2012年2月29日 星期三

Ten Pest Control Tips for Deterring a Spider Invasion


Although most spiders are venomous, and considered predators; few are actually a notable health threat. Albeit spiders are very unpopular, they rarely bite humans. In fact, most spiders' fangs are too small/weak, to puncture a human's skin. Nevertheless, when spiders do bite, the venom of most species is not very toxic (to humans); and often only results in slight swelling, inflammation, or itching sensation.

The two (2) most common spiders, of concern to homeowners and pest control professionals; are the Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders. An invasion of either of these two spider pests, could result in dangers to your health and life. Bites should be considered serious, and require immediate medical diagnosis and treatment.

What can homeowners do to protect themselves? The best pest control strategy for deterring a spider infestation, is to reduce the pest population of other insects (food source); from inside the house or building. This approach encourages spider intruders to leave your dwelling, in search for a more dependable food supply; outside of the home.

With that in mind, here are 10 dependable pest control tips, for reducing the number of spider/pest invaders; in your home:

1. Install snug-fitting screens, on all windows and doors. It is also recommended, that you install door sweeps; as well.

2. Seal or caulk cracks and crevices where spiders/insects could enter the house or building.

3. Install yellow/sodium vapor light bulbs outside, to attract fewer insects; for spiders to feed upon.

4. Tape the edges of cardboard boxes to prevent spider/insect entry.

5. Use plastic bags (sealed) to store loose items in the garage, basement and attic.

6. Remove old boxes, unused clothing, wood/rock piles, trash and other unwanted items.

7. Eliminate clutter in closets, basements, attics, garages, and outbuildings.

8. Do not stack wood against the house.

9. Clean up dead insects.

10. Dust and vacuum thoroughly to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs (dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed container outside).

Preventing a pest infestation, is paramount to maintaining a safe and habitable home. Homeowners have a responsibility to prevent pest invaders, like the Brown Recluse or Black Widow spider, from taking over their home; and threatening their health. Using the practical common sense approach outlined above, homeowners can prevent a spider infestation; and avoid the need for pesticides or other treatments inside.




I offer dependable pest control strategies and helpful information, about pest control problems; in your area. Do you have a local pest control question? Ask Pest Control Joel.





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The Brown Recluse Spider


As the husband of a Brown Recluse bite victim, I know firsthand how frightening it can be to be bitten, how important it is to get educated about these spiders, and the need to be prepared for the unexpected.

The Brown Recluse Spider is so named because it is by nature, "reclusive." Because it likes to hide during the day in clothes, shoes, boxes and other out of the way places where bites are most likely to occur through unintentional contact, it is regarded by many as the most dangerous spider here the United States.

When a Brown Recluse spider bites, it is rarely due to aggression. Bites will usually occur because it is hiding out in your clothes and you put them on, or your hand has touched the spider when handling boxes, or you have rolled over them or unknowingly touched them while sleeping in your bed at night. Because Brown Recluses love to hide in boxes and clothes, they can hitch a ride almost anywhere in the United States. However, they are most commonly found south of a line stretching from Northern Nebraska to Northern Ohio.

Because they do scurry around at night, they are difficult to detect. One way to be sure they are not in your home is to install sticky spider traps in various places. Traps are economical and safer to use because no chemicals are sprayed in your home. And, according to Kansas University researchers, spider traps are an effective means of controlling their populations.

Brown Recluses are not affected by most pesticides and according to research, they can actually benefit by your use of them. In lab studies conducted at Kansas University, they have shown the Brown Recluse Spider's inclination to prefer dead prey over living ones. In fact, they can eat an insect killed by pesticides 24 hours prior and suffer no harmful effects.

Brown Recluse bites can develop very rapidly with necrosis starting to form in just a few hours after being bitten. This is because venom literally kills living tissue on contact. Quick response in the event of a bite wound, and finding ways to control their population are important to protecting yourself from these very dangerous spiders.

If you believe that you are bitten by a Recluse, examine the area very closely. Brown Recluse bites will almost invariably contain two small fang marks about 1/16th of an inch apart. The necrosis will begin at those fang marks and spread out into the surrounding tissue. The area will turn a bluish grey as the skin tissue dies, and eventually will slough away, producing an open ulcer. In some bite wounds, it may appear that someone has taken a scoop of flesh out of your body.

Systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, sweating, joint pain, kidney failure and even coma are possible. However, most Brown Recluse bites do not have severe systemic symptoms. Those who are most in danger of severe reactions are the very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Brown Recluse Spiders benefit from human population growth so it looks like this spider is here to stay. The best thing to do is be informed, and know what to do in case you are bitten.




Thomas J. Martincic is the designer, owner, and writer of the website http://www.brown-recluse.com/.

You can read more about these spiders, see pictures of bite wounds, view high resolution photos of the spider, and get some prevention tips by visiting the web site. 888-732-5873





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2012年2月28日 星期二

Medical Attention on the Brown Recluse Spider Issue


It is generally advised that immediately after you are bitten by a Brown Recluse spider to have First Aid and if possible medical attention and a medical review, all of them by a specialized doctor. Although these spiders do not usually bite, but when they do you must be very attentive with the bite, because it is in stake your general health and even your life.

