On the northwest corner of 54th street and Fifth Avenue, pigeons are creating a pretty crappy situation. City pigeons have become such a problem the owners, managers, and members of the University Club, established in 1865, want to make a change. A pretty serious change in that, well, at least according to animal activists like New York Bird Club founder Anna Dove who says “It’s a shame they’re trying to get rid of all these pigeons…After the pigeons, they’ll want to get rid of the starlings, then the sparrows and the squirrels.”
The change that is desired is to install “full height bird netting to protect the architecture from the pigeon “poo”. This sort of change would have to be approved by the Landmarks Commission, because it deals with a “visual change to the exterior.” The net would be designed to keep the architecture safe and clean, along with the club members who have been heading to the dry cleaners for years due to the pigeons. It will be interesting to see who’s side the city Landmarks Commission decides on.
If you own a building and feel that pigeon “poo” is a problem, JP McHale offers a bird control service that will relocate the birds in an environmentally and discreet way. Please contact us if you are interested.
Beetles are killing various trees that are important to the ecosystem. So how do you prevent them from doing that? How about blasting some “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, or how about some “Stone Cold Crazy” by Queen, or even just play some Rush Limbaugh clips. Scientists have found that by playing heavy metal music or Rush Limbaugh (Limbaugh was so annoying to the scientists that they played his voice backwards with the same effect), aka the “nastiest, most offensive sounds they could find”, near beetle infested trees effects tunneling, mating and reproduction. This in effects makes it harder for beetles to eat through trees. It is thought that the acoustic stress that comes from these sounds disrupts feeding and even causes beetles to kill each other. “Beetle Mania”, as the project is dubbed, doesn’t use Beatles music, passing on the irony.
While using these sounds works at the start, after a while the beetles begin to ignore it. When this happened, the scientist turned to a new idea. The idea is to play this aggressive call made by males of the “tree-killer” species. They would play the call louder and longer. By doing this, it messed everything up for the beetles. Tunneling, mating, reproducing was effected. They were particularly effective in turning the beetles against each other, which is rare. On one instance, they played the call as a male and female were about to mate. The effect? The male ripped the female apart. There is still a need to expand this testing, to build upon the early returns. However, until then, it is pretty safe to say that the beetles would rather not hear Paradise City any time soon.
This is the time of the year queen wasp’s drop below the leaf litter to prepare for over wintering activities. They abandon their existing colony of wasps leaving working wasps without a leader.
Worker wasps try and find new colonies, but will be turned away at the door, because the pheromones do not link up. They will then take harborage around pools, parks and homes and become easily agitated.
To combat this, buy wasps traps, baited with orange soda or grenadine. Place these traps away from your sitting area. Eliminate sugar harborages such as dirty garbage receptacles.
The front page of the Wall Street Journal today featured an article written by Gwendolyn Bounds about using natural pesticides to control pest activity around your home.
The use of natural products to control pests is not new. Garlic based sprays have been used for many years to control outdoor pests such as mosquitoes. The author of this, reported on the products she used to control pests on her property. Garden pests can cause a lot of damage to your plants, therefore controlling them is imperative.
Many companies that manufacture over the counter pest control products are trying to release new green products. There are a few problems with launching these new products, the most popular being consumer acceptance. Bounds’ makes a great point from the consumer’s view.
“…consumers say we want (natural products) and what we really want (dead bugs, now!).”
Another interesting side was that the side effects of pesticide to not even come close to the effects of Lyme disease and West Nile like virus.
“…pests can transmit illnesses such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease that can be more harmful than some potential side effects from pesticides. S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., for instance, launched a Raid “Earth Options” product in 2006, then discontinued it the next year due to low consumer acceptance.”
Spectrum Brands Inc. said that they released a mosquito repellent without DEET, and it did not sell well.
“Over the years, the EPA has banned some insecticides considered too risky from use in the home market, such as diazinon and chlorpyrifos. It also now maintains a list of active ingredients used in what it dubs “minimum risk” pesticides. “It’s a pretty good bet it’s a safe product if it’s on that list,” says John Kepner with Beyond Pesticides, a not-for-profit group based in Washington, D.C.”
