Tag Archives: Household Pests

Five Types of Rodents in New Jersey Looking for Ways to Move In with Cooler Weather

Don't Let Your Home Become Like the Movie Ratatouille!
Don’t Let Your Home Become Like the Movie Ratatouille!

As temperatures drop, more rodents make their way into homes and businesses. What furry pests do NJ rodent control professionals most frequently deal with in the fall/winter, and why should you be concerned?

House Mice

They’re grey or brown with small eyes, big ears, and a small body. These common mice carry disease, contaminating food and preparation areas with their droppings.

Deer Mice/Field Mice

Deer mice are typically brown with a white belly, large eyes and ears, and a two-toned tail. They prefer grassy areas, but will invade buildings when their habitat is disturbed. They carry deer ticks and disease.

White-Footed Mice

These light-brown mice have large eyes, distinctly white feet, and a white belly. They frequent wooded areas, but head indoors in the winter. You don’t want these disease and deer-tick-laden pests in your home or business.

Black Rats/Roof Rats/Ship Rats

Black rats have black fur and a lighter belly, with large ears, and a super-long, scaly tail. They are excellent climbers. Black rats can consume massive quantities of food, contaminating surfaces and food stores in the process. These rodents carry many diseases and are quite dangerous.

Norway Rats

The most common American rat, Norway rats are brown or grey with a white belly, small ears, and a blunt nose. They carry numerous diseases and fleas.

Reclaim your space. Give rodents the boot with the help of the NJ rodent control experts at Stern Environmental today. 

How to Differentiate Between a Ladybug and Lady Beetle

Learn to Recognize the Difference between Harmful and Harmless
Learn to Recognize the Difference between Harmful and Harmless

Ladybugs may seem too benign to require NJ pest control, but the closely related Asian lady beetle isn’t quite as good-natured. How can you tell them apart? Here’s a look at the physical and behavioral differences between the two.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

At first glance, a native ladybug looks just like an Asian lady beetle, with similar colors and markings. A closer look reveals a black section between a ladybug’s head and body. On an Asian lady beetle, that same section is white with black markings that form a “M” shape.

When Ladybugs Aren’t “Ladies”

Native ladybugs serve a valuable purpose by preying on aphids, spider mites and other plant-destroying pests. While Asian lady beetles were introduced to North America for the same reason, they began to demonstrate less desirable traits.

• When weather grows cold, Asian lady beetles invade homes via cracks, holes and other unobtrusive entry points.

• While native ladybugs are peaceful, Asian lady beetles will aggressively bite, often causing allergic symptoms such as sneezing and coughing.

• Asian lady beetles excrete an odorous yellow liquid that stains fabric, walls and other surfaces.

• In rare cases, Asian lady beetles have sought shelter inside the mouths of dogs, leading to discomfort and sometimes sores caused by the beetles’ secretions.

Experienced and Knowledgeable NJ Pest Control Services

Don’t take chances with insect or wildlife invaders. Contact Stern Environmental for safe and professional NJ pest control.