In most of the cases the bite left by this spider is misinterpreted by the persons that were harmed by it, and it is thought that it is just a bee or a wasp. These false premises are taking because of the generally painless symptoms sensed by the one bitten by this spider. The Brown Recluse Spider is very often seen living in the Midwest and the Southeastern parts of the United States of America, and it has a distinctive violin pattern on their cephalothoraxes.

The most encountered symptoms in the case of a Brown Recluse spider can usually be a general pain, itching, and can evolve even into nausea and fever or the ill person can start vomiting. All these symptoms will reveal after a period when the spiders bite will not have any other symptoms than a simple burning and itchy sensation on the part of the affected skin.

It is generally accepted that it is very good to apply First Aid in case of a suspected Brown Recluse spider. The skin around the spider's bite should be washed with cold water and soap, preventing further infection and getting rid of the venom that staid on the surface of the skin. Also it is very important to put some ice packs on the wound in order to be sure that the swelling will be reduced on the wound. It is very important not to apply creams and do not try to suck the poison (venom) from the wound, because this will only aggravate your situation, spreading the poison (venom) into your entire body. Also it is smart to call at the Emergency for an Ambulance, or if your heath state is not such aggravated you can easily call your family doctor.

Usually the prescribed treatment by the doctor will include mostly antibiotics that will fight with the local or in rare cases general infection. The Brown Recluse spider is not a life threatening creature for the humans, although sometimes they can bring death to the ones they infested, but this happens only in rare cases. In the most cases, the ones that have suffered from this spider's bites will be treated at their home, rater than the hospital. At the hospital there will be treated only the severe cases. Occasionally it will be necessary to be done a plastic surgery if it is visible the necrosis of the spider bite.

There are rarely cases when a Brown Recluse Spider will attack you without a motive. They will attack whenever they will feel threatened by us, humans. Usually thy are not seen elsewhere then the Midwest and Southeast territories form the United States. However don't forget to have great care with yourself and receive the most suited medical care form a specialized doctor immediately. This will reduce the risks of further complications and the need plastic surgeries or local repair, or it can really make the difference from a survivor and a dead man.




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Overview of Southeastern Poisonous Insect Bites, Stings and Treatments


Insect bites and stings are common and are seldom cause for worry. There are several insects in the Southeastern United States that can produce serious bites and stings. Being able to recognize and treat a person who has been bitten or stung can make a big difference, especially if bitten or stung by a poisonous insect. The results of some more poisonous bites and stings left untreated can result in permanent disfigurement and even death.

Southeastern Insects Covered by This Article

There are of course too many biting and stinging insects to cover exhaustively. The following are several of the more common insects encountered that command attention in the Southeastern United States:

• Honey bees

• Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets

• Scorpion

• Brown Recluse Spider

• Black Widow Spider

Honey bees

Honeybees are not usually an aggressive insect. They do sting if they are attacked or stepped on and will more likely sting if they detect a threat to their hive. Honey bees have a stinger that have barbs which will pull out a portion of its abdomen called the ovipositor, killing the bee quickly after the sting. This stinger will continue to inject painful poison into the victim until it is removed.

Treatment for a Honey Bee Sting

• First, remove the stinger by either pinching or scraping it off the skin. Studies show that the method of stinger removal isn't important. Quickly removing the stinger is important!

• Apply a cold pack to the sting.

• After pain subsides, the sting will itch. Scratching makes it worse!

• If shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling in the face, or hives appear, or any other non localized reaction, suspect a potential allergic reaction. Call 911 immediately.

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets

Hornets and Yellow Jackets are both part of the Wasp family. As far as their potential to sting, they can be either gentle or aggressive depending on the species. Regardless, if a wasp is handled, stepped on or perceives its hive as being in danger, it will sting. Like honey bees, wasps use a stinger in their abdomen to inject poison into their victim. Unlike the honey bee, they keep their stingers and can repeatedly sting. When stung by a wasp, removal of the stinger isn't of concern.

Treatments for a Wasp Sting

• Apply a cold pack to the sting.

• After pain subsides, the sting can itch. Scratching makes it worse!

• If shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling in the face, or hives appear, or any other non localized reaction, suspect a potential allergic reaction. Call 911 immediately.

Scorpions

Scorpions in the southeast are common, and will sting painfully if disturbed. Most southeastern scorpion stings aren't life threatening but should be watched in case symptoms become more serious. As the Scorpion uses a stinger to inject its venom, the sting initially feels like being stuck with a pin. The sting can be quite painful and can cause a number of different symptoms. If stung by a scorpion, a good rule of thumb is anything more than moderate pain is an indication that emergency treatment should be sought. A few of these symptoms are sweating, trouble breathing, rapid eye movements or blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting.

