Pest Inspection Archives - J&J Exterminating

Posts Tagged ‘Pest Inspection’

Rodent Proofing Your Home: The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners

Rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels are unwelcome guests in our homes. Not only do they cause damage to our homes, but they can also carry diseases and pose a health hazard to us and our families. In this ultimate guide, we will discuss the steps you can take to rodent-proof your home and keep these unwanted visitors at bay.

Identify potential entry points: The first step in rodent-proofing your home is to identify the entry points through which these pests gain access into your home. Rats and mice can squeeze through even the smallest gaps and holes, so it’s important to thoroughly inspect your home for any openings. Look for cracks, gaps, and holes in walls, floors, and foundations, and seal them with caulk, expanding foam, or steel wool.

Keep your home clean: Rodents are attracted to food and shelter, so a dirty and cluttered home is an open invitation for them to move in. Keep your home clean and tidy by sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming regularly. Keep food in tightly sealed containers and promptly clean up any spills or crumbs. Avoid leaving pet food out overnight, and store garbage in sealed containers.

Trim trees and bushes: Rodents are excellent climbers and can gain access to your home through overhanging tree branches and bushes. Keep trees and bushes trimmed away from your home and remove any branches that touch your roof or walls.

Install rodent-proof materials: To further protect your home from rodents, it’s important to install rodent-proof materials. Use metal screens to cover air vents and chimneys, and install door sweeps to seal gaps under doors. You can also install wire mesh around the base of your home to prevent rodents from burrowing under the foundation.

Call a professional: If you’re unsure of how to rodent-proof your home or if you already have a rodent infestation, it’s always best to call in a professional. A pest control expert can help you identify entry points, set traps, and take steps to eradicate the problem.

Rodent-proofing your home is an important step in keeping your family and home safe from unwanted pests. By following these steps, you can help ensure that your home remains rodent-free and avoid the costs and damage associated with rodent infestations. Remember, prevention is always better than cure, so take the necessary steps now to keep your home rodent-proof.

Invasive Species Outlook: Which Pests To Keep An Eye Out For In And Around The Home

J&J Extemrinating is sharing helpful information about these pests and prevention tips to keep them from coming indoors

While pests such as cockroaches, rodents and stinging insects are usually the species of concern for homeowners, it’s important to keep in mind that there are also invasive pests making their way across the U.S. wreaking havoc on their new environments. J&J Extemrinating in partnership with the National Pest Management Association, is sharing information about the top invasive species that could be found both indoors and out this year. While not all residents in the U.S. are battling these pests, it’s possible they can continue their invasion across the country in left uncontrolled.

Invasive species cause a big concern as they arrive in the U.S. with no known predators and little information about them. While public awareness is necessary to help stop the spread of these species, there is only so much that can be done once they have taken up residence here. Because most invasive species cause a negative impact wherever they end up, it’s important for homeowners to take action immediately.

J&J Extemrinating and the NPMA are sharing information about the invasive species you could spot this season:

Spotted lanternflies are a threat to agriculture in the Northeast as this pest feeds on the sap within many trees and plants. Initially reported in Pennsylvania in 2014, it has made its way to several states. Remove spotted lanternflies immediately by scraping the egg sacs into a plastic bag and disposing of them.
Stink bugs were first discovered in the U.S. in 1996. This pest is native to Asia and, while it poses no health threat to humans, it is known for the odor it emits when crushed. Stink bugs can be found in the Eastern half of the U.S., as well as California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. To prevent them, patch holes in screen doors and windows.
Asian longhorned ticks became a concerning threat after being found in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has been discovered that this species can reproduce without a mate and transmit diseases to humans and animals. According to the CDC, Asian longhorned ticks are found in 16 states from New York down to South Carolina and from the Mid-Atlantic, west to Missouri. It is the first invasive tick to become established in the U.S. in fifty years. Avoid encounters with all ticks by wearing appropriate clothing, insect repellent with at least 20 percent DEET and by conducing tick checks.
Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) are an ant species native to Brazil first discovered in Alabama in 1933. Now found in Southern and Western states, this ant will attack anything that disturbs its nest, making it important to work with a licensed pest control professional to remove their mounds.

Which Spider Species Are Most Commonly Encountered In Louisiana Homes And Buildings?

There exists around 46,000 documented spider species in the world, the vast majority of which are not dangerous to humans. The United States is home to 3,000 spider species, some of which are known to inflict medically significant bites. For example, the black widow is regarded as the most venomous spider in the US, and the brown recluse has been found to inflict bite wounds that sometimes lead to tissue necrosis. There exists several other potentially dangerous spider species in the US, such as the brown widow and the hobo spider. Spiders are a common sight in Louisiana neighborhoods, especially in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the state is notable for being home to several highly venomous spider species, including the black widow and the brown recluse. But are these venomous spiders commonly found in Louisiana homes?

The Parasteatoda tepidariorum species, or the common house spider, is aptly named, as these spiders are frequently encountered within homes. Luckily, these spiders are considered harmless to humans and pets. Unfortunately, the brown widow spider is dangerous to humans, and these spiders are especially common in New Orleans where they are often spotted on park benches, streets and in homes. These spiders were accidentally introduced into the United States from either Africa or South America. Brown widow venom is weaker than black widow venom, but several severe brown widow bite cases have been documented.

