Bedbugs Declared Biggest Pest in 2010

2010 news headlines say it all with “Dorm rooms at Hofstra treated for bedbugs”, “Bedbugs Strike Second Abercrombie Store in Manhattan” and “Guest Says She Was Bitten by Bedbugs at Waldorf ” . Do we need to vote on the worst pest of 2010 or can we just declare bed bugs as the winner? Yes, bed bugs are the worst pests of 2010.  

My Hopes for 2011  – OR - What will happen to bedbugs in 2011? 

·         I’ll stop itching at the mention of bed bugs.

·         Once again, I’ll feel that a hotel is a luxury, not a potential bed bug home.

·         Let global warming continue.  All stages of bed bugs are killed at temperatures over 120 degrees.

·         Bed bugs will be confined to a small area on this earth. Maybe, a large bug jar can hold them all.

·         Bed bugs will die when I wave a magic wand.  Does anyone have a magic wand?

Here are some basic bed bug facts.

How do you identify bed bugs?

Bedbugs are flat, reddish-brown, oval insects about the size of an apple seed (3/16-inch long). They become swollen and redder after eating. The bedbug cannot fly but crawls or hitchhikes from place to place. Bedbugs leave clusters of dark brown or black spots of dried excrement on infested surfaces. Bedbugs also exude a subtle, sweet, musty odor. Females can lay 200 to 500 eggs in a lifetime. Under the best conditions, they can live over 300 days.

Bedbugs hide in cracks and crevices between mattress and box springs, headboards, suitcases, sheets, baseboards, furniture, almost anywhere. Bedbugs love a messy room or a hospital room. People usually “discover” bedbugs after they have been bitten. Bedbugs like to feed around 4:00 am and are attracted to people by their breathing. The bedbug bite wound may be a raised bump with minor swelling followed by itching. Commonly, skin reactions to bedbug bites may not show up for 1-2 weeks after the bite. Bedbugs are not known to spread disease.

Suburban Exterminating can perform a free inspection to identify your pest.

How do you get rid of bed bugs?   

Bedbugs are very difficult to control.   Since they can hide in so many places, treatments must be complete. The best plan is to hire the services of a professional. Experienced pest control firms know where to look for bedbugs, and have an assortment of management tools at their disposal. Strategies of inspection, preparation and treatment can eliminate bedbugs from even the worst infestations. 

Owners and occupants have an important role and will need to assist the professional exterminator. Clutter and belongings hide bedbugs and prevent complete treatment. Since bedbugs can move throughout a building, it often will be necessary to inspect adjoining rooms and apartments.

Let Suburban Exterminating be your professional bed bug killer.

Bugs on Your Gift List

Here are my top 5 gift suggestions for 2010:

1. Creepy Crawler Bug Making set. Classic!

2. Cockroach Drixot by MGA Entertainment. It's actually cute.

3. Spider Robot by Hexbug.com. You can control bugs.

4. Free Kid's Club Coloring Book. It's all bugs, of course. Click here to get Suburban Exterminating Coloring book.

5. Annual Pest Control by Suburban Exterminating. Guarantees peace of mind for the entire year!

Happy Holidays from Suburban Exterminating!

T·A·P Thermal Acoustical Pest Control Insulation

Are you paying high heating or cooling bills? Is your home as comfortable as it could be? Suburban Exterminating can perform an attic inspection for proper insulation; as well as possible pest entry. We will measure the depth of your current insulation to determine if your insulation is within the Department of Energy’s recommended R-value.  The US Department of Energy recommended insulation levels of R38 for Long Island homes. Are you losing money through your roof?

Is saving money important to you?  Is your family’s safety important?  T·A·P into the benefits

T·A·P insulation is a combination of thermal insulation, acoustical insulation and pest control insulation.

·         Thermal insulation is a material having air-filled cells or voids, or heat-reflective surfaces, which retard the transfer of heat to cold.

·         Acoustical insulation retards the transmission of sound.

·         Pest control insulation, while performing the other functions of thermal and acoustical, is labeled to control listed insects. By Federal law, such insulation (and the manufacturing plant) must be registered with the US EPA, and carry an EPA-approved label. Additionally, the product must be registered with the pest control authorities in each state in which it is sold or manufactured. Because T·A·P is an EPA-labeled pesticide, in many states only a licensed PMP may sell the insulation.

What are the energy & money saving benefits?  

