The Wall Street Journal posted a blog a few days ago about tick-borne diseases. Most diseases spread by hard-backed ticks, including Lyme Disease, where you can see the tick latched on your skin sucking your blood.  Researchers now are focusing on soft-backed ticks, which bite you in your sleep and then leave.  When this happens patients will contract relapsing fever, where they will have reoccurring fevers. Scientists started to study this kind of disease back in 2002 and fortunately the disease usually dose not have fatal effects.  Health officials suggest to spay your lawn with products to keep ticks away, and JP McHale can do just that! JP McHale is a Westchester pest control company that treats lawns for ticks. Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook for an inspection!

Check out more ways to stay tick free in the summer!

Here is a great article on the top 5 pests to watch out for in the summer.  The article explains the behavior and how to prevent mosquitoes, tick, termites, carpenter bees and carpenter ants. If you have a problem with any summer pests, give us a call!  JP McHale is a Westchester Pest Control company.  We are licensed in pest extermination for your home and business and would love to help you with your problem! Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook with any questions or to hear about our services.

Today a local Rhode Island news paper published a story about how researchers from URI have noticed that there should be a decrease in ticks this year.  They predict to see 20 to 25% less cases this year.  That’s a pretty good number! A decrease in deer ticks means a decrease in Lymes Disease. A research lab at URI invests most of its time focusing on studying ticks.  Scientists go around the state each year and focus on counting how many deer ticks they find state wide.  Last year, since the summer was very moist, ticks lasted until August but scientists think the number of cases will decrease significantly.  They still want people to be aware and take precautions so they will not get ticks.  Wear long sleeved clothing when you are outside and repellent with 30% DEET.  When you apply repellent, make sure you spray you sock and shoes.  Researchers say you at 70% less likely to get bitten if you do so because tick crawl up your leg and then bit you.  JP McHale is a Westchester pest control company that can conduct an inspection for your home or building to check for ticks and we have treatment for your lawn to prevent ticks.  Simply contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, facebook, or twitter.

This National Geographic video shows how tick are transmitted to humans and how humans get get Lymes Disease.

A few days ago, an article was published on wtop.com explaining how the amount of tick cases is on the rise.  The tick population is growing and there are more tick-borne diseases that are being introduced. Once a tick bites a human, it has to stay intact with the skin for 24 hours until it can transmit a disease.  Whenever you come inside from being outside, make sure you check your whole body for unusual spots.  If you do find a tick, make sure you remove the whole body and all of the legs.  If the tick is far underneath the skin, go to the hospital as soon as you can to remove it.  Once you remove the tick, put it in a small bag and keep it in the freeze for a few days so if the tick did transmit a disease, a doctor can identify the tick and treat it properly. The article points out some tips to prevent ticks including the following:

• Avoiding tall grass
• Avoid walking where your lawn meets the woods.  Do not brush up against bushes because ticks could easily transfer from a tree or bush to a person
• Use insect repellent that contains 30% DEET or .5% permethrin
• Wear light colored clothes when outside so you can see if a tick is on you
• Tuck you pants into your socks
• Wear long sleeved pants and shirts
• Cut your lawn often
• Get rid of places where rodents like
• If you have pets, ask your vet for tick control methods you can use

By following these tips you will stay healthy and tick free.  If you are concerned about ticks in your lawn, JP McHale can help!  Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, twitter, or facebook.

Learn more about tick control

Today IOL published an article about a different approach that the stadium is going to use to keep pests out of the stadium.  There has been a bad bat, rat, and pigeon problem in the stadium and instead of using poison, the stadium is going to try and get rid of the pests with “birds of prey”.  Pigeons are a major problem and if they get rid of them, the other pests will subside.  Pigeon droppings attract rats and the birds carry diseases and ticks.  They build nests around the stadium and lay eggs so more can reproduce.  The brand new stadium holds 46,000 people so the stadium wants to ensure that all of the people are safe by getting rid of the pests.  They think that by attracting bigger birds to scare away the pigeons, the pigeons won’t come back. Throughout the three years the plans to get rid of pests have changed, but the stadium feels this approach will be very effective.  If you have a rat problem or any other pest problems, feel free to contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, facebook, twitter, or live chat.

