Seasonal News

Mr. Roy Crain with Live Oak Pest Control received 10 free bags of  Talstar Xtra VERGE granules product after winning the “Friday Night Lights” contest from FMC and gave back to the community by using it on Suwannee High School’s football field. Read Mr. Crain’s entry below:

“Live Oak Pest Control has been serving the needs of our community for over 40 years. Our small community was hard hit this past summer by Tropical Storm Debbie. Many in our area have lost their homes, their business, or been affected in one way or another by this storm. Our community is a STRONG ONE! We are still a community of neighbor helping neighbor rebuild a broken fence, remove downed trees or even rebuild a home.

This is also a rebuilding year for our Suwannee High School Bulldogs. With new Head Coach Jamie Rodgers the 2012 season is shaping up to be a great one. Coach Rodgers has had our boys hitting the weights all summer long to build up their stamina for the rigors of the upcoming “Friday Night Lights”. Paul Langford Stadium is home of the 4 consecutive State Championship Suwannee High Bulldogs. Keeping that winning tradition fire ant free for the next year with FMC and Talstar Xtra on Verge Granule Technology would go a long way on rebuilding that winning tradition. And remember a “Country Boy Can Survive”(Suwannee High School Bulldog’s theme song).”

Also see: After the Storm: Fighting Fire Ants after Hurricane  Debbie  and
Tropical Storm Debbie

Publication: Florida Turf Digest page 24
VOL 30 / No. 1, January February 2013

The average June rainfall in Live Oak, Florida is six inches. In June of 2012, forty inches of rain fell.

The perpetrator was Hurricane Debbie, a 200-mile wide storm that lashed north central Florida with high winds, tornadoes and sheets of rain. In the small farming community of Live Oak, more than 40 businesses and 900 homes were flooded, and six months later, many still hold water. Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.

“It was unbelievable,” said Roy Crain, general manager of Live Oak Pest Control, Inc., a 40-year-old, family owned pest control company serving Suwannee, Lafayette and Madison counties. “The storm seemed to just come in and sit. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded.”

And the insect pressure was formidable.

“I never saw so many photos of floating fire ants on Facebook,” said Crain. “And now, we are still seeing unprecedented amounts of ants, even in areas with no problems before. And I’m talking about beach ball size mounds, not little ones.”

So what is Live Oak’s strategy in the wake of the storm?

Most homes and businesses get two subsequent applications of Talstar® Professional on their lawns to start, before dropping down to applications in March, May, July and September. The liquid applications keeps fire ant activity “under control” without too much expense. A granular insecticide is applied around the perimeter of the homes for an added layer of protection.

Live Oak Pest Control is also trying a new product, Talstar XTRA featuring Verge™ Granule Technology, which offers fast and long-term mound control as well as less dust and odor. Crain received free product after winning the Friday Night Lights contest from FMC (read the story here).

Live Oak Pest Control’s lawn specialist Ryan Cannon broadcast Talstar XTRA on Langford Stadium’s football field, which had fire ant mounds. A week later, “The fire ant mounds were gone… no activity,” he said. “Talstar XTRA did a wonderful job.”

Take that, Debby.

For more information, visit Live Oak Pest Control, Inc. online or call 386-362-3887.

Hurricane Debbie hit northern Florida in June 2012, dumping more than 40 inches of rain and leaving masses of fire ants and other pests in its wake.

Live Oak Pest Control, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Bob McGranahan, seen at left with Melissa Lee, vice president. Live Oak Pest Control has been helping fight fire ants throughout northern Florida in the wake of June’s Hurricane Debby.

Live Oak Pest Control General Manager Roy Crain is flanked by lawn specialist Ryan Cannon and owner Bob McGranahan. Live Oak Pest Control won ten bags of Talstar XTRA featuring Verge granule technology as part of the Friday Night Lights contest from FMC. Here, they pause before an application of Talstar XTRA on Langford Stadium’s football field at Suwannee High School, in Live Oak, Florida.

In Florida, it is not unusual for fire ants to infest manicured turf like sports turf. But after June’s Hurricane Debby, fire ants have become an even bigger problem.

Publication: Florida Turf Digest page 24
VOL 30 / No. 1, January February 2013

Most of the time worms are harmless and even beneficial for our yards but this is not always the case. Some worm species can destroy our carefully cultivated gardens, shrubs, and decorative grasses. The good news is that the threat of some species of worms to our properties can be dealt with by the professionals at Live Oak Pest Control.