T·A·P saves energy. T·A·P saves money by decreasing energy bills. It keeps homes cool in summer and warm in winter for less money: Comfort year-round. Because T·A·P is denser than fiberglass insulation, air does not move through it well, so it resists heat transfer by convection, as well as conduction and radiation. And since there aren’t the leaks and drafts associated with ordinary insulation, mechanical systems don’t work as hard and can be down-sized, further saving money. Areas in the home maintain more uniform temperatures between floors and ceilings, upstairs and downstairs, even next to exterior walls.

What are the sound absorbing benefits?

T·A·P reduces unwelcome noise from outside and helps create a peaceful haven inside the home. Insulated interior walls reduce annoying noises (such as toilets flushing and appliances running) inside a house.

What are the pest controlling benefits?    

T·A·P helps control pests in your home. Nuisance pests can breed and form colonies in the attic and behind walls, coming out at night, seeking food and water. More than just annoying, they can severely damage a house. T·A·P is an EPA-labeled pest control insulation, treated with pure boric acid. Although deadly to many insects, T·A·P is acceptable for use around humans and pets. T·A·P eliminates self-grooming insects, where it is installed, upon contact. Insects cannot build up a tolerance to T·A·P, and it never needs re-treating. T·A·P controls ants, cockroaches, silverfish, termites, and other insects listed on the EPA label.

What is the insulation made of?  

T·A·P is all-natural, permanent, and environmentally friendly, too. T·A·P is Green! Well, not in color, but T·A·P is permanent, made from all-natural boric acid and recycled newsprint; thus while you’re saving energy, you’re also conserving landfill space.

Is cellulose a fire hazard?    

Most houses are cellulose (made from wood and forest products). T·A·P contains a fire-retardant chemical that actually makes homes safer in case of fire. Ordinary fiberglass insulation can melt, creating a chimney-like effect in a wall. T·A·P, with its fire-retardant characteristics, forms a charred surface barrier which limits the spread of fire.

How is T·A·P installed?    

Blown-in T·A·P forms a perfect fit in your wall or attic when applied, seeking nooks and crannies, filling the entire cavity. As every homebuilder knows, stud cavities are not uniform in size; thus, gaps and voids form when uniformly sized batts are used. Unlike fiberglass batts, T·A·P is never cut on the jobsite, or stuffed into the cavity to fit behind pipes and conduits, reducing the R-Value. With T·A·P, the R-Value stays in the insulation! And that means the added value stays in the home and becomes a permanent benefit you can sell to the next owners.

Contact Suburban Exterminating to learn more. Call (631) 864-6900 

  

 

 

 

  

Education at Suburban Exterminating

Our goal at Suburban Exterminating is for all pest professionals to have advanced credentials.   All technicians receive training classes several times per year. Pictured are new employees who have completed apprentice training.  Training includes customer service, pest identification, home inspections, pest biology & control and many other pest control related topics. These hard working employees are now preparing for the New York State Commercial Certified Technician exam. This certification is issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation.  
  
Good luck to our new technicians for a successful career at Suburban Exterminating!!

Bed Bugs Stopped!

Riverhead Free Library Trusts 

Suburban Exterminating 

to Get of Rid Bed Bugs

Learn how Suburban Exterminating technicians quickly prevented a bed bug infestation in library near the Hamptons:  Read entire article.

How does Suburban Exterminating Get Rid of your Pests?

 It’s a Buggy Job But Somebody Has to Do It!

When you hire Suburban Exterminating to get rid of your bug or pest problem, our educated technicians come to your home. They investigate to determine the cause of your bug or pest problem. Based on this investigation, Suburban Exterminating technicians make recommendations to eliminate your problem and treat your home as needed.  Guaranteed!

Call 

Suburban Exterminating for your next “bug” job.

Fox News: How to Avoid Bedbugs on Vacation

Bedbugs are gifted hitchhikers. They don’t hop or fly but they sure can crawl, especially when motivated by the promise of a good hiding place, such as your checked baggage. While your bag is in the plane’s cargo hold bedbugs “may have hitchhiked on someone else's luggage on the plane and transferred to yours

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/11/17/avoid-bedbugs-vacation/#ixzz16D0efNZ8

Nature is amazing!

When an oak tree produces many acorns, many oak trees grow. These acorns provide food to mice that live in your yard. So when an oak tree grows many acorns, mice populations also “grow”.

How many acorns are in your yard?

Through the Looking Glass

Imagine that you’ve just seen some large flying insects with stingers.

What are they? Where did they come from? Should I worry?

One of the first steps is to identify the insect.