Another spider commonly found within Louisiana homes is the Twin-flagged jumping spider. These spiders are small but frightening to look at, and they are known for leaping at their prey before inflicting a venomous bite. These spider are generally recognized as being harmless to humans. The dreaded black widow spider is prevalent throughout Louisiana and they are often found beneath rocks and in dry locations that lack light, such as garages, sheds and open air toilets. The brown recluse is also a common sighting within Louisiana homes, and while these spiders will not bite unless provoked, they possess compounds in their venom that have been implicated in causing tissue necrosis. So you will want to avoid these creepy-crawlies.

Have you ever spotted any of the above spiders within your home?

What Is The Difference Between Organic And Synthetic Over-The-Counter Insecticides?

Over-the-counter insecticides come in many forms including liquids, aerosol cans, baits, sticky traps, dusts, and more. Despite the widespread popularity of environmentally friendly and non-toxic pest control methods, studies show that the vast majority of Americans use at least one synthetic insecticide product once per year. However, the demand for non-toxic pest control products has led to an influx of over-the-counter pesticides that are advertised as being “organic,” or “natural.” However, while these insecticides may be organic, there is no reason to think that they are non-toxic.

In order for an insecticide to be labeled as organic, it must be demonstrated that the insecticide contains only naturally occurring substances as opposed to substances synthesized in a laboratory. Most over-the-counter organic insecticides are composed of botanical extracts that are either repellent or toxic to insect pests. In order to defend against damage or death from hungry insects, a countless number of plant species produce defensive chemicals that either repel and/or kill insects. Such plants have been used for centuries for pest control purposes, and some over-the-counter insecticides that contain botanical insect repellents may be effective in certain situations. That being said, organic insecticides can be just as or even more toxic than synthetic insecticides.

Synthetic and organic over-the-counter insecticides both work by negatively impacting the physical body, metabolism, or development of insect pests. While both organic and synthetic products are toxic to insects, both can be toxic to humans as well, as numerous naturally occurring substances are poisonous to humans. One particular over-the-counter organic insecticide known as Rotenone is used to control chewing insect pests, and it is highly popular among consumers due to its efficacy and the rapid rate at which it degrades from the surfaces after application. Unfortunately, in its concentrated form, Rotenone is more toxic to humans than any professional-grade synthetic insecticide. Also, the modern pest control industry no longer favors synthetic insecticides as the primary method of pest control due to the inevitable resistance that insect pests develop in response to repeated treatments; instead, low-toxicity chemical baits, pheromone baits, and insect growth regulators have supplanted synthetic insecticides sprays as the most reliable method of pest control.

Were you under the impression that organic insecticides were inherently safer than synthetic insecticides?

How Human Activity Led To The Establishment Of Insect Pests In Urban Areas?

The phylum Arthropoda is the most species-rich phylum in the animal kingdom, and it is composed mainly of insects, arachnids, myriapods (mostly centipedes and millipedes), and crustaceans. Worldwide, just over one million insect species have been documented, and more than 100,000 arachnid species have been documented, including more than 45,000 spider species. It is a fact that a great number of arthropod species remain undiscovered, but the true number of species is a matter of dispute in the scientific community. In any case, the massive number of arthropod species that exist today is not surprising considering that arthropods were the first terrestrial organisms to appear hundreds of millions of years ago. This makes arthropods just as important to ecosystem balance as plant life, and without arthropods humans would not exist. Unfortunately, human activity has been altering the natural state of the insect community, resulting in ecological upset and serious urban pest issues.

Cockroaches live in forested ecosystems where they obtain nutrients by feeding on organic waste. Termites and wood-boring beetle larvae also inhabit heavily wooded areas where they feed on organic waste, specifically cellulose within the cell walls of dead wood and other forms of rotting plant matter. Although many species of cockroaches, termites and beetles have become urban pests, they also maintain ecosystem balance by breaking down dead forms of organic waste. They also convert organic waste into soil nutrients, and their natural activity creates conditions that allow for the continued growth of vegetation.

In all parts of the world, many termite and wood-boring beetle habitats have been cleared of trees and all forms of vegetation to make way for urban developments, and as a consequence, these insects have become pests that feed on the structural wood in homes and buildings in place of their natural diet of dead wood. The structural damage inflicted by termites in the US alone amounts to more than five billion dollars annually, and due to global trade and travel, non-native species of termites and wood-boring beetles have hitchhiked into ecosystems where they don’t belong. Because of this, non-native termites and wood-boring beetles have established invasive habitats in the US and elsewhere, which has resulted in a degree of property destruction unmatched by native wood-eating insect pest species.

Urbanization has even led to the complete domestication of some insects that were once ecologically important species. For example, the German and brown-banded cockroach species have evolved to dwell solely indoors where they depend on food waste and interior structures for their survival. These two roach pests are no longer capable of surviving outdoors. In addition to being a nuisance, cockroaches spread disease pathogens within homes, and they are now known to contribute to the development of childhood asthma.

Do you believe that your health has been negatively impacted by living with insect pests?

Posts Tagged ‘Pest Inspection’

Rodent Proofing Your Home: The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners

Invasive Species Outlook: Which Pests To Keep An Eye Out For In And Around The Home

Which Spider Species Are Most Commonly Encountered In Louisiana Homes And Buildings?

What Is The Difference Between Organic And Synthetic Over-The-Counter Insecticides?

How Human Activity Led To The Establishment Of Insect Pests In Urban Areas?

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