There are eight varieties of worm species that we deal with on a regular basis. They are the; Bagworms, Oleander Caterpillars, Fall Web Worm, Grub Worms, Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Fall Armyworm, Tropical Sod Web Worm, and the Azalea Caterpillar. There are more types of worms that can invade your yard and wreak havoc, but these are the types we will cover briefly in this article.

Bagworms: You will generally see Bagworms hanging on the walls (inside the home) and also in trees in Florida. Bagworms are larvae and are rarely seen outside their bag. Full grown bagworms are a dull gray color with darker markings towards the head.

Oleander Caterpillars: The Oleander Caterpillar is a bright orange caterpillar with long black hairs. It is common to find them on Oleanders in Florida and southern Georgia. The adult moth stage is often called the “polka-dot wasp moth” because of their resemblance to wasps. The moth body and wings are very colorful; iridescent blue/green with small white dots.

Fall Web Worm: The Adult Fall Web Worm moth is all white and appears fuzzy. Here in Florida, the adult moth can have dark brown spots and their front legs are orange or bright yellow. Adult moths have a wingspan of 1.4 – 1.7 inches. Adult moths are seen from May to August while they lay their eggs. The Fall Web Worm head can either be black or red; the black-headed larvae are thought to be prevalent in northern climates while red-headed larvae are thought to be dominant in the south.

Grub Worms: Grubworms are “C”-shaped and have a brown head and a cream colored body. When they are found in the soil they are normally always found in the “C” shape. Adult grubworm beetles are better known as June Beetles and are about a half inch long and brown in color.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar: These worms get their name from the silken tent-like structure that they live in. They will come out of their shelter each day and feed on nearby leaves only leaving the midrib. Adult moths are reddish brown with white stripes.

Fall Armyworm: The Fall Armyworm caterpillar is either green or brown and are 1.5 inches long. As the armyworm grows it develops light stripes horizontally and dark spots on the top of each segment. Easily identify a Fall Armyworm by the light colored “Y” on their head.

Tropical Sod Web Worm: Tropical Sod Web Worms are a grayish-green color and have brown spots on each segment. Mature larvae of Tropical Sod Web Worms are 3/4 to 1 inch long and they pupate (leave the cocoon as from a young pupae) in the grass thatch or soil surface. The Tropical Sod Web Worm caterpillar is a translucent green with small dark spots on each segment and has a yellowish-brown head.

Azalea Caterpillar: Azalea Caterpillars are found in North Central Florida primarily from July to October on Azaleas. The adult Azalea Caterpillar is about 2 inches long, predominately black with yellow horizontal stripes and the head & legs are a mahogany-red. If the Azalea Caterpillar is disturbed they will often raise its front and rear ends into the air.

If you are experiencing a Worm or Caterpillar problem give us a call today at (386) 362-3887 to let a Lawn Care Specialist treat and eliminate them from your lawn.

We provide complete Pest Control Services to residents in Lake City, FL and in all of Columbia county and the surrounding areas. Call us today to eliminate and prevent the pests common around Lake City area residences like the; roaches, ants, wasps, palmetto bugs, silverfish, mice, rats, bed bugs, fleas, ticks and termites common in the Lake City area. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service starting from our customer service representatives to our fully-trained and state certified Pest Specialists©.

We can provide pest control services for you monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, annually, or even set up just a one time service application for your home. Our proactive pest control programs treat your home in ways that are best and safest for your family, pets and the environment. Once we treat your home, if a pest problem should arise between scheduled treatments we’ll return to take care of it for you at no additional charge.

Live Oak Pest Control has grown to be the Lake City area leader in pest control, termite and lawn care treatment services for all of North Central Florida with an impressive 25 Pest Specialists, a service fleet of 18 service vehicles, 4 lawn and 2 termite dedicated vehicles as well as a staff of 10 dedicated customer service and billing specialists to handle your every need. You can rest easy because we at Live Oak Pest Control are very serious about maintaining a great reputation. One of the ways we do this is by hiring pest specialists that pass the level 2 FDLE background check including the Florida Division of Drivers License check.

