Category Archives: Carpenter Ants

Ants, Bed Bug Information, Bed Bugs, Carpenter Ants, Carpenter Bees, Cockroaches, News

Do Your Due Diligence – Do a Pest Inspection Before Moving In

Before You Move In Do a Thorough Inspections for Pests.
Before You Move In Do a Thorough Inspections for Pests.

Think a home empty of humans is empty of pests? Think again. The NJ pest control experts at Stern know that prolonged vacancies can result in squatters. Insects and rodents are quick to move-in when prior residents vacate, making a pre-purchase pest inspection essential to avoiding hair-raising situations.

New & Existing Buildings are Both Affected

When new building construction is delayed, as is common, and wood framing and interior components are exposed to moisture and humidity over time, pests are attracted to and thrive in these moist conditions. In existing homes, overgrown shrubbery and standing water likewise attract pests of all kinds, from rodents and stinging insects, to mosquitoes, creating major infestations in mere weeks.

What Pests Should You Be on the Lookout For?

Common pests in vacant homes and buildings include:

– Beetles feasting on damp wood, floor boards, paneling, drywall, and interior mold.

– Silverfish munching wallpaper paste.

– Springtails and booklice feeding on damp, moldy wood and paper materials.

– Termites hidden in structural framing, flooring, carpeting, wallpaper, and construction debris.

– Carpenter ants, common in new building sites, are attracted to moist construction debris.

– Cockroaches, a particular problem in city homes.

– Massive wolf spiders in homes located in/near wooded areas.

– Rodents near farms and wooded areas.

– Fleas, ticks, and bedbugs from previous occupants.

Ensure a new home that’s a safe haven for you and your family. Schedule a pre-purchase inspection with the NJ pest control pros at Stern Environmental today.

Ants, Carpenter Ants, Commercial Services, News

Signs Your Buildings May Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Carpenter Ants Cause Damage to Your Building Structure
Carpenter Ants Cause Damage to Your Building Structure

Massive ants marching through your home or outbuilding? You could have a carpenter ant infestation. And just because they disappear for a few weeks doesn’t mean they’re gone for good. It’s not uncommon for residents to let their need for rapid NJ pest control intervention go, believing they don’t have an insect infestation when carpenter ants are actually nesting within the structure.

• How to Tell if You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Ants. Obviously. Carpenters ants are often large and black, but can range in size from 1/8-1/2-inch long and come in colors of red, brown, black, or shades in-between. To distinguish carpenter ants from other ant varieties, look for the following signs:

• Noise in the walls

Rusting noises in wall voids like cellophane/shopping bags crinkling indicates carpenter ant activity. 

• Piles of sawdust

You’ll find sawdust piles near where ants live as they excavate your structure to build nests, dumping this ‘waste’ into piles.

• Wet wood

Water damage attracts carpenter ants, who prefer to excavate wet wood infiltrated by mold.

• Location

Carpenter ants are frequently found around window sills and frames, doors/door frames, near plumbing fixtures, in attics/crawlspaces, and beneath patios/decks.

• Repeat visitation in the spring

If ants emerge consistently every spring you likely have a nest.

Give carpenter ants their marching orders before they begin excavating your home’s structure. Contact the NJ pest control experts at Stern Environmental today.

Ants, Carpenter Ants, Commercial Services, Insect Control

Should You Trust Amazon with Your Pest Management Needs?

Don't Let Your Office Building Fall Prey to an Ant Infestation!
Don’t Let Your Office Building Fall Prey to an Ant Infestation!

Amazon has begun a do-it-yourself pest management system, where the customer determines which pest they have, and then they contract an exterminator through Amazon. This may seem like a good idea, but it may not be the best choice.

Identification

You may see ants in your office, so you decide to call a specialist that will take care of your ant problem. But, what kind of ants are they? Carpenter ants don’t care about the food in your break room; they eat the wood in your beams and studs. Ants you find in your break room don’t care about wood at all! And what about termites, which might look like ants, but require an entirely different method to exterminate them?

If You Guess Wrong

If your identification is not right, you may have to pay for a service you don’t need, and then call in someone else who can get the job done. If this is beginning to sound like more of a hassle than it’s worth, the solution is to call a NYC commercial pest control company that will identify your pest problem and take care of it for you.

Take the guesswork out of your pest control problem. For more detailed information about eradicating the insect or animal infestation on your property, contact the Stern Environmental Group. We offer programs to combat virtually any type of pest infestation for both residential and commercial applications.

Ants, Carpenter Ants, Cockroaches, Insect Control, News, Pest Control, Residential Services

What Pests Can Reduce the Value of Your Property?

Pests that Can Cause Issues
Pests that Can Cause Issues

If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, you may not realize there are certain pests that can impact your property’s value. While the exterior of your home may look fine, the structure itself may be damaged by a variety of insects.

Problem Pests

Honey bees are busy creating their hives and honey which is a good thing when being managed by a beekeeper. When thousands of bees choose to build their colony inside a wall, it becomes a sticky hive of honey, glue and wax.

Drywood and subterranean termites destroy wood and cause billions in property damage every year.

German cockroaches carry disease and require a strong extermination treatment plan to eradicate them from your home.

Fire ants are problematic as the bugs create ant hills or mounds where the colony, along with the queen, set up housekeeping. The ants can penetrate air conditioning, transformer boxes and electrical switches which can result in a power outage.

Carpenter ants are adept at creating structural damage. They are considered wood destroyers due to their ability to bore out areas in wood for living space. They’re also known for living in hollow areas and insulation panels.

Powderpost beetles have a penchant for hardwood. If your home has hardwood furniture, hardwood flooring, wood cabinets, solid wood doors and molding, these areas are vulnerable to beetles.

For help with infestations in your home, contact Stern Environmental today.

Ants, Carpenter Ants, Commercial Services, Insect Control, News, Pest Control, Pest Eradication

Top Three Ant Pests that Bug NJ Businesses

Pesky Ants
Pesky Ants

Pests come in all shapes and sizes and one of the smallest and most annoying are ants. Not only are they clever, industrious, and master architects,  they can move fast, maneuver into the tiniest crevice, and magicians at infiltrating just about anything and everything.

Types of Ants

Three types of ants you’re likely to see skittering across in a variety of locations such as countertops, sidewalks, driveways, on walls, trees and plants, to name a few, include carpenter ants, pharaoh ants and pavement ants.

Carpenter

While carpenter ants won’t turn down a free meal of goodies, they are most destructive to wood structures. Carpenter ants like to build their nests in hollowed out dwellings where millions – yes millions – create extensive and well-managed and maintained colonies.

Pharaoh

Pharaoh ants and their queen run the show when it comes to massive infestations. These nearly translucent pests are bacteria and pathogen carriers making them dangerous. They prefer sweets but will also chow down on fatty food, grease, and insects.

Pavement

These tiny black bugs are opportunistic feeders and swarm as a group in search of tasty tidbits. They frequently nest under concrete slabs or wedged into cracks and crevices. To eradicate these pests, professional pest control services are the best option.

Contact us at the Stern Environmental Group by mail, phone, or email and let one of our associates help you take care of your pesky pests problem.