Archive for November, 2010
Posted on November 29, 2010 with 5 Comments
New York City is fighting back against Bed Bugs. Recently, the city has had numerous accounts of bed bug infestations and it’s taking a stand. Starting December 3rd, the Department of Sanitation will require New York City residents to fully encase all mattresses and box springs left for curbside pickup in a sealed plastic bag. Failure to do so can result in a $100 fine.
Considering the alarming amount of recent bed bug incidents, the city had to do something. “There has been a rise in bed bug related incidents within the city, and bedding is the prime nesting place for most bed bugs,” said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty. Since bed bugs are nocturnal insects, they love hiding in bedding, especially in crevices until they are ready to feed. Thus, also making them incredibly difficult to spot and stop from spreading. Sanitation will delay enforcement of this new rule for 30 days, as it will truly begin on Jan 3rd.
Mattress and box spring encasements are available in our Bed Bug Care Package.
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Posted on November 22, 2010 with 5 Comments
Tags: jp mchale, Westchester magazine
Category: Ants, Bees, Company Announcements, Crawling Insects, Insects, NY Pest Control, Pests, Summer Pests, Termites, Wasps
Posted on November 17, 2010 with No Comments
You’d be surprised to realize what animal has the largest testicles on planet earth. No it is not an elephant, or a rhinoceros, it is the tuberous brush cricket, or Platycleis affinis. This unique animals testicles account for an astonishing 14% of the insects body weight. Amazingly, if the same proportion were applied to a man, his testicles would weigh the equivalent of six bags of sugar each!
“These really are quite phenomenal testes. They take up nearly the whole of the brush cricket’s abdomen. It just shows how competitive reproduction is for some species,”
said Dr. Karim Vahed, a behavioral ecologist at Derby, who led the study. One of the most interesting aspects of these insects is that the crickets with the largest testes actually produced the least sperm. Apparently, “it looks as though the testes may be that big simply to allow males to mate repeatedly without their sperm reserves being exhausted,” says Dr. James Gilbert. This theory has been tested and definitely has evidence to support it. After mating with one female, tuberous brush crickets were ready to mate again within an hour, a rather impressive feat considering it took species with smaller testes up to five days to be ready to go again.
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Posted on November 17, 2010 with 1 Comment
Bed bugs in colleges are rising sharply, especially in New York. At SUNY Oswego, in one of the largest dorms on its campus, there looms a bug problem. A BIG bug problem. Bed bugs have infested approximately 15 rooms at Seneca Hall. Treatment for the infestations has begun and even though these bugs are quite small they are very tricky and tough to get rid of.
“They’ve been found all kinds of crazy places. In the screw holes under drawers, light switches, cell phones, computers”,
said SUNY ESF entomologist Kim Adams. Bed bugs require professional help by Pest Management Professionals because they are so hard to eliminate. Bed begs change and adapt, thus so does the equipment used to control them. Since over the counter items will only force them to run and scatter, they are pointless and real equipment such as steam cleaners and freeze cleaners. After the initial work is finished to attempt to eliminate these pests, Pest management Professionals will return in a week for round two, and then again in another 30 days to make sure their tactics has eliminated them.
Please contact JP McHale Pest Management today to learn of our bed bug care package, K9 Inspections as well as treatment options.
Posted on November 16, 2010 with 1 Comment
Actors Turning in to Bed Bug hunters? No this is no movie role, this is real. Bed Bug Busters of NY is now turning to actors from the New York City area to help with the growing creepy crawler problem. Janet Freidman, owner of Bed Bug Busters says “Actors have great personalities and follow directions well.” Also claiming that the entertainers are good because they can improvise, work quickly, and are used to the drama of a stressful situation.
Apparently the ability to perform and be successful in acting has a correlation with hunting for bed bugs in tough locations.
