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SPIDERS - and spider bites....  FACTS

11/29/2012

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FROM Pest World
Harry Potter’s friend, Ron Weasley, is probably in good company when he admits he hates spiders. But how much of spiders’ negative notoriety is really just a bad rap?

In truth, spiders are not intentionally harmful to humans. Most spider bites occur when humans accidentally trap or brush up against a spider and receive a defensive bite. On rare occasions, spiders may have a serious lapse in judgment and bite a human finger (or other body part) mistaking it for a caterpillar or other such prey. Even then, most spiders are too small and not capable of breaking the skin with their fangs, or their venom too weak to be dangerous to humans. Simply put — most spider bites are accidental, harmless and require no specific treatment.

Still, that is not enough to stop spiders from having a bad reputation. It is common for any unexplained skin irritation to be called a "spider bite." In fact, most skin lesions and symptoms that are attributed to spiders are rarely actually due to a spider bite. Research has shown that 80 percent of presumed spider bites are actually bites from other insects, or due to skin infections such as MRSA (a resistant staph infection).

Yet, occasionally, a spider’s bites will cause real harm. Spider bites may cause injury by three mechanisms. First, especially with larger spiders, the bite itself may be painful and cause injury. However, far more concerning is the spider's venom, which can include necrotic agents or neurotoxins. Spider bites rarely transmit infectious diseases.

Most spider bites are less painful than a bee sting. Pain from non-venomous spider bites typically lasts for five to 60 minutes while pain from venomous spider bites frequently lasts for longer than 24 hours. The rate of a bacterial infection due to a spider bite is low (less than one percent). 

The two spiders of greatest concern in the United States are the brown recluse and the black widow spiders, most commonly found in southern states. Both species prefer warm climates and dark, dry places. Typically, these are timid, non-aggressive spiders, often found in dry, littered, undisturbed areas such as closets, woodpiles and under sinks.

Black Widow Spiders

Black widow spiders can be found throughout North America, but are most common in the southern and western areas of the United States. Male widows, like most spider species, are much smaller and generally less dangerous than the females. Widows tend to be non-aggressive, but will bite if the web is disturbed and the spider feels threatened. The more dangerous female is a dark colored spider and with a red hourglass marking on its belly. The bite feels like a pinprick, and at first may go unnoticed or seem rather minor. Early on there may be slight swelling and faint red marks. Within a few hours, though, intense pain and stiffness begin. Other signs and symptoms include: chills, fever, muscle cramps, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Typically, black widow bites are less common, but more severe than brown recluse bites. That said, no one in the United States has died from a black widow spider bite in more than 10 years.

Brown Recluse Spiders

The brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider, is most commonly found in the south-central, mid-western and southern states of the United States. Most encounters with this spider occur from moving boxes or rooting about in closets, attics, garages or under beds where they may have nested. These spiders are brown in color with a characteristic dark violin-shaped (or fiddle-shaped) marking on its head. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, brown recluses have six equal-sized eyes. The bite produces a mild stinging, followed by local redness and intense pain within eight hours. A fluid-filled blister forms at the site and then sloughs off to leave a deep, enlarging ulcer. Systemic (or generalized) reactions from a brown recluse spider bite vary from a mild fever and rash to nausea and listlessness. Generally, brown recluse spider bites are reported much more frequently than black widow bites, but while the brown recluse bite may cause very significant local skin reactions, it is much more unusual for these bites to cause generalized symptoms. Unfortunately, brown recluses are almost communal and can be sometimes be found in great numbers.

What To Do

  • If you suspect a spider has bitten you, try to bring it with you to the doctor so they can determine the best course of treatment based on the species.
  • Clean the site of the spider bite well with soap and water.
  • Apply a cool compress over the spider bite location (using a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice).
  • If you suspect the bite is form a black widow or brown recluse spider, and the bite is on an extremity, elevate it.
  • Consider tying a snug bandage above the bite and elevate the limb to help slow or halt the venom's spread. Ensure that the bandage is not so tight that it cuts off circulation in your arm or leg.
  • Adults can take aspirin or acetaminophen and antihistamines to relieve minor signs and symptoms (but use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers).
  • Seek medical attention for any severe signs and symptoms, or if signs and symptoms continue to worsen for more than 24 hours.
When To Worry

If a local reaction continues to get worse for more than 24 hours, it may be time to seek medical attention. Look for redness spreading away from the bite, drainage from the bite, increase in pain, numbness/tingling, or a discoloration around the bite that looks like a halo or bull’s-eye. If generalized symptoms set in, be concerned. In very rare cases, there have been reports of spider bites (by spiders considered otherwise harmless) causing allergic reactions - including anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition (much like may result from the sting of a bee, or wasp in a highly allergic person).

