Archive for the Overwintering Pests Category
Posted on January 31, 2010 with No Comments
The stink bug has been receiving a lot of press lately now that they are popping up in Brooklyn. Stink Bugs are common in China, Korea and Japan. They found their way to America by means of suitcases and products that are shipped from those countries. The Stink bug gets its name from the foul odor it emits when they are crushed. These stinky bugs are overwintering, which live in the cracks and crevasses of your home in the winter months, and will reappear when the weather becomes warmer. It’s not uncommon to see these pests in your home during these months. Rutgers Professor George C. Hamilton first knew about the stink bug entering America back in 1997, now this pest can be found all over the east coast, especially in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The stink bug is similar to the western conifer seed bug.
Check out the New York Times article from 2007, and the New York Post’s article from earlier today.
Picture source.
Posted on January 11, 2010 with No Comments
During the months of September, October and November, insects that cannot survive in the cold will attempt to enter your home through the cracks and crevasses in your home. The two most common over wintering insects are Ladybugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs. Neither of these pests are harmful, they are a nuisance. Back in October, New York had a huge ladybug swarm which left hundreds of people calling our office asking what to do. Homes were invaded with ladybugs because of the sudden increase in temperature, it tricked these pests into thinking it was spring!
Even though the temperature has stayed a steady 35 degrees, we are still receiving calls of people seeing Ladybugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs in their homes and offices. Our Over Wintering Insects prevention program will solve all of these issues. Our technicians will come out and inspect your entire home, inside and out. They then will make a determination to where the insects are entering your home, and treat the necessary areas. This will prevent a swarm when the weather does increase, and keep these little flying creatures out of your home!
Posted on January 4, 2010 with 4 Comments
Over the weekend, we had someone email us regrading the identification of a bug they found in their bedroom. We have provided the pictures below to show you what the bug looked like. This pest is a Stink Bug, closely related to the Western Conifer Seed Bug. The Stink Bug is an overwintering insect that will make their way into your home when the weather gets cold. Typically around this time of year we see a large increase in these pests.
All of these pictures are from a Flickr photo album by njvarsity.
Posted on November 17, 2009 with 1 Comment
License photo credit: ezioman
As winter draws closer and closer by the day, your family won’t be the only one that will want the warm comfort of your household. Pests such as insects and rodents will want to share the warmth of your house. Mice are the most common of household pests that find their way into your house. Mice with their small frames and slippery movements can creep and crawl through the smallest of holes and cracks that are in your house (half inch). With the capability of carrying tons of different bacteria and diseases, mice are a rodent that you should be concerned about.
Prevention is the key for keeping these uninvited guests out of your house and in the wild. Make sure you inspect your house occasionally for any open vents, open crawl space doors, and any type of small cracks or holes near the bottom of your outdoor siding. This will keep out most of the bigger rodents out, but this wont be the only type of pest that will try and enter your home. Insects will try and get in as well, any cracks in your house’s siding is a great place for flying insects such as ladybugs, to try and nest and hibernate during the winter months. Keep brush and logs away, these are great spots for animals to find refuge from colder days. Bugs such as the Western Conifer Seed bug (stink bug) love this type of habitat and they will find a way into your house if you do not prevent such un-natural habitats near your home.
Again, rodents and insects are pests that you need to keep out of your home to prevent unsanitary conditions as well as damage to your home. Rodents will leave droppings all around your home, finding their way near children, pets, and can even find their way into your food supply. Take the necessary precautions to avoid pests problems during the winter season and you will find your self having quite a pleasant winter session. Please contact us for a free inspection of your home.
Tags: crack and crevases, Diseases, lady bugs, Mice, Rats, Rodents, wester, western conifer seed bug, Winter Pests
Category: Crawling Insects, Diseases, Flying Insects, Integrated Pest Management, Overwintering Pests, Rodent, Winter Pests
Posted on November 16, 2009 with No Comments
Today we would like to announce the addition of the Western Conifer Seed Bug AKA The Stink Bug to our Pest Identification Center. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is an overwintering pest that is most active during the fall and spring months. Their behavior is very similar to ladybugs.
If you are interested in Western Conifer Seed Bug control please contact us!
Posted on October 26, 2009 with No Comments
Creative Commons License photo credit: OregonDOT
As winter creeps up on us here in New York, there are many different things that as homeowners we have to and should do to maintain the plant life on our property. In recent times the spraying of antidesiccants on shrubs, evergreens, and some broadleaf plant life has really caught on to the general public. What happens in the winter time is that plant life will tend to dry out because of the lack of moisture and the cold. Antidesiccants help plant life by sealing the plant’s stomata (a plants sweat pores) therefore creating a waterproof sealant. Antidesiccants are sprayed on your plants and trees creating almost a waxy covering that sticks to the leaves and needles and locks in moisture for a healthier winter season.
