Monthly Archives: January 2012

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, Commercial Services, Insect Control, News, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Pest News, Residential Services

Queens, NY School Bitten By Bed Bugs

When bed bugs are found inhabiting a school, it is a rare occasion that you will find any school administrator referring to the critter or critters as an “infestation.”  Instead you will often hear that “one bed bug” was found or that it was found in an “isolated area” within the school.  That statement is always humorous to me because the area could not be too “isolated” or the bed bug would not have been found in the first place!

Some public school systems within the United States would like you to believe that bed bugs will not thrive in a school environment.  Not unlike any other location that you will find bed bugs, these little vampires will hitch a ride into the school via a student, teacher or administrator.  Backpacks, coats, hats, gloves, purses, laptop bags, and lunch boxes all serve as excellent transport vehicles for bed bugs.  Bed bugs can also hitch a ride in the folds of clothing that a person is wearing and drop off in a school at any moment in time.

Any bed bug could immediately climb up on their next victim or scurry off and hide in the area that it dropped off of its original host in.  Bed bugs can easily thrive within a school building because there are plenty of places for them to hide and an easy supply of blood sources available.  Left untreated by a licensed pest control professional, bed bugs will be able to multiply. It only takes one pregnant bed bug to cause a massive bed bug invasion.

On January 27, 2012, MyFox New York reported that the New York Department of Education Pest Control Unit confirmed that a bed bug was found at the Russel Sage Junior High School in Forest Hills.  The bed bug was found in the schools general office but reports from students are that they have also found bed bugs in the cafeteria and in classrooms at the school.  You may read the article here.

Avoiding bed bugs at school can be difficult.  Parents should be on high alert when bed bugs are present in their child’s school.  All items should be checked daily for bed bugs prior to them being brought into the school.  Clothing should be shaken out outdoors and immediately laundered to avoid bringing bed bugs inside the home.  Soft items can be placed in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any hitchhiking bed bugs or their eggs.  In the event that bed bugs are found in your home, it is wise to contact a licensed pest control professional to kill the bloodsuckers before the infestation rages out-of-control.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, Commercial Services, Insect Control, News, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Pest News, Residential Services

NYC Bed Bugs Strike Upscale Hotel

Many people view New York City to be somewhat like the unofficial capitol of the United States.  They have spectacular restaurants, are known for the Broadway theaters, interesting sights to see, and have some of the finest hotels in the entire world.  Since the resurgence of bed bugs began a few years ago, bed bugs have plagued New York City residents, businesses, and tourists alike report NYC pest control professionals.  Until just recently, the little vampires have held New York City hostage, but a short while ago it was reported that bed bug complaints have been on the decline in New York City.

For businesses across the United States, having a customer find bed bugs in their establishment could spell big trouble.  Depending on the response given from any bed bug infested business, it could either spell great news or really bad news for a business.  Bed bugs are a problem for upscale hotels as well as fleabag motels.  Because of the fast turnover of people, a hotel/motel can be bed bug free on one day and then infested on another.

The New York Times reported on January 25, 2012 that a swanky New York City hotel near Central Park South is the latest to have the creepy crawlers infiltrate one of their rooms.  Reports are that the hotel was alerted to the problem when a guest produced a bed bug to the front desk upon check-out.  The hotel jumped into action by moving guests from the adjoining rooms as well as the rooms above and below the infested room so that proper treatment could commence.  In addition to calling a New York City pest control professional, the hotel staff was shown a video and given training about how to recognize the signs of bed bugs.  Kuddos to the hotel in question for their quick action and not denying that the problem exists!  You may read the article here.

Many people have learned the hard way that bed bugs are not a do-it-yourself type of pest.  Hiring a New York City pest control professional that is trained in bed bug eradication services is the only way to fully eradicate bed bugs.

Commercial Services, Mice, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Pest News, Residential Services, Rodent Control

Mus Musculus…The House Mouse

They look relatively harmless at first glance.  They have large rounded ears and big dark eyes.  Their fur is soft and their whiskers are long.  The long skinny scaly tail is what turns most people off and scares others beyond belief.  The house mouse is a common home invader report New Jersey pest control professionals.

The house mouse is a native of Asia that was spread throughout Europe.  Humans helped the house mouse spread throughout the rest of the world.  Like other types of insects and animals, mice need food, water and shelter to survive.  Human habitats provide the perfect environment for mice to thrive.  Once they have moved into your home, you’ll need help from a NYC pest control professional to eliminate the pesky critters.