Treatments for Scorpion Stings

• Wash the area with soapy water.

• Apply a cold pack to the sting.

• Watch for any non localized symptoms including sweating, trouble breathing, rapid eye movements or blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting.

Brown Recluse Spider

The Brown Recluse spider is a small brown spider that hides in undisturbed clothing, shoes, gloves, closeted equipment and in other places infrequently visited. They are sometimes characterized by the presence of the shape of a violin or fiddle on their back giving them their colloquial name "fiddle back" spider. This isn't necessarily the best way to identify Brown Recluse spiders. The best way to clearly identify these spiders is to notice they have three sets of two eyes sometimes arranged like a human's two eyes and nose. The brown recluse bite is sometimes not painful or noticed until it becomes a serious skin and tissue lesion. One should seek medical attention if they notice a pimple or blood blister becoming worse in a period of a few hours to a day to become similar to a boil. If untreated, the wound can become gangrenous and potentially life threatening. The best treatment is recognition and immediate professional medical care.

Treatment for Brown Recluse Spider Bites

• Quick Recognition.

• Immediate care by a healthcare professional.

Black Widow Spider

The Black Widow Spider is a relatively small black spider with a characteristic red hourglass shape on its underbelly. The Southern Black Widow spider commonly spins its web in quiet, dry places such as under water meter covers, pieces of firewood or logs, in quite tool sheds and the like. This spider is quite poisonous and can produce a bite that requires medical attention. The bite is usually quite painful followed by several non localized symptoms that always indicate emergency medical attention. Any bite followed by muscle ache, cramps, abdominal pain, nervous jitter, vomiting, dizziness, chest pain and trouble breathing should be an indication of a potential life threatening condition that requires emergency medical attention.

Treatment for Black Widow Spider Bites

• Quick Recognition

• Immediate care by a healthcare professional




Benjamin Karp is the President of GA CPR. GA CPR is a full-service safety company. They offer complete solutions including individual CPR training, product consultation, and advice on developing a custom AED emergency response program for your entire organization. They also supply a full range of Philips AED equipment, CPR manikins, and CPR masks. For more information or to register for an Atlanta CPR class, visit: http://www.gacpr.com





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Brown Recluse Spiders Live in Spaces You Rarely Visit


If you have a storage shed, a storage unit, or a pile of stuff sitting in the attic or garage, maybe you have an extended family of brown recluse spiders living in there. If so, I have something to tell you that might save you a finger, and/or a lot of pain. Over the past few years I piled stuff up in my mini barn until I can't hardly get around inside, and don't even think about figuring out where any one item is.

 

Last weekend I decided time's here to clean that barn out, and I started at the door pulling things out and organizing them into piles on the ground. I wasn't very far into the barn when movement grabbed my attention, and focusing on the source of that movement I saw a spider with legs that set off a warning alert in my mind.

 

The brown recluse has very long legs, and as a pest control technician I learned to make my first recognition step of the species by my fixed image of those legs (keeping that image locked in my head saved me from a number of potential bites, I'm sure). Looking closer I noted the long slender body that pretty much confirmed for me that I had a recluse living in my barn.

 

That got me inspecting the areas both in my vision, and those I could reach. That wasn't much of the inside of the barn because of the clutter, but enough to show me a number of the spiders dwell there, and enough to warn me that an even larger number lurked where I couldn't see them.

 

At that point I stopped carrying things out of the barn, and took steps to protect myself from bites.

 

I immediately thought about a time back in 1983 when my father cleaned out a storage shed where he worked. That was in New Mexico, and the shed was full of old parts he sorted for either use or to discard. While he cleaned that shed a brown recluse bit him on a finger of his left hand. It was only on his first finger joint, but the poison started eating up his finger, and the doctors cut his finger off at the second joint to stop the poison from spreading into his hand and up his arm.

 

He didn't feel that spider bite him. The doctors identified the spot as a recluse bite later. That's one problem with these spiders. If you do feel the bite it's only a little sting, and you normally think it isn't anything serious. You find out later that you thought wrong.

 

Before you start cleaning any areas with long-stored items take a couple precautions of your own. Don't take chances with these spiders.

 

First thing I recommend is a pair of gloves. Often just wearing gloves keeps you from suffering a spider bite. When a spider feels movement, or vibration, of its nest it first thinks "food." The spider immediately goes to bite and stun the food, and often does this to a hand before it realizes it's too big to eat.

 

Spiders' fangs are too short to penetrate through a gardening or work glove, and once they notice how big that hand is their first action is escape from harm. A long sleeved shirt is also a good idea.

 

As you work into the cleaning job spray ahead of you. Use a good suspension chemical spray, and wait about 15 -20 minutes after each application, so the solution has time to work.

 

With those two precautions in use spider bites shouldn't be any concern for you, and you'll have that space cleaned with fingers intact.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

For other pest control ebooks by Joe visit http://www.bugsmiceratsnomore.com





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2012年2月27日 星期一

Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Discussion of "How Do I Love Thee?"


