps, which are usually made from one-liter buckets. During the field trial, the team collected and destroyed over 18,100 Aedes eggs per month using 84 Ovillanta traps in seven neighborhoods. That’s seven times more efficient than traditional traps. At the same time, no new cases of dengue were reported in the regions where the traps were set up, but the researchers caution that this is merely an anecdotal observation. It’s also important to point out that this study is still awaiting peer review. That said, this area of Guatemala typically records about 24 to 36 cases during the same months.

Neat, right? Nice to see low-tech solutions perform so well. It’s cheap, easy to make, and environmentally friendly. On it’s own, the system likely won’t be able to completely curb the spread of mosquito-borne viruses, but when used with other population control strategies, it could contribute significantly to the cause.

The Smoky Mountains are one of, if not the, most popular National Parks in the United States. Millions of people visit the park each year, and for great reasons.

From Smart Travel

Why April Is the Perfect Time to Go

Great Smoky Mountains National Park isn’t just famous for its trees. “Wildflower National Park,” as it’s sometimes called, is prized for the breadth of its wildflower diversity: More than 1,500 species of flowering plants are found in the park, the most of any national park in North America.

Lady slipper orchids, jack-in-the-pulpit, columbine, crested dwarf iris, 10 species of trillium, bleeding heart, and violets—just to name a few—are celebrated every April at the park’s five-day “Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.” This year’s event (April 19-23) will feature guided programs, walks, photographic tours, art classes, and more.

Why It’s Great at Other Times of Year

Each season yields its own reasons for visiting the park. In the fall, the hills thrill leaf-peepers who come by the tens of thousands to see the hillsides ablaze with autumn color; by winter, the deciduous leaves have dropped, allowing motorists to see vistas not visible at other times of the year. In summer, hikers can take to the lush forests to cool off in refreshing waterfalls and streams. And in late spring, nature puts on yet another fantastic show: the bioluminescent spectacle known as the mating ritual of the synchronous fireflies, one of the 19 species of lightning bugs in the park, and the only species capable of synchronizing their light patterns. For the duration of the firefly mating season, the park runs shuttles from the Suglarlands Visitor Center to the Elkmont viewing area. (Once the dates are announced in mid-late April, the shuttles fill up almost immediately, so check this site frequently if you’re interested.)

So How Can You Avoid the Bugs in the Smoky Mountains?

The Smokey Mountains are a National Park, which means, outdoors. This would be a tip that bugs and critters can be an ever present part of your experience. But the bugs do not have to ruin your Smoky Mountain experience.

Here are some tips from us locals for enjoying this great National Park.

• Do not deodorize. You may not want to be stinky, but do not put on a bunch of perfumes or colognes. Those aromas can be attractive to a myriad of bugs. Plus, the aromas may overwhelm your sense of smell taking away some of the experience of the mountains.
• Wear longer clothes. It can be hard in the summer months with the heat, but generally, the temperatures can change radically (especially in the spring). You are best suited to wear longer sleeves and pants that can help to shield you from any stinging or biting insects. So bring a jacket, where lite pants, whatever you might have available to be ready for the elements and interested pests.
• Stay on the trails. Some spots are super beautiful and can lure you off the trail for a photo or take a glimpse at some aspect of nature. Be wary of going off the trails as taller grasses and brush can house ticks and other similar bugs. We are not saying not to go take that awesome photo, just be aware of what is likely off the trail waiting for passers-by.
• Wear some bug repellent. There are tons of options for bug repellent and everyone has their own preferences. Use something that is comfortable to wear and safe for the environment.
• Seal up any packed food. If you are packing in some food for a hike around the park make sure to have items in sealed bags. This will be one less attractant to the bugs in the area. Plus it might keep the bears from noticing you.
• Talk to the rangers. The park rangers are great resources for the most current information about park conditions. If there are spots around the park that have more heavily infested areas they will know.

This is a great time to visit the Smoky Mountains for tourists and locals. Use a few minutes before you venture out into the wild to take some precautions to ensure your experience is memorable for all the right reasons.

As your family will spend more time outdoors with the longer days of spring and summer, so too, will your pets. Our family dog’s will venture outside exposing them to risky pests like ticks and fleas.

Likewise, tick populations will increase in warmer weather. Our National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and us, at Johnson Pest Control, are reminding pet owners to take extra precautions for our furry family members.

How To Protect Your Dog Against Fleas & Ticks

Nutrition, exercise, play, and affection are the more commonly known basics for pet caretaking. However, ensuring pet safety by protecting against pests like ticks and fleas is equally important. Learning how to avoid these pesky critters, from walking pets on shorter grass trails, maintaining each pet’s hygiene properly, and more, will keep owners and their four-legged family members from missing out on any spring and summer month fun.

To help shield pets from the discomfort of ticks and fleas in their fur as pest activity increases in the warmer spring and summer months we recommend pet owners use the following tips from the NPMA:

• Check pets frequently for ticks and fleas. Be aware of excessive scratching and licking.
• Avoid walking dogs in tall grass, where fleas and ticks often hide.
• Bathe pets after walks or playtime with other animals.
• Frequently wash pet bedding, collars, and plush toys.
• Wash bed linens and vacuum carpets, floors and furniture frequently.
• Give your dog proactive treatments from your vet to protect them from any flea and tick infections.

They say that dog is “man’s best friend” and surprisingly it is not difficult to take care of your best friend, your family’s best friend.

If you find that you have an infestation of fleas or ticks that are posing a significant threat to your pets and family, give us a call and we will be glad to continue to protect your family from invasive pests.

Spiders aren’t a seasonal pest, but many homeowners tend to notice an increased presence in their homes in the early fall months as the arachnids become more obvious while they search for a mate. Even though most spider species in the United States don’t pose health risks to humans, most people aren’t comfortable with any species sharing their living space. The best way to prevent spider infestations is to remove harborage sites within one’s home.

Spiders seek out secluded, undisturbed areas where they can build webs to catch their next meal. This could mean attics, basements, and rarely used closets are favorite places to be harboring these pests. Spiders can also crawl into homes through damaged window screens or cracks in the siding, meaning homeowners should conduct periodic checks of these areas to reduce spider problems.

It’s important to note that the black widow and brown recluse spiders are two species found in the United States that do pose health risks to humans when disturbed or feeling threatened.

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the brown recluse spider typically does not bite humans unless threatened, but their bites can be painful and result in open sores. Measuring about a half inch with a dark brown violin marking on its back, brown recluse spiders build their webs in warm, dry and dark environments, notably basements and closets. Similarly, black widow spiders do not bite humans instinctively. However, when they do bite, they can cause extremely painful bites, especially for children and the elderly. Recognized for its red hourglass shape under the abdomen, these spiders spin their webs close to the ground and are most often found in woodpiles and undisturbed areas. 

The NPMA offers the following tips to help prevent contact with spiders:

• Avoid keeping clothing and shoes on the floor, especially if in an area known for spiders; consider storing inside plastic containers.
• Seal cracks and crevices around the home.
• Vacuum/sweep away webs in and around the home.
• Shake out all clothing that has been in the laundry basket before wearing/washing.
• Keep garages, attics and basements clean and clutter free.
• If a spider bites you, contact your primary care physician for medical advice.
• If you have an infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest control professional to inspect and treat the pest problem.