Thanks to a recent class from Dr. Frishman (bug doctor),

Suburban Exterminating technicians are better trained to do just that – Correctly Identify Bugs!

Commack Patch: Expert Tips for Dealing with Bedbugs

Expert Tips for Dealing with Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs have, according to these exterminators, become a problem in the last five years. These tips will help you learn your options when dealing with these pesky critters.
By Victoria Reitano Email the author July 28, 2010


Many associate bed bugs with cramped, urban apartments or cheap motels, but as these exterminators explain, they could be lurking in your mattress.

Bob Wiemer, entomologist and general manager of Suburban Exterminating in Smithtown, Kevin O'Connor, entomologist and owner of Eliminex Pest Control in Smithtown and Arthur Katz, president of Knockout Pest Control, provide expert tips for how to deal with bed bugs in Commack.

Wiemer has had many calls from Commack residents in the past five years. "You get a few calls every day about bed bugs now," Wiemer said.

O'Connor agreed and said that bed bugs reintroduced into the United States are also resistant to many of the pesticides previously used. This means that treatments have also changed.

O'Connor and Wiemer said many people will notice raised, red marks on their skin and possibly, blood on their sheets as the first indicators of a possible bed bug infestation. The critters are not, however, limited to the mattress. Both have seen cases where bed bugs have crawled into clock radios, bedside picture frames and crown molding in the room. The bugs will also, Wiemer said, go into other rooms of the home should the bedroom become too crowded for their needs.

Wiemer said these creatures are quite hardy – they can live without feeding for up to two years. He said he has seen instances where the bed bugs are actually visible and jumping around the room during a treatment.

Bed bugs look like, Wiemer said, flattened ticks – before they have fed – and are light brown in color. O'Connor said he has personally noticed an uptick in cases in the summer – with the rise in heat and also with the amount of children and families vacationing. Wiemer also said that college students moving in and out of dorms sometimes bring the bugs into the family home.

The exterminations agree that ridding your home of the pests is not a do-it-yourself project – there are many things that can be done and most times a professional is required to do it.

Katz and Wiemer use carbon monoxide technology – dry ice or Cryonite – to freeze the bed bugs and their eggs. This allows humans to remain in the home and it does not leave any watermarks.

All three companies also use bed bug trained dogs to determine if the area is infected and also to verify that the area is not infected after treatments.

Treatments vary in price and length of time, but all three agree it can take between 1 and 3 visits to clear a residence of a normal bed bug problem.

Are Pesky Insects Driving you Indoors this Summer?

Are Pesky Insects Driving You Indoors This Summer?
by Bob Wiemer

Suburban Exterminating Co, Inc. offers some tips to avoid pesky bugs. (infovisual.info.com)Southampton - Are pesky insects driving you indoors this summer? Don't let bugs ruin your outdoor fun. As General Manager of Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. I can recommend the tips below for homeowners to keep pesky insects and bugs away from their outdoor living spaces so they may gather without being eaten alive.

• Eliminate any standing water. Biting insects, particularly mosquitoes, breed primarily in stagnant water. If you notice swarms outside your home, look for sources that may have collected rainwater such as garbage cans, birdbaths, basketball hoops, tire swings, tree hollows, improperly drained gutters, picnic umbrellas, receptacles, fountains or ponds, and pool covers.

• For special occasions outdoors, have a party spray done 24 hours prior to the event. Botanical products can be employed and this method is effective at lowering the populations for a short time period.

• Insect Zapper or electrocutors can offer relief for evenings on the patio when directions are followed. Lights should be placed about eye level and away from sitting areas to give the most protection.

• Consult a professional about mosquito magnet CO2 devices, which can be strategically placed on the property and set on a timing device to control mosquitoes.

• Inform the local Board of Health if neighboring properties (sumps, parks, ponds, marshland, etc.) are causing mosquito infestations.

• Surround the deck or patio with citronella candles or torches. The scent is a deterrent and provides additional illumination

• Yellow jacket and flying insect traps are ideal for control at picnics, camping, and cookouts. Hang these around the perimeter of your yard and empty once a day and they will help reduce the population if they continue to be maintained.

• Put mosquito netting around porches.

• Avoid using scented soaps, lotions and shampoos and wear lightweight clothing that covers most of your body, as temperatures permit.

• The use of natural repellent materials available at most stores will further reduce the chances of being bitten.