"How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning was written in 1845 while she was being courted by the English poet, Robert Browning. The poem is also titled Sonnet XLIII from Sonnets From the Portuguese.

Early Experiences

Elizabeth Barrett was born in Durham England in 1806, the first daughter of affluent parents who owned sugar plantations in Jamaica. She was home-schooled and read voraciously in history, philosophy and literature. Young Elizabeth learned Hebrew in order to read original Bible texts and Greek in order to read original Greek drama and philosophy. She began writing poems when she was 12 years old, though she did not publish her first collection for another twenty years.

Elizabeth Barrett developed a serious respiratory ailment by age 15 and a horse riding accident shortly thereafter left her with a serious spinal injury. These two health problems remained with her all of her life.

In 1828 her mother died and four years later the family business faltered and her father sold the Durham estate and moved the family to a coastal town. He was stern, protective, and even tyrannical and forbid any of his children to marry. In 1833 Elizabeth published her first work, a translation of Prometheus Bound by the Greek dramatist Aeschylus.

A few years later the family moved to London. Her father began sending Elizabeth's younger brothers and sisters to Jamaica to help with the family business. Elizabeth was distressed because she openly opposed slavery in Jamaica and on the family plantations and because she did not want her siblings sent away.

Early Writing

In 1838 Elizabeth Barrett wrote and published The Seraphim and Other Poems. The collection took the form of a classical Greek tragedy and expressed her deep Christian sentiments.

Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth's poor health prompted her to move to Italy, accompanied by her dear brother Edward, whom she referred to as "Bro." Unfortunately he drowned a year later in a sailing accident and Elizabeth retuned to London, seriously ill, emotionally broken, and hopelessly grief-stricken. She became reclusive for the next five years, confining herself to her bedroom.

She continued to write poetry, however, and published a collection in 1844 simply titled, Poems. It was also published in the United States with an introduction by Edgar Allan Poe. In one of the poems she praised one of the works of Robert Browning, which gained his attention. He wrote back to her, expressing his admiration for Poems.

Robert Browning

Over the next twenty months Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning exchanged 574 letters. An admiration, respect, and love for each other grew and flourished. In 1845 Robert Browning sent Elizabeth a telegram which read, "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett. I do, as I say, love these books with all my heart - and I love you too." A few months later the two met and fell in love.

Inspired by her love for Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett wrote the 44 love poems which were collected in Sonnets From the Portuguese and which were eventually published in 1850. Her growing love for Robert and her ability to express her emotions in the sonnets and love poems allowed Elizabeth to escape from the oppression of her father and the depression of her recluse.

Her father strongly opposed the relationship so she kept her love affair a secret as long as possible. The couple eloped in 1846 and her father never forgave her or spoke to her thereafter.

Move to Italy

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband, Robert, went to Pisa, Italy and soon settled in Florence where she spent the rest of her life, with occasional visits to London. Soon Elizabeth's health improved enough to be able to give birth to the couple's only child, Robert.

In 1850 she published Sonnets From the Portuguese. Some have speculated that the title was chosen to hide the personal nature of the sonnets and to imply that the collection was a translation of earlier works. However, Robert's pet name for Elizabeth was "my little Portuguese," a reflection on Elizabeth's darker, mediterranean complexion, possibly inherited from the family's Jamaican ties.

While living in Florence, Elizabeth Barrett Browning published 3 more considerable works. She addressed Italian political topics and some other unpopular subjects, such as slavery, child labor, male domination, and a woman's right to intellectual freedom. Though her popularity decreased as a result of these choices, she was read and heard and recognized throughout Europe. She died in Florence in 1861.

The Poem, "How Do I Love Thee?"

Sonnet XLIII, "How Do I Love Thee?" is probably Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most popular love poem. It is heartfelt, romantic, loving, elegant, and simple. It is also quite memorable.

The love poem starts with the question, "How Do I Love Thee?" and proceeds to count the ways. Her Christian spirituality testifies that she loves Robert "to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach." She then professes seven more ways that she loves Robert. Her "passion put to use in my old griefs" refers to the depth of her former despair. The love that "I seemed to lose with my lost saints" refers to the lost loves of her mother and her brother.

The love poem ends with the declaration that time and death will not diminish her love for Robert because "if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death."

How Do I Love Thee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.




*****************************

Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com.





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Brown Recluse Spiders Live Openly in Places That Might Surprise You


Our temperatures here in Indiana are running 10-degrees below normal for this time of year. At least that's what the weatherman said on a recent morning forecast.

A couple days ago I went scuba diving. Cold weather diving is normal around here; though when I saw the 34-degree reading that morning before I headed out I admit I hesitated for a moment or two.

At the park where I dove I was cold until I climbed into my wet suit. The air temperature by the time I entered the water was 47-degrees. Lingering at the surface a few minutes I checked the water temperature, and read a pleasing 60-degrees on my thermometer.

