Pest control, Atlanta GA

They’re creepy.

They’re an eyesore.

But are centipedes dangerous?

What Are Centipedes?

You know that long, creepy, flat, bug with lots of legs? It’s called a centipede. You may have seen a few around your home or property. The centipede is very common around the Atlanta, GA area.

Depending on the species, the centipede can have as many as 346 legs, or as few as 30. They are long, skinny insects that are usually a dark reddish-brown in color. Most species of Georgia reach lengths of about two inches, but there have been reports of centipedes that are as long as six inches. These are rare.

Centipedes hunt their prey at night, eating roaches, snails, spiders, and other insects. They are commonly found under vegetation, boards, or rocks around your property. Inside your Atlanta home, they can be found in basements, garages, crawl spaces, and around windows, doors, and baseboards.

Are Centipedes Dangerous?

Centipedes do bite. They do so with pincher like claws, called “poison claws,” that are found next to the centipede’s head. Centipedes are capable of releasing toxic venom when they bite. It’s because of this, centipedes should not be handled. Even if you are being careful while holding a centipede, their multi-segmented bodies are very flexible. This allows a centipede to bite from a wide variety of angles if held.

These centipede bites are relatively harmless, just painful. As of today, there is no public record stating an Atlanta, GA centipede caused human death. Like with many other insects (bees, wasps, etc.) these bites can cause a severe reaction if a victim has insect allergies. If this is the case, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Most centipedes do not pose a serious threat other than pain and swelling. The bigger the centipede, the more pain and swelling a victim is likely to endure. Conversely, some of the smaller centipedes are too small to penetrate human skin. Pain from a bite wound can last several days and may be accompanied by discoloration, numbness and necrosis.

Atlanta Pest Control For Centipedes

While centipedes are not considered deadly, they do inflict painful bites. They are also an eyesore. You definitely do not want these things inside your home. If you are seeing an unusually large number of centipedes inside your home, you may have an infestation. Have a pest control professional, who is experienced in dealing with centipedes, address your situation.

Pest Control Atlanta

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Published by Bulwark

Star-Wars Celebration- Fanboys nerds geeks fun convention Jedi collecting costumes troops (Photo credit: Doc_Brown)

Today I came to vivid realization… I am a nerd.

I don’t know why I didn’t see the writing on the wall. I’m a grown man with massive collection of Legos. I own more video games than a twelve year old gaming addict. I love books. I love nerdy movies in which I have a huge collection. I believe in aliens. I still play with toys.

The first step to finding inner peace as a nerd is admitting you have a problem. After finally admitting to myself that I am indeed a nerd, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I once feared the term “nerd,” now I’m beginning to embrace it.

So where else in the US are my fellow nerds found? Where are my people?

According to a recent publication from a real estate blog, nerds are congregating in Atlanta, GA.

Atlanta Honored As ‘Nerdiest’ City

The real estate blog, Movoto recently released their top ten nerdiest cities in the United States. With moderate surprise, Atlanta, GA came in at number one. I thought the number one honor would have gone to a Silicon Valley city like San Jose, CA,

While Atlanta is home to Georgia Tech University, a University composed of some 15,000 computing, engineering, and tech nerds; Atlanta’s also home to hundreds of annual fairs and conventions.

Reactions to Atlanta being named the nerdiest city in the country have been quite positive across Twitter and other social media sites.

The general consensus … Atlanta being named a nerdy city is a good thing. If ‘nerdy’ is bad, we don’t wanna be good.

Nerd alert, Nerd alert, Nerd alert! (Photo credit: TedsBlog)

How The Nerdiest Cities Are Calculated

The real estate professionals at Movoto looked at many factors when compiling their list, and crunched nearly as many numbers as ground control did to slingshot Apollo 13 around the dark side of the moon.

Some of the factors that came into play when determining the nerdiest city include: ratios of people to the number of comic book stores, book stores, science museums, gaming stores, book stores, and computer stores.

The number of Renaissance fairs, sci-fi conventions, and live action role-playing groups (LARP) were also a big determining factor when determining the nerdiest cities in the US.

