Category Archives: Commercial Services

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.

Commercial Services, News

Top Five Spring Pests to Be on the Lookout For

Keep an Eye Out for Increased Pests This Spring and Summer
Keep an Eye Out for Increased Pests This Spring and Summer

You’re not the only one who can’t wait to get out and enjoy the spring weather. Spring pests are also jumping at the opportunity to enjoy the warmth, coming out of hibernation and creating NJ pest control nightmares. Luckily, you can prevent warm weather pest problems with early identification. What are the top spring pests to be on the lookout for?

Carpenter Ants

Insects such as carpenter ants seek food and shelter when weather warms, infiltrating and destroying the structure of your home. Piles of wood shavings beneath holes and rustling sounds within walls indicate an infestation.

Termites

Termites swarm and reproduce in the spring. They can cause a lot of damage in a short time, munching on your home or business. Swarmers, piles of wings, mounds, mud tubes on exterior walls, and crumbling wood should be an immediate concern.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito bites aren’t just irritating, they can make you and your pets very sick. Combat them and reclaim your yard with mosquito treatments.

Spiders

Spring season is spider season, and although most are harmless, poisonous and potentially deadly brown recluse and black widows require immediate attention.

Rats

Rats can transmit a number of diseases and pose a serious health threat. Close holes and gaps larger than a quarter quickly and seek timely treatment.

Put a freeze on spring pest problems. Identify problems fast with the help of the NJ pest control pros at Stern Environmental today.

Carpenter Bees, Commercial Services, Insect Control

What Every Home Owner Should Know About New Jersey Carpenter Bees

What Every Home Owner Should Know About New Jersey Carpenter Bees
What Every Home Owner Should Know About New Jersey Carpenter Bees

Making it through another long, cold winter is certainly reason to celebrate. But the fact that spring is here makes NJ pest control specialists have to pick up the pace because there are some different pests we’ll need to be focusing on. Carpenter bees are just one of them, but they are a problem for a lot of people in the state.

What are Carpenter Bees? 

Some people think that carpenter bees got their name because they eat wood, but that is not accurate. The females actually create holes in wood so they make a place for nests for their young. These pests are fairly large; about three-quarters to one inch in length. People often mistake them for bumble bees, but they’re not the same. Unlike other types of bees, they don’t live in colonies. Rather, they’re independent.

What Types of Damage Can Carpenter Bees Cause? 

Carpenter bees can do a lot of damage to the exterior of your home. It’s common to find them in decks, porches or wooden railings. They’re relatively harmless because the male doesn’t have a stinger, and the female only stings if she’s handled.

Still, no one wants carpenter bees hanging around their property. Your NJ pest control specialists can help if you’ve seen them hanging around your home. They are a nuisance pest, but it often takes a professional to deal with them. Contact us!

Ants, Cockroaches, Commercial Services, News

Brace Yourself – Warm Wet Winters Cause High Levels of Spring Insect Pests

Warm Wet Winters Cause a Proliferation of Spring Insects
Warm Wet Winters Cause a Proliferation of Spring Insects

Everyone always gets excited when a warm spell hits during the cold winter months. It’s good to have a few nice days when you can open the doors and windows and let the fresh air come in. The problem is that with those really warm days, there is often a price to pay later on. Your NJ pest control specialists expect this spring to be prime for pests.

But what does that mean for you? Will your pest problems be out of control this year because of the nice weather you’re enjoying right now?

What Pest Populations Will Spike?

There are several types of pests that tend to see an increase in their populations when winter is warmer and wetter than usual. Among them are:

– Mice

– Mosquitoes

– Cockroaches

– Termites

– Stink bugs

This is never good news for a New Jersey homeowner, but unfortunately, it is quite typical for this part of the country.

Your NJ Pest Control Specialist is Here to Help

At Stern Environmental, we understand the stress you feel when you find out you have a pest control problem. While we can’t do anything to change the weather conditions, there is a lot we can do to help you prepare for the upcoming spring. Along with giving you pest prevention tips, we can also assist you if you do encounter a pest control problem this year.

Contact us today so we can help!

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

Top Poisonous Spiders Found in New Jersey

Don't Be Afraid of Spiders - We'll Exterminate Them!
Don’t Be Afraid of Spiders – We’ll Exterminate Them!

Spiders are very common in NJ. The good news is that many of them aren’t the types that you need to worry about, since they don’t have a venomous bite. The bad news is that there are a few venomous spiders found in NJ office buildings that you should be concerned about. If you have any of these potentially dangerous spiders around, you’ll need professional NJ office pest control services to deal with them.

Brown Recluses

These small, brown spiders are known for lurking in places that are well-hidden, such as boxes or closets. Brown recluse spiders can deliver a serious bite that requires prompt medical care. However, some bites don’t produce noticeable symptoms at first, which can make them hard to detect early.

Black Widows

Black widows are easily recognizable with their black coloring and bright red hourglass marking on their belly. These spiders can also be found in closets and other areas that provide them with a dark, hidden environment. Black widows can bite if they’re disturbed, which can lead to nausea, abdominal cramping, and other symptoms in some individuals.

Sac Spiders

These spiders are mainly found outdoors, but some can make their way inside. Yellow sac spiders have bites that are more venomous than other sac spiders and require medical care.

If you have spiders in your building, contact Stern Environmental for more information on our NJ office pest control services.