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Summer has arrived and everyone loves to enjoy the outdoors.  Mosquitoes and ticks are very active during the late spring so people have to be cautious not to get Lyme disease or the West Nile Virus.  Yesterday on WebMD an author published an article rating the top 6 insect repellents judged by Consumer Reports, focusing mainly against mosquito and tick bites. The top repellents included the following: Off Deep Woods Sportsmen, Cutter Backwoods Unscented, Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry, 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8, Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus, Natrapel 8-House with picaridin.  5/6 of these products contain between 15 and 30% DEET, an active and very effective chemical in repelling insects.  Consumer Reports had volunteers spray on the repellents and put mosquitoes and deer ticks on the volunteers.  The repellents protected the volunteers for seven or more hours!  Consumer Reports also notes that people should not use DEET on babies and no higher than 30% when using both a sunscreen and insect repellent in one.  DEET is safe in proper amounts but when people apply sunscreen, they usually apply excessively so they do not get burnt.  Other ways to prevent insects from biting you include the following:

• Wear long sleeve, light clothing
• Do not be outside at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active
• Make sure there is not stagnant water built up
• Inspect your body to look for suspicious marks or spots on your body
• When using candles outside in a space, position them in the corners on the floor
• Water down the area before a gathering because bees do not like water or wet areas

By following these tips you will have a happy and healthy summer.  For more information or help with a tick, mosquito, or any other problem feel free to contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, facebook, or twitter.  We even offer a special VIP Program that protects your lawn specifically from ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents.  Read more about ticks and mosquitoes in our other blog posts! Tick Blog, Mosquito Blog. JPMcHale is one of the leading pest control companies in Westchester, New York, we would love to help you with your pest problems!

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WOW, what a hot day it is today. A high for about 92 degrees, and 50% humidity. We got a ton of rain last night, so the conditions outside are perfect for tons of pests today.

1. Wasps
2. Carpenter Ants
3. Mosquitoes
4. Ticks

If you notice any pest related problems around your home please do not hesitate to contact us for a free analysis of your property.

• Phone: (800) 479-2284
• Email: sales@nopests.com
• Live Chat
• Twitter

A group of doctors from around the country will come together to discuss the treatment methods involved with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is commonly found in deer ticks, which are prevalent in the northeast of the county. Some doctors say its a short fix, other say its a long hard battle. We will let you know the outcome..

It is the middle of the summer and everyone is outside. The last thing you want is to contract a pest transmitted disease like Lyme or West Nile.

JP McHale is a unique pest management company. With the power of a entomologist and a plant pathologist, custom service programs can be created, controlling more pests then just the general pest control. Therefore, we have created the VIP, Vector Intervention Program. The VIP program is performed by our tree and turf department.

The VIP program is targeted at pests that transmit diseases. Most specifically, ticks, mosquitoes, mice and rats. All of these pests transmit different diseases, and are present in the northeast in high populations.

Mosquitoes:

They transmit the West Nile Virus. West Nile is usually found in Africa, and has made its way to the United States. When an infected mosquito bites a human, they will get a short illness. However, if left untreated, there are high chances that the West Nile could turn into a more harmful disease such as encephalitis or meningitis.

The ecotone if your property is treated with a liquid or your property will have mosquito dunks placed strategically where mosquitoes are found to breed on your property.

To ensure that your property will be mosquito free, our VIP program along with integrated pest management techniques will be the best possible thing you can do.

Ticks:

Transmitting Lyme disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichosis. Lyme disease is one of the most well know diseases, if contracted; symptoms include dizziness, stiff neck, abdominal pain, joint pain, acute headaches and symptoms that relate to arthritis. Deer ticks are most know to carry Lyme disease. Another disease found in ticks is Babesiosis. Contraction of Babesiosis is not common in the northeast of the country, but there have been reports of it. This disease targets the red blood cells in your body, and symptoms are sever and include fever, chills, body aches, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. This disease is especially harmful and dangerous to the elderly and people with a weakened immune system. The most recently discovered disease to be carried by ticks is Ehrlichiosis. Reports of this disease are increasing rapidly in the northeast of the country. This disease will target white blood cells, creating flu-type symptoms such as fevers, muscle aches and fatigue. Children may get rashes. Diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis is key, and if not treated, can lead to hospitalization and possibly death.

You can control ticks from your property and prevent them from infecting you by a few integrated pest management methods, and the VIP program through JP McHale Pest Management

Rodents:

The last pest covered by the VIP program is rodents, most specifically, mice and rats. Mice and rats leave urine, dropping and salvia behind when they are percent in homes. These secretions left behind can cause Hanta Virus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Here at JP McHale, our customer service representatives get calls all the time from people that have been diagnosed HPS by their doctor. HPS is usually contracted by breathing in the virus. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness and chills. If left untreated, you will notice lunch filling with fluid and shortness of breath.

All of these pests are covered by our Vector Intervention Program, that is administered by our Tree & Turf Management department. Please contact us at (800) 479 2284 if you would like more information or would like to sign up for the program.