Sunflower Pest Solutions Blog

Brown Recluse Spiders on the move

Administrator — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:02:26 +0000

Wow! What a winter we had in Kansas City! One of the warmest on record. It is nice not to have to shovel snow every other day. However, with all the warm weather we may pay the price this spring and summer with some pests, especially the highly feared Brown Recluse Spider. More info

Normally in the mid-west, and Kansas City area, the Brown Recluse Spider goes semi-dormant in the winter months and may not feed for 2-4 months. When they come out of their dormant slumber, they are pretty weak from not eating for extended periods. However, this year with most of our winter in the 40s and 50s during the day, the Brown Recluse Spider, like many other pests did not need to camp out while we were in a deep freeze.

This is Bad News for homeowners who have never had a Brown Recluse treatment. Why, you ask? Well, the females were more than likely able to lay an egg sac over the winter months that normally would not have happened. Which means in the spring, twice as many eggs could potentially hatch. That does not mean they will, but it is something we have to be prepared for. Each Brown Recluse egg sac contains on average 40-80 eggs.

How do you know if you have Brown Recluse Spiders? Go to our website and then go to photos to see some examples of what they look like. Brown Recluse spiders will leave their skin behind kind of like a snake. So if you see shed skins that look like empty spiders, that is one sign. Another sign is to look for webbing that is flat against the wood, it looks similar to white cotton candy. If you see them out running around, you more than likely have a large population. Good places to look for signs are in the garage, unfinished areas of the basement, and attics. If we can help please call us!

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Rodents and Foundations

Administrator — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:06:34 +0000

It’s winter, even though it has been relatively mild, rodents still make their way in homes. Over the years in Kansas City I have noticed a trend in older ranch homes. Most of these homes built in the 1940′s – 1970′s with basements have foundation issues. After years and years these foundations move, pushing the sill plate (what the house sits on) off the foundation. When this happens, a gap can be created and mice, rats, and even chipmunks can get inside your basement. If you have a finished basement with drop ceilings or sheet-rock ceilings you may hear noises on the ceilings. Once rodents get in they can usually find their way right up the sewer line hole that your sink drains through. This is how they end up in the kitchen.

There can be other entry areas that rodents can get in such as woodrot, construction gaps, gaps under concrete slabs, wood missing or falling off cantilevers (overhangs), and even roof level gaps such as where your soffit meets your roof. Hire a professional that knows what to look for such as Sunflower Pest Solutions. Rodents can and do chew on wiring, food, and damage materials. Please follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, or LinkedIn. If we can help you with your Kansas City rodent issue, or Kansas City Squirrel infestation please let us know. Also check out our YouTube page.

Large Wasps!!

Administrator — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:45:09 +0000

Late in the summer, when the weather gets hot and the ground gets dry, you may begin seeing Large Wasps flying around your yard or property. These are called Cicada Killers. They are actually a beneficial wasp, but due to their extreme large size they can frighten people, especially children. These wasps will dig or burrow a small hole in the yard kicking out dirt, so they have a cavity to lay their egg. They will go off and sting a Cicada (the loud annoying insects) and bring it back paralyzed so when the egg hatches it has Live prey to eat! If these wasps get out of control, call Sunflower Pest Solutions, your Kansas City Wasp Control Experts.

Cicada Killer and Typical Damage in Yard.

Birds & Bees

Administrator — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:51:34 +0000

Can birds and bees really clog dryer vents? The answer is YES! If you have ever done laundry and it seems to take forever for your clothes to dry or if moisture is dripping back in dryer, it could be clogged. Birds love to get inside the dryer vents and build nests which then block lint. Dryer vent is very flammable. I have personally removed literally hundreds of birds/nests from dryer vents. I have also removed Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, Yellow Jackets, mice, rats, and even a pet ferret. If we can assist please call Sunflower Pest Solutions, we can also install new dryer vents.

Picnic Time

Administrator — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:01:17 +0000

Ok it’s now picnic time, and you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors, but the pesky yellow jackets are trying to share your food and drinks! What to do now? Well if you have an empty 2 liter bottle, or even a small 20 oz. plastic bottle you can cut the top off right at the top of the label. Now take the top off that looks like an oil fill spout, and flip it upside down and put it back in the bottle. You can fill it with an inch or so of sweet juice, soda, beer or what ever, and you just made a yellow jacket trap out of trash! Set it to the side and watch the wasps go in for a sweet drink, and they cannot get out. Here is a photo of one: As always if we can be of assistance, go to our http://www.sunflowerpest.com website, packed full of info.

Homemade Yellow Jacket Trap

Honey Bee’s attack squirrels

Administrator — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:26:09 +0000

I just witnessed something I’ve never seen before. Apparently a Honey Bee colony moved into a hollow tree. No problems yet, however this hollow tree was the former home to a squirrel and her 3 young. The young squirrels either tried to leave the tree or come back, and the bees swarmed them. They attacked them, and each small squirrel probably got over 50 stings! I got the squirrels away, but it was too late, they were already swelling and their breathing was labored. Mother Nature can be cruel to watch. Any way if you have a problem with stinging insects, whether it is bees, wasps, hornets PLEASE call don’t risk getting injured. Call Kansas City’s Bee and wasp experts. www.sunflowerpest.com

Yellow Jacket

Ants call 911 on Sunflower Pest Solutions!

Administrator — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:05:28 +0000

Ok, not really, but we did have a call that a customer of ours was having their smoke alarms go off in the overnight hours. On each occasion when the smoke detector was pulled down, an ant crawled out! We met the electrician at the house, and he said it is entirely possible for ants to get in the sensor, that senses density, and set off the smoke alarm. We have had numerous ant calls, and have seen them in electrical outlets, ceilings, toys, furniture, microwaves, toasters, but this was a first for us. If you are having ant issues, please contact us: Sunflower Pest Solutions, Inc., www.sunflowerpest.com, and Thank You!

Ants Feeding on a Poison Cocktail

Hail Damage!

Administrator — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:12:41 +0000

With all the recent storm, and hail damage, be aware of a few things. 1st try to hire good reputable, local people. 2nd with all the hail damage, I have noticed roof vents torn up, with large holes in it. This is a perfect place for birds, and squirrels to enter your attic. If you have any broken or torn up I would recommend getting them replaced. They will leak anyway if they have large holes in them. If you hear something in your attic, let us know if we can be of assistance. We can also refer you to local contractors we have met and worked with in the past.

Squirrel

Sunflower Pest Solutions

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Spring is here?!

Administrator — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:16:15 +0000

Spring has made its entry, then retreated, then came back. One thing we get calls about in the spring is Ants of course, but also Vole damage. Voles are rodents that make nice paths in your nice grass, and chew vegetation. Moles also tend to be a problem in the spring, and throughout the year. Below is a photo of Vole Damage to a yard. If we can help give us a ring, or visit our website at www.sunflowerpest.com.

Vole Damage to Lawn

Sunflower Pest Solutions

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Hello world!

Administrator — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:29:37 +0000

Hello, Sunflower Pest Solutions, is happy to announce the birth of our blog! Follow along.

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