Suburban Exterminating can also thoroughly inspect properties for breeding sites and provide a written report with recommendations for remedies. For any assistance with your insect problems, don't hesitate to contact our Residential Long Island Exterminators

Established in 1960, Suburban Exterminating Co., Inc. is Long Island leading full-service pest management company providing services in all phases of pest control to homes and businesses and is dedicated to exemplifying quality, professionalism and respect during the execution of a multitude of extermination services. A recent recipient of the International Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Excellence Award, it was the first New York company to be certified as “Green Shield” making the company a leader in environmental stewardship. For more information go to www.suburbanexterminating.com.

Newsday Article - Removing Honeybees from your home.

Newsday

Home work: Removing bee colonies from your homeAugust 20, 2010 by JESSICA DAMIANO / jessica.damiano@newsday.com



You might have seen honeybees busily scurrying from flower to flower in your garden. They're collecting pollen and nectar to feed their queen and brood, or baby bees, and keep their colony thriving, all the while inadvertently pollinating your plants so you can get more flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. You even might have seen a honeybee colony nestled into a garage door jamb or hanging like a pouch from a tree branch. Generally, they're not a problem, as the bees don't tend to be aggressive unless they feel threatened.

Deborah Aldea of Syosset found herself in just that predicament last spring, when she and her brother noticed hundreds of bees entering and exiting the house near the living room window. The pair treated the area with hornet spray, to no avail. And when they called an exterminator, they learned the insects weren't hornets at all; they were honeybees.

Aldea called Suburban Pest Management of Smithtown, which is experienced in removing hives without sacrificing bee colonies. After examining the situation and opening up a wall where bee activity was suspected, the company's apiarist, Craig Byer, discovered the colony extending into the ceiling from behind a second wall Aldea didn't even know existed. Byer gingerly removed the nest, including honeycombs, nectar, pollen, honey and brood. The combs were placed in empty frames, and a special vacuum was used to suck the bees gently into a box. Then, he transported the bees to Suburban's apiary in Smithtown, where the colony settled into a new hive.

Honeybees need an opening of only 5/8 inch to enter a structure and build a hive, so proper sealing is vital. It's important to call a pest control company or beekeeper to confirm that what you're dealing with are honeybees.

"Other pests can be killed, and there will be no concern about nesting material left behind," Byer said. "But with honey bees, the nesting material will become a nesting site for other species, like hive beetles, wax moths and others," so it must be removed to avoid future infestations.

Inspection tips:Suburban Pest Management offers these inspection tips for finding a nest if you suspect honeybees have colonized in your home:

1. Look for a continual flow of bees in and out of an entry point in the exterior of the building.
2. Listen for a buzzing sound coming from within the walls.
3. Inspect for stains that may develop from honey or nectar.
4. Check for warm spots on walls or ceilings, as a hive will maintain a 94-degree temperature, even on the coldest days.

Call Suburban Exterminating at (631) 864-6900 or (516) 864-6900 for identification of your pest. 

STINGING PESTS: YELLOW JACKETS

Yellow Jacket Wasp**

The Yellow Jacket Wasp family belongs to the Social Wasp category.


Description:Social Wasps have the typical “wasp” body type: a very distinct head with chewing mouthparts, short-elbowed antennae, and large compound eyes. The thorax and abdomen are brightly marked with yellow, red, or brown on a black background. The wasps have four clear or smoky brown wings. They have a short, narrow attachment between the thorax and the abdomen. The abdomen is spindle-shaped and tipped with a long stinger.
Yellow jackets are usually marked with bright yellow and black patterns, appear hairless, and are about 3/8 to 5/8-inch long.

Biology:Social wasps have large nests containing three types of individuals, or castes: queens, workers, and males. The males and queens are produced in the colony in late summer. They mate, and fertilized queen overwinters in a protected site. In spring, she seeks an appropriate nesting site in which she builds a paper nest using chewed up wood fibers. Eggs are laid in the cells of the nest, and the young larvae are fed bits of chewed up meat and insect parts by the queen and later by the workers.

Habits:
Yellow jackets build their flat paper nests in stacks, which are surrounded by a paper envelope. They usually build their nests below ground and in other protected locations. Social wasps use their nests only one season.

Unlike bees, these wasps aggressively defend their nests and can inflict multiple stings. They produce very large colonies with some yellow jacket nests containing as many as 30,000 individuals. These insects are considered to be beneficial because they feed their young a wide variety of insects. They become a nuisance, however, when they build nests in or near structures; scavenge for food in recreational areas and in other places frequented by humans; and seek overwintering sites in structure.

Looking for a yellow jacket exterminator? Contact Suburban Exterminating today for all your pest control needs on Long Island.

