What’s new with the Critter Gitter?
Tips on Eliminating Mosquito Breeding Sites
The Critter Gitter gives you some tips to eliminate all sites where mosquitoes can breed.
1. Clean out eaves, and gutters.
2. Remove old tires or drill holes in those used for playground equipment to drain.
3. Turn over or remove plastic pots.
4. Pick up broken, unused, or discarded toys.
5. Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water in pockets or indentations.
6. Pump out bilges on boats.
7. Replace water in birdbaths at least twice a week.
8. Replace water in pet or other animal feeding dishes or toughs at least twice a week.
9. Dispose of broken or unused kiddie pools.
10. Pick up plastic wrappers used for food or other products; mosquitoes can breed even in a
discarded potato chip bag that has collected water.
11. Don’t leave garbage can lids lying upside down.
12. Change water in bottom of plant containers, including hanging plants, at least twice a week.
13. Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.
It was my greatest discovery… a nice house with damp pine. What a feast it would be. I invited my entire family over and then BAM…. It was a trick — The Critter Gitter killed us all.
Reticulitermes hageni
Due to their wood-eating habits, termites can do great damage to homes and other wooden structures. Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until severe damaged is done. Once termites have entered a building, they do not limit themselves to wood; they also damage paper, cloth, carpets and more.
Musca domestica
The house fly is the most common of all domestic flies, accounting for about 90% of all flies in human habitations, and indeed one of the most widely distributed insects, found all over the world; it is considered a pest that can carry serious diseases. Each female fly can lay approximately 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150.
Hymenoptera
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their numbers, or natural biocontrol.
Siphonaptera/Ixodoidea
Fleas are small (1/16”), dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Their bodies are laterally compressed, (i.e., flattened side to side) permitting easy movement through the hairs on the host’s body. Their legs are long and well adapted for jumping. Ticks are blood-feeding parasites that are often found in tall grass and shrubs where they will wait to attach to a passing host. A tick will attach itself to its host by inserting its chelicerae (cutting mandibles) and hypostome (feeding tube) into the skin. The hypostome is covered with recurved teeth and serves as an anchor. Young ticks have six legs, and mature ticks have eight legs. They vary in size and appearance depending on the species.
Formicidae
Ants are pests around the home because they feed on and contaminate human foods, infest structures, and build unsightly mounds in lawns. In some cases, ants are able to inflict painful bites or stings. Ants do not attack or eat fabrics, leather or wood in houses; however, some species can establish nests in decaying wood in structures.
Mus musculus
The mouse usually lives in proximity to humans, in or around houses or fields. Originally native to Asia they have since been spread throughout the world. House mice can transmit diseases, and can damage food and food packaging. It is thought that house mice were the primary reason for the taming of the domestic cat.
Achaearanea tepidariorum
Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders or anything reminiscent of spiders, such as webs or spider-like shapes. It is one of the most common specific phobias, and some statistics show that 50 percent of women and 10 percent of men show symptoms. It may be an exaggerated form of an instinctive response that helped early humans to survive.
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
