RESCUE!®’s New OrnamenTrap™ Makes Pest Control Attractive

Homeowners can now decorate their gardens and catch pesky flies and yellowjackets at the same time. RESCUE!®, the leader in environmentally responsible household insect control, recently unveiled a new trap with an ornamental design, named the OrnamenTrap™.

The eco-friendly OrnamenTrap™ appears to be just another garden accessory, but it actually catches the yellowjackets and flies. This newest trap from RESCUE!® is the solution for homeowners who want to control pests around an outdoor living area and desire a device that is attractive around the garden and isn’t recognizable as a trap.

The filigree design and metallic plastic are crafted to resemble weathered, cast copper, complementing all backyard styles and patio decor. 

Myths and Truths about Bugs!

Yellowjackets and Wasps

Myth #1: Bounce fabric softener sheets repel yellowjackets (or mosquitoes).

Wrong! The facts: A scientific study in 2010 set out to evaluate this claim. The conclusion was that the dryer sheets repelled fungus gnats – a common insect pest of greenhouse-grown crops – but there is no quantitative data to prove that they repel mosquitoes, or yellowjackets, or any common pest of humans. Director of R&D for RESCUE!®, Dr. Qing-He Zhang says that it is highly unlikely that yellowjackets would be repelled by the perfume-y smell of the dryer sheets; they may actually be attracted to it because of the flower-like odor.

Myth #2: Yellowjackets leave a stinger behind when they sting a victim.

Wrong! The facts: The only stinging species that does is the honey bee. Wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets do not leave behind a stinger – in fact, they can sting multiple times. They also bite the skin to get a better grip when they sting you.

Myth #3: A fake wasp nest repels wasps, because they are territorial.

Wrong! The facts: The fake nest in question, which several manufacturers have brought to market, is round, with one opening at the bottom. It actually resembles a bald-faced hornet nest and not a wasp nest. Through knowledge and observation of this social insect’s behavior, we know that wasps will often build nests in close proximity to each other. And sometimes if a wasp nest has been abandoned, a new queen will take over that nest. This fake wasp nest will also not deter hornets or yellowjackets, since they will most often build nests in sheltered locations.  (Wouldn’t you rather catch these insects in a trap where you can see the body count?)

Myth #4: Taping a copper penny over a sting will provide overnight relief from redness and swelling.

Wrong! The facts: There is no scientific evidence that the copper will counteract the effects of a sting, as it’s never been clinically tested. If someone is experiencing an allergic reaction, a better treatment is to do the following:

·         Wash the wound with soap and water to remove venom

·         Apply cold water, ice in a wet cloth, or a paste of meat tenderizer and water

·         Take a pain reliever or antihistamine to reduce swelling

·         Apply a calamine product to reduce itching

·         Lie down.

·         Lower the stung arm or leg below the heart.

·         Don’t drink alcohol or take sedatives.

If there is a severe allergic reaction where there is significant swelling, difficulty breathing or dizziness, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Flies

Myth #1:  A plastic bag full of water and pennies repels flies.

Wrong! The facts: This myth attributes mammal-like characteristics to an insect. Flies are supposedly scared off at the large amount of water or their own magnified reflections. The truth is that whatever a fly is seeking – food, garbage, or a dirty place to land – trumps any possibility of being repelled by some water in a bag.

Stink Bugs

Myth #1: Stink bugs bite.

Wrong! The facts: Stink bugs can't bite humans. Their mouthpieces resemble more of a straw-like mechanism, which is how they pierce fruit and vegetables and suck out their juices.

Myth #2: Crushing stink bugs and releasing their stink will attract more stink bugs.

Wrong! The facts: Stink bugs do have a pheromone that can cause them to gather in large groups, but that is not the same scent that is released when they are crushed.

Myth No. 3: Stink bugs can come in through your sewer lines or toilets.

