Archive for the Pest Control Industry Category
Posted on April 15, 2013 with No Comments
J.P. McHale is listed as one of the top blogs by Green Pest Management! All the companies listed within the site take an environmentally responsible approach to pest & termite control methods. Every company on the site is fully licensed and insured to the highest standards of the pest control industry, and exemplifies what it truly means to be an environmentally responsible pest control company. By taking an Integrated Pest Management approach to pesticide application and use these pest companies can handle your pest control dilemmas while doing minimum harm to the environment we live in. Through education IPM is becoming a more viable solution to eliminating pests from peoples lives. By looking at thresholds, biological controls, mechanical controls, and cultural controls, IPM has revolutionized the pest control industry for the better.
At J.P. McHale Pest Management we stay on top of pest control topics for you! To visit our social media sites, follow us on twitter, follow us on facebook and as always, visit our website and our blog! Questions – call our office at 800-479-2284 or just send us an email.
Posted on April 2, 2013 with No Comments
It’s National Pest Management Month! For more than 30 years, April has been declared National Pest Management Month (NPMM) to recognize the invaluable role professional pest management plays in protecting public health, food and property.
During this month-long celebration, we will be working to to educate our customer’s about the positive impact professional pest control has on our daily lives.
Posted on March 13, 2013 with No Comments
Why the Environmental Pest Management Industry is Important
- Pests destroy homes and buildings and their contents; termites alone cause over $5 billion in damage annually.
- Pests can transmit disease-causing organisms including West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease,malaria, plague, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, hantavavirus, and encephalitis.
- Insect stings force half-a-million people to the emergency room every year.
- Rodents consume or contaminate about 20 percent of the world’s food supply. They carry fleas and ticks that potentially carry diseases. Rodents have also been implicated in fires across the country by chewing wires and spilling flammables.
- Bed bugs have made a resurgence in the United States. While no one is sure of the exact reason, experts suggest it may be due to more targeted treatment practices and increased international travel.
Most people tend to think of pest management in terms of residential problems (ants, rodents, cockroaches, termites, fleas, etc.). The importance of the industry to the nation as a whole is much broader including food and health protection. Public health officials attribute the quality of life we have today to three things: better pharmaceuticals and vaccines, better sanitation and better pest control.
- Rats bite more than 45,000 people each year. Rats can cause fires by chewing wires and transmit disease organisms such as rat bite fever, salmonella, trichinosis, murine typhus, the plague, and leptospirosis.
- According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, more than two million Americans are allergic to stinging insects, more than 500,000 enter hospitalemergency rooms every year suffering from insect stings, and between 40-150 people a year die as a result of these stings.
- Without pest management practices, pests could destroy more than 50 percent of our food crops. Only 11 percent of the average U.S. disposable income is spent on food compared to 19.9 percent in Japan and 52.6 percent in China.
- Seven to eight percent of the general population is allergic to cockroaches. Studies of inner city children in Atlanta with chronic wheezing and runny noses revealed that 44 percent of them were allergic to cockroaches. Recent surveys have determined that cockroach allergens are the number three contributors to children’s asthma.
- Cockroach suppression and eradication is vital to health care facilities, homes, and sites where food is prepared or served. Cockroaches contaminate food and spread filth by walking through contaminated areas. They commonly carry staphylococci,streptococcus, coli-form, molds, salmonella, yeasts, and clostridia.
- Innovations in pest management parallel an increase in life expectancy. A child born in 1900 had a life expectancy of just 49 years while a child born in 2010 had a life expectancy of 78 years.
- In a consumer survey, renters and homeowners were asked about the problems they’ve had with their homes or apartments. The number one problem they cited was insects. In fact, nearly half (45 percent) of the complaints dealt with insects or rodents in the home.
- It would be difficult to find any segment of the food industry that could comply with federal sanitation and health regulations without an adequate pest management program.
In a recent consumer survey, 93 percent of people expressed concern over finding insects within their home. According to a survey cited by the Army Community Service, insects and bugs rank as the public’s third most common fear, behind public speaking and heights.