Contact a pest professional if you think you may be dealing with a spider infestation.

CALL EDDIE for a FREE inspection TODAY!  515-537-7752
@CandCHomeSVCS

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THANKSGIVING Gratitude.....

11/22/2012

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Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
- MB
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/19/2012

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October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Month

10/1/2012

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Show your support buy purchasing your
FIGHT LIKE A GIRL merchandise through our
C&C HOME SERVICES - EXTERMINATE CANCER NOW!

online store!

All proceeds go to the MERCY CANCER CENTER
in Des Moines!

http://www.signifypromotions.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=VAS&Category_Code=NEW

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Never buy or take in USED bedding!!

9/30/2012

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Buyer beware: NEVER buy (or take for free) USED bedding - mattresses OR frames from anyone -- EVEN IF YOU KNOW THEM!!

The story below highlights the importance of buying NEW directly from a reputable retail establishment!  A "great deal" can end up costing you $thousands$ if any of the items you bring into your home have bedbugs hiding in them --- INCLUDING BED FRAMES -- where bedbugs can easily hide and not be seen!

-----------------------------------

BED BUGS: Dispelling Myths About Infestations Posted on: 9:31 pm, September 26, 2012, by Aaron Brilbeck, updated on: 10:18pm, September 26, 2012

http://whotv.com/2012/09/26/bed-bugs-dispelling-myths-about-infestations/


"It seems like every week we are hearing from viewers with bed bug infestations. So we decided to talk with the experts to dispel some myths about the pests.

Michael and Amy Louck live in a clean, quarter million dollar home in Ankeny, and they’re fighting a bedbug infestation.  There’s a misconception that bedbugs only infest dirty homes and slum apartments, but that’s not true.  The Loucks got them when the bugs hitched a ride on a bed frame they bought on Craigslist.  Now, they’re spending thousands of dollars to get rid of the pests, and have thrown out everything that may have come in contact with them.

“We’ve thrown out probably $10,000 dollars in stuff I would say,” Amy Louck says,   “Most of the kids toys, all of the furniture that was in our daughters room, things that aren’t going to be easy to replace.  Christmas presents, doll furniture, everything we could part with.”

According to the Polk County Health Department, that may not be the best way to get rid of the pests.  “If you have a bedbug infestation chances are that they’re hiding in the carpeting, in outlets, in baseboards of the walls.” explains Sarah Boese with the Polk County Health Department, “So just throwing out items that you think might be in contact with the bedbugs probably won’t get rid of the problem completely.”

According to the Polk County Health Department the best way to get rid of bed bugs is to hire a professional to super-heat your home.  Using chemicals yourself just won’t work.  The Health Department also suggests regularly inspecting mattresses and bedding for signs of bed bugs like small black spots or tiny blood stains.
"

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How well is your current pest control company working for you??

9/30/2012

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If your current pest control company isn’t living up to their high prices and your expectations…isn’t it TIME FOR A CHANGE??

Bigger doesn’t mean better!  See the difference in the level of service you will receive by using a small company that doesn’t pass on the cost of big phonebook & tv ads to YOU!

C&C Home Services offers quality & professional service at affordable prices!!  ASK us how you can switch for FREE if your current pest control provider isn't living up to their promises!

With 20 years of professional experience – CHOOSE C&C HOME SERVICES!   Call Eddie today for a FREE - NO PRESSURE estimate!  515-537-7752


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Why choose C&C Home Services?

7/24/2012

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Why choose C&C Home Services?

FAIR ESTIMATES:

We put serious consideration into the amount if time it will take to complete your project when we are doing work by the hour.  We are NOT interested in being in your home for as long as we can & bill as many hours as we can.

Our goal is to do your project efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible!

C&C Home Services rarely goes over the amount of hours from our original quote.  But let’s face it – sometimes a project may present us with a surprise and require additional work that was unforeseen.  ONLY when circumstances are out of our control do we ever add additional hours….and we do so ONLY after a consultation & thorough explanation – so we promise no surprises when the final bill is presented.

