House Improvement Tips

Bee and Wasp Pest Control Explained

Bee and Wasp Pest Control Explained
By Doug Morse

There are hundreds of insects, spiders, and other small creatures that can bite or sting or otherwise cause us discomfort or create a health risk. Here we will look at a few of the most common biting and stinging pests that occur in central California. (We will not discuss spiders or ants here as we have devoted entire pages on this site to these creatures.)

Bees and wasps are closely related to ants. They all belong to an order of insects called the Hymenoptera. They are a very diverse group of insects. Many bees and wasps live in social groups as most ants do. Some wasps and bees live a very solitary life. There are wasps that so closely resemble ants or flies that mistaken identifications are common.

Most people think of bees as “stinging insects” because most of us have been stung by a bee at one time or another. Although serious complications from bee stings are very rare, some people are very allergic to the venom in a bee sting. For those who happen to be allergic, a single bee sting can present a serious, even life threatening, emergency.

Keeping bees for the honey they produce is one of the oldest agricultural professions. And fortunately, most domesticated honey bees are not aggressive. The picture at right clearly illustrates how docile most domesticated bees really are.

There are, however, species of honey bees that are extremely aggressive. The Africanized Honey Bee (sometimes referred to as “Killer Bees”) has become an extremely serious pest in those areas where it has become established. It is nearly impossible for an untrained person to discern between the two bees, and this has been made even more difficult by the cross-breeding of these bees with local domesticated bee colonies. Although the Africanized Honey Bee is not widely established in Fresno County as yet, they have been found in Kern County and seem to be moving northward.

Aside from these, bees aren t a significant pest to people in our area. Most bee species are solitary insects that may do some damage to plants (usually insignificant) or, in the case of Carpenter Bees, damage unfinished woodwork.

Wasps are another large group of flying insects. Many wasps are capable of stinging. Some will bite.

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Many wasps feed on pollen or other plant material. Many species of wasps cannot harm people.

Wasps are divided into several large groups. The yellow-jackets and hornets are the species we most often encounter as stinging insects. Generally speaking, yellow-jackets are meat eaters and hornets feed on pollen.

These wasps will attack if they feel their nest is threatened. For this reason it is best to leave the nests alone unless they are in an area frequented by humans and where they really should be removed. Removal of wasp nests is best left to a professional.

Contact us for all your Fresno Pest Control needs.

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Doug has worked in the pest control industry since 1973. He received his first license for pest control while stationed in Massachusetts with the U.S. Army. He currently holds California Operator s licenses in General Pest Control and Wood Destroying Organisms, as well as a Field Representative license for Structural Fumigation. Doug has written several courses that have been approved by the Structural Pest Control Board for continuing education.

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Related Tags: bees and wasps, africanized honey bee, honey bees, doug morse, keeping bees

Seeking Balance in Your Home Decor

Seeking Balance in Your Home Decor
By Indra Books

In our homes, as in other parts of our lives, we are happier when we live with balance and harmony. Just like the rest of our lives, balance in the rooms of our homes is sometimes hard to create.



For many years, decorators and home owners tried to create this physical balance by having pairs of everything: 2 matching end tables, a matched pair of wing chairs, even sets of twin beds in the master bedroom. This certainly created a balanced room. It also created rooms that were sterile, formal and visually boring. In a formal setting or a Federal or Georgian home, this is still the way things should be to look right. Our ancestors valued this perfect balance so highly that they created false doors in hallways so that both sides matched or doors that looked like windows so that the right and left sides of the back of a house matched perfectly. This can still be seen if you go to visit some of our historic homes. A notable example is the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Md.
We, however, tend to prefer a more relaxed approach to our homes.



So how do we create a feeling of balance without matched pairs of everything? You can use:

Color

Dark colors have more weight than light colors.

Actual size

Height, depth and width of an object

Mass

A thick bulky looking object has more weight than a fragile, delicate one. Just visualize a blown glass vase and a terracotta pot of the same size.

Number

A group of several like objects in different sizes grouped together creates weight. Think of an assortment of silver candlesticks.

Light

A dark corner has more weight than one filled with light.

If you want to prove this to yourself, gather together a group of assorted objects and use a tabletop/mantel and try out different scenarios. Be sure you have different sizes, colors, textures and shapes. You can put a larger framed picture against one end and a slightly smaller one in front of it. On the other end of your table put a heavy pot. Do the same thing with a matching pot at each end. Try pairing the picture group with an assortment of candles in candlesticks. Each time you create an arrangement, step back and look at it. In fact, if you have a digital camera, take a picture of it. If you do this for a while you will start to get a feel for balance. You can actually give the illusion that the tabletop is tilted slightly by throwing off the visual balance.



The same effect can occur in your room arrangements. If you doubt this, close your eyes and try to see a room in which you felt physically uncomfortable or slightly disoriented even though there was no obvious reason. A room in which the heavy items are all on one side of the room, almost feels as though the floor tilts.

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Stand in the doorway of any room in your house that you feel isn t right. What do you see? Does the burgundy chair stick out like there is a spotlight on it? Does the entertainment center overwhelm the room? Do you have a TV and a fireplace battling for focal point? Do your easy chairs look like they were made for children next to your mammoth sofa? Does your fireplace mantel look like you are setting up for a tag sale? Your room is out of balance.



Move the furniture around and try different arrangements until you have one that works. Unless you have a room that is just for show like a Victorian parlor, you need to be able to use the room comfortably. Once the practical set-up is done, look at the room from different angles. If the room is out of balance use color and accessories, plants and pictures, groups of like objects, light and volume to create an illusion of balance.



Try grouping the accessories on your mantels and tabletops. Balance the entertainment center on one side of the fireplace with a tall plant or group of plants on the other. Note: avoid having the tops of everything at the same height. You might as well draw a line around your room. Repeat the color of the chair in pillows, throws, lampshades or the matting around a group of pictures. You really will be amazed at the difference it makes.



We may all be born craving balance but except for the lucky few, we have to learn to achieve it. There is a myriad of books on the subject and it can help to read them and look at the pictures, but the best way to get a feel for balance is hands on. Experiment with portable objects until you get a feel for what works and then enjoy creating your harmonious home.

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company s creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net



Content for this article was provided by Suzanne Copenhaver, Design Consultant to ON THE GO 4 U. Suzanne has years of experience decorating in less than ideal situations and always provides us with tons of insight.



© 2005 Indra Books for ON THE GO 4 U

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Related Tags: blown glass vase, hammond harwood, false doors, wing chairs, terracotta pot