Tag: Pests
Posted on April 3, 2013 with 1 Comment
This April, homeowners are reminded to pest-proof their home in preparation for the upcoming pest season. J.P. McHale Pest Management recommends the following tips:
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
- Repair worn out roof shingles.
- Replace weather-stripping around doors and windows.
- Keep tree branches and shrubs well trimmed and away from the house.
- Store fire wood away from the house.
- Eliminate standing water around in your yard, including birdbaths and in clogged gutters.
- Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
- Store food in sealed containers.
- Store garbage outdoors in sealed containers.
Spring and summer are extremely active times of the year in the pest management industry. If you are noticing higher than normal pest activity contact J.P. McHale Pest Management.
Posted on March 9, 2012 with 1 Comment
While the effects of a foreclosure are obviously most devastating to the homeowners and their family, neighbors can also be impacted.
For one, a foreclosure can drive down the value of the rest of the homes in a neighborhood. An empty and uncared for home can attract a variety of pests. pests find that an empty house makes a great home for them – providing shelter and even food and water from leaky pipes, toilet bowls and standing water. Once these pests find their way into a foreclosed home, it is only a matter of time before the population grows and offspring venture out, seeking food and shelter in other homes on the block.
A rodent infestation is especially likely to spread from a foreclosed home to other nearby houses. As it is, rodents invade an estimated 21 million homes in the U.S. each winter. Once rodents do invade a home, they can pose serious health and property risks. Rodents contaminate food and spread diseases.
Unfortunately, if a house in your neighborhood is under foreclosure, there is little that you can do to prevent pests from infesting that home. But there are many steps that you, as a homeowner, can take to prevent those pests from finding their way into your home. Your first step should be to contact a licensed pest control company who will be able to determine what types of pest infestations your neighborhood is most at risk for, and recommend a prevention plan to help keep your home pest-free.
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 14, 2011 with No Comments
Looking for a bug or pest related science fair project for your child? Need some fun ideas to keep your kids busy on the weekend? Pest World for Kids has lots of great science projects and they even provide everything you need to get started, from forming a question to communicating results of your experiment. The site also has pest games for kids, lesson plans for teachers and a great section on report writing!
Posted on August 12, 2011 with No Comments
An area of French Guiana has been forced into obeying a curfew….by who? Yellowtail moths. These pests have proven bothersome to the region since early July, the time period in which the decision to turn off all lighting at dusk was enforced.
With dark streets and vacant stores, the people of the French Guiana region have been retreating to their homes at dusk, or remaining outside under mosquito netting if they so choose.
Why the drastic change in lifestyle? The Yellowtail moths, mainly located in mangrove swamps, are attracted to lit areas and can prove unpleasant for humans. The moths disperse microscopic hairs from their bodies which have harmful skin effects for humans. The hairs from these moths cause severe itching for humans, and the infestation level in this area is tremendous.
Various shops and restaurants have been closed nightly for over a month.
The residents of this area have formed a committee which hopes to see change soon, along with the return of a normal lifestyle.
Click here for the full story!
Photo Credit
Posted on August 11, 2010 with 7 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 August 9, 2010 with No Comments
Yesterday the NY Post published an article about the second round grades for New York City’s top restaurants. Last week, 24,000 of New York City’s finest restaurants were graded on a new scale to judge the cleanliness of the dining area. If a restaurant gets a low grade, they have two more inspections to improve or else their grade will be open to the public. The second inspections were conducted this past week. The final inspections will be conducted in the following week and then that’s it. Restaurants will be required to show the grade they are given right at the front door or window for the public to see. The following violations will earn restaurants points:
- Keeping cold foods at a temperature higher than 41 degrees
- Evidence of pests or rodents
- Employees not wearing hair nets
- Eggs are cracks
- Food is left uncovered
- Not vermin-proof
- Plumbing issues
- Light bulbs not shielding
These are just of the few violations that can make restaurants earn a C. The article lists some of the finest restaurants in the city that are struggling to make the cut. If you are struggling with a pest or rodent problem in your home or business, JP McHale can help. We are the leading pest control company in New York that will solve your pest problems! Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook for an inspection!
Posted on August 9, 2010 with No Comments
Everyone has heard about the battle people are having with bed bugs, but is there a bright side to them? Over the weekend the Wall Street Journal published an article talking about how bed bugs are stimulating the economy. In the past years, bed bugs have hit America hard, putting a dent in home owner’s pockets. The article explains how different companies benefit from the bed bug crisis. The most obvious benefited is pest control companies. Pest control companies have seen and treated a significant amount of cases each year for bed bugs. In past years the number of cases has raised a lot. For tenants in bed bugs infested apartment buildings, they will seek legal help and hire bed bug layers to solve their problems. Next are therapists. When people have bed bugs, it is an emotional battle. People will lose sleep and panic at the sight of even a poppy seed. Going to a therapist will help them calm their nerves. Before an exterminator can treat your home for bed bugs, the room has to be prepped. That is where new companies are forming. The goal of the company is to prep the room by disassembling beds, washing the linens, encasing the mattresses, and vacuuming your shoes and carpets. Another place where companies are benefiting from is applications for phones. For a few dollars, people can buy apps that tell them how to identify bed bugs, what to do if you see them, how to prep your room, and more useful information. All different companies are benefiting the from bed bug crisis and although people are driven crazy, the economy is benefiting.
Posted on August 2, 2010 with No Comments
Last week it was reported that ESPN conducted a survey about food vendors in sports arenas across the country. Today, Consumeraffairs.com published an article talking about the survey’s results. Many vendors were cited for numerous health violations. Some of the violations include mouse droppings on the floor, mold in an ice machine, a cockroach crawling in a soda machine, dead pests on the ground where food is made, and employees ignoring the “wash hands” sign. 
If you do plan on eating at a sports arena, the best thing is to eat something that is covered or has a shell, like peanuts. The arenas claimed they are fixing the problems but be careful in you plan on going to a sports arena anytime soon!
Posted on July 29, 2010 with No Comments
If you are planning a vacation or are moving overseas, Fenland Environmental Services can help! Serving the Cambridge and surrounding areas, Fenland Services can help out with any agricultural, residential, or domestic pest or wildlife issue. Feel free to contact them with any questions!
This April, homeowners are reminded to pest-proof their home in preparation for the upcoming pest season. J.P. McHale Pest Management recommends the following tips:
