Posted on August 11, 2010 with No Comments
When students go away to college, they are on their own to maintain their dorm room. Here is some information on the pests to expect in a dorm room and some tips that will help you control them.
Spiders: Most people jump at the sight of a spider. Spiders are unwelcomed guests that always tend to make their way into a room. Spiders are attracted to two things, moisture and light. Often your will see spiders make webs in the corners of the room or by the windows. If you do see a web forming, a handheld vacuum is an easy way to get rid of it. Try not to leave clutter around. Spiders can easily make a web in a stack of papers or in a cup that is just lying around.
Stink Bugs: The Western Conifer Seed Bug, often called the stink bug, is a bug that seems to make its way onto dorm walls. You will see stink bugs more likely in the winter months because they will go inside to look for shelter. When you kill them, they give off a foul odor. The only way to prevent them is to seal off entry points from the outside, like windows and doors.
Lady Bugs: If you see a small dot on the wall, don’t be surprised if it is a lady bug! Lady bugs are around ¼” long and are red or yellow with black spots. Like the stink bug, lady bugs will come indoors to look for shelter. They best way to keep these out is to seal off all entry points.
Flies: Flies and gnats are a big nuisance in dorms. You will find a significant number of gnats in the bathrooms. Flies and gnats love moisture and will hover around pipes that condensate. If a fly does enter your room the best this to do is have a fly swatter handy. Flies are very quick and a hassle to get rid of! Flies are either attracted to decay organisms or food. Hopefully a fly will be in your room just from crumbs and not a dead mouse!
Silverfish: Silverfish look like hairy centipedes. They are usually ½” to ¾” long and appear silver to brown from their scales. They are flat and oval shaped, with three long tails and two antennas. Silverfish are attracted to moisture and will thrive in rooms 70 to 80 degrees. Silverfish are nocturnal but can be found in the day time.
By following these tips, you’ll be sure to stay bug free in your dorm:
- Make sure the screens in your windows do not have tears or holes.
- Frequently dust. By dusting the areas that you rarely use will reduce the amount of pests your see significantly.
- Try to make sure there is not a big space between your door and the floor. Often there will be a small space which is big enough for pests to crawl under.
- Do not leave damp clothes or towels around. Hang up all wet clothes before you throw them in your hamper.
- Make sure all food is securely stored. Most people will be eating a bag of chips then leave the room for a bit. You’d be surprised how fast bugs can sense food!
- Position furniture right against the wall or in an area where you can move it. If there is an inch between a closet and the wall, pests will likely hang out there.
- If you do see pests, try not to kill them. Some insects, like the stink bug, will give off a scent that attracted other to the area. Catch the pest and throw it outside.
- Don’t leave clothes lying on the floor. Even if the clothes are not damp, a shirt can make a warm environment for a pest to live under!
Tags: flies, Ladybugs, Pest Control, Pests, Silverfish, spiders, western conifer seed bug
Category: Cluster Fly, Crawling Insects, Do It Yourself, House Fly, Silverfish, Spiders, Western Conifer Seed Bug
Posted on June 4, 2010 with No Comments
Yesterday, a local West Virginia public broadcasting company published an article on the rise of stink bug in West Virginia. The stink bug has recently become a house hold pest on the east coast in the last few years. The stink bug gets its name from the odor that the bug gives off when killed. This odor is not the most enjoyable sent 
and the odor actually sends the message to other stink bugs that the area is safe, so more will come. If you find a stink bug DO NOT smash it. Get a piece of paper and gently throw it outside. Stink bugs feed on plants and fruits, but they will come inside for shelter. Usually houses are warm so when the temperate is rather cool outside, especially in the fall, stink bugs will try and enter a house through cracks and holes. If you have a stink bug problem feel free to contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.
Posted on April 5, 2010 with No Comments
Today in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, our office experienced large call volume for Ladybug infestations. Ladybugs are an overwintering insect, and as most of you know, today was a beautiful day. In the late fall, overwintering insects such as ladybugs and western conifer seed bugs will enter the cracks and crevasse of you home, and call this home for the winter. On warm days (like today) these pests will think that the season is over, and start appearing. Usually this happens in high volume in 1-2 weeks, and today was the start of it.
Lady bugs
Western Conifer Seed Bug
JP McHale Pest Management has a solution to all these overwintering pests invading your home. Our Over-Wintering Pest Prevention program will prevent these pests from coming back in your home. It is also recommended that you give our offices a call in the late fall to prevent this probem from happening again!
Please call (800) 479-2284, if you want to avoid waiting…talk with one of our representatives over the internet with our live chat, or shoot us an email!
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!
When students go away to college, they are on their own to maintain their dorm room. Here is some information on the pests to expect in a dorm room and some tips that will help you control them.