The world’s oldest known spider web has been discovered on a beach in Sussex, England, trapped inside an ancient chunk of amber.

Scientists found the rare amber fossil in December, and have now confirmed that it contains remnants of spider silk spun roughly 140 million years ago by an ancestor of modern orb-weaving spiders. After slicing the amber into thin sections and examining each piece under a high-powered microscope, the researchers discovered that the ancient silk threads share several features common to modern spider webs, including droplets of sticky glue used to hold the web together and capture prey.

According to paleobiologist Martin Brasier of Oxford University, the gooey droplets suggest that spiders were starting to spin webs that were better adapted for catching flying insects. “Interestingly, a huge radiation took place in flying insects and bark beetles about 140-130 million years ago,” Brasier wrote in an email to Wired.com. “So we may be seeing a co-evolution of spiders and insects here.”

The new discovery is the first example of an amber fossil from the early Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs like spinosaurs and psittocosaurs roamed the Earth.

“Silk is a relatively delicate material and it is rarely preserved in the fossil record, except when entombed in amber,” Brasier and colleagues wrote about the discovery in the upcoming December issue of the Journal of the Geological Society. The researchers think pieces of organic material, including the spider silk, became embalmed during a severe wildfire, when amber resins seeped out from the charred bark of coniferous trees and were eventually swept away by flooding.

In addition to ancient spider silk, the amber chunk contains well-preserved soil microbes, including the oldest known examples of actinobacteria, a common type of bacteria that plays a major role in soil formation.

Image 1: A spider and web trapped in amber, Mila Zinkova/Wikipedia Commons. Image 2: Light micrograph of new amber fossil showing a web of tiny silk threads, plus droplets of sticky glue. Courtesy of Martin Brasier.

 Ask The Bugman – Richard Fagerlund - you can find his blog here: 

 Cleaning can limit carpet beetles Richard Fagerlund Wednesday, November 4, 2009 

 Q: We have carpet beetles. What can you tell us about them to make it easier for us to control them without using pesticides?  J.E., San Francisco

A: Carpet beetles are small, oval beetles about one-fifth of an inch long. They are usually brightly colored and covered with short hairs. The larvae are covered with long hairs and generally have very long hairs at the end of their abdomen. The hairs of the larvae have been known to cause dermatitis, irritation of the nasal passages and sinuses and contribute to allergies. Several species of carpet beetles are found in California. They usually live and breed outdoors but can easily enter a building by flying in or by being carried in on wildflowers, where the adults are often found feeding on nectar. They are normally scavengers that feed on a variety of plant and animal material. They can live very well on household lint, which is composed mostly of skin flakes and hairs. They are found in bird and rodent nests and will feed on dead rodents in a home. They can also feed on natural carpet fibers and clothing. To control carpet beetles, clean the area where they are found thoroughly to remove household lint, pet hairs, crumbs and similar debris.

Here in Arizona one of my network partners is Prickly Pear Carpet Care Tom McArdle  (480) 786-1880   – he recommends having your carpet cleaned 2x a year depending on traffic.

Mike Ivey mivey@madison.com | Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2:00 pm |