Information Source: NPMA
Posted on February 26, 2013 with No Comments
Rats, wasps, bees, fleas, and mosquitoes can be a tremendous nuisance. The spring and summer months are the perfect time to enjoy your patio and garden, but when these recreational areas are infested with creepy, crawly critters it becomes difficult to do so. pest control services utilize a number of tools and methods for wasp nest removal and other kinds of pest problems. Regardless of whether you are having wasp problems or are experiencing other kinds of pest troubles, a pest control company can come in, do a full diagnosis, and do what is required to rid your home and the grounds around your home of any and all unwanted insects and vermin.
Wasps are of particular concern during the spring and summer months. They can infest and build up nests in the spaces around your home. Recurring visits by wasps, especially if they come in groups, is an indication that there is a nest somewhere on or near year property. If not taken care of immediately, problems with wasps can go become very serious. The last thing you want is for wasps to nest permanently in your yard, or in some other area of your property.
The best way of ensuring that your wasp problems are handled competently and effectively is to call a professional pest control service. Such exterminators are trained to rid you of the problem of wasp nests. And they can take the resolve the problem in a way that will be of little expense and inconvenience to you.
Spring and summer are for barbeques, swimming, and other outdoor entertainments. It is virtually impossible to indulge in such recreation when your backyard is infested with wasps and other pests. Calling in a pest control service can help you reclaim your living space. However, it is vital that you call the right company—a company that is able to offer the right service for the right price. It may be the case that the wasp problem is one that affects the entire neighborhood. If this is the case, the pest control company you work with will need to be flexible enough to work with a joint effort by the community to combat a pest problem. Not every pest control company can offer that kind of service, so it’s vital that you find and contact one that can.
The worldwide web provides a medium through which it is possible to search through and evaluate the websites of many different pest control companies. The web gives you a great deal of power and control in choosing the pest control firm you believe it is best to work with. Using the web will enable you to select the pest control firm that you believe can best deal with the wasp problem you face. And the great thing is you can do such a search and selection in the comfort of your home. This makes deciding on the pest control company that is best suited to meet your needs and expectations easy and convenient.
This blog was posted on the nopests blog of J.P. McHale Pest Management Inc. and approved for publication by Martin Miller, NBC Bird and Pest Solutions.
Posted on January 28, 2013 with No Comments
“Pest Quest” Children’s Show
Pest Quest is now available in your cable provider’s on-demand catalog!
It’s no secret that children are fascinated by bugs and anything ‘creepy crawly’. But did you know that the National Pest Management Association has a show geared just towards kids who love bugs? It’s true!
“Pest Quest” is an entertaining and educational children’s show all about the fascinating world of insects, rodents and small wildlife. The show delivers buggy factoids to junior scientists and is available on here and on PestWorldForKids.org.
In addition, you now can find “Pest Quest” in your cable provider’s on-demand catalog, under children’s/kid’s content. Until February 20th, 2013, Pest Quest is available to more than 30 million households who subscribe to one of these cable providers:
Advanced Cable Communications
AT&T
Braintree Electric
Charter
Cincinnati Bell
Comcast
Echo Star (Dish Network)
Guadalupe Valley
Insight
Knology
Mediacom
Mid-Hudson
Service Electric
South Slope Coastal
Suddenlink
Verizon Fios
Volcano
Wide Open West
Posted on January 25, 2013 with No Comments
Cockroaches live in a wide range of environments around the world. These pest species prefer warm conditions and thus are commonly found in the buildings of densely populated cities and also in the southern United States. In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 78 to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches – with as many as 900 to 330,000 cockroaches per home!
Cockroaches are most active when the temperature is greater than 70 degrees Fahrenheit and they thrive in warm environments with easily accessible food and water. These insects are mainly nocturnal and will run away when exposed to light. Amazingly, some cockroaches have been known to live up to three months without food and a month without water.
Cockroaches have many negative consequences for human health because certain proteins (called allergens) found in cockroach feces, saliva and body parts can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms, especially in children.
Cockroach allergy was first reported in 1943, when it was noted that certain patients developed skin rashes immediately after the insects crawled over their skin. Allergy skin tests were developed in 1959, which confirmed patients’ cockroach allergies. Subsequent studies have firmly established that cockroach allergens can act as a trigger for acute asthma attacks.
