Alliance Pest Blog

The horsehair worm is also known as the Gordian worm, and these creepy crawlers are every bit as incredible as the tall tale for which they have been named. Readers may be familiar with the story of the Gordian knot, or they may have heard the phrase "cut the Gordian knot." Legend has it that Alexander the Great encountered the Gordian knot back in 333 BC. The Gordian knot was supposed to be unable to be untied. If someone were brave enough to tackle this task and succeed, they would then rule all of Asia. When Alexander sliced through the knot with relative ease with his sword, this set the stage for his eventual conquering of Asia minor. When it comes to the horsehair worm, this name is as terrifying as it is appropriate. The horsehair worm is a parasite that has earned its name with its clever tactics that...

While the East Asian tick might be known for its small size, it is causing big problems for those who reside in the state of New Jersey. The fact that these pests have yet to be seen in the United States before now is what makes this current infestation truly disconcerting for all parties involved. These ticks were first spotted in Hunterdon County. A sheep was found carrying them, and while various efforts have been made to wipe out the population, the East Asian tick continues to live on. New Jersey is no stranger to the tick, and there are at least five different species currently thriving in this state. However, the East Asian tick is by far the most dangerous of them all. These ticks are also referred to as bush ticks or long-horned ticks. The East Asian tick was originally located on the Asian content but has now...

Having ants at home is very common Ants are among the most abundant insects in the world. It is estimated that there are about 7000 billion individuals in the entire planet, one million ants for each human being. The colonies of Ants Ants live in colonies organized through a system of castes or social divisions that provide a specific role to each type of individual. They present a holometabolous type of development in which the egg, larva, pupa and adult phases occur. Ant colonies are composed of three adult castes: workers, breeding females and breeding males. Worker Ants The workers are always females. In some species, they are completely sterile, while in others they can lay eggs without fertilization, which can lead to males, or simply function as "trophic eggs," that is, as food for the colony in cases of the scarcity of resources. The workers are responsible for feeding...

Insect bites are inevitable. And sometimes, it can be particularly disturbing. In addition, we rarely find out which insect stung us. Sometimes the sting hurts, or you may feel itchy, or the sting has caused edema. This article contains a list of insect bites for you to know which insect has attacked you. Research has been conducted to show you which stings, or bites are caused by certain insects. Mosquito Mosquito bites cause reddish swelling the size of a small berry. This happens frequently in uncovered areas of the body. Mosquitoes bite where the skin is thinner, making it easier for them to reach the blood vessels. By pricking, they inject saliva into the wound, which contains anticoagulants (which make the blood more liquid). This produces swelling, redness, and itching. Tick In the face of a tick bite, the body reacts with a red stain on the area of the...

The threat: mosquitoes The good weather implies heat, visits to the beach, dinners in the garden, open windows and ... the arrival of the annoying mosquitoes. To end these insects, which cause us uncomfortable bites and are the cause of many sleepless nights, you can try to kill them with insecticide or look for a much more ecological solution: drive them away with aromatic plants. Besides being more effective because the plants will keep them away all day, the plants will decorate your garden and your home will smell better than ever. Are you afraid of lighting your terrace or balcony so as not to attract mosquitoes? Apply these tips and do not give up enjoying your outdoor spaces as you deserve. Remedies against mosquitoes Your weapons: natural repellents The solution that we propose is quite simple, introduce in your garden certain plants that perfectly fulfill the function of frightening...

The commonest pests in the United States are birds. This is because the rate at which they breed and multiply is alarming. Bird control or bird removal is very important for several reasons. Whether it is in your home or your office, birds can create a huge nuisance. One thing that is very disturbing is the rate at which they increase in number. If you have one or two birds roosting on your roof and you do nothing about it, their number may increase to more than twenty within a few weeks. Birds can contaminate products and even cause damages to building exteriors. Not only that, some species of birds harbor various kinds of diseases. Another reason for bird removal is their droppings. Imagine seeing bird droppings on the wall that you have just painted. Having droppings all around your house creates unsanitary conditions and you can be penalized for...

Termites are insects. They are grouped in nests and feed on the cellulose contained in the wood. With enormous perseverance and efficiency, they pierce their objective - a tree, for example - until they leave it hollow and dead, although outwardly it seems that it is still alive. They know how to infiltrate with great discretion. They can devour a complete beam through even the concrete, without being noticed until it falls. An organization, perfectly hierarchical and divided into castes, helps them in their ends. Those who really live well are, of course, the bosses: the queens and the kings, as the scientists have called them. They are the only ones who take pleasure in the task of reproducing themselves and do not do another task for the community. The worker termites do all the work. They build and maintain the nest and the tunnels, they also clean them. They...