Wrong! The facts: Stink bugs are not aquatic. If you see one in your sink, it is a coincidence, and if it is in your toilet, it probably fell in accidentally.

Myth No. 4: Stink bugs lay eggs in your house.

Wrong! The facts: Stink bugs only lay eggs outdoors so that their young will have food readily available.

Myth No. 5: Stink bugs will freeze outdoors in the winter and die.

Wrong! The facts: Stink bugs have survived winters in Allentown, Pa., since the mid-1990s. Some may die, but most find good hiding places to wait out the worst of winter.

Myth No. 6: Stink bugs can cut holes through window screens.

Wrong! The facts: Their mouthparts are incapable of cutting screens. They are capable, however, of crawling through the smallest crevices in a window.

Japanese Beetles

Myth #1: Traps lure Japanese beetles from miles around.

Wrong! The facts: Most attractants lure beetles from no more than 200 yards, says Dr. Klein. The beetles, however, are strong fliers and travel several miles, touching down at random intervals to see what's available for a meal.  If your yard looks attractive, they will come in for a landing on your plants – unless you have a trap to intercept them. The traps only lure beetles that are already in flight near the yard. The one place traps could be a problem is around the edge of a golf course or other large turf area, Dr. Klein says, but not in your average yard.

Myth #2: Traps make the problem worse by luring more beetles than they catch.

Wrong! The facts: This is the biggest misconception in beetle history.  The problem occurs when traps are placed incorrectly.  If next to a rose bush, a large number of beetles will be lured to that area, and some may land on the roses rather than in the trap.

·         Trap placement is critical. Don’t place the traps next to ornamental plants. Set traps about 30 feet from tasty plants to lure the beetles away. It’s best to place them next to a non-flowering tree or shrub, such as a pine tree or boxwood, which is not attractive to the beetles.

·         Enlist your neighbors to battle the beetles, too. Traps are effective in one yard alone, but when neighbors band together and put out traps in their yards, the overall beetle numbers are greatly reduced. Consider it a “neighborhood watch” for garden invaders!

Myth #3: Pesticides are safe to use on Japanese beetles.

So Wrong! The facts: Insecticides work on adult beetles, but they also kill beneficial pollinators, like bees.  Traps offer safe and “green” alternatives to chemical sprays targeting these bugs. Lure traps provide a visible means of combating a Japanese beetle problem without having a negative effect on the environment.

Gardening Spotlighted at the Largest Event for Women in Social Media in the World

To introduce the joys of gardening to the ever expanding world of social media, we've decided to exhibit at the ninth annual BlogHer Conference in Chicago this year.

BlogHer is the world’s largest conference for women in social media.  Reaching 92 million U.S. women each month across blogs and social media, BlogHer is the leading cross-platform media network created by, for and with women social media leaders.

In 2012, 5,000 bloggers attended BlogHer ‘12, bringing together social media experts in food, parenting, health and wellness, entertainment, style, social change, politics, technology, and business. 

This year, we will introduce this important group to a new category - gardening.

As first time BlogHer sponsors, we want to ignite a gardening fever with some of the world’s most influential bloggers who can reach a new audience and share their stories about the joys and rewards of gardening. 

We open our “Garden Shop” July 25 - July 27 at the McCormick Place Chicago. The booth allows attendees to “shop” in a beautiful pop-up tent filled with flowering plants and new garden products.  We will also offer giveaways, and educational materials on gardening, including top gardening trends and story ideas. 

Follow #GardenShopGiveaway for contests and giveaways provided by Costa Farms®, RESCUE!®, Suntory® Flowers, Longfield Gardens® and Perky-Pet®, the garden stars who are helping us introduce gardening to this new audience.  

It's no secret that bloggers are extremely influential. They are the trusted friend to literally hundreds of thousands of potential new gardeners, and BlogHer is a great place for us to get to know them.  With 25 years of experience in public relations, we know the importance of connecting with media influencers on a personal level. Developing meaningful and beneficial relationships at BlogHer’13 will help us reach more people and get them into gardening.  