Live Oak Pest Control only hires pest specialists with a clean driving record and clean background check; we are very strict in this area! We are and have been very proud to offer you the most professional knowledgeable and customer service oriented pest control services in North Central Florida since 1972. Our company operates with only the best most effective equipment and products on the market. You can be certain we will take the extra steps necessary to ensure your total comfort and peace of mind.

So if you live in Lake City Florida, give us a call today at one of the numbers listed below if you are experiencing problems, want to make an appointment or if you have any questions about your service or services we offer.

Main Office: (386) 362 – 3887
Suwannee: (386) 362 – 3887
Columbia: (386) 758 – 8117
Hamilton: (386) 792 – 2847
Toll-Free: (800) 771 – 3887
Fax: (386) 364 – 3529
Easy to Remember: (386) 362-BUGS

Pest control in North Florida is unique and different from pest control is most other parts of the United States. There are specific pests unique to North Florida, pests that our Pest Specialists are trained and certified to deal with. We have been offering top-notch pest control services since 1972 and we have perfected customer service and stayed up-to-date on all the most current pests and pest control methods.

Our Pest Specialists are different because each and every pest control technician attends monthly training meetings to learn cutting-edge information on safety, changes in application techniques, new products or services and important tips on providing excellent customer care. Our company operates with only the best most effective equipment and products on the market. You can be certain we will take the extra steps necessary to ensure your total comfort and peace of mind.

We also offer the very best lawn care services in North Central Florida! The Live Oak Pest Control lawn care plan can be tailored to fit your lawn care needs including on-call treatments. Our normal lawn care plan includes lawn spraying three times a year, fertilizing twice a year and weed control application once or twice a year, depending on the severity of the problem and the needs of your property and lifestyle.

At Live Oak Pest Control we provide full pest control services for you monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, annually, or just a one-time service application. We eliminate and prevent the pests common around North Florida residences like the; roaches, ants, wasps, palmetto bugs, silverfish, mice, rats, bed bugs, fleas, ticks and termites. After your initial treatment, we will re-inspect your property and perform exterior only treatments throughout the year to keep pests from wandering back into your home.

If you have lived in Florida for any amount of time you know termites are one of our major problems. Termites and their colonies live deep in the ground or hidden inside wooden structures like walls and support timbers so it can be difficult to detect. Live Oak Pest Control’s Termite Specialists are trained in termite inspection, identification and prevention to identify warning signs, treat current termite problems and prevent future infestations.

If you should experience a problem, simply call our office and a specialty termite trained Pest Specialist will be dispatched to your home or office within twenty-four hours.

Call Us Today at: (386) 362 – 3887

Or Toll Free at: (800) 771-3887

In June 2012, tropical storm Debbie wreaked havoc throughout North Central Florida and downtown Live Oak. The torrential rain and flooding Debbie caused us in North Central Florida has all sorts of creatures causing trouble for homeowners and business owners. Tropical storm Debbie has disrupted not only our homes, but also the homes of many insects which has made them active and on the move.

Now this flood of insects is like a secondary creepy crawly flood of problems!

We really want to thank all those county workers who have been working 7 days a week to help get our community back after the storm.  It’s amazing how our community has joined together to help each other. There are a few important tips we want to share with our customers after the storm.

If flood waters entered your home – customers need to be careful when working to clean up, be safe, and please take precautions to protect yourselves. We’re seeing increase pest movement: Mosquitoes, Snakes, Fire Ants, Asian Cockroaches, all causing trouble due to the storm.
- We normally do not see this many pests at the same time.
- We are seeing pests that are not usually active until Fall.

One of the important things we need to get out is that if your home flooded and you have Termite Protection your contracts are now invalid, no matter what company. If your home or property was flooded by rain from Tropical Storm Debbie and your home is protected by termite control application; your treatment may have been compromised. The extensive amount of rain water may have washed the treatment away. Before replacing any water saturated walls or construction, call your Live Oak Pest Control Termite Pest Specialist to inspect and then re-apply.
- Before rebuilding structure or replacing walls – call our termite Specialists to re-treat .
- If you notice any indications of pests in your walls – call us and take precautions.
- Protect your home and property.

For more on this see our “Pest of the Month” page on our website. LiveOakPestControl .com

Like Us on our Facebook page! OR Call us at (386) 362-BUGS

Asian and German cockroaches are very similar in appearance and this makes it difficult to tell them apart. Aside from visual similarities, these pests must be treated in different ways because their behavior is actually very different from the more common roaches that can infest homes. It is believed that the Asian cockroach was introduced to the United States in central Florida around 1986 from the port in Tampa.

