Have questions about a specific pest or professional pest control? Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about various pests and pest control.
Are you a pest control professional, but not a member of NJPMA? here are a few links to keep you in the loop:
Q: How do I find information on the Pesticide Core Course?
A: Click here to download the Pesticide Application Course form and just follow the instructions, its that easy!
Q: How do I find information on the 7A & 7B Training Course?
A: Click here to download the 7A & 7B Training Course form and just follow the instructions, its that easy!
Q: When is the next Membership Meeting? What's on the schedule? And how do I sign up?
A: The next Clambake is Thursday August 20th. Find the brochure here
Are you a golfer? Join us on September 22nd for a day of fun! Check the brochure.
Mosquitos
What's the big deal about mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes transmit at least three human diseases that have been found in the
United States. All of them are potentially fatal. These diseases include
West Nile Virus, Malaria and Dengue Fever.
2. What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, it can lead to serious
complications of the liver or nervous system, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis),
meningitis or paralysis. It is the most widely known disease, likely due
to its rapid spread throughout the nation. West Nile Virus has spread across
the country from Pennsylvania to Washington state since 1999. More than 3,700
cases have been confirmed since that time. Forty-one states and Washington
D.C. now have confirmed cases of West Nile.
3. Do we get Malaria in the US?
Malaria was thought to have been eradicated in the U.S. but was detected in
mosquitoes in Fairfax County, VA in 2002. From 1973 to 1983, travelers introduced
2,575 cases of malaria into the United States.
4. Are Americans at risk for Dengue Fever?
A small but important risk for dengue fever exists in the United States. Travelers
introduce up to 100 to 200 cases into the U.S. each year.
5. What do you use to treat for mosquitoes? Couldn’t
the treatment be more harmful than the mosquitoes?
Many homeowners erroneously believe that all pest management professionals
do is spray chemicals to treat their homes. This is simply not true anymore.
Many pest management professionals today use an Integrated Pest Management
or IPM approach. IPM controls pests by getting rid of the three things they
need to survive: food, shelter and water. And consumer education is a vital
part of any IPM program. This approach consists of inspection, identification
of the pests, employment of two or more control measures, and evaluation of
effectiveness through follow-up inspections. Control measures include mechanical
methods such as caulking, sealing and sanitation; biological methods such as
encouraging pest-eating birds or fish; cultural methods; and, when warranted,
chemical methods. When applied professionally and used according to label instructions,
professional pest management products that have been registered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency pose little threat to humans or pets.
6. How often should a property be treated for mosquitos?
The length of effectiveness is dependent upon several variables including temperature,
humidity, surfaces treated, materials or control methods employed. The time
lapse between treatments depends upon these factors and specifically the
materials used.
7. Can treatment of mosquitos affect our health?
Every care is taken when such pest management products are being used. When
licensed, professionals use them in accordance with EPA-approved labeling,
these products pose little threat to humans or pets.
8. Can a family stay at home while their home is being treated,
or immediately after?
Yes.
9. Why should homeowners consult a pest management professional
instead of letting the public health department handle mosquito management?
Not every community provides municipal mosquito management. Only a concerted
community-wide effort can properly manage these pests and reduce the risks
associated with them. Therefore, homeowners must do their part. Pest Management
Professionals can help homeowners reduce their exposure to mosquitoes and decrease
the risks for mosquito-borne illnesses by inspecting properties for mosquito
breeding sites, treating to control mosquitoes or suggesting corrective actions,
and providing basic information, current news releases and references to other
resources.
10. What can homeowners do to reduce the risks from mosquitos?
There are many ways a homeowner can reduce the risks from mosquitos: Eliminate
or reduce mosquito breeding sites by replacing all standing water at least
once a week. This includes bird baths, ponds and swimming pools. Remove unneeded
vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be
changed, dumped or removed. Introduce mosquito-eating fish such as gambusia,
green sunfish, bluegills and minnows to standing water. Screen windows, doors,
and other openings with fine mesh, sealing around all screen edges and keeping
doors and windows shut to prevent entry. Avoid going outdoors when and where
mosquitoes are most active: during dusk or dawn. Use repellent on exposed
skin whenever and wherever mosquitoes are likely to bite. The most effective
repellents currently available contain the active ingredient N,N-diethylbenzamide
(DEET), in concentrations up to about 35% (greater concentrations don’t
offer better protection). Wear long-sleeved shirts and long-legged pants,
preferably treated with a repellent as well.
Termites
1. What are termites?
Termites are wood-destroying insects. Their presence dates back to the dinosaurs.
While they play an important role in nature, experts estimate they cause
$5 billion of property damage each year.