“The performance aspect, the training that most of us have in our own field, definitely helps when you have one of those more difficult places to go to,”
says Meagan Gililand, a 25 year old actress. It’s a great gig for a chance at meeting “high up” people in the New York scene as well, possibly even better than waiting tables. These young actors first must de-clutter, clean, wash and vacuum the house, preparing it for the only solution to the bugs; Pest Management Professionals who come in and eradicate the insects.
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Posted on November 16, 2010 with No Comments
In an article written by the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, it is know that at least two new types of insects are introduced to the U.S. environment every year. While not always the case were the insects are damaging to the environment, this year it is. The Asian Longhorn beetle has found its way into the forests of the United States and researchers are afraid of the damages that it has already done to trees. The scientists state that, “Every year, exotic insects like the Asian longhorn beetle and the emerald ash borer, aka the Green Menace, kill millions of trees across the United States. And every year inspectors intercept a few new would-be invaders at the nation’s ports of entry – but they can’t stop every single one.” Researchers are now conducting a prevention plan, starting with research about insect influxes in New York and Los Angeles, two of the busiest ports in the country. It is estimate that only 1 in 10 new insects bring harm to the environment, this new beetle fits that 10% of devestating forest life. Originally found in Michigan, the Asian longhorn beetle has now spread to 15 states, its latest victim, Tennessee. The feeding larvae have girdled and killed tens of millions of ash trees, and damages could top $20 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Prevention of the new bugs entering the U.S. is by rigid custom checks at ports, airports and borderlines. In fact recently, In 2006, the United States adopted international standards known as ISPM15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade). The standards require all imported wood products and packing material to be fumigated or heat-treated. Even with most woods passing all types of standards, the system cannot always be fool-proof.
Posted on November 16, 2010 with No Comments
Today we received our first email from Yaelle in Dobbs Ferry, NY! She took a picture of one of our Bed Bug Posters on an MTA-Metro North train. Here is the picture.
(Click to enlarge)
We will be sending Yaelle a free gift! If you happen to see one of these posters on a train, please take a picture with yourself in it and send it here with you address and we will send YOU a free gift!
Posted on November 11, 2010 with 1 Comment
The key to getting rid of pests and rodents (Mice & Rats) during the winter seasons is to not even allowed to enter your place of shelter. Pest-proofing consists of many different prevention techniques for different types of pests.
- Install door sweeps: Installing sweeps under exterior doors prevents insects and rodents from entering your living quarters. A gap of just 1/16th of an inch allows small incects including spiders to enter. A gap of around ¼ of and inch will allow mice to enter into your warm cozy house.
- Get rid of those Cracks!: caulking any crack either in the exterior or interior will help prevent pests from entering your home. Cracks on the exterior include: siding cracks, any cracked pipes or around electrial work. In the interior, close up cracks in windows, doors, baseboards etc…
- Use ¼ inch wire meshing to areas of concern where rodents may find there way in. These areas include; the attic, chimney roofing, crawl spaces etc.
JP McHale Pest Management’s inspectors are professionals at sealing homes. Give us a call to get a free consultation on all of our services.
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Posted on November 11, 2010 with No Comments
They’re Baaack. Manhattan DA’s office is yet again under siege by bed bugs. At 5 P.M. Wednesday evening, pest management professionals we’re called to the scene as 1,300 employees were literally bugging out. One of these creepy crawlers was seen roaming past the security and another on the 7th floor. An employee even jokingly claimed that everyone was “scratching around up here.” They have a good reason to do so, as this marks the second time in 2 months that the office has had to be exterminated for bed bugs. Not only that, nearby realtors Hollister and Top Shop have had the same problem with these creatures. These bugs seem to be a serious threat for DA’s as the bugs have also invaded the Brooklyn and Bronx offices.
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Posted on November 10, 2010 with 2 Comments
JP McHale Pest Management’s president and head entomologist spoke to entomology students at his alma mater, Cornell University a few days ago. The topic of discussion? Integrated Pest Management from an Urban Pest Management Prospective. Check out the powerpoint below.
