Tag: NY Pest Control
Posted on May 14, 2013 with No Comments
May is Asthma Awareness Month and last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published important information about asthma in America. According to the EPA, “The economic costs of asthma amounts to more than $56 billion per year from direct medical costs and indirect costs, such as missed school and work days.”
An important part of of J.P. McHale Pest Managements mission is spreading awareness through Envirocare Air Quality Restorations mission during Asthma Awareness Month to help raise awareness that asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening chronic disease that can be controlled.
Identify asthma triggers in your home. Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor allergens, along with pest and rodent droppings in New York homes play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Triggers are things that can cause asthma symptoms, an episode or attack or make asthma worse. If you have asthma, you may react to just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers. Be sure to work with a doctor to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan that includes ways to reduce exposures to your asthma triggers.
Some of the most commons asthma triggers include:
Don’t wait to take action to protect your family. Contact J.P. McHale Pest Management or Envirocare Air Quality Restoration in New York at 914-788-4454 for healthy solutions for home and work. With our guidance and services their is no other company better suited to protect your indoor living environment. Our aim is to make every month Asthma Awareness Month.
Posted on April 22, 2013 with No Comments
National Pest Management Association and University of Kentucky find nearly all pest professionals in the U.S. have treated bed bugs in the past year; most in residential settings.
The new 2013 Bugs Without Borders Survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky, found that bed bug infestations in the United States continue at high rates and the pest is as much, if not more of a problem than in years past. The survey of U.S. pest management professionals, found that 99.6 percent of respondents encountered bed bug infestations in the past year and that infestations have increased in the majority of locations in which pest professionals typically treat for bed bugs. The study is being released during Bed Bug Awareness Week (April 22 through 26), a national observance by NPMA and Chase’s Book of Lists to help spread public awareness about bed bugs and what people can do to help curb infestations
This is the third survey from NPMA and the University of Kentucky which tracks the bed bug problem since the resurgence of the pest began in earnest about three years ago. The previous survey was conducted in 2011.
According to the survey, bed bugs are overwhelmingly found in private residences including apartments, condominiums and single-family homes and the incidence of infestations in these environments is slightly higher compared to the 2011 findings.
“These results clearly show that there is still much work to be done in the fight against bed bugs,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “As Americans prepare for summer travel, enroll their children in summer camps and college students return home, we hope that these survey findings and Bed Bug Awareness Week observances will remind the public that bed bugs are still very much a problem and that with education and vigilance we can work together to decrease the easy spread of bed bugs.”
Below are the top five findings from the 2013 Bugs Without Borders Survey:
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Nearly all (99.6 percent) pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year, slightly higher than the 99 percent that reported the same in 2011.
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The majority of bed bug infestations occur in residential settings, such as apartments/condominiums and single-family homes, with 98 percent and 96 percent of respondents treating these dwellings respectively. Two years ago, about nine out of ten respondents reported treating infestations in these settings.
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As in previous years, survey respondents continue to treat for bed bugs in a variety of places outside private residences, such as college dorms, hotels, nursing homes, offices, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation and others:
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- Hotels/motels – 75 percent (80 percent in 2011)
- College dorms – 47 percent (54 percent in 2011)
- Nursing homes – 46 percent (46 percent in 2011)
- Office buildings – 36 percent (38 percent in 2011)
- Schools and day care centers – 41 percent (36 percent in 2011)
- Hospitals – 33 percent (31 percent in 2011)
- Transportation (train/bus/taxi) – 21 percent (18 percent in 2011)
- Movie theaters – 10 percent (17 percent in 2011)
- Retail stores – 15 percent (21 percent in 2011)
- Libraries – 12 percent (8 percent in 2011)
- Restaurants – 7 percent (6 percent in 2011)
- Airplanes – 2 percent (6 percent in 2011)
- Laundromats – 9 percent (6 percent in 2011)
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NOTE: Percentages denote professionals reporting treating bed bugs in specific locations.
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Clutter contributes to the problem as approximately two-thirds of respondents point to homeowner clutter as the biggest customer-oriented challenge in treating bed bugs, while 58 percent say customers not following advice and 16 percent point to re-infestation. Bed bugs continue to be the most difficult pest to treat according the 76 percent of respondents.
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Although not a seasonal pest, prime bed bug time appears to be during the summer months with nearly half (49 percent) of respondents saying infestations occur most often then and least often in the winter. While pest professionals are divided over whether there is “peak season” for bed bugs, more than half of those who notice a seasonal difference receive more calls during summer. Since people tend to travel and relocate more during the summer months, it is possible that a greater number of people unknowingly transport the bugs back home from their travels, or discover them soon after moving.
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More information can be found at AllThingsBedBugs.org, NPMA’s resource on everything bed bug related, from prevention tips to current news.
The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property. For more information, visit PestWorld.org.
Posted on March 12, 2013 with No Comments
The pest control experts at J.P. McHale Pest Management Inc. are located in New York and also provide extermination in parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, but you don’t have to live in in the tri-state area to take advantage of the information that we provide!