The Top 10 Nerdiest Cities in US

1. Atlanta, GA
2. Portland, OR
3. Seattle, WA
4. Sacramento, CA
5. Minneapolis, MN
6. Boston, MA
7. Las Vegas, NV
8. Miami, FL
9. San Jose, CA
10. Denver, CO

Author Bio: Anthony Ball is a pest control nerd and blogger with Bulwark Exterminating, which is based in Arizona. Bulwark Exterminating is an industry leader in providing high quality pest control service. Bulwark is fully operational in eleven major cities, including Atlanta, GA.

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 If you are a home or property owner in the Atlanta, GA area, you’ve likely come across multiple millipedes. These leggy insects are actually quite common in moist and humid areas like Georgia. They have become so common in fact, that Atlanta pest control professionals have seen a significant increase in millipede related calls. So what exactly are these squirming insects? Are millipedes dangerous? Are they even considered pests? How do you get rid of them? Here’s what you need to know: 

What Are Millipedes?

They’re creepy. They’re crawly. They’re leggy… 

They are millipedes, and they can grow over 200 pairs of legs and reach lengths of more than four inches. They may be showing up around your Atlanta property very soon. 

The millipedes that are commonly found in Georgia are black or brown. When disturbed, they will curl up into a ‘C’ shape, much like a pill bug might do. They prefer cool, damp places, like moist soil. They are frequently found under wood piles, rocks, and other debris. Millipedes feed on decaying material and plant matter. They can live as long as 10 years. 

Are Millipedes Dangerous?

No. 

The millipedes found in areas of Atlanta and Georgia are not dangerous to humans. They do however; give off a repulsive smelling discharge made up of a combination of irritating chemicals. This discharge can cause skin rashes, and may be toxic to small animals. Millipedes will lose body fluids as they die, causing staining on indoor surfaces. 

Do Millipedes Invade The Home?

Yes, millipedes can invade your home. They can live indoors in crawl spaces and basements; or wherever moisture is present. 

If you are seeing millipedes inside your Atlanta area home, do not panic. If these pests are not yet dead, they will be soon. Millipedes cannot survive very well indoors… They simply dry out. Like I mentioned before, millipedes prefer the moist outdoor conditions in the soil; and are most commonly found under rocks or debris. 

In dealing with millipedes inside your home, whether dead or alive, a vacuum with a hose attachment is your new best friend. Suck up those millipedes. If your vacuum is of the wet-vac variety, leave a solution of water in bleach in the vacuum. The millipedes will be sucked into a solution that will not only kill the creepy crawlies, but also disinfect them. 

Are Millipedes Pests?

Millipedes are pests! 

They can attack the stems and roots of healthy plants and trees, causing permanent property damage. This can be a result of millipede dehydration; something that is common during the long, hot Atlanta summers. These millipedes attack healthy plants to get water. 

Millipedes also feed on the sap of a plant or tree. Once a millipede gets it is lips around some of that sweet sap, it will keep feeding… And feeding! They can also do a lot of damage to seedlings. 

While the millipedes that are commonly found in the Atlanta area are not dangerous, they can be quite an eyesore and can even be quite destructive. If left untreated, millipedes can live almost ten years. If you are seeing them on your property in great numbers, hire a pest control company who is experienced in treating millipedes. 

Atlanta Pest Control For Millipedes

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English: a yellow jacket wasp (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you live in Atlanta, and hear the word yellow jackets, you probably think of Georgia Tech. While the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets garner much of the cities’ attention, there is another type of yellow jacket that require admiration… The stinging yellow jacket wasp!

The Yellow Jacket Wasp

The yellow jacket is sometimes mistaken for a bee, because of it’s black and yellow coloring. Like bees, yellow jackets can unleash very painful stings. Yellow jackets can sting a victim repeatedly with their lance-like barbed stinger. Stings can result in death if a victim suffers from insect allergies. Such cases are rare.

