Sink Bug Season Is Back

Posted on October 1, 2010 with 1 Comment

Remember the MASSIVE lady bug swarm in Colorado? Well don’t let it happen to your home!

This summer’s news has been riddled with stories of bed bug infestations around the New York area yet this time of the year the pest that has most experts worried about stink bugs. While they do not cause notable physical harm, they can destroy crops, smell when crushed and they will find a way to get into your home. Stink bugs (aka Western Conifer Seed Bug), like other pests, are going to find refuge from the cold harsh climate of the winter season…and your home is a perfect place. The significant difference is that stink bugs usually try and start finding a warmer spot about a month earlier than other bugs. This means that as the temperature drops during late September and October the amount of stink bug complaints will be on the rise. If you spot a stink bug make sure u do not commit the cardinal sin of crushing them. They release a foul odor, hence the name “stink bug,” therefore, one should gentle pick the insect up with a piece of paper of some tissue like substance (paper towel, toilet tissue, etc…), or vacuum them up. Stink bugs have a very similar lifestyle to Lady Bugs as well, the most common room that you will find these bugs are in the bathrooms.

We offer an Overwintering Insect program that is designed to prevent these pests from gaining access to your home. Please contact us today for more information before it’s too late.

Top 5 Pests to Expect in a College Dorm

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!

Over Wintering Insect Calls Trickle In (Lady Bugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs)

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!

Bug Identification: The Stink Bug

Posted on January 4, 2010 with 6 Comments

Over the weekend, we had someone email us regrading the identification of a bug they found in their bedroom. We have provided the pictures below to show you what the bug looked like. This pest is a Stink Bug, closely related to the Western Conifer Seed Bug. The Stink Bug is an overwintering insect that will make their way into your home when the weather gets cold. Typically around this time of year we see a large increase in these pests.

All of these pictures are from a Flickr photo album by njvarsity.

Cold Weather Will Bring Uninvited Guests To Your Home

Posted on November 17, 2009 with 1 Comment

License photo credit: ezioman

As winter draws closer and closer by the day, your family won’t be the only one that will want the warm comfort of your household. Pests such as insects and rodents will want to share the warmth of your house. Mice are the most common of household pests that find their way into your house. Mice with their small frames and slippery movements can creep and crawl through the smallest of holes and cracks that are in your house (half inch). With the capability of carrying tons of different bacteria and diseases, mice are a rodent that you should be concerned about.

Prevention is the key for keeping these uninvited guests out of your house and in the wild. Make sure you inspect your house occasionally for any open vents, open crawl space doors, and any type of small cracks or holes near the bottom of your outdoor siding. This will keep out most of the bigger rodents out, but this wont be the only type of pest that will try and enter your home. Insects will try and get in as well, any cracks in your house’s siding is a great place for flying insects such as ladybugs, to try and nest and hibernate during the winter months. Keep brush and logs away, these are great spots for animals to find refuge from colder days. Bugs such as the Western Conifer Seed bug (stink bug) love this type of habitat and they will find a way into your house if you do not prevent such un-natural habitats near your home.

Again, rodents and insects are pests that you need to keep out of your home to prevent unsanitary conditions as well as damage to your home. Rodents will leave droppings all around your home, finding their way near children, pets, and can even find their way into your food supply. Take the necessary precautions to avoid pests problems during the winter season and you will find your self having quite a pleasant winter session. Please contact us for a free inspection of your home.

Western Conifer Seed Bug Added To The Pest Identification Center

Posted on November 16, 2009 with No Comments

Today we would like to announce the addition of the Western Conifer Seed Bug AKA The Stink Bug to our Pest Identification Center. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is an overwintering pest that is most active during the fall and spring months. Their behavior is very similar to ladybugs.

If you are interested in Western Conifer Seed Bug control please contact us!

Western Conifer Seed Bug..The Stink Bug?

Posted on October 22, 2009 with No Comments

Known as the “Stink Bug,” the western conifer seed bug has become a household nuisance around the country.  Originally from warm-temperate climates, the stink bug has migrated to almost every part of the country making them a massive species of pests.  Their major source of food is sap coming from conifer cones, creating larger populations where conifer (evergreen) trees are more abundant.  These bugs actually help the spreading of conifer seeds because the sap-sucking helps the development of seeds.  The bugs themselves are refered to as “Stink Bugs” because when sensing danger(or stepped on) they release a foul smell to keep predators from preying on them.  These flying bugs can be seen from the Southwestern US all the way up to Maine, and have even been spotted across the pond in Italy and some Eastern European countries.  Other than their ugly appearance and foul smell, these agitating bugs really do no harm to us.

Stink bugs have also made their way east this year. Many homeowners may find these bugs in their homes. JP McHale Pest Management offers control for these bugs. Please contact us if you are interested in the services we offer.