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'Bugs Advice

- Simple, inexpensive, by e-mail -

Summary: Advice tailored to your pest control problem based on my 20+ years of university extension and research experience.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

We are here to help you solve all of your household insect and mite problems in safe and sensible ways. Our emphasis is on the least-toxic and most environmentally friendly approaches. Most problems now can be dealt with by homeowners themselves but if you need some help send us an e-mail.

We offer fee-based e-mail consulting for individualized pest management solutions. Many problems can be dealt with by a few simple e-mails where we'll diagnose the problem based on your information and make treatment recommendations. We will exchange as many e-mails as necessary to define the problem then make recommendations tailored to your situation.

I have over 20 years of university extension and research experience helping homeowners and commercial growers solve their pest management problems. My complete professional resume is here.

Rates

Our current rate is $40.00 for e-mail consultations. This includes identification of a single sample (specimen or photo), problem diagnosis, treatment suggestions if necessary and a reasonable number of follow up e-mails. It is often very helpful if you can send us images by e-mail for problem diagnosis.

If you require an additional report to a third party, such as a letter to a hardwood floor supplier or written testimony to a court, etc.the fee is $320.

If you live within a few hours drive of Corvallis, OR I am also available for site visits. Contact us at the e-mail address below for current on-site rates.

Payments can be made by check (contact us first), or by credit card through the Support Page. I will send an invoice with the first e-mailed report.

Contact us with questions

The process is simple -- send us an e-mail with your questions, include digital images if needed. See Submitting Samples below for suggestions about preparing digital images and a sample form you can fill out. Please tell us where and when the sample/image was collected. If plant damage is involved identify the plant if you can. Include any other information that you think is important.

Important

Please see our Terms and Conditions statement before sending your question. Also, please include the code "BUGS 1234" in the subject line or text of your e-mail. By including this code you acknowledge that you agree to these terms and fees. Because of liability my lawyer tells me that I can't respond to your e-mail unless you agree to these terms, the most important parts are Use and Pesticide Disclaimers.

e-mail:

Thanks!

Submitting Samples

The first step in solving any pest situation is correct identification of the pest or damage. We can assist with both. We can provide analysis of digital images or collected samples sent to our lab. Please see our Terms and Conditions statement before sending us images or other sample material.

Send us digital images for identification or damage diagnosis.

1. Images should be around 150 ppi, no larger than about 3x4 inches (75x100 mm) and saved in jpeg (medium compression) format. This will save you time uploading the images and save us time downloading.

Send us a bug sample for identification.

1. Email us first so we can expect the sample. Sometimes we can diagnose the problem by your description thus saving you the trouble and expense of sending a sample.

2. Live bugs should be killed by freezing. Place them in a small, unbreakable container in the freezer section of a regular refrigerator. Leave them for several hours or overnight. Once killed place a cotton ball with a few drops of rubbing alcohol - enough to wet the cotton but not so much that it runs out as a liquid.

3. Download and print the LWB Sample Id Form. Use this form to tell us as much as possible about the sample. Enclose the Id Form with your sample.

4. To mail, place the unbreakable container inside a sealed plastic bag (Zip-Loc type) then put this into a padded envelope or box. Please keep the package as small as possible.

5. We'll send you a shipping address and an estimate for services by return e-mail.

Thanks.

Workshops

Do you need a speaker for your workshop or short course? I speak on a variety of pest management topics, safe pesticide use, and home gardening. Contact us at:


Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.

Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.

Please see the Disclaimer statements as well.


Copyright 2004-2008 LivingWithBugs, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Page Updated: 5/4/2008