Foraging yellow jacket wasps hunt for their food; and these are the wasps most of us see buzzing around. They will eat almost anything with protein or sugar in it but preferences range from meats to ripe, decaying fruits, human garbage, and soda.

The Nest Of A Yellow Jacket

Yellow jackets can build their nests almost anywhere, but they favor the fortification of man-made structures. Yellow jacket nests can be found between walls, underneath flooring, in the eaves of houses, inside an attic, and underneath a porch or deck. They are also commonly found in trees, bushes, shrubs, and abandoned animal burrows. A fertilized yellow jacket queen will take shelter in these protected areas during the winter months, and build begin building a new nest and laying eggs when the weather warms.

Spring is here, and yellow jacket nests are small and manageable. If a yellow jacket nest is left untreated all summer, a 5,000 wasp colony can be the result. If you are seeing a few yellow jackets now, take action before the problem escalates.

Pest Control For Yellow Jackets

Unfortunately, homeowners rarely take action against yellow jackets until they are stung or when one of their loved ones is stung. Don’t make this mistake. If you are seeing yellow jackets buzzing around your home’s garbage cans; or are frequently seeing them near hummingbird feeders or picnic areas in your yard; you likely have a nest nearby.

In order to eliminate the yellow jackets near your home, you first need to find out where their nest is. Open a can of soda or tuna flavored cat food and place it near where you are seeing the pests. The wasps will soon find the bait and you can then follow them back to their nest. Now that you have located a yellow jacket nest, it can be treated.

Treating a yellow jacket nest is best left to a pest control professional. Attempts to tackle the problem on your own can leave you with numerous very painful stings. If you are attempting to treat the nest on your own, be very careful. Be safe. Drill a hole inside the nest and spray a quick-freeze aerosol pesticide inside the hole. Next, dust the hive with a pesticide powder. Repeat if necessary. Wait a week or so for the yellow jackets to die, and then remove the nest so it will not be inhabited in the future.

Atlanta Pest Control

Wasp & Bee Removal

General Pest Control

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Buying your first home should be an exciting time in your life. What better place to settle down than Atlanta? With the hustle and bustle of the city, a plethora of jobs, and all kinds of entertainment just around the corner; Atlanta is a great place to start a life and buy a home. With the excitement of buying your first home comes the stress and unknown. You may feel nervous and unsure of what the future holds, but by hiring the right real estate agent, exploring your options, and getting to know the area, you can make your experience a great one. Whether you are buying brand-new or a fixer-upper; get to know plumbers in the Atlanta area, contractors, and others who can help you fix up your home for the best price out there.

Take Your Time To Look Around

Atlanta is a huge city so there are a ton of options out there for first-time home buyers.  As long as you’re not in a huge rush for a job or if your rent contract is ending, be sure to take your time to explore all your options. Figure out what you can afford financially in Atlanta and consider what type of home will work best for you. If you have children (or plan to in the future), you will obviously want a house that will be able to accommodate everyone. If you are enjoying the single life, a townhouse or condo might be your best bet.

Find A Reputable Real Estate Agent

As mentioned above, Atlanta is a huge city so your chances of finding a great real estate agent who will work hard to get the most for your money shouldn’t be too hard. Let them know exactly what you’re looking for and be clear about setting a strict budget. Let them know the general idea of what you’re looking for and your agent will take it from there!

Do Your Research

Chances are, you might need to do a bit of fixing up on your new home as a first-time home buyer. Do a little bit of exploring and ask around to find out who the best contractors, electricians, and plumbers in Atlanta are just in case your new home needs a bit of fixing up. Do your research by talking to others in the area and see who they recommend. Try researching online reviews of specific companies as well.

Atlanta is a great place for a first-time home buyer and buying your first home can be a rewarding and memorable experience. Be sure to take your time and try not to become overwhelmed… find a reputable real estate agent and do your research to ensure a successful search.

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=home+buyer&ex=1#ai:MP900442362|

Samantha Wideman is part of a team of writers and specializes in writing about current news events.

