### ?…ask the Bugman

Green Pest Management | ID your Bugs | Animal Issues | Natural Living

# askthebugman

I have been in the pest management industry for over 40 years. In that time I have used almost every pesticide available to control so-called “pests”. With this experience, I have learned over the years that the pesticides we use are far more dangerous than the pests we are trying to control. As a result, it has become a passion for me to improve the quality of life for humans and the planet, by assisting people to not only become more educated and aware of their environment – but also by learning to manage their home and business with a sustainable and healthier approach to tending to unwanted infestations of bugs. Please enjoy my blog posts, check out my publications, utilize my services, or simply stay in touch if you have a bug question…
askthebugman has written 115 posts for ?…ask the Bugman

### How to control bed bugs

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ August 12, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

Is it possible to control bed bugs with non-toxic materials? All you need to start is a EPA Exempt pesticide, which is safe or even just a mixture of alcohol and water with a little dish soap. Mix a gallon sprayer half and half with water and alcohol and a cup of dish soap. Then … Continue reading →

### Bed bugs, cockroaches, termits? Do it yourself

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ August 1, 2020 ⋅ 1 Comment

I just got a call from a woman in Grants who has bed bugs and she called an exterminator who said the price was $600 to get rid of them. This is beyond ridiculous. If you have bed bugs, you can control them yourself and it will probably cost only a few dollars. I won’t … Continue reading →

### Centipedes

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ July 25, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

There are several hundred species of centipedes in the U. S., but most of them are very small and belong to two groups. They are the stone centipedes (Lithobiomorpha) and the soil centipedes (Geophilomorpha). Stone centipedes are about an inch long and have 15 pair of legs. Soil centipedes aren’t much longer and have upwards … Continue reading →

### Hazards of pesticides

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ July 10, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

This may be long, but if you are interested in the hazards of pesticide use, you may want to read it. I am posting this because warm weather is here and pests will be around. We all know the pharmaceutical industry in this country has outrageous prices and most of the prescription drugs have side … Continue reading →

### Ant information

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ July 1, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

When you have ants in the house, you can use safe boric acid baits if you want, such as Terro Bait. What I did when I had a bunch of acrobat ants on the kitchen counter was put some Karo syrup on a piece of paper and all the ants hung around there all the … Continue reading →

### The pest control industry

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ June 13, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

I have said many times that I have over 45 years of experience in the pest control industry. Let me tell you a few things I have learned and why I almost never recommend pest control companies. I started in 1972 in Hollywood, Florida where I was hired by a local pest control company. I … Continue reading →

### Pest exclusion

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ June 9, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

This is what you need to do to keep pests and pesticides out of your home. The most effective part of pest control is exclusion. Here is how to pest proof your house. The purpose of pest-proofing your home is to help keep cockroaches, ants, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, rodents and other pests out. It will … Continue reading →

### Bites and Stings

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ June 8, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

How do you avoid getting bitten or stung by nature’s inhabitants? Here are some scenarios I went through and you will be able to see what not to do. About 37 years ago I was crawling under a house in Bloomfield, NM doing a termite inspection. I wasn’t wearing a shirt. As I was crawling … Continue reading →

### Earth Friendly Bug Club

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ June 7, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

We have to do a lot to change the world for our children and grandchildren to be safe. We need to make sure children don’t starve to death and that everyone has a roof over their heads. We need to make all of our food safe and not chemically polluted. We need to have a … Continue reading →

### Rodenticides

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ May 26, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

I get specimens in the mail for identification and occasionally from pest control companies. I got a flea in the mail from a pest control company for identification. It came from a ground squirrel area on a property near the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico. The flea was Oropsylla montanus (no common name) and … Continue reading →

### Earth Friendly Bug Club

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ May 24, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

You can join my Earth Friendly Bug Club if you want. When you join, I will address any pest issues you have now and in the future via phone or email. I will send you relevant handbooks via email. I will identify any pests you have if necessary. If you want to join the club, … Continue reading →

### Roaches and ants

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ May 7, 2020 ⋅ 2 Comments

The two most common pests that are active now are cockroaches and ants. If you have any of these pests, you can control them yourself. You do not need a pest control company to spray toxic pesticides in and around your home. If you have large brown American roaches or black Oriental roaches you can … Continue reading →

### Rodenticides

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ April 23, 2020 ⋅ 2 Comments

I just got an email from someone about a lot of rodenticide bait boxes in an area in Santa Fe. The company that put them there is totally unqualified in common sense. In New Mexico, we have approximately 107 species of fleas (I counted them). Of that number, about a third are known or possible … Continue reading →

### Pest Control companies

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ April 17, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

I started in the pest control industry in 1972. I was living in Florida and saw an ad in the paper about a company that was hiring. I went to the company, applied and they hired me. Pay was $80 a week. On my first day, the supervisor took me to a house to … Continue reading →

### Pest Tips

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ April 13, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

Pest Tips; Silverfish: You can trap them by putting some flour in a glass jar and wrapping it with duct tape so they can climb up the sides. They will get in the jar but will not be able to get out. Cockroaches: Pesticides not necessary. You can control cockroaches with beer and duct tape. … Continue reading →

### Covid-19 pandemic free pest management

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ April 5, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

I am going to start something effective today because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am starting a business that will help anyone with pest problems via consultations. I do that now with many people, but it is time to expand it because of the pandemic. Many people use exterminators and that is no longer … Continue reading →

### Safe pest control products

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ April 4, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

Here is a list of some products you find around the house or that you can easily purchase that will help you manage your pest problems. There are many others, but these may be the easiest to find and use. Baking Soda Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a mined alkaline mineral. When it is … Continue reading →

### Coronavirus opinion

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ March 30, 2020 ⋅ 1 Comment

The coronavirus pandemic is terrible, and I don’t think it is going away. This is just my opinion. It originated from live animal markets in China where wild animals are routinely slaughtered and sold to people on site. The animals live in terrible conditions that creates an environment where the germination and spread of diseases … Continue reading →

### Pesticide spraying outside

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ March 29, 2020 ⋅ 1 Comment

Someone asked me if it was okay to have the perimeter of her house sprayed with pesticides for cockroach control. It is not good for the ecosystem. There are numerous beneficial organisms in every yard and this is one reason, plus your safety, your family’s safety and the safety of any pets you have for … Continue reading →

### Are spiders dangerous?

Posted by askthebugman ⋅ March 26, 2020 ⋅ Leave a comment

Someone asked me if spiders are dangerous. Yes! In one case, a woman jumped out of her car while she was driving because she saw a spider on her shoulder. The car was wrecked. In another case, a woman saw a spider on her rear-view mirror and panicked and ran off the road. She wasn’t … Continue reading →

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