FOX 28 NEWS
Mild winter weather will cause noticeable increase in insects
Posted:
Feb 03, 2012 2:27 PM EST
With temperatures reaching the 60′s in Michiana today, many people took to the outdoors. “You’ve got to come out and get in your shorts and short sleeves and walk around barefoot. Enjoy it.,” said Brandon Fansler. The warmer temperatures are great for getting outside but not so great if you don’t like bugs. Exterminators say this mild weather will cause an increase in mosquitos, spiders, ants, and more.“Staying inside most of the time just going out when I have to,” said Plymouth resident Deborah Eads. That’s her plan for avoiding the predicted swarms of insects this spring. The experts say it’s going to be buggy this year. Chuck Dreibelbis at Arrow Pest Control said, “I think we’ll see more crawling and flying insects than normal.”
He said the blue skies and above freezing temperatures this winter have failed to kill off insects. “We didn’t get that hard freeze that we normally get so we didn’t lose a lot of mosquitos so I think we’ll see an abundant crop this year,” said Dreibelbis. And mosquitos won’t be the only abundant crop. Dreibelbis said, “I anticipate a good crop of ants this year.”
Mosquitos and ants, but wait there’s more. Dreibelbis added, “because of the mild winter I think that we’ll see a good crop of spiders inside and out.”
Dreibelbis said termites don’t die in the winter they just go underground but they’ll be popping up sooner this year. “We anticipate in the next month we’ll start seeing termites swarming in March. Normally don’t see that til April,” said Dreibelbis.
All of this means if you plan on enjoying the outdoors you’ll want to be prepared. Plymouth Resident Don Stiles said, “looks like I’ll be stocking up on bug spray.” Lucky for him the bug spray was just put on the shelves this week at Smith Farm Stores in Plymouth. Employee Rebekkah Peacock said, “people have already been flocking to it buying different bug sprays.” She is expecting the stuff to sell pretty well this year because of the mild winter. “Flies, fleas, mosquitos, it’s gonna be crazy,” said Peacock.
For now things are calm. Dreibelbis says his phones aren’t ringing off the hook yet but with the weather we’ve been having he knows they will be soon.
Experts say you can prepare. Here are some tips from Dreibelbis:
Don’t stack wood on the ground directly next to your house to avoid termites and carpenter ants.
Get rid of any standing stagnant water in your yard to keep the number of mosquitos down. This includes water in tree trunks and bird baths.
If you notice sawdust that means you may have termites or carpenter ants so call an exterminator to have it checked out.
FOX 28 News
Bedbugs: A special report
The holidays are right around the corner and for many of us, that means travel.
An old problem that was eradicated for many years, is now crawling back into the spotlight, bedbugs.
Should you be worried about staying in hotels?
What can you do as a traveler?
We asked those questions of Pest Control experts and an area hotel and their different perspectives might surprise you.
Hotel manager Sharon Cooper says, “This is not a big issue. It did not come back in force.”
Arrow Pest Control’s Chuck Dreibelbis says, “We’ve seen what I would consider a major increase.”
Two professionals with at least one of the same objectives… to keep clients bedbug free.
But this hotel general manager and Pest Control expert see the problem very differently.
Dreibelbis says, “Ten years ago, we wouldn’t even see a bed bug call, and today, we’re seeing, up to 5 offices we currently have, a call a day.”
Cooper says, “I believe it was sensationalized.”
Cooper is the General Manager of Quality Inn University South Bend, South Bend’s second largest hotel.
“I don’t think it’s as big a problem as people want to believe it is. It’s not a problem as long as you are proactive and you check, it’s not a problem.”
The new manager since June, Cooper says she’s doing everything she can to keep bed-bugs out and says it’s all about hiring and training the right people on the front-line… housekeeper’s like Stephanie Legus.
“We take the light and we go through all the edges of the bed and if there’s buttons on the bed, we go through the buttons.”
