Archive for November, 2011
Posted on November 30, 2011 with No Comments
Are you looking for pest control service for your commercial property? JP McHale Pest Management services New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and will customize a service plan based on your industries needs.
In addition to residential pest control we are experts in the following markets:
- Hospitality: Each location has a unique set of risks and vulnerability. Our expert
s have confronted each and everyone. Let us help you protect your brand!
- Pharmaceutical: These locations require the highest level of service. Bar coding, documentation and early detection are key components to an effective pest elimination program. When do we start?
- Property Managers: JP McHale Pest Management Inc. is your one stop shop to manage all pest problems that confront you. Partner up with us to deliver a seamless experience to your residents.
- Multi-Family Dwellings: Aggressive pest programs designed to crash existing cockroach, rodent, and bedbug populations. Enough said!
- Warehouse and Storage Facilities: Rodents and invasive pests can take up harborage, destroy and contaminate product. We can help you protect inventory from these disease carrying creatures. Call us today for an immediate appointment.
- Retail Stores: It only takes one pest sighting to spoil a clients image of you! Let us help you deliver the best product to your clients.
Posted on November 30, 2011 with No Comments
Winter is the high season for mysterious bug bites (Michael Potter, 2006). Unless the underlying pest is identified, the problem will continue. It’s not always necessary to jump for the do-it-yourself pest control spray can. Yes, bites like reactions can be from insects but they can also be non-insect related. Skin irritations can be caused by environmental factors, household products or even health related issues. If you reside in NY, NJ or CT and suspect that you have bite marks or a rash from from a pest or bug bites, contact JP McHale Pest Management for an inspection. Our highly trained technicians will conduct an inspection and if required will recommend the appropriate action needed to rid your residence of the underlying cause.
Posted on November 29, 2011 with No Comments
Technology developed to scan air travelers is being used to create a device that can search for bedbugs in houses and hotel rooms, U.S. researchers said.
According to UPI.com, VisiRay of Corvallis, Ore., has signed an option agreement with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to create the devices, which would use millimeter wave technology to allow inspectors to see through drywall particle boards and view clear images of pests on the other side of a wall.
The technology was initially developed with Federal Aviation Administration grants to use radio waves to scan passengers, the (Kennewick, Wash.) Tri-City Herald reported Monday. It is used at 78 U.S. airports.
Posted on November 29, 2011 with No Comments
House mice are so small and they can gain entry into homes and other buildings easier than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations in homes. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. While sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures when a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is often required.
A key to successful long-term mouse control is limiting shelter and food sources wherever possible. Trapping works well, especially when a sufficient number of traps are placed in strategic locations. Trapping also can be used as a follow-up measure after a baiting program. When considering a baiting program, decide if the presence of dead mice will cause an odor or sanitation problem. If so, trapping may be the best approach. After removing mice, take steps to exclude them so that the problem doesn’t recur.
If you reside in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and mice have entered your residence, contact JP McHale Pest Management.
Posted on November 28, 2011 with No Comments
Matt Frye is an entomologist working at JP McHale Pest Management, pest control specialists. The following article can also be viewed at Home and Garden Easy.
Bed bugs in real life are not nearly as fun as the 1980’s Milton Bradley game, and no longer the subject of an amusing bedtime rhyme. Instead, as the number three buzzword in 2010 (Time Magazine), it’s clear that bed bugs are back and hungrier than ever. Here are a few tips to reduce your chance of getting bed bugs, and how to squash problems if they arise.
Keep a Lookout
Small bed bug populations are easier to control than large infestations. Know the signs of a bed bug problem, including itchy bites that were not present the night before, blood stains on sheets and black spots on mattresses, box-springs, walls and furniture near the bed. These stains are tiny drops of your blood that have been excreted by the bed bug. Remember, spiders, mosquitoes, black flies and even poison ivy can leave itchy welts – not all bites are bed bugs!
Stop the Spread
Bed bugs can be transported on just about any item, including clothes, backpacks, computers and furniture. With bed bugs popping up in theaters, department stores, transportation vehicles and offices, it is best to leave unneeded items at home. Hold on to handbags and jackets at the movies and on the train; you never know what lurks on the next seat. Be wary of used items, particularly those found on the roadside and in yard sales. Before entering your home, inspect yourself and personal items for bed bugs.
Hotel Safety
When arriving to a hotel, place items in the bathtub while you carefully inspect the bedroom. Pull back sheets and use a flashlight to look for black stains on the mattress, box-spring, and inside seams. If possible, check behind the headboard, on the nightstand and luggage rack. If you arrived on public transportation, be sure to check your luggage before placing it on the luggage rack. Never place clothing in dresser drawers, and never store your belongings on the bed. If you spot a bed bug, leave everything as is and report to hotel management.
Protect Your Home
Bed bug certified mattress encasements and pillow cases are a great idea. Both products eliminate folds and seams where bed bugs hide, their white color makes spotting a bed bug easy, and they can be used to save an infested mattress by preventing bed bugs from dispersing and biting. ClimbUp Insect Interceptors are available for purchase, and should be placed under the legs of beds, dressers or other furniture for early detection of bed bugs.