The size of the German and Asian cockroach is very similar with adults measuring 5/8 inch long and 3/16 inch wide. Both roach species are brown to light tan with stripes prominent on the back of the head. Females carrying eggs do have visual differences however; Asian roaches have wings that extend over the entire ootheca while German roaches have wings that only extend over half that area.

The biggest difference between the two is that Asian cockroaches prefer to be outdoors in shady and moist organic matter like grass clippings or leaf piles. The Asian cockroach is not very active during the day, preferring the night time. Another difference is that the German cockroach does not fly well at all but the Asian roach is a very strong flier and can fly over 120 feet.

The Asian cockroach is most likely to come out around dusk and is attracted to bright lights. In fact the most common reason for the Asian roach to invade a home is the light they see coming from doors and windows. Once inside they will eat plant matter, pet food, seeds, or infest litter boxes.

By contrast the German roach prefers to be indoors. They enjoy dark places and flee from light sources and can be active at any time of day. Both species are thought to aggravate allergies and are capable of transmitting pathogens via food or by contaminating food prep areas in the home. Therefore it is important to take care of any infestation quickly and efficiently.

We have several Asian Cockroach treatment options to choose from; give us a call today at (386) 362-3887 if you are experiencing an infestation and to discuss treatment options.

Usually when you think of the roach you think of the disgusting and troublesome bugs that infest many homes in the United States. However, the Asian cockroach is a little different than the common German cockroach because it can actually be beneficial in some cases for farmers. While you certainly DO NOT want these little pests in your home we found the following article from the USDA particularly interesting;

“Asian Cockroaches Could Aid Texas Growers

Most people see cockroaches as a terrible pest—with no redeeming qualities or benefit whatsoever. But to cotton farmers in south Texas, an exotic cockroach from Asia could be a highly beneficial insect for biological control

For several years, ARS entomologist Bob Pfannenstiel has been studying predators that feed on the eggs of lepidopteran pests of annual crops. Pfannenstiel, who is in the Beneficial Insects Research Unit at Weslaco, Texas, does most of his work on cotton and the pests that plague it, such as bollworm and beet armyworm.

In the summer of 2006, he discovered a new predator that feeds on lepidopteran eggs—the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai. This roach was observed in large numbers—up to 100 or more per square meter—in soybean fields at Weslaco, yet it causes no damage to the soybeans.
First found in Florida in 1986, the Asian cockroach didn’t appear interested in expanding its range past the southeastern states. However, in 2006, it ventured westward into Texas, where it was the most frequently observed predator of bollworm eggs in soybeans in South Texas’s Rio Grande Valley.

B. asahinai is only active at night; during the day it rests on leaf litter or turf. Its nocturnal habits explain the unusual hours Pfannenstiel must keep to study it. At night, while most of us are asleep, he’s out in the soybean and cotton fields. Pfannenstiel and technician Frank de la Fuente evaluate egg predation over 24-hour periods: They put eggs out at 3 p.m. and measure predation at 3-hour intervals until the following day at 3 p.m.

“Predation at night was as high—or higher than—during the day, and many predators are active during the day or at night, but not both,” says Pfannenstiel. “Without studying what goes on at night, we would never have observed some of our most important predators in cotton and soybeans.”

Pfannenstiel is also charting the roach’s expansion to the Mexican border. He is working closely with North Carolina State University entomologist Coby Schal, who performed the identification and is using molecular techniques to differentiate B. asahinai populations from different parts of the southeastern United States.

B. asahinai is a close relative of the German cockroach B. germanica, a very important home pest. A strong flyer, B. asahinai can also enter homes, where it too is considered a pest. For that reason, it would never be intentionally introduced into an area for biological control. But since it’s here, ARS scientists will continue to study ways to make it useful to growers in the region.”

Alfredo Flores, Agricultural Research Service Information Staff.

This research is part of Crop Protection and Quarantine, an ARS national program (#304) described on the World Wide Web at www.nps.ars.usda.gov.

Robert S. Pfannenstiel is in the USDA-ARS Beneficial Insects Research Unit, 2413 E. Hwy. 83, Weslaco, TX 78596; phone (956) 969-4858, fax (956) 969-4888.