If you're planning on attending BlogHer '13, let us know!  Stacey and Megan, pictured above, will show you around our "Garden Shop" and offer you a breath of fresh, clean air.  Stop by Booth #2326 to learn more.

And if you can't attend this year, virtually follow along via our @GardenMedia twitter handle and our Garden Media Facebook page July 25- July 27 for news, updates, photos and more!  

See you in Chicago!

~Garden Media 

GMG's Friday Find: Beat the Beetles With This Trap!

Gardeners are reporting that this may be the worst Japanese and Oriental beetle season in years due to the mild winter and warm spring.  These destructive beetles invade gardens and lawns, eating leaves, roots and blooms on everything from trees to prized roses to turf grass.

These are a few options to beat the beetles.  For the non-squeamish, you can pick them off your trees, shrubs and flowers by hand and drop them in soapy water.  Chemicals are another alternative, except that they can also harm people, pets and the environment.  A safer, organic solution is the RESCUE!® Japanese & Oriental Beetle Trap.The science behind this trap combines research into pheromones, beetle behavior and an ingenious cone design that uses a controlled non-toxic delivery system to attract and capture both males and females.

Catching these pests before they mate is particularly important as the life cycle of a beetle takes about a year.  The beetles we'll see this summer were eggs a year ago.  As the adult beetles feed on leaves in summer, the female heads down to burrow into the ground or turf many times to lay eggs.  By mid-August, she'll lay about 60 eggs.  These eggs hatch in less than two weeks and begin their underground life as larva and grubs. The RESCUE!® Japanese & Oriental Beetle Trap can catch the females before they start laying eggs.

Some people think beetle traps attract beetles into their yard from miles away; in fact, the attractant lures pests from only 100-150 feet. Placement is critical though, so for the best results you should hang traps away from where the beetles are congregating. So rather than placing it right next to a rose bush, hang it at least 30 feet from ornamental plants.  The beetles fly into the trap's large yellow panels, get stunned, drop into the bag where they can't escape and die. The trap's unique nylon bag has a zippered bottom for ease of disposal and reuse again and again.

Spare your yard and garden from the destruction of Japanese and Oriental Beetles with the RESCUE!® Japanese & Oriental Beetle Trap; it's a safe, organic solution that works. 

Happy pest controlling!

~Peggy

Garden Media Group

Experts Share Eco-friendly Tips to Protect Homes from Pesky Fall Bugs

Fall’s cool, crisp weather is an ideal time to plant and prepare the home and landscape for next spring. While tending chores outdoors, pesky insects are heading indoors ahead of Old Man Winter, seeking food sources and warm, safe places to hibernate.
 
Home Invaders. Unwelcome invasive pests like silverfish, spiders, earwigs, flies and ants are typical party crashers once temperatures fall.

To protect a home from unwanted fall pests, industry experts share these simple eco-friendly tips to keep pesky insects at bay:.

1. Clean up brush and keep mulch and firewood piles and move them away from the house to avoid creating habitats for critters and insects

2. Seal up cracks, crevices and holes with caulk or weather stripping around potential entry points and seal around pipes and utilities. Repair loose roof tiles and screens. Inspect windows and basement foundations and repair loose and crumbling mortar.

3. Clean cupboard shelves from loose grain, starch-based and sugary food and place food in sealed containers or plastic bags.

4. Check where stink bugs hide in warm, dark spaces like baseboards, exhaust fans, ceiling tiles and drapes. Pick stink bugs off by hand with a tissue and flush them down a toilet or drop into a bucket of soapy water. If you vacuum, be warned. When threatened, stink bugs emit a foul odor so dispose the bags immediately.