Categories include home pest solutions and commercial pest control including all pests from bed bugs, wasps, ants and termites to lawn care. You can visit our pest identification center if you need information on a certain pest. We also occassionally include topics covering indoor air quality and mold removal from our partner – Envirocare Air Quality Restoration.
Some of the most popular posts are on the New York bed bug epidemic and mosquito and tick problems.
Whether you are a pest control operator or a homeowner visiting our website and our blog will arm arm you with the information and knowledge you need to make informed decisions about pest control. Whether you are looking for do-it-yourself pest control ideas or if you are looking for a pest control company in New York or the area that you work or live – you will be sure to find what you are looking for!
You can also stay up-to-date by following us on facebook and twitter – just look for nypestcontrol ! Have a question or want a topic included on one of our social media sites, just send us an email here or call us at 800-479-2284.
Posted on March 4, 2013 with No Comments
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — Seeing a brown marmorated beetle scamper across your wall on a winter day may cause you to ask: “Where did that come from?” or “How do I get rid of it?” The quick answers are: far from Westchester and not that easily.
An invasive species from eastern Asia, the brown marmorated stink bug takes winter refuge in the warmth of your home; a relaxing winter vacation, beetle style.
The brown marmorated stink bug — Halyomorpha halys — is relatively new to North America. It was first spotted in Pennsylvania in 1996 and in Westchester in around 2008. But its allegiance is not particular to the region, as stink bugs now take residence in some other 33 states, as well as in virtually every country on the globe.
“The brown marmorated stink bug,” said Chris Maier, entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, “may be one of the most successful invasive insects of all time.”
If you’re paying close attention, Asian brown stink bugs are distinguishable from other stink bugs native to the region by white spots on its antenna.
“The brown marmorated stink bug has become a nuisance pest in human dwellings,” said Maier. When squashed (either accidentally or deliberately) they emit an odorous chemical.
But smell is the least of the stink bug’s qualities.
“The stink bug has been a major crop pest in Maryland and Virginia,” said Dr. Lou Magnarelli, director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
The mid-Atlantic region experienced a loss of some $27 million in apple crops in 2010, said Maier
Among its impressive attributes, the knife-thin stink bug can slip through weather stripping and extremely small cracks in your home siding and windows and can live six-to eight months. The warmth of one’s home causes them to rouse from their slumber.
But you can take preemptive action against a stink bug home invasion, said Jim McHale, an entomologist and owner of JP Mchale Pest Management in Cortlandt.
“In this region, there’s a two-week to one-month window — from approximately Aug. 15 through Sept. 1 — during which we can prevent stink bugs from entering your home.”
It is during this timeframe, said McHale, that stink bugs make their inexorable journey toward winter slumber.
McHale applies an environmentally safe treatment to low-lying brush and shrubs, as well as the windows and siding of the sun-facing sides of homes. This discourages the insects from choosing your home as its winter destination.
Theories abound on the Internet about preventive pheromones and various traps, but McHale said that once it has invaded your home, short of vacuuming or scooping up the insect with a tissue, there is nothing a homeowner can do to exterminate the insect on a large scale.
The good news is that the marmorated brown beetle — like other seasonal vacationers — leaves its winter rental when spring arrives.
For now, keep plenty of tissues on hand and try to avoid squishing your unwanted tenants. Then, mark your calendar for late summer, when you can arrange to foil the stink bugs’ plans for wintering in your home.
Posted on February 21, 2013 with No Comments
Winter is the high season for mysterious bug bites (Michael Potter, 2006). Unless the underlying pest is identified, the problem will continue. It’s not always necessary to jump for the do-it-yourself pest control spray can. Yes, bites like reactions can be from insects but they can also be non-insect related. Skin irritations can be caused by environmental factors, household products or even health related issues. If you reside in NY, NJ or CT and suspect that you have bite marks or a rash from from a pest, bed bug or bug bites, contact JP McHale Pest Management for an inspection. Our highly trained technicians will conduct an inspection and if required will recommend the appropriate action needed to rid your residence of the underlying cause.
Posted on January 14, 2013 with No Comments
It is common to encounter the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, along with Asian Lady Bugs, Western Conifer Seed Bugs, Cluster Flies, Box Elder Bugs and other varieties of insects we term “Occasional Invaders” in and around your home this time of the year. This increase in Stink Bug activity in our area has grown over the past 10 years as they have migrated up from Pennsylvania.
It is important to note these creatures are not intending to lay eggs or establish nesting sites. They are seeking out warm spots around windows, wall voids and attic spaces to spend the winter months. They will exit your building in the spring when you may observe them in large numbers again. Their presence is problematic because on warm days in the winter time, they will get confused, and invade your living space in large numbers seeking to exit. This may happen several times over the winter months.
Stink Bugs prefer outdoors, they are generally found in the gardens and plants, flowers around the outside. But they will find their way into homes and structures during the fall when the weather starts to get cold at night.. The odor they are known for releasing, when they land on most surfaces, (or get squished) is one of the main reasons they will return year after year and use that structure to hibernate for the winter. They are also attracted to light and will usually find their way indoors. Our homes provide a warm shelter from the rain, and cold so they will work their way under the siding, into soffits, around windows and door frames, under roof shingles, and into any crawl space or attic vent small enough for them to get into. Sometimes the warmth inside the home will trigger them to become active indoors during the winter months as well.