The National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study (NCICAS) found that asthmatic children with both a positive skin prick test to cockroach allergen, and a high exposure to cockroach allergen in the bedroom were more likely to have wheezing, missed school days, nights without sleep, and unscheduled medical visits and hospitalizations for asthma. Approximately 23 percent to 60 percent of urban residents with asthma are sensitive to the cockroach allergens. However, the risk of asthma from cockroach allergen exposure and allergy is not limited to children. The study also found that cockroach allergy was associated with more severe asthma among elderly asthmatics in New York City.
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening chronic respiratory disease. Unfortunately, it directly affects the quality of life for almost 25 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children. Millions more are impacted as family members of persons with asthma. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers – such as cockroach allergens.
Cockroaches can also passively transport microbes on their body surfaces including pathogens that are potentially dangerous to humans. Cockroaches have been implicated in the spread 33 kinds of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella species, six parasitic worms and more than seven other types of human pathogens.
E. coli and Salmonella are classic causes of food poisoning, or gastroenteritis. Common symptoms include belly pain, severe stomach cramps and tenderness, diarrhea which can sometimes be bloody, nausea and vomiting. Some people can experience severe diarrhea, which will cause dehydration and may require hospitalization. In rare cases, the bacteria can spread to the blood stream and cause life threatening infections.
People can mitigate cockroach problems and protect their health through barrier exclusion and cleanliness. Barrier exclusion involves preventing cockroaches from entering the home through places, such as small cracks in the walls and spaces near electric sockets, and up through drain traps. Having a clean and sanitary home will make it less inviting to cockroaches.
Five things to do to protect your home and family:
- Keep counters, sinks, tables and floors clean and free of clutter. Clean dishes, crumbs and spills right away.
- Store food in airtight containers, and always avoid leaving food out (including pet food!).
- Seal cracks and gaps in walls, floors and openings around or inside cabinets. Condo- and apartment-dwellers should also seal gaps around plumbing, wall outlets, and switch plates.
- Run water periodically in spare bathrooms and little used sinks.
- Scan children’s backpacks when they return home, as well as grocery items before storing them.
If despite all these measures, you discover a cockroach infestation in your home, contact a pest professional for assistance with elimination and prevention.
Information Source: – National Pest Management Association, Dr. Jorge Parada
Posted on December 3, 2012 with No Comments
A disease that has decimated the bat population could severely hamper the farm economies of Western New York.
The Toronto Star reports that “white-nose syndrome” is estimated to have killed 5.5 million bats in the United States and Canada.
Says the Star: “Bats provide free pest control service to agriculture by eating tons of insects that can damage crops and produce. For example, bats eat adult June beetles, whose larva consume the roots of soybean and corn, two of the main crops in Ontario.”
The economic impact of the outbreak is pegged in the billions of dollars, perhaps as high as $53 billion per year.
Researchers have pegged “ground zero” for white-nose syndrome as a cave west of Albany.
For more information on White-nose syndrome visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Posted on November 26, 2012 with No Comments
The plan involves creating a clearinghouse for existing tools and information and increasing demand for school IPM.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its strategic plan for school IPM, detailing the Agency’s role reducing pest and pesticide risks to children and staff. EPA has committed to creating a clearinghouse for existing tools and information, increasing demand for school IPM by working with state agencies, school-related professional associations and others, and creating a center of expertise for school IPM based in Dallas, Texas. The Agency has also committed to growing four stakeholder-led working groups that have been advocating for and supporting adoption of high-level IPM in schools since 2007 with funding from EPA, the USDA Regional IPM Centers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others. EPA’s strategic plan can be downloaded here.
Source: www.pctonline.com
Posted on November 14, 2012 with No Comments
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
National Pest Management Association warns of serious pest health and property risks in storm’s wake
As those affected by the destructive damage and widespread power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy begin the rebuilding process, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is focusing on the impact the super storm will have on pest populations in affected areas of New York and New Jersey, specifically in hard-hit communities. Flood and storm-ravaged areas can expect to experience greater contact with pests including rats, bed bugs, termites and flies in the weeks and months after the storm due in large part to population displacement, as well as increased moisture. The NPMA is monitoring the situation, as the increase in contact poses serious health and property risks that must be addressed during recovery efforts.