This dive was in an old rock quarry in a local park, and I dove to 30-feet during my time in the water. Usually you find a thermo cline around 20-feet or so where the temperature drops about 10-degrees, but that day the water was a warm 60-degrees at all the depths I dropped to.

That was nice because when I came out of the water I started shivering again. I was warmer in the water that day than I was standing in the air, even after I changed into dry clothing.

A particular incident I found interesting during my visit to that park happened when I went into the men's room.

Standing at the urinal I looked down and spotted a couple of spiders right next to me. Looking closer I recognized that they were brown recluse. Turning my gaze to the other side of the urinal alerted me to the presence of another recluse on that side too.

I see this often, so I wasn't surprised to see brown recluse in that environment.

If you attend outings at city, state, national parks, or go camping (this park also had a campground) you know the type of building that housed this men's room. They have electricity for lights, and running water for the sinks, urinals, and toilets, but the builders don't seal them against the weather. They have no heating or cooling equipment.

These facilities are wide open to insects of any kind, and it isn't rare to see spider webs in the corners of the walls. Since these restrooms are in parks, and the atmosphere is one of nature, maintenance people don't perform any kind of pest control. The thought of eliminating the natural inhabitants goes against the theme of the place, don't you think?

Due to the lack of human interference brown recluse spiders don't have any enemies in these buildings, so we see them all the time.

Most people don't recognize them by their long legs, and long, slim bodies, but my pest control experience gave me the ability to identify them quickly from a safe distance. I learned long ago to spot them, and keep a wary eye on their movements.

Brown recluse don't actively attack humans (we're much too big for them to take on), so you won't normally have any trouble when they appear as close to you as they were to me on my scuba outing. Still awareness and watchfulness increases my comfort factor when I run across these poisonous bugs.

If you see a spider with very long legs in proportion to its very slim, and lengthy body, just be alert that you're likely looking at a brown recluse spider.

And keep your eye on it.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

Visit BUG RIDDANCE Rats And Mice Too! for how to information on do-it-yourself pest control techniques.





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2012年2月26日 星期日

The Northwest's Nastiest Spiders


As Pacific Northwest residents know, spiders are fairly common in our region. Though spiders can be very beneficial in that they prey on pesky insects we don't want around the house, there are a few types of spiders you want to avoid. If you believe you have an infestation of any of the following spiders, you will want to contact a pest control company. Not all infestations will require chemical pest control, and a qualified pest control company will know exactly how to handle the risks associated with these potentially harmful spiders.

The most well-known venomous spiders in the Pacific Northwest are the black widow and the hobo spider.

When crafting a plan to deal with spiders, the first step is to identify the type of spider you have, as this will determine the kinds of pest control and pest prevention actions to take. For correct identification, consider the spider's web design, habitat, and appearance.

Black widow: The female black widow is known for its shiny black body, around half an inch to one inch long, and the red hourglass shape on the underside of its body. The male black widow is smaller, much lighter in color and lacks the hourglass shape on its belly. Also, the male black widow does not produce dangerous venom as the female does.

These spiders typically create thin webs and are found in dark, moist, undisturbed areas like wood or debris piles, under large stones, and basement or shed corners. If you are bitten by a female black widow, you should go to an emergency room or call your physician immediately.

Hobo spider: The hobo spider is one of the most common in the Pacific Northwest region. With its tan to light brown color and light banding on the body, it can easily be mistaken for several similar-looking varieties of spider. The hobo spider has a body typically about half an inch long and features two palpi (like an extra pair of shortened legs) near their mouths. They create funnel-shaped webs designed for trapping insects and are frequently found in dark, damp spaces that can support their webs.

While similar-looking spiders are not venomous, the bite of the hobo spider can cause necrosis, or the premature death of living tissue. If you believe you have been bit by a hobo spider, you should seek medical treatment immediately.

Because of its ability to cause necrosis, the bite of the hobo spider is often mistakenly attributed to another well-known, venomous U.S. spider: the brown recluse. This spider varies in color from tan to dark brown, has a body length of a quarter-inch to three-quarters of an inch, and has a dark violin-shaped mark on the front portion of the body. Adults favor dark, secluded, areas that are dry, tightly spaced (cluttered) and remain undisturbed. The web of the brown recluse is not used to catch insects and does not typically feature a consistent design.

Though the brown recluse could be transported from its regular Southern U.S. habitat, research has shown that it does not typically live in the Pacific Northwest.

Pest Prevention Tips for Spiders

As mentioned, having spiders outside can help with pest control around your home. The best pest prevention measure to keep spiders out of your home involves sealing potential entry points, such as openings around windows, doors, water pipes and electrical lines. Also, vacuuming and dusting regularly helps, as the spiders will seek another habitat if their webs are frequently destroyed.

When bringing firewood or other items stored outside into your home, always use extreme caution. Do not store woodpiles or debris against your home or near any windows or doors. Wear leather gloves and examine the items carefully before moving. Remove any visible spiders and egg sacs before bringing the items inside your home.

