Tag Archives: commercial pest control

One Man’s Pest Is Another Man’s Zoo: How Pests Thrive In An Urban Environment

Pests Thrive In Urban Environments, Too!
Pests Thrive In Urban Environments, Too!

Raccoons, ants and other targets of NJ pest control are always searching for a comfortable habitat. As cities continue to expand and displace natural landscapes, wildlife members are finding unlikely homes in urban surroundings.

Wildlife Becomes City Life

Millions viewed the recent viral video of Pizza Rat, an industrious rodent dragging a slice down New York subway steps. Sightings of feral cats snatching mice and pigeons feeding on discarded French fries are becoming increasingly more common in the hustle and bustle of cities.

Scientists view this as an example of the adaptive nature of cities and nature alike. While we generally picture “nature” as vast expanses of grass, trees and lakes, urban areas encompass another type of nature that includes even such surprising members as coyotes, deer and bald eagles.

Look, but Don’t Touch

For years, researchers dismissed urban communities as the dark side of nature. Cities were places where insects begin their insidious spread across the country, not forums to watch animals go about their business.

Experts warn against one dangerous side effect of this movement. People are sometimes fooled into thinking proximity equals domesticity. Wildlife is still best observed at a safe distance.

NJ Pest Control Experts for All Environments

Squirrels, cockroaches and other pests may be tolerated as distant neighbors, but no one  wants them as house guests. Contact Stern Environmental for safe and effective removal of wildlife and insects.

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.

Living the Good Life? Rat Squirms Into ATM and Eats $18,000 in Cash.

Rat Eats Cash Inside an ATM
Rat Eats Cash Inside an ATM

Rats are known for causing all kinds of trouble in NJ, but one adventurous rat in India managed to mess up an ATM. Learn more about this incident and why it’s so important to have professional NJ pest control handle rodent problems as quickly as possible.

A Diet of Cash

The rat that found its way into the inside of an ATM machine wasn’t just looking for a place to hide. This rodent ended up chewing up $18,000 in cash while it was in the machine. When the ATM machine wasn’t working for three days, bank technicians opened it up and found the rat surrounded by a pile of shredded bills. The rat didn’t make it, but it seems to have had a filling meal of money.

Rodent Control in NJ

The ATM incident in India is a good reminder of just how talented these rodents can be at getting into places. You can keep them out of your building by sealing up gaps and openings, such as cracks around doors and windows. If you do end up with a rat problem, you should have pest control experts handle it for you as soon as possible to prevent them from causing damage.

Don’t let rats ruin your property or cause a health hazard for customers, tenants or guests. Contact Stern Environmental to get more information on our NJ pest control services for rodents.

They Call Them “Velvet Ants” But They’re Really Wasps

Ant or Wasp?
Ant or Wasp?

Don’t let the name “Velvet Ants” fool you. While they may have some of the characteristics of an ant in color and size, in actuality, they belong to the Mutillidae (wasp) family.

About Velvet Ants

The female is especially ant-like due to her velvety exterior, which has a furry texture. Most are black or brown, like ants, and may be marked with red, orange, or yellow rings. While females are wingless, males do have wings and look more like wasps. Other species are known for their excruciating sting and some are capable of making a squeaking sound.

Studies on velvet ants show the insects are prone to attacking flies and beetles. Females spend much of their time hunting wasps and bees in their ground nests where she’ll lay eggs inside wasp or bee pupa. When the young wasps hatch, they feed on the pupa. Velvet ants produce young once a year.

Their stings are very painful and may cause a rash or an allergic reaction.

Velvet ants are difficult to control, especially if attempting to do it on your own. For the best results in NJ wasp abatement, you need a professional pest control service.

NJ wasp abatement is one of the services we handle at Stern Environmental Group. If you’re experiencing problems with velvet ants, let our experienced staff take care of the problem safely. Call us today to schedule a free home inspection.

Cockroaches and Schools – They Should Not Mix Due to Health Concerns

Cockroaches and Schools Do Not Mix!
Cockroaches and Schools Do Not Mix!

Cockroaches have been around since the beginning of time, and with their ability to survive will most likely continue to be a pest well into the future.

Tips for Managing Cockroaches

Using the services of a NJ cockroach exterminator is one good way to handle cockroaches. There are several things you can do to help keep these pesky bugs under control.

– It’s easy to say you’ll do the dishes “later” but chances are, they’ll sit in the sink providing a luxurious buffet for cockroaches. Do the dishes more frequently and it will take less time.

– Cockroaches can chew through bread wrappers, cracker bags, and other packaging. Keep these items in the refrigerator or in sealed plastic containers.

– If you have pets, don’t leave food bowls out overnight with tasty tidbits.

– Don’t allow garbage to accumulate in the kitchen container. Empty it periodically.

– Pull the stove away from the wall to clean up any food bits that have fallen down the side and any drips stuck to the side of the stove.

– Make sure all covers on food items stored on counters are tightly closed.

These are just a few tips to get you started on keeping cockroaches at bay. To thoroughly eliminate these fast-moving bugs, contact Stern. We’ll schedule a NJ cockroach exterminator to inspect and, if necessary, to treat your home. Don’t delay, call Stern today to get rid of these disease-carrying pests.