With her light, Legus painstakingly searches hotel rooms after each guest, starting with areas particularly susceptible like the headboard and mattress, moving on to other places bedbugs hide.
Cooper says the property had one isolated bed bug incident under different management 8 years ago but that they haven’t had a problem since.
While this and other hotels seem to be doing everything right in keeping bedbugs at bay, Pest control experts say if you are considering staying at ANY hotel you SHOULD be concerned.
“They should, yeah, they should. The bed bug is the ultimate traveler. “If you are staying in a hotel infested by bedbugs, more than likely, you are going to take those with you.”
So what can you do to protect yourself?
“Start behind the headboard. This is all one piece so it’s not likely we can take it off the wall but check in behind there. They like nooks and crannies and cracks and crevices, nice tight fat spaces.”
Pest control technician Mike Renfro also says you want to pull all the bedding and linen away and look for any blood spotting, paying special attention to the seams. Also, make your way around the room checking the nightstand, under the lamp or alarm clock, even pictures or wall hangings. Renfro says another favorite for bedbugs, the luggage rack.
Another great tip from experts, don’t travel without a flashlight. It goes a long way in helping you spot bed bugs. And they also suggest you put your bags in the bathtub.
Bedbugs can’t get any traction in there. If you’re hesitant to do that, place it on a dresser, never on the bed. And Cooper adds, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Cooper says, “You can ask for a room inspection. Do not hesitate to ask for one. You’re paying for the room.”
Finally, realize this will be the new normal for awhile. Experts say we should brace ourselves for a bigger bedbug problem because what they’re seeing in larger cities is coming our way. “I feel they will get worse before they get better, absolutely.”
And both hotels and companies like Arrow say they are also seeing bedbug hysteria. They have people coming to the hotel’s front desk with a bug that is NOT a bedbug insisting it is one, moms who are afraid they have them after seeing a bug bite on their child. Arrow says they know of people who are losing sleep at the thought of them.
Lights Camera Action…..
With the Holidays past us and Punxsutawney Phil predicting 6 more week of winter, it makes local meteorologists question whether or not we will have a true “winter.” This winter has been described as record setting temperatures and sunny weather. With an uncommon Midwest traditional winter, Fox 28 has sat down with Assistant General Manager Chuck Dreibelbis to get an exclusive interview with Arrow Services Inc. The community and FOX 28 are curious to know how will this warm winter effect the upcoming Pest Control Season and have we had an increase in pest control because of the warmer weather. Chuck described this weather to be very rare, but feels as it is going to be a pesky spring and summer with an increase in Mosquitos, Ants, and Swarming Termites. The Midwest counts on our harsh and cold winters to freeze out the Mosquitos, ants, flies, and other pest to help eliminate the growing population of warm weather pest. This year we will see an increase in these warm weather pests because of the warm weather that has come upon us this winter. Since, there is standing water and warmer temperatures this will cause an abundance of Mosquitos, Ants and Swarming Termites for the upcoming pest season.
Chuck suggested to FOX 28 the best way to help the community control these pests is to clean out your gutters and if you have bird baths or standing water to clean the water daily. This will eliminate Mosquitos from nesting there eggs in your water baths and producing more mosquitos.
If you have any questions regarding Pest Control for your Home or Place of Business call Arrow Today!
Office Watch:
Arrow has been serving the Northwest Region for over 50 years! After, 50 years serving the community we will be opening our 5th office in Merrillville, Indiana! The Office will be Opening Soon!
How Do You Protect Your Family?
Tune into Fox 28 News at 10! We will be discussing how YOU can help your family stay protected from Bed Bugs!
Credits: to Fox 28 News
Arrow Services has been asked by Fox 28 News to do an exclusive interview on Bed Bugs. The interview will be aired November 17, 2011 at 10 P.M. on Fox 28 News. Tune in to watch an exclusive interview with our very own Checking in with Chuck and Mike Renfrow will teach you how to inspect for Bed Bugs in your home or a hotel room.