New traps help battle stink bugs without the need to touch them. Zhang explains, “Once you see the bugs clinging to the side of the house or screens, this is a signal that they are ready to get indoors to hibernate and more may be coming towards the home. The RESCUE!® Stink Bug trap uses non-toxic pheromone attractants that lures stink bugs from a radius of 30 feet, intercepting them before they reach the house.”

The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap can also be used indoors with an LED light attachment. It works best when stink bugs start waking up from hibernation – usually January through April.

5. If ants are your problem, try herbs. Briscoe White, herb expert and owner of The Growers Exchange, says bay leaves, cinnamon and cloves repel ants outdoors and indoors. Sprinkle dry crushed herbs around points of entry, cabinets and windowsills to create a natural barrier. Plus, peppermint and spearmint are excellent deterrents against both ants and moths.

 -Katie @KatieGMG

Are You Going to IGC?

The IGC Show (Independent Garden Center Show) is the world's largest educational resource for independent garden centers. Held at Chicago's Navy Pier Tuesday August 21-23, IGC is the best place to learn from our industry's thought-leaders, trend-setters and rising stars.  Before you arrive, we'd like to introduce you to a few of our all stars!

Introducing BrazelBerries™ the first ever consumer ready blueberry, grown by Fall Creek Farm and Nursery.  These varieties are like nothing you've seen before. With exquisite ornamental qualities and amazing fruit, these deliciously beautiful shrubs are not to be missed. 
~ Booth #2017


Come check out a brand new product by RESCUE!® Never before seen, to be unveiled at IGC. From stink bugs to Japanese beetles, RESCUE!® provides safe solutions for your home and family.  
~ Booth #733


If you're looking for new plant varieties with color and ease of growing, Hines Growers are your best bet. Their new and unique Bloomtastic! plants are easy to grow, with fantastic color all season long.  
~ Booth #2715

With the recent rise of the lawn reform movement, American Beauties Native Plants specializes in meadows and attracting wildlife. This ground breaking program offers proven solutions for your landscape while creating beautiful garden habitats for desirable wildlife.  
~ Booth #516


 ~ James
Garden Media Group
 

Sterling International Celebrates Thirty Years

Congratulations to our client Sterling International, makers of RESCUE! Pest Control Products, on celebrating thirty years in business!

Thirty years ago, long before “green” was trendy, the founder and president of Sterling International, Rod Schneidmiller, was tinkering in his kitchen with an all natural solution to trap flies. He got it right - and RESCUE! ® Pest Control was born.

“I come from a long line of entrepreneurs in the landscaping and growing industry. All that we’ve accomplished is a reflection and continuation of our family heritage that has shaped my values and vision for this company,” says Schneidmiller.

According to Schneidmiller, the company hasn’t veered away from the original intent forged thirty years ago: to design, manufacture and market the safest and most effective pest control solutions available. He’s pleased the company’s founding mission of ‘making pest control smarter’ is shaping the future - today.

Looking ahead, Schneidmiller foresees that bio-pesticides will continue to grow in popularity as consumers realize the potential dangers that conventional pesticides pose to the environment. “Bio-pesticides are a growing trend and we’re definitely in a growth market.”

He points out that RESCUE!’ s approach uses a non-toxic mode of action to lure targeted insects into a scientifically designed trap that eliminates the need to use potentially harmful chemicals.

All RESCUE! ® traps are recognized around the world as reliable and environmentally safe insect control solutions that will not harm beneficial bugs, people, pets or plants.

To learn more about Sterling and their line of products, visit http://www.rescue.com or follow RESCUE! ® on Facebook.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

Timing is Everything in the Fight Against Stink Bugs

Out of sight should not mean out of mind. The “great awakening” is upon us; stink bugs are ready to mate and multiply! Experts are warning us that now’s the critical time to catch those stink bugs before your gardens become their buffet.

Did you know that stink bugs have been called one of the most serious agricultural and ornamental pests ever seen in the United States?It is estimated that stink bugs do millions of dollars of damage to crops and gardens each year. Their favorites are fruit and berries, juicy tomatoes and veggies.