BID THE WORK YOU REQUEST...ONLY:

Eddie is a professional salesperson but will never sell you on additional services that you do not request…and will NEVER be dishonest & sell you services that you do not need. Period.

NEVER MISREPRESENT EXPERIENCE:

We will never misrepresent our experience and qualifications!   While we do have experience in minor electrical & plumbing work (for example)….we also know when we need to bring in a licensed professional to help complete a project.  OR if the work can all be done by one of those professionals…we will turn the work completely over to them. 

You can trust that C&C Home Services will not take on any project that we are not 100% confident in our skills & abilities to complete.  We treat the work we do at your home as if we were doing it in our own home!

WHY DO WE MAKE THESE PROMISES? 

We are honest & trustworthy.  100% integrity in the home services business is not always apparent.  C&C Home Services wants to be the company you trust 100%...completely!  A majority of our business is not from advertising…but comes from REFERRALS from our customers who we have provided our high quality services to!  You can’t beat that kind of advertising!

CALL EDDIE for a FREE - NO PRESSURE - ESTIMATE on your next home improvement project today!  515-537-7752


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Experts predict a "buggy summer".....

6/21/2012

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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/20/predicted-buggy-summer-across-us/?cmpid=prn_aol&icid=maing-grid7|customfirefox|dl1|sec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D171788


"Mosquitoes, ants, water bugs, ticks and bees. They are coming  out all over
the U.S. with a vengeance this summer according to bug  experts.
 


The city of New Orleans has reported an elevated number of mosquitoes this
year, and so have many cities in northeast Illinois, as well as  St. Paul,
Minn., where pest control workers have reported a 50 percent  increase in call
volume. 


In the Northeast, a mild winter and a mellow spring with warm and wet
conditions has added up to the perfect storm, creating a flourishing  bug
population.  


Mike Deutsch, an urban Entomologist with Arrow Exterminating Company, tells
Fox News, "We are bracing for a major bug war, if you will. It  all depends on
how the summer is. If the summer is really hot and there  is a lot of moisture
like there has been the last month or so, the  population of insects is going to
be out of control."  


And there are certain species entomologists and exterminators are  looking
out for -- the Asian tiger mosquito for one -- a very aggressive version of
mosquito that bites during the day. Many types of bugs have  arrived far ahead
of schedule, says Deutsch.  


"The mosquitoes were out early. Normally you don't really find them  until
June, but we've got reports of mosquito problems as early as  April, which is
very early. We also saw carpenter ant activity much  earlier."


One of the
biggest concerns of having extra mosquitoes around this  summer is the possible
increase in numbers of West Nile Virus cases.  Last year, 11 people in the New
York City area contracted the virus. Two of them died.


Residents can take an active role in eliminating bug's breeding  grounds
which usually involves water collection sites.  Dominick  Ninivaggi,
superintendent of Mosquito Vector Control for Suffolk County, Long Island, says,
"It is important to try and get rid of any standing  water, particularly after a
rain. Get rid of any buckets, birdbaths,  anything that has picked up water
because these mosquitoes can breed in a paper cup or even a bottle cap."
 Ninivaggi says mosquitoes aren't the  only blood-sucking predators they
are worried about. "We are also seeing an increase in certain species of ticks.
Ticks in the Northeast are a  big problem, with the transmission of lime disease
and certain other  tick-borne diseases. The mild winter seems to be giving us an
upper-crop of the ticks as well."

The best advice from these experts? Get  out the bug spray on those warm  days, especially when you might be near water  and during dawn and dusk  hours when these flying and crawling bugs are at their  peak feeding  times, and keep your fly swatter handy. You may need it for many  types  of insects this year."



Read
more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/20/predicted-buggy-summer-across-us/?cmpid=prn_aol&icid=maing-grid7%7Ccustomfirefox%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D171788#ixzz1yRPPPAEL
CALL EDDIE at 515-537-7752!!!
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Find us on TWITTER and Follow Us!!!!

4/5/2012

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https://twitter.com/#!/CandCHomeSvcs
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Find us on FaceBook and LIKE our NEW page!!!

4/5/2012

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https://www.facebook.com/CCHomeServices
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