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Guest Post Published by Bulwark

Valentine’s day. (Photo credit: MalinStrandvall)

Valentine’s Day Roaches- A Bad Idea

This Valentine’s Day, you better pull out all the stops to impress your significant other. There’s no excuse this year! Show her just how much she is loved.

Get her some beautiful red roses, a box of decadent chocolates, and take her out to a nice restaurant. Bring your date back to your candlelit place and have some romantic music playing. Have some champagne on ice; to go along with your strawberries.

After you pull out all the stops, make sure your overtures are not nullified by a disgusting cockroach. I know pest control is not all that romantic, but a cockroach encounter will pull the romance out of an otherwise perfect evening.

Take A Look:

Cockroaches

The cooler Georgia months, like February, draw cockroaches inside. These disease ridden pests enter, looking for shelter from the cold weather. Cockroaches are scavengers that feed on decaying organic material, and are particularly fond of rotten food. They have even been known to eat fingernails, human hair, and dog droppings. Roaches are most commonly found in kitchens, basements, and the crevices of porches; but a few can find their way into your bathtub.

CBS Anchor Gives Bulwark Some Valentine’s Day Love

JaQuitta Williams of CBS Atlanta sent Bulwark Exterminating an email, thanking the company for the flowers that were sent to her as a Valentine. She even saw the above Valentine’s roach video, and said it to be “cute.”

What were your thoughts on the video?

Roach Control Atlanta

Bulwark Exterminating
5221 Palmero Court #105
Buford, GA 30518
(770) 904-4141
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

Orkin Pest & Termite Control
1935 Cliff Valley Way NE #118
Atlanta, GA 30329
(866) 713-9979
orkin.com

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Published by Bulwark

Stink Bug Population Spreads Across Georgia

If you live in Atlanta, GA, or anywhere along the east coast for that matter, you’ve likely become well acquainted with a smelly pest. The brown marmorated stink bug was first discovered in the U.S. about ten years ago. They have now become very widespread, wreaking havoc in some 39 states, including Georgia.

These bugs are considered an agricultural pest, feeding on the trees and plants of fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. This has been proven to have economic distress on Georgia farmers.

Stink Bug Ranks As Top Invasive Pest

Because of the brown marmorated stink bug’s destructive capabilities, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has labeled the pest as it’s “top invasive insect.” USDA researchers and scientists are working hard to better control these pests.

Scientists Work To Control Stink Bugs

The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is working hard to discover better methods for controlling the destructive stink bugs. Scientists have identified a pheromone that stink bugs release when they eat, that signals there is food nearby. This pheromone is very effective at drawing in other stink bugs, and scientists have found a way to synthesize it. This new synthetic pheromone can be very useful when used as bait in stink bug traps.

Separate scientists at Baylor University’s College of Medicine are also working to control these invasive stink bugs through genome sequencing. If scientists can discover the genes necessary to the stink bug’s survival, they can determine what insecticides can best control their populations.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Atlanta Pest Control

While scientists a busy working on eliminating this stink bug invasion, you can take matters into your own hands by calling an Atlanta pest control professional. If you are having problems with stink bugs; or pests like fire ants, roaches, or spiders; hire an Atlanta exterminator.

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Published by Bulwark

Christmas with snow in Atlanta! (Photo credit: Capt Kodak)

A Merry Pest Free Christmas

Christmas is a mere two weeks away… Crazy I know. There is so much to be done. Among the last minute Christmas gift shopping, the decorating of a gingerbread house, the mailing of those last few Christmas cards, and the hanging of the Christmas lights; don’t forget the pest control. Pests like rodents, spiders, and cockroaches can ruin an otherwise pleasant holiday season.

A Pest Free Christmas

Pest control companies primarily offer both spider control, and cockroach control. These treatment programs can not only eliminate these troublesome pests from your property, but keep them from ever returning.

If you are in the Atlanta, GA area, and are having trouble with roaches, black widows, fire ants, or even rodents; call an Atlanta pest control professional today!

Have a very merry and pest free Christmas!