If you are seeing numerous spiders or any of the spiders described above, you can contact a qualified pest control company for assistance. Successful pest control requires a thorough inspection of your home and the area around it to locate the pests and where they live. Using a green pest control company is recommended, as insect sprays usually only control the spiders you see and are not effective in untreated areas. Additionally, spider egg sacs are by nature relatively impervious, so a spider infestation may return as soon as the eggs hatch. A high-quality green pest control company can provide you with the help you need without the use of harmful and ineffective chemicals or pesticides.




Find out more about the benefits of green pest control for Northwest spiders by visiting the website for Alpha Ecological, a Kennewick pest control company with an established record in Northwest pest prevention and Integrated Pest Management.





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Stun Guns - Not Just For Self Defense Anymore


The stun gun is a well-known non-lethal weapon that works by applying electric current in a jolt to shock the target's nervous system, causing violent muscle contractions and rendering the target helpless. However, a new use for the stun gun has come into being: the treatment of venomous bites.

After years of disrepute, the use of electricity in medicine began making a comeback in the 1980s. Electricity is used in certain nerve therapies, and to break up painful kidney stones. After years of largely anecdotal evidence, the matter started to receive major study in the 1980s, and so the shocking thing is that the possibility of using electroshock to treat snake and spider bites is not better known.

A study of the use of electroshock to combat venomous bites appeared in the July 26, 1986 edition of the British medical journal The Lancet, authored by Dr. Charles D. MacKenzie of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dr. Jeffery Williams of the University of Michigan, and Dr. Ronald H. Guderian, a missionary physician in Ecuador, based on Guderian's experiences there. And more recently Dr. Stan Abrams M.D. posted an article on his website, SpiderBiteTreatment.com, that describes the exact method of application for using a mini stun gun for treatment of the Brown Recluse Spider bite. While treating a poisoned bite with anti-venom is a well-established procedure, there are practical problems involved. Sometimes the creature that produced the poisoned bite is unknown, and therefore, the type of anti-venom that must be used can only be guessed at. Some patients may be allergic to the anti-venom, or may need to travel long distances to the anti-venom, which are expensive and must be carefully stored and cannot be easily or widely distributed. Finally, a patient debilitated by spider or snake venom may not be able to even make the trip. On the other hand, while stun guns are widely available, there is a also wide variety of available machines that can be refitted to provide the necessary electric current.

The basic procedure is simple: using wires with alligator clips, you attach the leads to the extremities of the bite area, and apply a one-second shock. The clips are rotated around the bite wound area in either a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion, until half a dozen shocks are applied. Care must be taken to achieve good skin contact, to avoid arcing and skin burns. In theory, the current works by breaking down the hydrogen bonds of the poison, as well as reducing any metal ions and cytotoxic polypeptides that might be present.

There are obvious problems with using electricity to treat snakebites, however. Just as the reckless application of the "cut and suck" technique of treating snakebites can make matters worse by accidentally cutting an artery, the improper use of electrical shocks on people with heart conditions can be fatal. As of 2006, 180 taser-related deaths had been reported in the US. Therefore, this is not a technique that should be applied by anyone who has not received some basic training in it.




Thomas L. James is the founder of Quality Protection Products Inc, the leading source for non-lethal self defense weapons and security products in Northeastern Oklahoma. For more information on the use of stun guns as a treatment for snake or spider bites visit http://hiddencamerasforhome.com/blog/?p=21





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2012年2月25日 星期六

The Brown Recluse Bites - 7 Steps of Treatment


There are currently more than 20000 spider species discovered, but just a few of them can really give you more than a scary moment when you see them. Actually there are just a few that can treat and harm you, such as the Hobo and Yellow Sac Spider, but only the well renowned Black Widow and Brown Recluse can give you a disease or an illness or even be life threatening.

Now, we will focus on the Brown Recluse. The Brown Recluse can be easily found in the entire United States of America, but mostly it is seen in the Southeastern and Midwestern lands. The most favorite pray of this spider are the children under 8 years old, because they usually die because of the highly powerful poison that the spider is carrying.

The perfect habitats for the Brown Recluse are definitely the dry places such as barns, basements or attics and even in small objects such as cupboards or old tires. It seems to feel comfortable in the most unimaginable places, so be very careful. Be very careful also when you encounter a Brown Recluse. In any way don't make the spider feel threatened in any manor, because when they feel threat they will attack.

Although the Brown Recluse doesn't carry high quantities of venom, it is very concentrated, almost pure and, the most important, very powerful. It is said that this spider's venom is more poisonous than one of a rattle snake. The main affections that it causes are the kidney failure, severe coma, or even death, all of them after having painful gangrene in the immediate skin around the Brown Recluse bites.

Many people don't seem to care or to have an interest to get a treatment after they get bite by the Brown Recluse. Many of them feel on that moment a burning combined with an itching sensation, and don't give a great importance to this fact. Sometimes the manifestations after the spider's bite can get very serious and severe such as having fever, nausea or even muscle pains, days after the Brown Recluse's bite. The best action you can do after you suspect you have been bitten by this dangerous spider is to seek immediate medical attention from a specialized doctor.

