Ask The Experts: Is There Something Bugging You? Two Local Companies Have The Solution!

The Latest Buzz About Mosquitoes And Spiders

By Dave Halliday Photos By Rod Denis

When warmer weather arrives, it seems that our world becomes more active.

The neighbours emerge from their homes and there is generally a distinct buzz in the air! Unfortunately, the increased activity can be the variety that encases your home and surroundings in webbing and the buzz can be attributed to an emerging mosquito population.

What can you do though?

Spiders, ticks, mosquitoes, and every other variety of crawling or flying tiny bugs, are just an uncontrollable aspect of living on this planet . . . or is it?

Obviously, these aggravating, and at times threatening pests, also play a role in our ecosystem, but what if you could provide a barrier against them to make your living areas more enjoyable?

We at Biz X were very fortunate to discuss the merits of pest control with not one, but two, of the local leaders in pest control, operating their businesses for over three years.

Cody Howard, Owner and Structural Exterminator of The Spider Guys (1501 Howard Avenue, Unit 106R; TheSpiderGuys.com) and Colin Kwiatkowski, Co-Owner of The Mosquito Guard (923 Front Road North, Amherstburg; MosquitoGuard.ca) were kind enough to share their combined expertise on this pesky matter at hand.

The team at The Spider Guys, from left, are: Yvonne Khadra, Office Assistant; Dominika Szewczyk, Helper; Colin McMahon, Owner/Landscape Specialist; David “Spiderman” Zelko, Exterminator; Walter Senko, Owner/Mosquito and Biting Fly Specialist; and Cody Howard, Owner and Structural Exterminator. The company offers year-round protection and affordable subscription plans for customers.

Let’s now creep into this topic and hopefully unravel any web of uncertainties that our more uneasy readers might possess.

First up . . . The Spider Guys! Give us an idea of what The Spider Guys does. “We are a general pest control company that offers a wide range of services, from spider control to wildlife,” Howard indicates. “We focus on a customer service centred approach to business that provides an unbeatable customer experience.” Would your service include inspection of a potential issue? “Yes, we offer inspection services from a background in entomology,” informs Howard adding, “Integrated pest management programs are catered carefully and with consideration to insect habits. We endeavour to leave each client feeling educated and confident they made the right pest control choice.” What are the risks associated with spider infestations? “We generally consider this field to be cosmetic,” he replies. “The most common risks are associated with phobias and reactive accidents after walking into webs — or fear. However, in some rare cases treatment is necessary for safety. For example, when dealing with venomous regional spiders such as the brown recluse.” Does your service eliminate all spiders? “Our service endeavours to deal with spiders on a localized level,” Howard states. “Where treatments are applied, clients will see a near 99% removal of spider activity for several months. Respecting the environment, this does not mean a total removal of spiders from the property as a whole. However, greater mitigation can be achieved with our Complete Plan when a full-range removal of insects on the property is requested.” Is the product you apply safe? “The products used by us, and by most in this industry, are a class of chemicals known as Pyrethroids (Permethrin) which is considered to be fairly safe, since mammals are less sensitive to the effects and recover quickly from exposure,” he answers. How and where is the product typically applied? “Depending on the service requested by the client, the application is done a few different ways,” says Howard. “For home treatments, we apply perimeter treatments areas all over the areas of the home known to harbour insect activity. This treatment is typically very direct. For the yard, we use a fogging applicator on trees, shrubs, grass and other common hiding spots for mosquitoes. Interior applications vary based on the layout of the home.” What would you say are the benefits to using this service? “Pest management programs for spiders can be very beneficial for the general enjoyment of your home,” Howard says. “They prevent spiders from

forming webs on your property, reduce instances of pest entry into the home and can help prevent harmful or painful bites. Most clients use our service for peace of mind as they have fears or concerns about excessive insect activity in or around their homes.” How long will the effects of this service last? “A single application on the home will last around 80 to 90 days, in the yard it is close to 21 days,” notes Howard. “We provide seasonal plans, which offer pre-scheduled application times from spring to fall.”

Whether it’s swatting them away or dealing with the itchy aggravating bites, there may not be a better bearer of the term “pest” than the mosquito! So, let’s now discuss the options for controlling these blood thirsty little fiends with The Mosquito Guard. Tell us about The Mosquito Guard. “We are licensed insect control experts servicing Windsor and Essex County,” states Kwiatkowski. “The most popular services we offer are ant, tick, mosquito, spider, and wasp control.” Does your service kill mosquitoes? “Yes, our service will provide immediate knockdown and create a barrier around the area sprayed, thereby protecting you from the blood-sucker mosquitoes,” informs Kwiatkowski. He notes, “The product we apply is safe for small children, pets and all plants.”

Are there risks associated with bites from parasites such as

mosquitoes and ticks? “Yes, Lyme disease, the West Nile virus and the Zika virus, are some serious risks associated with bites from mosquitoes and ticks,” cautions Kwiatkowski. “Thankfully, qualified licensed insect control experts such as ourselves are here to help you!” How and where is the product typically applied? “Our product is typically applied by our licensed and trained technicians using a backpack sprayer targeting trees, shrubs, bushes and heavily wooded areas,” he advises. “These areas are of importance because the mosquitoes feed off the nectar they offer. We also inspect your property for breeding grounds such as gutters and standing

The Mosquito Guard(s) — Jack Hubbell, Dave Desormeaux, Colin Kwiatkowski and Kyle Kwiatkowski, all partners and exterminators — “stand on guard for thee” this summer so you can enjoy every minute outside! water, and after our inspection we will apply larvicide if necessary.”

How long will the effects of the application last and how effective

is it? “Our spray provides up to 21 days residual effect to keep any new mosquitoes away,” Kwiatkowski states, and concludes with: “We can never guarantee 100% protection or elimination of mosquitoes, but can ensure you that our product does make a huge difference. We have many customers who are extremely satisfied with the results they have experienced after our spray.”

So after speaking with our pair of knowledgeable experts it seems reasonable to assume that you can render your home free of any creepy critters and aggravating pests. Well, that is if you don’t include your teenagers creeping in late after curfew or your spouse’s aggravating snoring!