“Asian Cockroaches Could Aid Texas Growers” was published in the January 2008 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

We have several Asian Cockroach treatment options to choose from; give us a call today at (386) 362-3887 if you are experiencing an infestation and to discuss treatment options.

Fleas are a problem for pets and their owners alike. These tiny insects will live on the body of your dog or cat, sucking the animal’s blood and laying eggs. The bites and presence of fleas will cause the pet to itch and if the pet happens to be allergic to fleas (the allergy is technically to the insects’ saliva) it can experience extreme itching, loss of fur in some places, inflammation, and infections. Regardless of whether the pet has an allergy to flea saliva, infestations must be dealt with or they will go on and on and the fleas will also infest your home, other pets, and can even live on humans.

Out of the total flea population found in your home, about 80% of the fleas are still at the egg or larvae stage. These fleas can be found attached to your furniture, carpet, mats and anywhere in your home. The adult flea contributes to just 2% percent of the total flea population in your house. The remaining 18% of the flea population thrives in pupae stage.

Fleas are a notorious cause of irritation and disease in your home. Fleas are a menace that most of us would like to get rid of forever. Though there are numerous flea control products available over the counter, all are not safe for children and pets and may simply be ineffective. It is ideal to have professionals handle flea infestations so you can rest easy knowing the fleas will soon be gone, guaranteed.

There are some ways you can assist your pest specialist as you work together to eliminate fleas. You should use a vacuum cleaner at home daily until the infestation is gone. It is the worst enemy of fleas; make sure you empty the container or bag after each use and dispose of the dust outside of the home. When used regularly a vacuum ensures that your furniture, carpets and sofas remain flea free.

You should also flea comb your pets regularly. It is ideal to restrict the entry of your pets in your bedrooms to avoid infestation where you sleep. Wash all pet bedding and rugs in hot water regularly to ensure good pet hygiene as well as preventing the fleas spreading. You should bathe your pet too, to prevent fleas from settling on it.

If you have problems with fleas give us a call today at (386) 362-3887 and let one of our pest specialists handle it.

Fleas have been around for millions of years, sucking the blood of animals and humans. Fleas live on pets, mammals, in carpets, in sofas as well as other household and farm goods. In a typical room, 5 percent of the fleas will be found on pets, 10 percent flea cocoons in the carpets, 35 percent flea larvae and 50 percent flea eggs again in the carpets. Female Fleas lay eggs that turn in to grub-like larvae.

The larvae then develop in to pupae and settle inside a cocoon. They wait for a host to wander by in order to start their life and suck blood. When something warm moves pass by the pupae, they unzip the cocoon and jump on the animal or human body. All this happens in three seconds and the flea can jump as high as four feet.

It is important to get rid of fleas by hiring a professional as these insects cause serious diseases in pets and humans. Plague, Murine Typhus and Tungiasis are some the diseases that can be caused by fleas. Fleas that are lodged on rats can carry the bacteria Yersinia Pestis – the bacteria that causes Bubonic plague.

Murine Typhus is an infection caused by Rickettsia, R. Typhi. Rat fleas called Xenopsilla Cheopis transmit this. Tungiasis is caused by the Chigger flea, Tungia penetrans, whereby serious damage can be done to the feet as the female species burrow into the feet and breeds there. Their feeding under the skin causes severe infection and irritation. Fleas also transmit Tularemia and tapeworms to humans as well as pets. Other than these diseases, fleas also can cause allergies to both humans and pets.

However, there is no need to worry, as there are many solutions pest specialists use to get rid of fleas. Pest control professionals are there to help you in wiping out fleas from your house and surroundings safely. Remember that adult fleas, pupae, larvae and eggs – fleas at all stages need to be killed to rid your house of them completely.

Resistive pupae and larvae grow on to become adult fleas in a few weeks even though the adult fleas are killed. Fleas should be removed from all stages in their life cycle, to protect your family and pets. Contact Live Oak Pest Control for more info on flea facts, and everything about fleas, fleas in carpets and rugs, fleas in vehicles, fleas in furniture, fleas on pets, fleas in lawns and in your yard, natural flea remedies and much more flea information.

If you have problems with fleas give us a call today at (386) 362-3887 and let one of our pest specialists handle it.