The only method to identify if you were or not bitten by a Brown Recluse spider is to contact a specialized doctor that will conduct on you a series of medical tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), complete urine and electrolytes test and also take the history of the bite in terms of time and location.

In meantime you can also use the First Aid Kit before the ambulance comes and takes you to your local hospital, or your family doctor comes and begin the treatment. The things you can do yourself are:

Wash skin around the bite with cold water and soap

Apply ice packs on the spiders bite to reduce partially the imminent swelling

If it is possible raise the leg or arm above the hearth line

Be calm and take some pain reliefs

It is very important not to apply any creams or to suck out the highly dangerous venom. It will only spread the venom around the body and make your situation worse.

Most probably, you will be administrated by the specialized doctor a tetanus shot and some antihistamine tablets and other pain reliefs. Do not take any dapsone or steroids, because their use in this medical issue is very controversial.

After you will receive the prescribed treatment, you will must to go regularly to a hospital or clinic in order to see the evolution in time of the whole area of the bite. Sometimes you will need to be hospitalized or to have some plastic surgeries.




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What Is Lurking Behind the Specter of Your Junk?


There are some things that are well-known about junk. It is unseemly, often emits a disturbing odor, is harsh on the eyes, and generally pretty harmful to the environment. In short, it is a societal menace.

That said, certain species can take root in junk piles, animals you do not want to deal with like brown recluse spiders, snakes, roaches, bees, and wasps. Not to mention a host of harmful molds. Chances are there is also some rusty tetanus infected metal in there as well. Maybe other harmful things, but do you really want to find out?

You keep meaning to clean it up but it never seems to happen and that pile of junk behind your house or in your attic just keeps growing and growing. That is when you know it is time to call a professional junk removal service. They know how to handle the perils that can lurk in your junk. Remember this isn't a simple garbage removal we are talking about some heavy-duty junk.

Debris removal is pretty affordable when you consider the cost and hazard of cleaning up a mess as epic as a junk pile. It could take days, countless trips to the dump, damage to your vehicle and worst of all personal injury. Is it worth the time and risk?

Hazards aside, you know that to do with all the junk you have? Do you know what you donate? What you can recycle? Just getting rid of everything is as irresponsible as leaving the mess there. Junk removal experts know how to handle different types of junk and waste.

A good professional junk removal service will know where to take anything from scrap metal, to recyclables, to furniture that could potentially be reused or refitted. Don't play the guessing game with your junk because in that game the environment loses. Let a professional junk removal service deal with the details of how your junk is properly disposed of.

It may seem like a daunting pile of trash now, but with a bit of work and the help of a junk removal service you can have the space back to yourself and your family. Not that family of snakes that currently reside in your junk heap.

With the holiday and winter approaching now is the time to act. You want that junk out of there before the in-laws fly in for the holidays and snow and ice turn your junk pile into a frozen disaster.




Junk In Our Trunk is a reliable waste removal company. This NYC junk removal company services both residential and commercial properties. Enjoy the beauty of clutter free living thanks to this superb junk removal service.





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2012年2月24日 星期五

What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Spider Bite


If you suspect you have been bitten by a spider you probably have a lot of questions. It is important to realize that rarely are spider bites dangerous, but many conditions that are mistaken for spider bites can be dangerous themselves.

What does a spider bite look like?

It really depends on what type of spider you have been bitten by. Brown recluse bites, for instance, will typically become dark circles around a small bump that looks like acne. In fact, many times when people suspect they have been bitten by a spider it is only acne.

Just because you have a small red bump somewhere on your body, though, does not mean that you have a spider bite. Many times what people think are spider bites end up being MRSA, a very serious type of staph infection that is difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. If you have a red bump that will not go away you should go see a doctor.

When do spiders bite people?

Spiders are nocturnal so they sleep during the day and are active at night. If a spider comes in to your house and bites you it will probably be at night. This is very rare (and usually you won't even know because only a few types of spiders can administer venom through a spider bite).

It is much more likely that a spider will bite you when you are on the spider's turf. If you have a woodpile, for instance, and you grab a log with spiders on the bottom they might feel threatened and attack you to protect themselves. If you have been bitten in this way you should try to get a good look at the spider; if it has a red hourglass-shape on it's abdomen it could be a black widow and you should be treated immediately.

How to get rid of spiders

It should not be normal to have a lot of spiders in your house. If you see spiders frequently you need to look for a possible point of entry. Look at your windows and make sure none are cracked and even look for cracks in the seam of your house.

If you find a crack you can by commercial products that you put in the crack and the fill out essentially closing the entryway to the spiders. This is a safe, effective way to treat for spiders.

If the infestation is more serious you might need to call an exterminator. Be sure to tell your exterminator about any children or pets you have in the house because this might affect how they choose to eradicate the infestation. You do not want glue traps lying around where children or pets might be playing, for instance.