The process of applying antidesiccants to your plant life is actually quite simple. Our technictions will spray the waxy coating on your choice of evergreens, shrubs and as well as plants. The spray is at first a white waxy-like substance but after just a short time it dries and becomes clear. Some use antideiccants right before gathering cuttings from the flowers. Spray about an hour before hand then cut, this will lock in moisture and it tends to root surprisingly well afterwards. Others actually use the spray more often than others, spraying antidesiccants once a season or so. The growth on your trees, especially broadleaf evergreens, will be more apparent in the spring.
JP McHale Pest Management’s Tree and Turf Department offers an anti-desiccant tree and shrub service. Please visit our Tree and Turf Department’s page or contact us now for a free evaluation of your property.
Posted on October 23, 2009 with No Comments
CREDIT: nkzs
Ladybug populations stay the same throught the year, except in the winter were many die during hibernation, then why do they seem to be more populous during the autumn months? The reason for this is because of the weather variations seen during late September thru early November. The ladybugs look for a place to hibernate and your house is a perfect resting ground. Older homes with poor insulation radiate more heat and homes with good sunlight usually get the most ladybug swarms. When a day starts to show a glimpse of winter (when temperatures drop way below average) they start to find places to hibernate. They will form large clusters to help insulate them for the winter. Yet, after a day or so when temperatures go back to normal or even above normal, the ladybugs will want to return to the outdoors. This is when you will see them all over the house, creating an unfimiliar house pest. During fall days this is why they seem as if they have multiplied by a hundred times.
Other places have seen an actual increase in ladybug population. This increase of population is due to an increase of aphids which are pests that live on agricultural crops. As their main source of food, ladybugs will migrate towards higher population of aphids. In this sense people sometimes do not mind when ladybugs are around their property because the ladybugs will essentially save their gardens from the aphids. Yet, it is in the fall season where they really become pests. They seem as if they come from any open crack. Well this is mostly true, they can really squeeze more than you think and that is why you see them all over the house in almost every room, if not all. To prevent ladybug swarms in your house you really have to work at it. You have to make sure you have adequate insulation, have sealed all cracks in windows and doors, as well as cracks in pipes. Doing all this is time consuming and you should really look into professional help, while costing you cash out of the pocket, it will be of your benefit in the long run.
Posted on October 22, 2009 with No Comments
Known as the “Stink Bug,” the western conifer seed bug has become a household nuisance around the country. Originally from warm-temperate climates, the stink bug has migrated to almost every part of the country making them a massive species of pests. Their major source of food is sap coming from conifer cones, creating larger populations where conifer (evergreen) trees are more abundant. These bugs actually help the spreading of conifer seeds because the sap-sucking helps the development of seeds. The bugs themselves are refered to as “Stink Bugs” because when sensing danger(or stepped on) they release a foul smell to keep predators from preying on them. These flying bugs can be seen from the Southwestern US all the way up to Maine, and have even been spotted across the pond in Italy and some Eastern European countries. Other than their ugly appearance and foul smell, these agitating bugs really do no harm to us.
Stink bugs have also made their way east this year. Many homeowners may find these bugs in their homes. JP McHale Pest Management offers control for these bugs. Please contact us if you are interested in the services we offer.
Posted on October 22, 2009 with No Comments
The Northeast usually sees dramatic climate changes come late September through October. One day the temperature will be 65 degrees and sunny and the next it will cool down to the low 40’s. For the ladybug’s sake, they feel that winter is coming so they will try and find a place to hibernate. They are attracted to light colored houses that are in the sun most of the day. Since they are looking for a warm place to hibernate they usually migrate towards older homes in which there is a lack of good and adequate insulation. In order to create more heat for themselves they form large clusters so body heat does not escape as easily. Since the temperatures can vary day to day in the Northeast the ladybugs will group together in the walls of your home then disperse again when the temperature rises again.
What not to do: Ladybugs release pheromones as a way of communication towards other ladybugs. This scent attracts other ladybugs to the one that you may have just killed.
What to do: Getting rid of ladybugs is a very difficult task, and without expert advice and help, it makes the task even harder. The key to getting rid of ladybugs is to prevent them from even getting in. Make sure your insulation is in good form, seal any window and door cracks, also check for any unsealed pipes, clapboards, celler entrances…etc.
Posted on October 20, 2009 with 4 Comments
If you live in the tri state area of New York, New Jersey or Connecticut chances are you or a friend has seen tons of lady bugs today. You may ask why?
Lady Bugs are an overwintering pest. Over the last few weeks the weather has been getting comer, and over wintering pests such as Lady Bugs enter your home through cracks and crevasses, usually on the sides of your home that get the most sun. Today, because of the rise in temperature, Lady Bugs were tricked into thinking it was spring! They came out in HUGE numbers. Our phones were very busy, and we apologize for the entended wait times.
To prevent lady bug swarms in your home we recommend you look into our Over-Wintering program that will protect you from many pests such as Lady Bugs.
***DO NOT TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO SQUISH THEM***
The scent from a lady bug that has been squished will attract even more lady bugs!
If you are interested or would like more information please Live Chat With Us, Email Us or Call Us at (800) 479-2284!