The house mouse will eat crumbs, food scraps, or pet food that is left out.  They will also gnaw into boxed or bagged food with ease to gain access to sealed food products.  Mice constantly dribble urine and leave a trail of feces behind in their wake which will contaminate any surface that they walk upon as well as any food product that they are near.

Mice tend to stay within 10 feet of their nesting site and they typically follow the same path to and from food or water sources over and over again.  Trying to remain undetected, mice will travel from place to place along the walls.  In addition to a dirt or oil type smear left on the wall.  You may also notice gnaw marks on the wood baseboards or furniture as mice are in constant need of filing down their incisor teeth.

Stern Environmental Group provides commercial and hospitality industry rodent extermination services to businesses in New York and New Jersey.  Call us today for help with your mice or rat eradication needs.

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Surprise! UNL Finds More Bed Bugs

Bed bug infestations continue to experience resurgence throughout cities across the United States.  It should come as no surprise that bed bugs have invaded the living space of the rich and poor, in mansions and tenements, and all types of places in between.  NJ Pest Control professionals have been fighting to kill the little vampires that strike in the night as they are not a do-it-yourself type of pest.

1011Now.com reported on January 19, 2011 that two students found bed bugs in their dorm room at Abel Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  The bed bugs were not discovered until after the students returned from winter break.  The University quickly brought in a pest control professional which then found a significant amount of the pesky critters nesting behind cork board that was hung just over the student’s bed.  As expected, soft items such as bedding and clothing has been laundered to kill the bed bugs.  The University chose thermal heat treatment to bake the bloodsuckers to death.  You may read the article here.

What is surprising to some folks is that just a day later, more bed bugs were found at the University.  According to JournalStar.com on January 20, 2012, another dorm room at Abel Hall, a student room at The Village, and a student lounge have also been found to have creepy bed bugs.  You may read the article here.

The University does not believe that other dorm rooms in the buildings that are affected are at risk of having bed bugs.  In actuality, once bed bugs are in a building with shared walls, it is quite easy for them to move from place to place.  Depending on the level of infestation, bed bugs could be lurking within the walls throughout the entire building.  Always on the hunt for their next victim, bed bugs use electrical wires and plumbing pipes as a bed bug highway to gain access between units.  Because of their small size, they can easily travel between walls as well.  With bed bugs already being found in several locations in the building, it might be wise for the University to consider treating the entire building at one time instead of each dorm room, or common space, that they find the bugs.

Commercial Services, Insect Control, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Pest News, Residential Services

Avoiding Stink Bugs

Image courtesy of Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org
Image courtesy of Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org

New Jersey pest control professionals say that the brown marmorated stink bughas been a formidable opponent to deal with.  Stink bugs have been nibbling their way on fruits, vegetables, and a variety of vegetation throughout the mid-Atlantic region since their discovery in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the 1990’s.  Much to the dismay of farmers and homeowners, these destructive pests can now be found in 33 different states.

Stink bugs do not pose a threat to humans, but they have caused considerable distress to home and business owners.  During the summer months, these stinky pests are busy suckling on plant nectar and laying thousands of eggs on the undersides of leaves in gardens and crops.  Now that fall is fast approaching, New Jersey pest control experts say that the brown marmorated stink bug will soon be making its way back to your home or business looking for a place to overwinter during the cold winter months.

Many home and business owners call pest control experts to kill the hundreds or even thousands of stink bugs that congregate on the exterior walls of their structure during the fall months.  As the weather begins to cool, left untreated, some of these stinky pests will make their way under your siding and then creep under your insulation where they will huddle together until they feel the warm spring temperatures.

Some pushier stink bugs will find their way into your home or business through cracks, crevices, screens, windows, open doors, etc.  You’ll initially find them crawling on windows, window sills, or walls until the chilly weather arrives.  They will eventually find a warm spot indoors to overwinter.  On the occasional sunny day, these stinky pests will sneak out of baseboards, carpet edging, closets, electrical outlets, or other hiding spots and bask in the sun, waiting for spring to arrive.  Stink bugs do not breed indoors, but they are a nuisance when you crush or scare them and they release their pungent stench.

Stink bugs populations are difficult to control as most over-the-counter pesticides do not work on these non-native creatures.  Stink bugs can be reduced by having the perimeter of your home treated by a licensed pest control expert.