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it has won a fight with a Madison company over alleged claims its glue traps don’t cause  prensared rodents to suffer. But Motomco Ltd, a division of Bell Laboratories, disputes that version of events and says the animal rights group is way off base. This much we know: Motomco, 3699 Kinsman Blvd., is a leading supplier of glue traps, a small board coated with an adhesive gum. The traps hold fast to any animal that touches its surface, presumably until it dies from starvation or is killed. PETA filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission last year, claiming Motomco was touting the supposed anesthetic effects of the additive “eugenol” used in its glue traps. Eugenol can act as an anesthetic when injected directly into an animal’s bloodstream but not when animals simply come into contact with it, PETA says. Before the FTC took any action, however, PETA says Motomco removed all references to eugenol’s anesthetic effects. “Glue traps cause animals a painful and terrifying death-period,” says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. But in a statement Wednesday, Bell Laboratories says “PETA has continued to make false claims in a highly misguided campaign against glue traps, which are an essential form of rodent control.” “There has been no finding that Motomco misled anyone, and the FTC took no action on PETA’s complaint,” Bell says. “The phrase with eugenol continues to appear on our packaging, and eugenol provides a clear improvement in the performance of our product.” PETA’s claim against Motomco is part of the group’s campaign against home-improvement giant Lowe’s, which sells Motomco’s glue traps. PETA says glue traps are so cruel that many major retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Albertsons and Safeway, won’t sell them. “Now that the misleading claims about eugenol have been stripped away, Motomco’s customer, Lowe’s, has run out of excuses for continuing to sell any glue traps,” says Nachminovitch. Bell Laboratories was founded in 1974 in Madison, Wisconsin, by Malcolm Stack, an entrepreneur who started the company with one product – Rodent Cake. Today, Bell Laboratories manufactures a complete line of rodent control products – rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, non-poisonous glue boards, mechanical traps and attractants – which are sold to pest control and agricultural markets on six continents.

I had to share this story, I just have to add my opinion here as well. I’m all for not having animals suffer but PETA is wrong on this one. Whether its glueboards, multiple catching traps or even snap traps – the possibility exists that the rat may not die quick on any of  these. Rodents carry over 35 known diseases ranging from allergies to food poisoning, to Lyme disease – all the way up to Hanta virus, which is a fatal infection of the lungs.  But we are talking about rats here. The take away for me in this article is that PETA would rather have the rats. Remember the story just last month about the little baby bitten by rats. Read the entire story here: or this story. Now as most of you know ProBest has saved many animals this year alone, owls to javelinas and I want to say for the record we don’t just kill things we try real hard to work out a better solution. But this isn’t always possible, rodents are elusive and pay attention to this – if you move an animal from one location to another it may not be any better – disease and other animals may attack and kill them.

Posted in Biz_beat on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2:00 pm Updated: 3:23 pm. Peta, Bell Laboratories.

Here is another article from PETA in regards to the mouse in the Cheesecake store - read the story here: I can assure you if this was my store – whatever it takes to get the mouse and prevent them from getting in again. No word yet about the mouse on the airplane in NYC yet.

But first this months numbers 01-0031939, 01-0006790, 01-0036905 – if this is your account number please call our office

Top 7 Creepy Crawly Jobs – Pest Management is #2 ————— I love my job….

 1. Funeral Director, Median Salary – $46,000 Qualities that funeral directors must possess include a calm demeanor, having soothing words and paying close attention to detail. Their duties include ensuring that funeral services go smoothly, the coordination of transportation and the burial of the body. James Olson, owner of Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, says, “I don’t think of what I do as creepy. Being able to give a person the opportunity to grieve for their loved one is an honor.”

2. Pest-Control Worker, Median Salary – $35,600 Are you not afraid of spiders, rodents and roaches? Then you may make a perfect fit as a pest-control worker. This position requires training and certification by law.

3. Phlebotomist, Median Salary – $27,400 Job duties of a phlebotomist include drawing vitals of blood for medical tests, blood collection and donation. Phlebotomy work can be found at hospitals, neighborhood health centers, public facilities, HMOs, diagnostic labs and physicians’ offices. There is recommended training, education and certification programs offered through groups like the National Phlebotomy Association and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

4. Archaeologist, Median Salary – $47,200 Archaeologists regularly uncover human remains and ancient artifacts to discover more about our ancestors. The job involves history and working outside. A bachelor’s degree can get your foot in the door with an entry level position as a research assistant or a writer. However, a PhD offers the best employment opportunities.

5. Theatrical Makeup Artist, Median Salary – $44,300 Theatrical makeup artists recreate anything from a gashed lip to a missing eye to five freshly burned fingers. This job offers the benefit of a flexible work schedule; however the hours can be grueling at times. The greatest number of makeup artists work in Los Angeles and New York City. A college degree is not always required although a state cosmetology license is.