2. Are there different kinds of termites?
Yes, the three major kinds of termites in the United States are dampwood, drywood
and subterranean. Dampwood termites commonly live in heavily forested areas
of the country as they prefer wet wood; while, drywood termites, much more
rare in the United States, prefer extremely dry wood. Subterranean termites
require moist environments, live mainly in the soil and are the most destructive
species.
3. How do you recognize termites?
Depending on your geographical location, termite swarms should be visible in
the early spring. Termite swarms can be confused with flying ants. Telltale
signs of termite infestation include soft wood in the home, mud tubes in
the interior or exterior of your home (often near the foundation), and darkening
or blistering of wood structures.
4. What is the biology of a termite?
Termites are social insects that live in colonies. Each termite has a specific
role in the colony. The queen lays the eggs - possibly several thousand each
day in some kinds of termites. Workers termites are the only ones that cause
damage to wood – their job is to gather food and enlarge
the colony. Soldiers have huge heads and long jaws they use to protect the
colony from enemies. The termites that you may see are the winged reproductives
that swarm in early spring.
5. How much damage do termites cause?
The truth is, there are two kinds of homes: those that have had termites and
those that will get them. Termites work 24 hours/7 days a week at damaging
the wood in and around a structure. And, while they cause $5 billion in damage
each year, there is no reason to think that termites cannot be controlled.
6. When does a homeowner see termites?
Termites swarm in the early spring, depending on their geographical location.
7. What can a homeowner do to prevent termites?
The most important thing is to remove the conducive conditions termites need
to survive. Termites love moisture; avoid moisture accumulation around the
foundation of your home. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts,
gutters and splash blocks. Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation.
Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering
vents. Be sure to remove old form boards, grade stakes, etc., left in place
after the building was constructed. Remove old tree stumps and roots around
and beneath the building. Most importantly, eliminate any wood contact with
the soil. An 18-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building
is ideal. It doesn’t hurt to routinely inspect the foundation
of your home for signs of termite damage.
8. Does homeowner's insurance cover termite damage?
Homeowner’s insurance does not cover termite damage.
9. How are termites controlled?
A pest control professional will come in and treat the problem so that you
can live comfortably in your home.
10. What is the most effective type of termite treatment?
The National Pest Management Association and the entire industry are committed
to providing highly effective treatment options for all pest issues. The
most effective type of treatment depends upon the severity of the infestation,
the species of termite, and the location and construction of the home or
building. A trained and licensed pest control operator can assess each infestation
separately and recommend a rigorous treatment plan that will effectively
control the termite population.
11. How difficult are termites to treat?
Termites are nearly impossible for homeowners to treat on their own. On the
other hand, pest control professionals have the training, expertise and technology
to eliminate termite infestations.
12. How much does a termite treatment cost?
They can range anywhere from $800 to $1,800 dollars, depending on where you
live, the construction of your home, severity of the infestation, and the
type of contract offered by your pest control professional. Your pest control
professional will give you a free estimate.
13. Are these products dangerous to kids and pets?
All professional pest control products have been registered for use by the
EPA. When they are applied according to label instructions by technicians
who have been trained and licensed to use them, they pose virtually no risk.
14. What is the most effective type of termite treatment?
A trained and licensed pest control operator is the best person to make a recommendation
for each particular property.
15. Why should someone hire a professional instead of attempting
to control their pest problems by themselves?
Just as you wouldn’t prescribe medicine for yourself or
drill your own cavities – you shouldn’t
attempt to control termites – or other pests -- on your
own. The products and the expertise offered by professional pest control far
surpasses what a homeowner could do on their own. Leave it up to the experts
for peace of mind. Why risk it?
16. What questions should homeowners ask during a professional
termite inspection/treatment?
What type of treatment is recommended? How long will the treatment take? How
much will it cost? How long will it take to get rid of the termites? What type
of contract or guarantee is offered? Are they a member of the National Pest
Management Association?
17. How long does a termite treatment typically take?
Termite treatments typically will take no more than a day.
18. How long until the termites are gone?
That depends on the location, extent of damage, and the products used to treat
the infestation. After a thorough inspection, your professional pest control
company should be able to tell you what they will use to get rid of the termites
and how long it will take.
Bedbugs
1. Has there really been a resurgence in bedbugs in the U.S.
and how do you know?
There HAS been an increase in bedbug infestations. Our member pest control
companies who received 1 or 2 bedbug calls a year are now reporting 1 to 2
each week. That’s 50 times more calls.
2. Where have you been finding the bedbugs?
These pests are not limited to any one specific type of dwelling. Pest control
companies have been reporting the infestations in multi-family housing, apartments,
hotels and even hospitals.
