Tag Archives: Insect Pest Control

Insect Control, News, Stinging Insects

Why Do Yellow Jacket Stings Hurt So Much?

What to Know About Hornet Attacks
What to Know About Yellow Jackets

Most people have been stung by a wasp at some point in their lifetime.  Why does it hurt so bad? The NJ yellow jacket control professionals at Stern Environmental are here to explain a little behind the science of a wasp’s wrath.

Wasps Sting When Threatened

A single wasp, such as a yellow jacket, can and will sting repeatedly. A cousin to ants and bees, who also live in large colonies, a wasp sting releases a pheromone. This alerts nearby wasps to join in on the stinging/defense party, pursuing you over long distances.

Wasp Venom Stimulates Pain Receptors

Bee and wasp venoms contain an acid called melittin, which stimulates pain receptors. Wasp venom also contains acetylcholine, another pain receptor stimulant. Releasing histamine into your bloodstream as they sting, this combination of chemicals causes burning, itching, and misery.

Ways to Banish the Burn

Applying an ice pack to wasp stings can help reduce the pain and swelling of yellow jacket stings. A paste of water and baking soda can help neutralize the acidic toxins. Sprinkling meat tenderizer, which contains the enzyme papain, can also break down proteins in the venom. Taking an antihistamine immediately after the sting can also help reduce swelling and itching. Known allergy? Always carry an Epi-Pen, and understand its proper usage.

Put your wasp control concerns on ice. Contact the NJ yellow jacket control experts 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!

Pest Control, Pest Management

Incredible? CRIPSR Gene Technology Used to Alter Pest Population Breeding

Incredible? CRIPSR Gene Technology Used to Alter Pest Population Breeding
Incredible? CRIPSR Gene Technology Used to Alter Pest Population Breeding

It isn’t enough to come up with the best ways to provide NJ pest control services. While we use the most modern methods, we have to admit that it’s necessary to go even deeper into the problem. That means being able to control and manipulate the way certain pests breed. That is exactly what researchers have done.

Introducing a New Gene Editing Tool

CRISPR is the new gene editing tool that is being used to change some of the key genes that determine sex and fertility among certain types of insects. It uses a precision-guided sterile insect technique, or pgSIT. When altered eggs are inserted into populations of the insects, the result is astounding. Only adult males that are sterile emerge.

What Insects are Being Targeted? 

The New World Screwworm Fly is one insect that was actually eradicated because of the use of this type of technology. Today, mosquitoes are being considered as the most likely candidate for it. They have the ability to spread so many diseases, and CRISPR could change that drastically.

For Now, NJ Pest Control is Here to Help

It may be some time before we see this technology come to fruition. At Stern Environmental, we want you to know that we’re here to assist with any of your pest control needs. Whether you’re bothered by mosquitoes in the summer, or you have a rodent problem during the winter. Contact us.