Preston writes articles about various topics and interests for different internet media companies. He helped with the creation of Spider Bite Guide, a resource for people interested in learning more about spider bites.





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The Various Causes of Blisters


As we all know blisters are fluid filled boils that appear as bubbles on the skin.

There are various ways in which one might contract a blister. You could get one by wearing a new shoe that rubs against your skin or on when you are gardening without wearing a glove.

Usually home treatment is enough to treat a blister.

There are also other ways that one can get blisters these include:

- Burns caused by exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, sun.

- Injuries due to being exposed to very cold or freezing temperatures.

- Bites by some spiders. If you are bit by brown recluse spider bite you will notice reddened skin followed by a blister that forms at the bite site, pain and itching. In addition to this there will also appear a sore with a breakdown of tissue. This sore will develop within a few hours to about three to four days of the bite. This sore can take up to months to heal.

- Blood blisters are formed by pinching the skin with force. E.g. finger being caught in a drawer. Blood blisters form when tiny blood vessels are damaged.

Blisters can also be formed due to an infection. Infections give rise to single blisters or even a cluster of blisters.

- Chickenpox has been experienced by a lot of people. This is one infection that can cause blisters. It is caused by a type of herpes virus. Chickenpox boils start off as red bumps, turn into blisters and finally scab over. Chickenpox is very contagious especially two to three days before development of a rash till all blisters have crusted over.

- Shingles also cause boils. This infection is commonly found in older adults and is caused by the chickenpox virus. These boils are identical to chickenpox but are found in a band on one side of the body.

- Another blister causing infection is cold sores also called fever blisters. These are visible as a small cluster of boils on the lip and outer edge of the mouth. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus.

It is also possible that inflammations cause skin blisters. E.g. contact dermatitis is a result of skin touches something which in turn causes an allergic reaction and then blisters. Contact with some plants, such as poison ivy, oak, and sumac, can occur indirectly too.

Blisters could also develop due to a disease, which gets your own body to attack its skin.




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2012年2月23日 星期四

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver - A Review


An understated but shocking indictment of both the democratic right and the communist left and their impact on the writer who merely tries to seek and expose the truth.

The novel chronicles the life of Harrison Shepherd, a reclusive writer of mixed American-Mexican descent, who lives through the Depression in America, the era of Frida Kahlo and her equally colourful socialist husband Diego Rivera, the tragic sojourn of Lev Trotsky in Mexico and the post-war McCarthy era of anti-Communist fervour. Shepherd only wants to write novels about the former grandeur of Mexico and the causes that led to its decline, but his books eerily remind those in power that nothing much has changed between one empire and another. He becomes the object of persecution by the Committee on Un-American Activities (on whose bench sits one Richard M. Nixon, hmm!) until he finally decides on his own exit from this flawed world via the Lacuna, both a metaphoric and physical gap between one world and another.

Shepherd is the quintessential observer, hiding the dark secret of his homosexuality, while always being under the domination of a stronger older woman: first his opportunistic and flamboyant mother Salome, then the bombastic and original Frida, and finally the organized and steadfast Mrs. Brown. He is a loner and a voracious chronicler of events, sights and sounds (some sections of the book read like a travelogue); he shuns publicity and is fiercely loyal to only a few people in his small circle. And yet the power of his pen mobilizes fans worldwide and infuriates governments. However, he is unable to staunch the wave of character assassination that washes over him because of his past associations and writing - a cautionary tale for writers today as well, in our increasingly litigious society.

What impresses me about this novel is the variety of styles and devices used to carry the story: part journal, part epistle, part newspaper article, and part interjections by Shepherd's loyal secretary, Mrs. Brown, who assembles the collection into a coherent whole after her boss's exit from the stage. The writing too carries different voices: Shepherd's 13year-old beginnings, his early Mexican accent, the slang of his late teens in America, the return to servant humility while working as Rivera's cook in Mexico, his emerging confidence as Trotsky's typist and his final tongue-in-cheek rebuttals to the kangaroo court that prosecutes him after he has become a successful author; the newspaper clippings that are so one-sided and defy all conventions of journalistic balance; and Mrs. Brown's mountain English that is closer to the Biblical than Luke's.

What scares me about the subject matter is that the state (any state, be it a so-called benign democracy or a benighted totalitarian regime) can fabricate anything it wants to make someone guilty of a crime that was never perpetrated. And that we replace our demons periodically: Hitler was replaced by Stalin's Communists, who in turn were dislodged by the Terrorists - who will be next? "People want to believe in heroes and villains when very frightened -it's less taxing," says Trotsky, who also bemoans with his dying breath, "There is no hope - for social democracy." Welcome to the world of Right and Left with a giant Lacuna in the middle.




Shane Joseph is the author of three novels and a collection of short stories. His work After the Flood won the best futuristic/fantasy novel award at the Canadian Christian Writing Awards in 2010. His short fiction has appeared in international literary journals and anthologies. His latest novel The Ulysses Man has just been released. For details see http://www.shanejoseph.com





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