Our Treatment Methods
There is an specific treatment that we provide to target these all pests we label as “Over-Wintering Insects.” The appropriate timing for prevention is August 15th thru September 30th and focuses on the areas outside the home to prevent, if not reduce the activity you would otherwise see without a treatment. In addition the more important feature of the program are the 2 additional topical applications done in May and September to host trees/shrubs on your property.
The Premium Over-Wintering Program and its treatments are specifically designed to target invasive species like the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Western Conifer Seed Bug and Asian Ladybird Beetle, this program treats two critical stages of the insect lifecycle. Trees and shrubs surrounding your home are treated in the fall to kill adult insects feeding before their winter hibernation. In addition a barrier treatment protects your home with products that kills invasive insects on contact. When they land to gain entry into your home behind window frames or via soffits they contact the chemical and expire. But that’s not all! Our program protects you year round with foliar treatments again in the spring. This application kills adults as they emerge, but before they can reproduce in the spring. This effectively interrupts the breeding cycle of overwintering pests. All this is included in the Premium Over-Wintering Program option for service as well as callbacks for maintenance in between. We can schedule treatment to begin immediately.
Additional Prevention by Exclusion
Keeping stink bugs out of your home is as easy – and difficult – as sealing any and all entry points. At 3/4 of an inch and relatively flat, stink bugs can squeeze into tiny openings including cracks and crevices around windows, doors, siding, around wires and pipes, behind chimneys and along fascia. To effectively exclude stink bugs, these gaps should be filled with silicone or silicone-latex caulk. In addition, screens on windows and doors should be inspected for tears that permit stink bug entry; fixing or replacing damaged items as needed.
Posted on January 10, 2013 with No Comments
J.P. McHale Pest Management is a proud partner of Copesan, specialists in pest solutions. As a Copesan partner we continue to establishing relationships nationwide.
Copesan is an alliance of premier pest management companies that are united as a single entity for the sole purpose of providing quality pest solutions to businesses with locations throughout North America. Copesan is a client-driven company uniquely devoted to serving the pest management needs of the commercial and national account market.
JP McHale Pest Mangement Inc. is a family owned and operated enterprise. Fast, effective service is delivered to strategic areas in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Counties we work in include Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland Fairfield, Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Pasaic and Essex. We have many of the same core principles that Copesan practices.
For more information about Copesan please visit http://www.copesan.com/home.asp
Posted on January 3, 2013 with No Comments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued legal complaints against two companies, the Daifuku Trading Corp. of Englewood, New Jersey and the Everyday Group of Brooklyn, New York, for selling unregistered pesticides.
NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued legal complaints against two companies, the Daifuku Trading Corp. of Englewood, New Jersey and the Everyday Group of Brooklyn, New York, for selling unregistered pesticides. Both companies face penalties for violating federal pesticides law. Daifuku faces additional fines for making false and misleading statements on one of its pesticide products, for not properly labeling six products and for the improper importation of pesticide products. Under federal law, products used to kill pests must be registered with the EPA and contain labels written in English with instructions on their proper use.
“When stores sell illegal pesticides, the health and safety of people are put at risk,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Unless pesticide products are registered with the EPA and have the required EPA labels, they should not be sold. Store owners should protect the health of their customers and remove any unregistered pesticides from their shelves immediately.”
EPA inspections of the Daifuku Trading Corp.’s stores in Flushing, New York and Englewood, New Jersey revealed that the company was selling unregistered and misbranded pesticide products, including insect repellents, laundry detergents and disinfec
Pesticides have been linked to various forms of illnesses in people, ranging from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Some pesticides may also affect the hormone or endocrine systems. In many situations, there are non-chemical methods that will effectively control pests. The EPA recommends the use of alternative methods as part of an overall pest management strategy.
Read more at PCT Online.
Posted on December 31, 2012 with No Comments
Posted on December 27, 2012 with No Comments
Winter is not known as the most active month for pests. However, any winter pest inspection can reveal unwanted house guests. Just when winter arrives and we are huddling inside, insects and rodents are also attracted to the warmth of our homes.
Once rodents find a warm and safe place indoors, they will make your home their home!
Rodent control shouldn’t stop during the winter months. Mice and rats are masters at squeezing through tight spaces in building exteriors. And once they’re indoors, any food that isn’t securely stored is likely to be added to their menu.
To prevent rodent infestations, schedule a home pest inspection. JP McHale’s pest management professionals will be able to identify cracks and crevices that mice and rats will be able to get through. In general, mice can fit through holes as small as a dime, while rats only need openings with the diameter of a quarter. With this information in hand, you’ll be equipped to repair damaged screens, loose doors, insulation around pipes and any openings that could provide rodents entry.
Even if your home is sealed up tight, it’s possible that a rat or mouse will still be able to gain access – remember, these intrepid little creatures are willing to gnaw through even wire mesh to find a cozy winter home. To starve any rodents that do make their way into your home, keep a tight ship; eliminate clutter, immediately clean up crumbs and spills, and store extra food in sealed containers.
well informed throughout the year.