This month Arrow Services hit a mile stone in company history. Mark Rose started working for Arrow Services in 1971 and today marks his 40th Anniversary with Arrow.
When Mark first started working for Arrow he originally started in Elkhart and later transferred to Plymouth. When asked why he has stayed with Arrow for so long, he replied that the customers are the reason why. He enjoys interacting with his customers and says its fun to have a job where you are able to meet so many different people and come back to visit them. He also likes to service the medical plants to watch the machines. He stated “they are real life robots, no one has to watch them or tell them what to do. They do everything themselves”.
Mark recalls one of his favorite memories with Arrow is spending the night in a dumpster to kill thousands of rats, for the city of East Chicago.
When Mark isn’t dumpster diving he enjoys fishing and gardening. He has yet to catch a monster size fish, but is hoping to do so this fall. Mark has been married to his wife Beth for 45 years and they have three children and three grandchildren. He is a 1969 graduate of Purdue University. He would like to one day visit New Zealand and Australia, but has no desire to visit Africa or Europe.
Arrow Employees will be donating $1 to wear jeans on Fridays. The total donations will be matched by Arrow and given to the Neighborhood Center. See the Article below!
Starting in September, Arrow Services employee of Plymouth will have the option of paying $1 to wear jeans to work on Fridays. The money will be collected until the Christmas season, when the amount will be matched by Arrow and donated to needy families in the area. Shana Greenlee, Director of Marketing for Arrow, said that since employees are already allowed to wear jeans one Friday a month, the fundraiser seemed to be a natural extension of the existing company policy.
Although the office’s 20 employees are not required to pay $1 to wear jeans, Greenlee thinks that they will chose to particpate in the fundraiser ” A couple of ( the employees) are really excited,” said Greenlee. “It’s a change from their normal suits, you get to be comfortable and relaxed.” Employee Jennifer Shay, who has been wiht the company for three years, said that she feels good about the fundraiser. ” I think it’s a great idea, I wish it were something that we could do all the time,” said Shay. ” I believe everyone in the office is planning on doing it,” said employee Lara Green Turcotte. Greenlee added that one employee had said she would would be willing to pay $5 to wear jeans. “Arrow si always thinking about areas where we can help the community,” said Greenlee. Greenlee anticipates that Arrow Pest Services will continue to do the fundraiser each year in the fall.
Thank you Lydia Buzz and The Pilot News for the Great Article on Arrow Services!
Ladies and Gentlemen start your Engine its Office Depots Brickyard with Tony Stewart! Arrow Services was kindly invited to attend one of the most popular events hosted by Office Depot. A Day at the Brickyard with Tony Stewart, this luncheon was great networking opportunity and over all a learning opportunity for Arrow Services. We had the opportunity to have lunch with Indianapolis Greater Chamber Members and Tony Stewart! We were able to meet with different chamber members and learn something new about each business in the chamber. Tony also, spoke at the luncheon and had a a Q & A at the end, where we learned the challenges Tony faces everyday as business man and a Race Car Driver. Overall, we would like to thank Office Depot for a great event! Thanks Tony!
Rich Kenny has been with Arrow for 26 years. Rich originally grew up in Michigan, but later moved to Fort Wayne. He has been married to his wife Mary for 32 years and has two sons. His favorite memory of Arrow is when they had to record everything by pen and paper. In his spare time he likes to play golf and keep salt water fish. If he could travel anywhere in the world he would like to take his wife to Hawaii and go snorkeling, visit the volcanoes, and Pearl Harbor.
Mike Renfrow has been with Arrow for 15 years. Mike moved to Plymouth from Illinois in 1991. He has been married for 13 years and has two children. His favorite thing about Arrow is when he services different customers and learns how they operate their business. He was shocked the first time he serviced a Movie Theatre and found they pre make and bag popcorn. In his spare time he likes playing the guitar and watching the Chicago Bears. One day he would like to take his wife to a Bears game and get a Chicago Style Hot Dog. “Hoosiers don’t know how to make a Hot Dog !”