The damages produced subterranean termites can be very high Over time, termites have been responsible for costly damage to all types of properties. The truth is that most of these damages are not covered by insurance policies, which means that it can be a significant cost for families or companies. Main damages produced by Subterranean Termites The truth is that these small insects are the cause of many problems in structures and worst of all, it can take a long time to find out what problems we face because they work inside the wood. Signs of a Termite Infestation Regarding the usual characteristics of an infestation, we highlight the raised or sunken ceilings, dust similar to the appearance of sawdust, piles of wings similar to fish scales among others. Subterranean termites attack both old and new wood and are capable of traversing any type of texture material similar to plaster...

Termites, like ants or bees, are social insects that live mostly in subterranean colonies. Their organization, their ability to degrade wood and materials containing cellulose make them formidable enemies for buildings. Termites are divided into several castes: workers, soldiers, and breeders. It is the workers who provide the food needs of the colony: they will harvest the cellulose which is mainly in the wood, cardboard, paper, etc. After having swallowed the wood, they redistribute digested food to the rest of the colony. Underground termites form underground colonies in the soil. Their favorite food is dead wood, but they can attack any material containing cellulose (paper, cardboard, plasterboard). The breeders can settle directly in the support that acts as a source of food. Several feeding sites can be exploited: pyres, stumps, fences, houses, communicating with each other through a network of galleries or tunnels. The presence of water is obligatory for...

Of all social insects, ants are the most popular. When you think of an ant, the image of a worker collecting food automatically comes to mind. Flying Ants? The workers are the most abundant breed of Ants. Also, they are also the most visible, because they spend most of their lives collecting food outside the nest. The other castes usually go more unnoticed since they are less abundant and go outside less frequently. One of them is the caste of the sexed: males and females designed specifically to found new colonies. The main difference between sexed and the workers is the presence of wings While the workers are apterous individuals (without wings), the sexed possess two pairs of wings. These wings allow them to leave the nest and perform what is known as nuptial flight or swarming. However, in some species of ants, the nuptial flight has disappeared because the...

Some of the most vicious insect pests of wood in the world are the subterranean termites . Every year, the activities of these insects cause damages worth billions of dollars and in the home, they can mutilate some of the most valuable items. There are many subterranean species in existence today, some of which are Termitidae (agricultural), Termopsidae (damp wood), Kalotermitidae (dry wood) and Rhinotermitidae (subterranean). Most of the species of these well-known families are subtropical and tropical. All termites typically consume grasses and the cellulose found in wood as food. In nature, subterranean produces humus by breaking down cellulose and recycling the carbon in wood. These insects are therefore beneficial in maintaining a balanced ecosystem because they add nutrients to the soil. Issues occur when the subterranean termites infest the wooden materials and other structures in the home. Their activity is normally not noticed quickly because it is hidden...

It is crucial that you take care of your pest infestation issues immediately you start experiencing them. The reason is that pests can cause some negative side effects which can lead to contamination. They can cause great damage to your properties, and this will call for unnecessary expenses. If you want a pest-free, comfortable, and safe environment for you and your family, then you need Alliance Umbrella . It is the fastest and most effective way of getting rid of pests in a commercial or residential home. It is highly recommended that you don’t embark on this process by yourself since the effectiveness and safety of the products sold in stores are not guaranteed. Outsourcing your pest control project to Alliance Umbrella will help get rid of every kind of pest in your home or environment such as termites, bed bugs, flies, fleas, ants, mosquitoes, roaches, spiders, ticks, crickets, centipedes,...

Spring Pests The spring brings us sunshine, warm weather and blooming plants, but also attracts many fastidious and destructive insects. Just as the seasons change, so do the pests that inhabit our homes and gardens. Autumn and winter are the best times for rodents , bugs, and fleas , while spring and summer are characterized by the presence of stinging insects, to name a few. Dangers of Spring Pests Pests are bacteria, microbes, insects and even animals that are potential transmitters of diseases and allergies that can affect the health of both man and a pet. Pests usually attack the plants to feed themselves and to use them as hosts for breeding purposes, causing severe damage and often the death of the bonsai. Most often the pests are visible to the naked eye, such as aphids. Many insects, when attacking plants, also release a toxin that damages and inhibits their...