Atlanta Pest Control Companies:

Bulwark Exterminating
5221 Palmero Court #105
Buford, GA 30518
(770) 904-4141
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

MosquitoNix Atlanta
433 Bishop Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-5770
mosquitonixatlanta.com

Orkin Pest & Termite Control
1935 Cliff Valley Way NE #118
Atlanta, GA 30329
(866) 713-9979
orkin.com

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Published by Bulwark

Thanksgiving Reflections

Every Thanksgiving each of us get the opportunity to reflect on all of our many blessings, while we eat way too much. Among all of the holiday hustle and bustle, the black Friday shopping, the football, and of course the food; take some time and reflect.

What are you and your loved ones thankful for this year?

I’m grateful for my wife and my daughter. I’m grateful for my job here at Bulwark. I’m grateful for all the freedoms I enjoy while living in these United States. Even the city of Atlanta offers many things to be grateful for.

Things We’re Thankful For in Atlanta

Atlanta, GA has many things to be thankful for. We are thankful for Atlanta’s pleasant weather this time of year, for the many fine restaurants, and for the Fox Theatre. I’m grateful that the Atlanta Falcons are 9-1 so far this season. I’m optimistic about the Atlanta Hawks NBA season. I’m thankful that Georgia Tech made it to a bowl game this year. Finally, I’m thankful for golf in Atlanta, The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, LEGOLAND, the Georgia Aquarium, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Coca-Cola.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us here at Bulwark Exterminating would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving, make sure you eat way too much pie and turkey, watch a lot of football, and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones. Make sure you stretch really well before playing in any “Turkey Bowls.” Nobody wants to spend their Thanksgiving holiday icing a pulled hamstring. Be careful during your black Friday shopping so you don’t get trampled. Finally, make sure your Thanksgiving is pest free.

Make Sure Your Thanksgiving is Pest Free

Bulwark Exterminating
5221 Palmero Court #105
Buford, GA 30518
(770) 904-4141
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

MosquitoNix Atlanta
433 Bishop Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-5770
mosquitonixatlanta.com

Orkin Pest & Termite Control
1935 Cliff Valley Way NE #118
Atlanta, GA 30329
(866) 713-9979
orkin.com

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Atlanta Termites

Termites are one of the most common, and one of the most destructive pests found in Atlanta, GA. Their nests, which are made up of tunnels, are commonly found underground or in the wood that they eat. You can find them on your property inside tree stumps, telephone poles, and in the lumber used to construct your home. Most termites eat the cellulose from wood, and wood by-products such as paper.

Types of Termites Found in Atlanta

The two most common types of termites here in Atlanta are the subterranean termite and the drywood termite. These two types of termites are biologically different from each other. It’s imperative to determine which of the two species you are seeing on your property before exterminating them, because each will react differently to insecticides. Subterranean and drywood termites range in color from a light yellow to black, with the only distinguishable difference being the number of veins in each termite’s wings.

Termite Destruction

A single colony of subterranean or drywood termites may contain several million insects. Larger colonies can forage deep underground, up to 300 feet into soil, or deep inside the structure of your home. This makes them very challenging to eliminate. Because of their capability to eat wood at a quick rate, these pests are accountable for a tremendous amount of property damage. This frequently results in extensive pest control treatments and expensive home repairs. Termites cause more damage to Atlanta homes than fires and storms combined, but are not usually covered in a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Worker termite (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Atlanta Termite Control

If you want to eliminate termites, finding a pest control company that has a lot of experience treating termites is essential. You should always opt for a nationwide company that has sufficient general liability insurance. Selecting a termite control professional is often times a long term commitment depending on the nature of the infestation. A commitment of this nature is only as strong as the company making it.

If you are seeing termites in or around your Atlanta home, contact a reputable pest control company today!

Atlanta Pest Control:

Bulwark Exterminating
5221 Palmero Court #105
Buford, GA 30518
(770) 904-4141
bulwarkpestcontrol.com

MosquitoNix Atlanta
433 Bishop Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-5770
mosquitonixatlanta.com

Orkin Pest & Termite Control
1935 Cliff Valley Way NE #118
Atlanta, GA 30329
(866) 713-9979
orkin.com

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