6. Night Security Guard, Median Salary – $28,700 According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this field is expected to grow 17 percent through 2016. A license is required in most states to be a security guard. However, if the job requires carrying a gun then there’s more training and licensing needed. Greater exposure to danger can increase earnings like working at a nuclear power plant or weapons installation.

7. Sewer Pipe Cleaner, Median Salary – $35,900 Would you like to work in a cramped, smelly and somewhat creepy place? Well if you do then you might have a career as a sewer pipe cleaner. They work in the cities’ massive sewer systems. It’s easy to get started as on the job training is common in this profession.

 I attended the almost week long event and over the next few weeks I’ll share some of what I took away. But first – Ok normally I don’t get all into celebs but this show is right up my alley. As you probably know Seth and I went to the National Pest Management Conference in Las Vegas last week. I had the chance to talk with Mike Masterson from the show Verminators and this company Iso- Tech Pest Management from California is what Pest Management is really about, no-nonsense and get the job done right. Honest and Ethical all the way.

Just a down to earth guy – we talked for about 20 minutes and he really listened and commented on what I was talking about. Watch the show it’s very good – The Verminators (the only problem for me is that it is on at 10 pm) my buddy Bryan tapes it for me and the rest of my team at ProBest.

So I had to share with everyone my signed copy of the show and the characters. Wooh Who!!!!

http://www.isotechpest.com

I was reminded this last week of how well Teamwork really works, so along with our amazing staff of employees and all our great customers we teamed up with other pest management companies. I have struck up relationships with other pest control companies for many reasons – why you ask? There are a number of reasons, ProBest decided a few years back that we just couldn’t cover the entire Valley – the time it takes to go from Gilbert to Anthem or Litchfield or Casa Grande is just to long. Some times the other company doesn’t do other categories like Termite or Fumigation. So we knew some folks that did business similar to ProBest and were honest and ethical and the same with ProBest. Now that doesn’t mean that you should call us first, we will occasionally do termite work or if you are a Realtor we will do Termite Inspections on the West side. Call us to inquire – 480-831-9328

By now you have heard my favorite quote “Honesty shouldn’t be the best policy, it should be the only policy”

So who are these other local companies and what do we do for them or vice versa.

Critter Getter – Chris Fitzgerald – 480-984-2660 ProBest does all of their Termite work.

Titan Pest Control – Aaron Eubanks – 623-551-5733 ProBest recommends them for the Anthem area.

Invader Pest Management – Fred Willey – 602-249-7378 ProBest frequently recommends them for Pest Control work West of I-17 – West Valley and they in turn recommend ProBest in the East Valley, we also assist them with Bee calls in emergencies.

You can also check out my ANTS Networking Group at http://www.arizonaants.com/

It’s about serving our customers and time is often a valued commodity these days. Call a Pro… Call the Best. ProBest!

Green Tip – (10/19/09) – Rodent Elimination October 19, 2009 by Cindy – Read the entire story here: I love this guys first item * Get a Cat but hey its green…

Eliminating rodents can seem like a daunting task for greenies. I mean you want to be humane and green at the same time. I thought of a few ideas that will help remove rodents in an eco friendly way that is fairly humane as well. Removing Rodents the Green Way

* Get a Cat. LOL. Sounds funny? Well, if you live on a farm or in a rural area, this can be a GREAT tip. Not only are you making the cat or cats happy, you are also going with a natural form of removing unwanted rodents from your land. If you have a large area, get a few cats. However, I DO recommend that you still get them spayed or neutered. You do not want to wind up with an over abundance…then you may need dogs. ROFL!

* Get Rid of the rat friendliness. Remove berry bushes, ivy, fruit and nut trees, wood piles, and holes in concrete that are close to home. Also, make sure your bird feeders are clean. Dirty anything attracts unwanted pests.