Domestic pests are common in any home, especially during the summer. And in addition to being unpleasant to the eye, its spread can affect the health and well-being of all members of the household, from children to pets. Luckily, it is possible to get rid of them with some products that you can do in the comfort of your home. But remember that there are firms that offer access to the pest control service, which includes the elimination of pests in an average of 6 visits. Factors Causing The Plagues at Home Humidity is the primary factor for pests to appear in the house. Bugs love damp, dark corners, so during the summer months, it's very likely that you'll have to deal with them. So, you should never forget to clean the crumbs and any food residue or dirt and remove moisture in all corners of the home, especially in...

As the weather gets colder this year, rodents will look to move into living homes for warmth, water, and food. The snow and frigid weather usually leaves these rodents scurrying toward indoor living spaces. Even though these creatures are not immune to the cold and desire warmth, they can present a hazard to the homes they scurry into. They carry bacteria and viruses into the places they infest. A rodent infestation that isn't well controlled or halted can lead to serious health problems within the home. This content offers safe ways to manage and control mice infestation during these colder months. It is a guide containing different methods to deal with the issue. This guide will help you safely keep rodents away from your property during the winter season. How Can Rodents Infest Your Home? Rodents can enter any home via a dime-sized opening. Some signs of an infestation include...

Birds might appear harmless, and they could be a beautiful part of the natural environment where we find ourselves. However, that beauty won’t excuse the fact that an unwanted population of pest birds can cause damages to your homes, offices, and properties with their droppings.  They can disturb and spread diseases to the inhabitants of the buildings where are frequently found. As harmless as they might seem, they can create serious issues for you, your family, and even your business. The damages they are capable of causing can be on the exterior of your building or worse; it could lead to significant health risks. The losses can also extend to customer endangerment. Whether these birds are just perching on overhangs, warehouse rafters, roofs, or flying by loading/unloading environments, there is a potential that they are already causing a lot of damage somewhere close. To begin with, birds around any commercial...

Are you worried that you may have a pest problem in your home but you are not so sure? Or are you misreading some signs that you thought might be caused by pests? You do not have to be uncertain about this. Pest infestation in residential homes is quite common. However, infestation does not happen in a day. It is a gradual process that develops over time. Insects are small (or better still tiny animals) that only need small cracks and crevices to launch an ‘invasion’ and get into your home. You may not realize that your home is being invaded silently and they are moving in or have moved in but are in small amount. On the other hand, larger pests, such as rats or mice, are more conspicuous but may often go noticed due to the fact that they are more active at nighttime and reproduction is ongoing...

When you hear bed bugs, the first thing that will come to your mind is calling a professional and this, of course, will cost money. Before you start thinking about the cost of calling a professional, think about the possibility of treating this infestation yourself. It's true that bed bugs are difficult to eliminate. This is because they are known for concealing themselves and reproducing quickly. Another reason why they are so difficult to get rid of is that their eggs are resistant to many treatment forms. This is why most professionals use a series of treatment to do the job rather than just a single one. While DIY bed bug elimination is hard, it is not impossible. Several factors will influence your success rate. One of the most obvious variables is the extent of the infestation. The more serious it is, the more difficult eliminating it will be. Other...

Some folks enjoy having rodents as pocket pets. But it has become so imperative to know that these small animals do certainly have their drawbacks despite being such enjoyable companions. Along with the property damage and unsanitary conditions, rodents can cause in the home, it is important to note that there are certain health risks that can be involved in a rodent infestation. No matter how well-bred a pet mouse or rat is, it is still very much possible to contract diseases that can affect everyone within the home. Basically, these diseases are spread through their droppings and urine. These droppings can lead to the spread of diseases, viruses, and bacteria which can cause allergic reactions and even lead to food contamination. Some of the dangers rodents can cause to the home and health of their owners include: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome This is one of the most commonly known diseases...

Wild animals need shelter and food too. Occasionally a skunk, raccoon, tree squirrel, or another wild animal will find suitable refuge inside or beneath a house or other structure. They can also be attracted to pet food or birdseed within your premises. The animal may occupy this area sporadically, using it for just two or three days consecutively usually until their available food source have been exhausted. However, some animals may choose to stay overwinter if the surroundings are favorable for them. When it is the nesting and mating season, the females are attracted to dry, easily defended and warm areas. When this happens, it won't be safe for the occupants of the home. These animals can damage the electrical wiring or destroy insulation. They can carry diseases such as rabies, or fleas and ticks into the property they occupy. Never approach the animal. Keep your kids and pets away....