Archive for the Winter Pests Category
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 October 31, 2011 with No Comments
Happy Halloween!! Tonight, you expect to see vampires, ghosts and goblins around your neighborhood but it’s the bats, spiders and other pests that will be giving you the nightmares! As temperatures have begun to cool in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut outdoor pests are seeking a warm place for the winter and they want to come into your home and place of business.
Certain pests, such as bats and bed bugs, have a resemblance to Halloween characters! Bedbugs are similar to vampires in the sense that they are both nocturnal, bloodsucking creatures.
To keep spiders, mice, roaches, and other unwelcome creepy crawlers out of your home, keep all food and sweets stored in air tight containers. Don’t let your kids leave their candy on the floor as this is an open invitation for pests. If you insist on carving and leaving your pumpkin outside, it’s a good idea to bring it in at night to avoid attracting mice, rats and other outdoor pests that are looking for food and warmth.
Don’t let pests be a nightmare in your home anymore! If you live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut call JP McHale Pest Management Inc. for all of your residential and commercial pest control services.
Tags: bedbugs, halloween, Mice, Pests, Rats, spiders
Category: Bed Bugs, Mice, NY Pest Control, Rats, Spiders, Winter Pests
Posted on October 25, 2011 with No Comments
Here’s a great article, How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Safely Around Children, written by Matt Frye, an Entomologist at JP McHale’s Pest Management located in Buchanan, NY. The article was recently published by and can be at DinkerandGiggles.com
Posted on October 19, 2011 with No Comments
Cornell Stink Bug Photo
Cornell University is seeking the public’s help to dentify locations where Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are being spotted.
“The Stink Bug Project began a year ago to address the potential impact this invasive species could have on NYS commercial agricultural commodities while documenting its pest status in the urban environment. The Hudson Valley Region, along with Metropolitan NY and Long Island may currently be the leading edge of the population expansion. By monitoring several agricultural commodities in the region, collecting, verifying and documenting the population spread along the agricultural-urban interface, we hope to assist residents and agricultural producers alike in understanding this pest and mediating its impact.“
Posted on October 6, 2011 with No Comments
Now that fall is here the temperatures are cooling down and pests and rodents are starting to seek warm shelter. If you notice any pests in your business or residence, you can visit JP McHale Pest Management’s Pest Identification Center and then give our office a call to schedule pest control service at 800-479-2284 or you can send us an email here! Below are pictures of some of the pests that you may be encountering.
Disease Carrying Insects
Invasive Pests
Rodents
Stinging Insects
Wood Destroying Pests
Stored Product Pests
Posted on October 3, 2011 with No Comments
Photo's & Story Accredited to: Matt Frye, MS, PhD, Urban Entomologist JP McHale Pest Management, Inc.
It’s a beautiful fall day, and through my open windows I can appreciate the changing of seasons. Buzzzz…. clunk! But there it is again, a sound that brings frustration and anxiety. Hesitantly, I glance over from my typing machine and observe the small 5-sided body creeping along the screen. It pauses, orients, and starts moving again as it looks for an entry point around the window frame. And so begins another invasion by the brown marmorated stink bug!
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and I share a long history. I went to college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where this insect first arrived in the US on a shipment from the Orient. With piercing/sucking mouthparts, this BMSB feeds on plant juices, damages fruit and renders apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits aesthetically unacceptable for sale. During summer months, stink bugs feed on a variety of host plants and large numbers can be found in agricultural fields. Their reign of terror continues into the fall, when adults seek overwintering sites to protect them from harsh winter conditions. Around widows and doorframes in our Allentown dormitories, we encountered so-called “crunchy bugs” that made a pungent odor when crushed. The BMSB has since spread to several states, and is reported as for north as Maine, south to North Carolina, and west to Michigan with new populations in Wisconsin and Washington. A once unknown pest, the BMSB now receives great attention at trade shows and other events to which I bring my insect display. When viewing the 3/4 inch, brown, shield shaped insect, onlookers protest, “how do I get rid of stink bugs?!”
The BMSB belongs to the pest management professional’s category of “overwintering pest,” which also includes the Western conifer seed bug, the multicolored Asian ladybird beetle, the boxelder bug, and cluster flies. As fall approaches and important cues such as cooler temperatures, shorter days, and decreased quality of host-plant material arrives, these insects start their assault on homes and other structures. Why? In their natural habitat, overwintering insects seek southwest-facing, light-colored structures such as rocks that are warmed by afternoon sun. These areas provide some protection and buffering against cold winter temperatures, and enhance survival of the insects. Where buildings have replaced natural landscapes, these structures now provide similar cues to insects preparing for winter. Some overwintering pests use pheromones to form large aggregations, later fleeing to enter buildings. For the most part, overwintering pests cause no damage for the homeowner. However, some species can bite and leave fecal stains (boxelder bug), while a mass of dead insects (ladybird beetles) is displeasing to homeowners.