In conjunction with all natural products, it should be known that some pests, such as ladybugs, can be used to control harmful pests such as aphids in your garden.
The author mentions in the article that she could not find an all-natural method to control carpenter ants.
JP McHale is constantly exploring new environmentally friendly products, also taking into account the effectiveness of them. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticide products, and the way they are applied. Please contact us so we can create a custom home pest prevention program to protect your family and home from pests.
The original Wall Street Journal article can be read here.
Thermal pest control? How about shooting hot air at 125 miles per hour at all the crops on a farm? This method of pest control proves to head shock fungi and improve the quality of the produce. This practice is widely used and one farmer says he has been using it on fruits, most specially grapes and cherries. Farming costs are reduced in the long run. He does not need any type of spray, and:
“the heat shock appears to improve the color, flavor, and storage capability of his cherries.”
-Florencio Lazo
The machine is gas powered and can only run about 3mph, it is pulled by a tractor. This heat treatment is done about every 15 days. This method of pest management is undergoing testing by universities to further understand how and why it works so well.
“Lazo believes that one of the greatest potential benefits is the opportunity to differentiate the product in the marketplace. Fruits are a commodity, but fruit grown with the Thermal Pest Control system can be certified chemical-free. “
It is the middle of the summer and everyone is outside. The last thing you want is to contract a pest transmitted disease like Lyme or West Nile.
JP McHale is a unique pest management company. With the power of a entomologist and a plant pathologist, custom service programs can be created, controlling more pests then just the general pest control. Therefore, we have created the VIP, Vector Intervention Program. The VIP program is performed by our tree and turf department.
The VIP program is targeted at pests that transmit diseases. Most specifically, ticks, mosquitoes, mice and rats. All of these pests transmit different diseases, and are present in the northeast in high populations.
Mosquitoes:
They transmit the West Nile Virus. West Nile is usually found in Africa, and has made its way to the United States. When an infected mosquito bites a human, they will get a short illness. However, if left untreated, there are high chances that the West Nile could turn into a more harmful disease such as encephalitis or meningitis.
The ecotone if your property is treated with a liquid or your property will have mosquito dunks placed strategically where mosquitoes are found to breed on your property.
To ensure that your property will be mosquito free, our VIP program along with integrated pest management techniques will be the best possible thing you can do.
Ticks:
Transmitting Lyme disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichosis. Lyme disease is one of the most well know diseases, if contracted; symptoms include dizziness, stiff neck, abdominal pain, joint pain, acute headaches and symptoms that relate to arthritis. Deer ticks are most know to carry Lyme disease. Another disease found in ticks is Babesiosis. Contraction of Babesiosis is not common in the northeast of the country, but there have been reports of it. This disease targets the red blood cells in your body, and symptoms are sever and include fever, chills, body aches, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. This disease is especially harmful and dangerous to the elderly and people with a weakened immune system. The most recently discovered disease to be carried by ticks is Ehrlichiosis. Reports of this disease are increasing rapidly in the northeast of the country. This disease will target white blood cells, creating flu-type symptoms such as fevers, muscle aches and fatigue. Children may get rashes. Diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis is key, and if not treated, can lead to hospitalization and possibly death.
You can control ticks from your property and prevent them from infecting you by a few integrated pest management methods, and the VIP program through JP McHale Pest Management
Rodents:
The last pest covered by the VIP program is rodents, most specifically, mice and rats. Mice and rats leave urine, dropping and salvia behind when they are percent in homes. These secretions left behind can cause Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Here at JP McHale, our customer service representatives get calls all the time from people that have been diagnosed HPS by their doctor. HPS is usually contracted by breathing in the virus. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness and chills. If left untreated, you will notice lunch filling with fluid and shortness of breath.