3. What states have been affected?
Pest control companies have reported bed bug activity on a national scale.
Bedbugs are being found from the East to the West Coast; and everywhere in
between.
4. Why are bedbugs so hard to treat?
Bedbegs should NOT be equated with filth or sanitation problems -- in hotels
or in homes, for that matter. Bedbugs are VERY elusive, transient and nocturnal
pests. They are often found in other areas besides the bed. And they are
hardy. They can live for a year or more without eating and can withstand
a wide range of temperatures from nearly freezing to almost 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bedbugs CAN be controlled with vigilance and constant inspection and treatment
by professional pest control companies.
5. Are bedbugs hard to control?
No. They simply require the expertise and constant attention of a pest control
professional.
6. What can a consumer do to protect themselves from bedbug
infestations?
To prevent bedbug infestations, consumers need to be vigilant in assessing
their surroundings. When returning from a trip, check your luggage and clothing.
If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, contact a pest control professional.
This is not a pest that can be controlled with do-it-yourself measures.
7. Why are bed bugs an issue for hotels, visitors, and homeowners?
Bed bugs leave itchy, bloody welts on human skin. Adult bed bugs can live for
a year without eating, making them especially hard to control. Once inside
a hotel or home, bed bugs spread rapidly from room to room - through pipes,
in vacuum cleaners, on clothing and luggage. In a hotel, bed bugs can even
spread to neighboring rooms, since guests are may end up moving to another
room.
8. Are bedbugs just in beds?
Bedbugs are not just in beds. They can be in chair cushions, sofas, behind
electrical outlets, cracks and crevices around baseboards, or even behind
picture frames. In other words, they can be live pretty much anywhere
9. How does one control bedbugs?
Any effective bed bug control strategy should start with a careful, thorough
inspection by a pest control professional of all known and suspected spots
where the bugs may be harboring. This is not a pest that can be controlled
effectively with do-it-yourself measures. As they are discovered, the pest
control professional will develop a treatment and control strategy with the
customer depending on the extent of the infestation.
Stinging Insects
1. What types of pests are included in the stinging insect
category?
Several pests are included in this category. The most well known are bees,
wasps and hornets. Some species of ants, such as fire ants, are included in
this category as well.
2. Are stinging insects considered public health threats?
Stinging insects send half a million people to the emergency room each year.
Although they are not labeled as public health threats, like mosquitoes that
spread West Nile Virus, they are certainly dangerous. Homeowners who suspect
a stinging insect infestation should not attempt to control the infestation
by themselves.
3. What time of year are stinging insects at their peak?
Stinging insects are at their peak during the warmer summer months.
4. Why shouldn't homeowners try to control
stinging insects without the help of a trained professional?
Many types of stinging insects, such as yellow jackets, are social insects.
They will sting to protect themselves and members of their colony. The insects
give off pheromones, which cause other members of the colony to react as well.
The chaotic reaction is too dangerous for a homeowner to address alone.
5. What will a professional do to control stinging insects?
The first step in controlling any pest is to identify it correctly. There are
many kinds of beneficial flies that closely resemble wasps, and there are
many kinds of "solitary" wasps, such as sand wasps, which also
look exactly the same as yellow jackets, but pose a lower hazard. After the
type of pest is identified there are a variety of control methods that a
professional could take. Many pest control professionals practice a new technique
called integrated pest management, or IPM. This technique involves removing
the pest’s food, water and shelter. In the case of stinging
insects, this could involve cleaning up your yard and sanitizing outdoor
areas. The professional will use appropriate steps and techniques to address
the particular type of infestation. Vacuuming is a new technique in stinging
insect control.
6. Can stinging insects also be a property threat?
Certain species of stinging insects can pose a large property threat. Carpenter
bees are wood-destroying insects that can cause serious structural damage
if not caught in time and properly controlled.
7. What can a homeowner do to avoid an unwanted encounter
with a stinging insect?
Homeowners can take a clue from the professionals and practice integrated pest
management to avoid stinging insects and other types of pests. Again, it is
important to consult a pest management professional to address an infestation
correctly.
8. What are some tips to deal with stinging instects?
Be aware of stinging insect nesting areas, and use extreme caution when around
them. Stinging insects can build their nests in attics, crawlspaces, building
corners, under gutters, and under patios or decks. Seal exterior cracks and
crevices to prevent insects from entering a structure and building nests.
Stinging insects are attracted to open garbage cans and exposed food. Cover
all food when outdoors. Be sure to keep tight fitting lids on garbage cans
and empty them regularly. When spending time outdoors, avoid excessive use
of fragrances, which can attract stinging insects. If you have an allergic
reaction to an insect sting, seek medical attention immediately.