With nationwide record-setting warmer winter and mild spring temperatures, stink bugs are showing up earlier than many anticipated.

According to Dr. George Hamilton, chair of the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University, sting bugs in the Mid-Atlantic region are appearing from one to two weeks earlier than we normally see and are in the process of moving outdoors.

Hamilton says the brown marmorated stink bugs are a particular problem with the potential to wreak havoc on agriculture and home gardens at almost every growth stage.

With the early spring and plants coming out sooner and the possibility of warmer weather extending into fall, some scientists are wondering if there’s a potential for two generations of stink bugs showing up further north than they’ve seen before.

Dr. Qing-He Zhang, PhD, lead scientist and director of research at Sterling International, has developed a safe and effective solution for home gardeners to use outdoors. The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap, catches adult stink bugs and the ravenous younger generations that feed on gardens and fruit bearing shrubs and trees.

And they’re on the move hitching rides across the nation.

According to United States Dept of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ ARS) in Beltsville, MD, four more states - Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - have reported sightings of invasive stink bugs, bringing the total to more than 37 states.

The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap lures, captures and destroys these destructive pests using patent-pending technology that slowly releases a pheromone that’s odorless to humans and formulated to lure stink bugs from up to 30 feet. The non-toxic delivery system is similar to what Sterling has successfully used in other RESCUE!® traps for pests.

For great tips on how to beat stink bugs, visit http://www.rescue.com and its new site, [http://www.stinkbugsmackdown.com or follow RESCUE! on Facebook.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

Shine a little LED on the subject of Stink Bugs

If you think you’re safe, beware. Researchers predict that if one out of 10 homes had stink bugs last year, nine in 10 homes could have them this season. According to Dr. Tracy Leskey, a research entomologist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, adult stink bugs are moving inside and looking for places to spend the winter.

"Now is the time to fight stink bugs," says Rod Schneidmiller, president of Sterling International, developer of the RESCUE! Stink Bug Traps. "Whether you use a homemade trap or one of ours, do something this fall to break the cycle and reduce their numbers."

By Halloween, most stink bugs will have moved inside to hibernate. Experts say a good indoor stink bug trap with an LED light works best to attract stink bugs indoors.

To prevent stink bugs from taking over your home this winter, follow these tips from the pros:

* Seal up your castle. The first line of defense is to close your windows and doors, and seal up any openings where the bugs can enter. They can flatten out and slip through the cracks to hide in your house for winter.

* Create a barrier outdoors. Outdoors stink bugs are attracted to scent. Indoors they move to light. Place traps on porches, posts and trees around your home. New traps on the market catch both young and adult stink bugs with a pheromone attractant that lures them from up to 30 feet away.

* Check traps frequently. Make certain your traps are catching stink bugs. If not, move them to another spot. "Be vigilant," says Doug Oster, author of Grow Organic. "You have to out-smart them."

* Pick them off. When you see them on your plants, deck or curtains, pick them off with a tissue, drop in a cup of soapy water and flush down the toilet. Do not release outside. "These aren’t lady bugs," says Oster. "A dead stink bug is the only good stink bug."

* Seek and destroy them indoors. Once they migrate indoors, the bugs congregate in warm dark areas. Indoors they are attracted to light, not scent, so place your traps in attics, living areas and basements where the bugs gather to hibernate through the winter. "Light is what works indoors," Oster says. RESCUE! just introduced a new Stink Bug Light - an attachable LED proven to lure the bugs into the trap. The light easily snaps onto the Stink Bug Trap and plugs into either a wall outlet or battery pack.

* Don’t vacuum. If you vacuum, you’ll scare them and they will emit a foul odor that will linger in your vacuum cleaner and home. If you do, change and dispose the bag immediately.

For more information and great tips on how to beat stink bugs, visit http://www.rescue.com/.

-Karen
GMG