**Stayed tuned - More Stinging Pests to come....

Carpenter Ants

CARPENTER ANTS

Description:
Carpenter ants are among the largest ants found in the United States, ranging from 1/8 to ½ inch long, the queens are slightly bigger. The workers of an established colony vary in size. They are commonly black; however, some species are red and black, solid red, or brown in color. They have one node in the petiole and a circle of tiny hairs on the top of the abdomen. Their thorax is evenly rounded when seem from the side.

Biology:
The adult winged female or queen loses her wings soon as mating with the smaller male and selects a secluded nesting site where she raises the first brood of workers. These workers are very small but assume the care of the larvae and the queen after they mature. Future workers are larger than those from the first brood because they receive better care. All workers are wingless.
Mature colonies range in size from several thousand workers to an average of 20,000. When raised at 90°F, black carpenter ants complete their life cycle (egg to adult) Swarmers do not appear in the colony for several years, usually from three to four years up to sic to ten years. Swarming for these species occurs May through August and February through June, respectively.

Habits:

Carpenter ants are social insects that usually nest in wood. They commonly excavate galleries or tunnels in rotting or sound trees and, in structures, readily infest wood, foam insulation, and cavities. They prefer to excavate wood damaged by fungus and are often found in conjunction w2ith moisture problems.
The workers excavate the nest, forage for food, and care for the young. Carpenter ants feed on sugar solutions from honey dew-producing insects such as aphids, sweets, and the juices of insects they capture. They do not eat the wood as they excavate their nests. They actively feed at night well after sunset continuing through the early morning hours. Foraging may extend up to 300 feet and, upon close inspection, can be seen on the ground as narrow worn paths.
Carpenter ants enter structures through gaps or cracks while foraging for food. However, the appearance of large numbers of winged adults inside a structure indicates that the nest(s) exists indoors. The workers push wood shavings and pieces of foam insulation out of the nest through slit-like openings in the surface of the wood or other nesting site material. This material, which may contain fragments of other insects, and structural moisture problems are things to look for when trying to locate a colony in an infested structure. Rustling sounds in wall voids are another indication that there is a colony in the area.

Carpenter ants are known for causing serious damage to homes and business on Long Island. Contact Suburban Exterminator to get rid of these pesky insects today (631) 864-6900 or (516) 864-6900

Pest of the Month for March: TERMITES

Subterranean Termites

Description:
Eastern subterranean termites are found from Ontario southward and from the eastern United States seaboard as far west as Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
Termites are social insects, which live in large colonies. There are three castes: swarmers or reproducers, workers, and soldiers. Termite antennae have bead-like segments. The winged swarmers have a pair of equally sized long wings that are attached to the last two thoracic segments. The wings break off after swarming. The abdomen is broadly joined at the thorax unlike the narrow abdominal attachment found on ants.
The winged swarmers are dark brown to almost black and about 3/8-inch long. The wings are brownish gray with a few hairs and two dark veins on the leading edge. They have a very small pore on their heads. The soldiers are wingless with white bodies, rectangular yellow-brown heads that are two times longer than their width, and large mandibles, which lack teeth.

Biology:
Subterranean termite colonies usually are located in the soil from which the workers build mud tubes to structural wood where they then feed. Subterranean termite colonies are always connected to the soil and/or close to a moisture source.

Termites digest cellulose in wood with the aid of special organisms within their digestive system. The workers prefer to feed on fungus-infected wood but readily feed on undamaged wood as well. The foraging workers feed immature workers, swarmers, and soldiers with food materials from their mouths and anuses.

A mature queen produces 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year. An average colony consists of 60,000 to 250,000 individuals by colonies numbering in the millions are possible. A queen might live for up to 30 years and workers as long as five years.

Habits:
Subterranean termite colonies are established by winged swarmers/reproducers, which usually appear in the spring. Swarms usually occur in the morning after a warm rain. A male and female that have swarmed from an established colony lose their wings and seek a dark cavity inside which they mate and raise the first group of workers. Both of these swarmers/reproducers feed on wood, tend to the eggs, and build the initial nest.
After the workers mature, they take over expanding the colony and feeding the swarmers, as the colony becomes larger, light colored supplementary reproducers are produced to lay eggs, which then become workers. The soldiers, which are also produced as the colony increases in size, are responsible for repelling invading ants and other predators.

If you have a termite problem on Long Island, visit our Long Island Termite Exterminator website for more information on control, prevention, and extermination.