Debugging
Heat is the homeowner’s best weapon against bed bugs, but must be used correctly and safely. Placing clothing in a drier for 30 minutes on high heat will kill all stages of bed bugs, as will leaving items in the car on a hot summer day. A hair dryer can be used to inspect such as luggage, books and sneakers. Forcing hot air into cracks/crevices will cause bed bugs to disperse, at which point they can be squished (or collected and sent to your local pest management professional for identification). Steam machines can be purchased at low cost and used on certain types of furniture to kill bed bugs on contact.
Call the Professional
Large bed bug infestations should be handled by a pest management professional. The news abounds with stories of homeowners causing personal or property damage when attempting do-it-yourself bed bug control. Research local companies to determine who performs quality work, which is backed by a guaranteed of 60 days or more. Ask for labels of products that will be used and for a full description of what the treatment will entail.
Bed bugs represent one of the greatest challenges to the pest management professional today. Control of this insect is not easy, and treatment plans are often costly. By following these recommendations and being conscious of bed bugs, you can effectively prevent these pests from entering your home.
Posted on November 23, 2011 with No Comments
CBS News in and the New York Daily News both reported that a famous Brooklyn pizza place could reopen on Wednesday after it was shut down by the local health department for failing a health inspections. Di Fara Pizza, located in Brooklyn was given 67 points for code violations last week by the city because of food storage temperatures and signs of mice and flies.
On their facebook page, Di Fara Pizza has 7,072 friends as of Wednesday morning and many of their loyal customers are posting comments saying they cannot wait for the NY pizza place to reopen. One customer even posted on facebook that “Moved to NC 12 years ago and the thing I miss most about NY is Di Fara. Been going there from before I could see the top of the counter – not a just a fan since Zagat found you guys but since the 70s. Hate to hear about your troubles. Open back up soon please. I coming home for a visit. Dom could make my pizza in the clothes he just wore to clean out the sewer if he wants!”
The above story was posted to help educate commercial business owner’s in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that they should employ an Integrated Pest Management program to help avoid negative publicity.
Posted on November 22, 2011 with No Comments
Yes you can pick up bed bugs on an airplane.
Forbes published this article about how to prevent picking up bed bugs while flying. But remember, there are ways to prevent bed bugs but there are no guarantees to preventing them.
Your best line of defense is to educate yourself on how to recognize the early signs and symptoms of bed bugs and if you suspect you have brought them home, early detection is key.
Posted on November 22, 2011 with No Comments
Wintertime can bring more than just cold weather and snow, it is also the time when rodents like mice and rats that are seeking shelter.
Following are some preventative tips for rodent control that you can do yourself:
- Store items in boxes and sealed plastic containers, rather than cardboard boxes.
- Keep food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
- Install screens over chimney vents and openings.
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home.
- Replace loose weather stripping around basement foundation and windows.
- Install gutters or diverts to channel water away from your home.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home.
- Inspect wires, insulation and walls for any signs of gnaw marks.
If you find rodent feces, hear sounds of scurrying in the walls or observe other signs of an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional.
Posted on November 21, 2011 with No Comments
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has made some changes to their Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for Bed Bugs. PCT Magazine reports that the changes were adopted during a meeting at PestWorld in New Orleans.
The changes directly affect the Heat Treatment section. NPMA adopted these changes to help minimize potential accidents. The BMP’s also recommends that only equipment specifically designed and tested for pest control should be used for whole-room bed bug heat treatments.
The NPMA recommends that pest management professionals should research and understand the applicable fire codes with regard to portable heaters, fire suppression systems, and other heat treatment related concerns. They also encourage professionals to inspect heat generating equipment prior to usage.
To learn about the new updates click the link to NPMA PestWorld:
http://www.npmapestworld.org/publicpolicy/documents/NPMABedBugBMP-10-22-11.pdf
Posted on November 18, 2011 with No Comments
Nearly 300 pest management professionals and more than 25 industry exhibitors attended “A Meeting of the Minds V” on Oct. 27. The one-day conference was held at the Tinley Park Holiday Inn and Convention Center.
A bed bug presentation by Dini Miller, an assistant professor of entomology at Virginia Tech, provided an update on bed bug biology and control.
Miller provided a few basics of how bed bugs live and feed:
- They aggregate in cracks and crevices all day.
- They get hungry between midnight at 5 a.m. but this is quite variable.
- Bed bugs are stimulated by sensing CO2 in the room.
- They will probe the skin to find capillary space that allows the blood to flow rapidly, and they may probe the skin several times before feeding.
- Bed bugs will feed for 5-10 minutes, and will feed every 3-7 days.
- A single mated female can cause an infestation.
- After taking a blood meal, a female can produce 5-20 eggs over 10 days.
- An average female will produce 131 eggs in her lifetime and about 97% of eggs will hatch successfully. Under optimal conditions, a bed bug population can double in 16 days.
Miller continued by describing bed bug bites, the social issues surrounding the epidemic, various methods of treatment, and why we don’t yet have the answer for dealing with them. “Most products will kill some bed bugs if you apply it to them directly. But consumers do not realize that killing bed bugs that we see is not the problem. Our problem is stopping the infestation,” she explained.
Are you looking for pest control service for your commercial property? JP McHale Pest Management services New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and will customize a service plan based on your industries needs.