The best way to address overwintering pests is also the most difficult: exclusion. These insects are adapted to exploit tiny cracks and crevices leading to safe harborage areas. Eliminating entry points is a guaranteed way to provide long-term control. Here are just a few tips to keep overwintering pests out of your home.
- Screen exterior vents that lead into the home
- Seal pipe chases and openings around wires with expanding foam
- Eliminate cracks, crevices, and openings around doors, window frames, fascia, etc. with caulk (silicone)
- Replace or repair damaged screens or doors
- Remove window air conditioning units that provide direct access to interior
If you experienced an infestation in the past, or have recently observed large numbers of insects invading your home, consult your pest management professional for treatment options.
Posted on December 20, 2010 with 1 Comment
As many New Yorkers can tell the temperature is falling drastically and it’s time to start turning up the heat as well as grabbing the jackets, hats & gloves. While in these winter months household will see a decrease in summer pests such as wasps, carpenter ants and mosquitoes, there will be an increase in rodent activity such as rats and mice in homes.
Mice and rats are always looking for a warm place to live, and homes especially in Westchester County are a perfect area for them to live. These little critters can fit through holes and crevasses ¼” small! It is imperative that these be sealed, so rodents cannot enter in the winter months. Garages and attics are the most common entrances and must be inspected on a yearly basis. The two pictures below are examples of do it yourself sealers to keep rodents out of your garage.
For current customers on our Home Pest Prevention plan, we will come out and prepare your home for the winter to keep these rodents out of your home. Please note, many times we receive calls here about a “scratching” in attics. Many times this is a squirrel or other type of wildlife. JP McHale Pest Management is not licensed to deal with wildlife. Please call our customer service representatives to assist you in determining your pest problem at (800) 479-2284 or live chat with us!
Picture credits:
elite-xpressions.com
amazon.com
Posted on November 11, 2010 with 1 Comment
The key to getting rid of pests and rodents (Mice & Rats) during the winter seasons is to not even allowed to enter your place of shelter. Pest-proofing consists of many different prevention techniques for different types of pests.
- Install door sweeps: Installing sweeps under exterior doors prevents insects and rodents from entering your living quarters. A gap of just 1/16th of an inch allows small incects including spiders to enter. A gap of around ¼ of and inch will allow mice to enter into your warm cozy house.
- Get rid of those Cracks!: caulking any crack either in the exterior or interior will help prevent pests from entering your home. Cracks on the exterior include: siding cracks, any cracked pipes or around electrial work. In the interior, close up cracks in windows, doors, baseboards etc…
- Use ¼ inch wire meshing to areas of concern where rodents may find there way in. These areas include; the attic, chimney roofing, crawl spaces etc.
JP McHale Pest Management’s inspectors are professionals at sealing homes. Give us a call to get a free consultation on all of our services.
Picture source
Posted on March 8, 2010 with 3 Comments
Mice have been running wild in Southland, New Zealand, getting to the point where it has gotten almost plauge-like in Southland. Fiordland, Te Anau, Stoney Creek and Five Rivers are the main areas that are having a serious problem with the mice population. The problem it seems is that these mice are breeding at a high pace. Gestation period for mice is only about 20 days, with 10-12 being born during optimal breeding. The reason for the high abundance of mice is that there seems to be a huge excess supply of food for the mice. It has gotten to the point where homes were catching up to 9 mice a night in their houses. Farmers are seeing hundred of mice scatter when they are scared away.
Southland is trying to control the population, however, is having trouble figuring out how. Some households say that their cats and dogs have been eating the mice, which has helped a little. However, with such a large population, it would be extremely tough to get rid of all of them, so they are focusing on limiting the food supply of the mice. However, they are finding that now Southland has a few more unwanted visitors, in weasels and rats. When the mice die off in the winter, officials are worried that these other pests will more onto the bird population. As of now, they are just urging people to do whatever they can do to get rid of these pests.
Though this widespread mouse problem is happening in New Zealand, these creatures can be infesting your home. If you would like a free inspection or more information about our rodent control services, please contact us.
Picture Source
Posted on February 10, 2010 with 1 Comment
Verdi Square, New York City
Verdi Square, the domain for drug dealers and the homeless all the way back since the late 80s, has another problem on its hands. Rats are infesting the area in the Upper West Side of New York. The problem has gotten so bad that even the Parks Department has a need for more help to clean up the area. The area has gotten to the point where it is being cleaned at around 3 times a day. What has caused this infestation? The area is filthy according to residents, with trash all over the place. Also, the renovation of a subway in 2000 has led to increase traffic in the area. With increased traffic comes more trash. Also, subway systems are notorious for an infestation of rats.
What measures are being done to clean the newly dubbed “Vermin Square”? Products to control rats are being littered all over the area. However, the rats are bigger than they were in the 80s, so after the initial stage, the dosage was upped. Trash crews are working hard to clean up the trash around the Verdi Square. Also, rat-proof garbage bags are now being used as potential solutions. Even with these possible solutions, the rats continue to dig holes around the Statue of Giuseppe Verdi. Rats are determined to find a way to stick around, and time will tell if “Vermin Square” can return to Verdi Square.
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