Category Archives: Green Pest Control

Squirrel Facts You Did Not Know

Squirrel Facts You Did Not Know
Squirrel Facts You Did Not Know

The eastern gray squirrel is a common sight in NJ when you’re outdoors. However, these animals could end up inside your attic or other indoor areas to escape the cold, which means it’s time for NJ pest animal control. While you might be familiar with squirrels, here are some facts that you might not know.

Invasive Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels are considered an invasive species in the US. In fact, they’ve displaced the native red squirrel in some parts of the region. They’re native to the eastern US and the midwestern US, although they’ve spread to the western regions.

Color Variations

Most gray squirrels are gray, although they can be brown. In urban areas, some of these squirrels end up with white or black fur coloring due to the low risk of predators.

Spatial Memory

Eastern gray squirrels hoard food in numerous locations. They have excellent spatial memory that helps them remember where all of their food caches are.

Nutrition

Squirrels usually feed on seeds, berries, nuts and similar items. However, they’re also known to prey on frogs, birds and other animals. They also gnaw on antlers and bones for minerals.

Communication

Eastern gray squirrels use tail movements, facial expressions and vocalizations to communicate. They even make a purring noise when interacting with their young.

If you have a squirrel problem, contact Stern Environmental for NJ pest animal control.

Asian Lady Beetles Proliferate in the Fall

Asian Lady Beetles

Colorful and harmless ladybugs serve a purpose in the food chain and many cultures consider them signs of good luck. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their cousins, Asian lady beetles. Our NJ pest control technicians explain why you should be on the lookout for this fall invader.

Difference Between Lady Asian Beetles and Ladybugs

Ladybugs are more accurately known as lady beetles, and their colors and markings are similar to their Asian counterparts. The latter can be distinguished by a white spot behind the head along with a M-shaped black mark.

Why Asian Lady Beetles Are Not Welcome Visitors

As temperatures cool down in fall months, Asian lady beetles join other insects seeking shelter inside warm homes. Once inside, they’re not gracious house guests.

• Unlike the less aggressive native species, Asian lady beetles will bite. While not painful, their bite can result in allergic reactions such as hives, coughing and conjunctivitis, better known as pink eye.

• All lady beetles secrete a yellowish, foul-smelling fluid that can stain walls, furniture and carpeting.

• In rare instances, Asian lady beetles have been eaten by dogs who then developed ulcers in the mouth and esophagus.

Rely on Stern Environmental for Year-Round NJ Pest Control

Our NJ pest control technicians can safely and effectively handle unwanted insect and wildlife visitors from bed bugs and mice to raccoons and squirrels. Contact Stern Environmental to learn more.

Why is Cryonite So Deadly to Bed Bugs and Other Pests?

Why is Cryonite So Deadly to Bed Bugs and Other Pests?
Why is Cryonite So Deadly to Bed Bugs and Other Pests?

As insecticide-resistant pests become increasingly more common, NJ pest control experts remain on the lookout for new pest control treatment systems. Safe and nontoxic, Cryonite is among the most effective on the market.

How Does Cryonite Work?

Used extensively in Europe and Australia, Cryonite eliminates hard to kill pests such as bed bugs and German cockroaches in all life stages, including eggs, by freezing them to death on contact. Applied with a Cryonite machine, a spray of liquid CO2 (carbon dioxide) creates cold, dry ice, crystalizing pests and stopping them in their tracks.

Say Goodbye to Messy Chemical Sprays

Nontoxic and nonpoisonous, Cryonite leaves behind no wet or sticky residues. At normal temperatures, it simply evaporates. Recycled from industrial processes, it’s a green treatment solution.

Pesticide Resistant Pests Don’t Stand a Chance

Cryonite is an effective treatment for even the most challenging insect infestations, penetrating deep within cracks, crevices, and furnishings where insects hide. Because Cryonite is chemical-free, there’s no risk of pests developing a resistance to pest control measures.

Sensitive Individuals and Workspaces Are Safe from Chemicals

Even for the most sensitive individuals and environments, CO2 presents no risk of contamination or adverse health effects.

NJ pest control needs getting tough to meet? Stern Environmental has you covered, offering some of the most innovative new pest control treatments on the market. Solve your toughest pest control problems. Contact us today.

What to Know About Our NJ Spring Yellow Jackets

What to Know About Our NJ Spring Yellow Jackets
What to Know About Our NJ Spring Yellow Jackets

Spring has sprung, and with it pests are pouring forth. Among the most dreaded: Yellow jackets. These troublesome wasps are feared by homeowners, who look to NJ pest control pros for help dealing with these aggressive pests, which are capable of stinging repeatedly.

Be on the Lookout for Spring Yellow Jacket Nests

You’ll find the paper-mache-like nests of these wasps in the ground and around homes and other structures, such as animal burrows, attics, crawlspaces, and other wall voids and enclosed cavities. Constructed of a mix of wasp saliva and chewed, weathered wood, the layers of yellow jacket nests are camouflaged with surroundings and often unrecognized as the hazard they present.

Avoid Attracting these Pests

Yellow jackets feed on meat from garbage and animal carcasses, as well as sugars from fruit, sweetened beverages, and beer, bringing them into frequent contact with humans. These sugars support new developing queens in late summer, the only members of the colony that survive the winter.

Control the Pests

Never plug wasp nests in an outside wall. This can force wasps into living areas. The best method of treatment is registered insecticide dust. This is spread directly at the opening of the nest, where wasps pick up and transport the dust to others, destroying the colony.

Get yellow jackets to buzz off. Ensure a safe home with the help of the NJ pest control professionals at Stern Environmental today.

Keep Out Winter Warmth Seeking Pests with These Tips

Keep Out Winter Warmth Seeking Pests with These Tips
Keep Out Winter Warmth Seeking Pests with These Tips

It’s no secret that the winter months are a “hot” time for certain pests. Mice are among the most common critters that are seen in New Jersey homes. A lot of people have just come to think of them as par for the course this time of year. But there are several ways to keep them out.

How to Keep Mice Out During Winter

If you see a mouse in your house, you can bet there are more, somewhere. They multiply quickly, which is why if you see one, you need to act quickly. Prevention is always the best solution, so follow these tips:

– Take down any birdfeeders that are outside your home.

– Keep hedges and bushes well trimmed.

– Walk around the outside of your house and close any cracks or holes with caulk.

– Seal up any food that is in your kitchen.

Taking these simple steps can drastically cut down on any rodent problems you might have this winter.

When to Contact NJ Residential Pest Control

There are some rodent problems that can be difficult to control on your own. Sometimes even the best prevention steps don’t work for one reason or another. But NJ residential pest control can take on those tough problems.

At Stern Environmental, we pride ourselves on a job well done. Our goal is to rid your home of mice giving you your peace of mind back. Contact us today.