“Communities devastated by the storm will likely experience an increase in pest encounters due to displacement and destruction caused by flooding,” said Jim Fredericks, Ph.D, technical director for the NPMA. “From the delay in sanitation services caused by power outages and road blockages, to the widespread structural damage and increased number of people staying at shelters, hotels or with family and friends, there are a number of ways Sandy will affect a variety of pest populations both in the short-term and months after the storm.”
“Our hearts go out to all who are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” remarked Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. “We are working internally with member companies and manufacturers to develop an action plan to help in mitigating these expected pest pressures, specifically in those areas hardest hit by Sandy.”
The NPMA has identified the following pests to be of greatest concern:
- Rodents: Many rodents were likely killed during the hurricane, however, a great number were displaced and immediately began seeking harborage and food. The delay in garbage pickup that many areas experienced, or continue to experience, will result in an abundance of food sources, while the expected increase in construction debris from remodeling will serve as excellent temporary harborages for displaced pests. As sanitation workers are likely to focus on “garbage” first, and place less of a priority on construction debris which may sit for extended periods, homeowners should keep food trash and construction debris separate so that sanitation workers can easily pick up the items most conducive to rodents. When these two are mixed, food and harborage may be in place for extended periods of time, which can be conducive to infestations. Rodents are known to spread several dozen diseases. Any homeowner coming into contact with rodent carcasses during clean up should wear protective gloves to protect against disease transmission.
- Flies: Flies breed in spoiled food, dead rodents or wildlife, and sewage caused by backups or broken pipes. Homeowners who lost power for several days or were unable to return to their homes for long periods of time are likely dealing with the disposal of rotten food. Fungus gnats breed in areas affected by moisture where mildew is growing, and may continue to be a problem in the coming months, especially in coastal areas, like NJ’s Barrier Islands, which are still closed off to many homeowners. Phorid flies breed in areas contaminated by sewage, which could be a problem for Rockaway Channel in Nassau County, Long Island, which is being flooded with raw sewage from the Bay Park sewage treatment plant.
- Bed Bugs: The large number of people forced out of their homes and living in hotels and shelters or receiving donated furnishings or clothing create an increased opportunity for bed bug infestations. Bed bugs are a much greater concern in urban areas hit by the storm, such as New York City, where larger populations of people live close together and interact in enclosed spaces on a regular basis. Because of the bed bugs’ ability to “hitchhike” on people and their belongings, bed bugs can become a problem for anyone living in close quarters while displaced from their home.
- Termites: Homes that were treated for termites in the past need to be retreated if the neighborhood was flooded and soil was moved or displaced by the water. The pesticide barrier was most likely disturbed and may no longer exist to protect the home from the serious structural damage termites can cause.
Tags: hurricane sandy pest control industry, new york pest control news
Category: Bed Bugs, Connecticut Pest Control, Dutchess County Pest Control, Fairfield County, New Jersey Pest Control, New York City Pest Control, NY Pest Control, Pest Control Industry, Pests, Rodent
Posted on October 12, 2012 with No Comments
University of Notre Dame entomologists are part of a team of researchers that recently discovered a potentially dangerous new malaria-transmitting mosquito. The as yet unnamed, and previously unreported, mosquito breeds in the western areas of Kenya and has an unknown DNA match to any of the existing malaria-transmitting species.
The Anopheles species of mosquitoes which transmits malaria in Africa is already widely studied by researchers. It prefers to rest indoors during the day and feed on humans during the night. Current malaria control programs, including spraying of insecticides and using insecticide-treated bed nets, are designed with these behaviors in mind.
Although the new species has never been implicated in the transmission of malaria, new discoveries in its biting habits pose a threat because it was found to be active outdoors and prefers to bite people earlier in the evening, soon after sunset, when people are not protected by current malaria control techniques.
Read more here.