* Be Aware of Compost. You do not want a good thing to attract a bad thing! Keep pile in closed container. Plastic is best for compost. Avoid adding cooked food, meat and fish, dairy and bread to compost bin. They all attract rodents. Add water to deter them from nesting in compost.

* Use Traps. Instead of toxic poison that could wind up harming pets, children and WANTED creatures, go for the rat trap option. Place them where the rodents seem most active. Peanut butter, bacon, cheese or any food with strong odor are great lures and always make sure that the triggers to the trap are facing the wall. If you notice no vermin after a week, try a different location for the trap.

* Seal all Openings. Keep in mind that a mouse can fit into a hole the size of a pencil eraser. Go through your house and search for potential entry ways. Seal them up. Repair broken screens and other areas of the home that could become entrances for vermin. As you can see, harmful toxic poisons are not the only way to eliminate rodents from your surroundings. Do you have any other green tips to remove vermin?

Copyright © Green Christian Network Stay Green!

I’m amazed at times at what people decide to do to themselves. There are products available for use in your hair – ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL AND MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS.  Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

(China Daily) Updated: 2009-10-21 09:25 A man in Qingdao, Shandong province, had to be rushed to a hospital after he shampooed his head with a pesticide. A friend had told Tu there were insects in his hair and he would have to use a pesticide to kill them. After Tu washed his hair with pesticide he felt difficulty breathing and fainted. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors said he could have died of poisoning had he not received medical attention on time.

(Qingdao Morning News)

By Jennifer Baker • jbaker@enquirer.com • October 13, 2009 www.Cincinnati.com

COLERAIN TWP. – Fourteen people were temporarily displaced overnight in a fire at an apartment building in the 3100 block of Regal Lane, according to Hamilton County emergency communication reports.

One minor injury was reported in the 3:23 a.m. blaze, a dispatcher said. The victim was treated at the scene for a minor burn and released.

Flames and heavy smoke were visible from the apartment building when fire crews arrived, reports state.

Colerain Township police officers got to the building just before the fire department and began evacuating residents, said Colerain Township Police Sgt. Mike Owens. They carried out a few people, including an elderly man who was treated by paramedics and released.

Colerain Township firefighters woke a sleeping couple on the third floor, but by then it was too late to take them into the smoke-filled hallway to leave the building, Owens said. They were eventually rescued off their balcony.

The fire was contained to its origin, a bedroom in a second floor apartment, and reported knocked down by 3:38 a.m.

Fire investigators have determined the blaze was started by a resident spraying for bed bugs while smoking, said Capt. Steve Conn, spokesman for the Colerain Township Fire Department.

“They were spraying for bed bugs, and it had alcohol in it,” Conn said. “One of the residents lit up a cigarette, and it basically flashed and started the room on fire.”

By 6 a.m., all but three or four of the residents had returned to their units, Conn said. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family.

Damage is estimated at $20,000, according to Conn.

Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Jim Burnett         Read the entire story here:

Tamarisk, or salt cedar, is a highly invasive plant that was introduced into this country in the 1800s from Eurasia, and it’s caused plenty of problems along waterways in the West. A test project to control the pest with the tamarisk leaf beetle has been underway since 2001 in parts of the country, but a few of the beetles have turned up unexpectedly in the upstream end of Grand Canyon National Park. Will this prove to be a case of “Oh, my,” or “Oh, me”?

“We have people removing tamarisk from the park’s backcountry this week.” She added, “Now that the tamarisk beetle has been found in the park, we also need to make sure we are prepared to move forward with active native plant restoration efforts in the Colorado River Corridor in the next few years.”

Will introduction of the beetles prove to be a successful solution to the tamarisk problem, and lead to restoration of more natural conditions, or will hindsight find it was a case of “it seemed like a good idea at the time”? The answer may hinge on efforts by resource managers to speed the return native species to areas that have been dominated by the invasive plants for decades.