All of these pests are covered by our Vector Intervention Program, that is administered by our Tree & Turf Management department. Please contact us at (800) 479 2284 if you would like more information or would like to sign up for the program.
Everyone has heard of Centipedes, but no one is really sure if they are good or bad. Centipedes are about and inch long however its legs make it look very large. Grayish yellow in color, with stripes down the back, it is fairly easy to spot on a white wall. Centipedes are attracted to moisture, and live most of their life inside homes. Centipedes usually live in crawlspaces, closets, bathrooms and attics, while they normally lay their eggs in firewood and baseboards.
Homeowners can be surprised when they do see a centipede, as it appears initially like a large spider. Don’t worry, centipedes cant harm you, and you can pick them up and dispose of them at your discretion.
Surprisingly enough, centipedes actually feed on spiders, and other small insects, therefore this pest can be beneficial. As a pest control company we know that you do not want to have ANY pests at all. Our normal Home Pest Prevention Program covers customers for centipedes and spiders.
Owning a home has a lot of downsides. We all know that time of year where we need to pull out the ladders and head up to the roof to clean the gutters. Not only is this not a pleasant task, it can also be a very dangerous one. Clogged gutters can lead to leaks, insect infestation (mosquitoes) and can grow mold and mildew.
The Leaf Defier is a new system that eliminates all that work and problems that occur with clogged gutters. By placing a open cell multi-polymer insert in you gutters, it will provide 24/7 protection from any debris you roof gives it. The insert is custom cut for all different size gutters. The guards will catch any debris, after the storm the debris will dry, and blow away. These guards are perfect for houses in wooded areas, like here in the tri-state area. The Leaf Defier is capable of withstanding high winds, ice, and extreme heat. Once the Leaf Defier is installed you will never have to clean your gutters again.
America’s Independence Day is this weekend! Hopefully this weather will holdup and it will be nice and hot outside, great for barbequing.
As we all know mosquitoes are one of the biggest nuisances to humans during the summer. This weekend, if the rain holds up mosquitoes and ticks will be outside with us. There are several steps that you can ensure that you, your family and friends have an enjoyable holiday weekend.
Remove standing water.
Remove old tires from your yard, check birdbaths and clean out your gutters. Mosquitoes can breed in just one tablespoon of water!
Keep away from eco-tone
The eco-tone s the area of your yard that turns from grass to woods. Children like to play in the woods, and in the yard. It is imperative to keep them away from this area as it is a perfect breeding area for ticks. Ticks cannot stay alive in the open sun on your yard. When going into the woods, make sure you have high socks and long pants on, and always check your body once you get inside for ticks.
Most active at Dawn and Dust
Mosquitoes are the most active during dawn and dusk. While you will see them doing the day, they are even more common at night.
Evening protection
We all like to be outside in the evening and so do mosquitoes. They are attracted to sweet aromas, so make sure to place candles outside around the perimeter your enjoyment area. Citronella candles work best. Don’t use those electric “zappers” as they attract the mosquitoes, and when they smell the carbon dioxide from your body, they will focus their attention on you.
We know that inspects are the last thing we want to worry about on a holiday weekend, but it is a reality. Keep these several tips in mind, and you should have a pest-free weekend. From our family to yours.. happy 4th of July!
On the northwest corner of 54th street and Fifth Avenue, pigeons are creating a pretty crappy situation. City pigeons have become such a problem the owners, managers, and members of the University Club, established in 1865, want to make a change. A pretty serious change in that, well, at least according to animal activists like New York Bird Club founder Anna Dove who says “It’s a shame they’re trying to get rid of all these pigeons…After the pigeons, they’ll want to get rid of the starlings, then the sparrows and the squirrels.”
This is the time of the year queen wasp’s drop below the leaf litter to prepare for over wintering activities. They abandon their existing colony of wasps leaving working wasps without a leader.
The front page of the Wall Street Journal today featured an article written by Gwendolyn Bounds about using natural pesticides to control pest activity around your home.
“the heat shock appears to improve the color, flavor, and storage capability of his cherries.”
