Alliance Pest Blog - New Jersey's Reliable Pest Resource

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....

Pests are detrimental to living beings. They are organisms that pose health and hygiene dangers to human beings, plants and animals. Pests can be found in and around the home, and can also be found in the farm, where it can destroy crops and livestock. Examples of pests are; snakes, bedbugs, black ants, cockroaches, rats, fleas, civets, houseflies, monitor lizards, moths, and so on. In order to prevent crops from being destroyed by pests, or the home being ravaged by pests, pests control methods are recommended. Some pests control methods will be discussed to provide you with an idea of how to control pests in your home. Poisoned Rodent Bait Using poisoned bait is the most common method for controlling rats, and other types of rodents. This method requires you to apply poisonous substances to a food attractant for the target pests. Place the food attractant at a strategic place...

If you are a homeowner, there is a chance that your home might be infested by rats and mice. Rodent infestation can quickly turn into a big deal if you don’t take care of it properly and early enough. Also, you can put the health of your entire family at risk if you don’t take care of rodent infestation on time. This is because they will be exposed to a lot of parasites and diseases. Rats and mice in your home poses a threat to both your health and your home. Rodents spread disease very fast, and both mice and rats cause a lot of damage to the structure of your house and contaminating and eating your food. If you have pets, they can as well eat and contaminate the food of your pet. How Rodents Damage Homes Mice and rats can cause serious structural damage to offices, apartments, homes,...

There are usually lots of preparations to be done in anticipation of a holiday season. Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, many homes and families across the country are already busy getting their homes decorated, wrapping presents, and stringing festive lights to get themselves prepared and get in the spirit. This is usually a time of the year when pets can easily invade properties without anyone knowing. With all the holiday cooking and foot traffic occurring within and around homes, opportunities can be created for pests such as rats, mice, ants, ticks, spiders, and pantry pests to be inadvertently brought indoors. Though the festive season is expected to be a time of joy, happiness, and celebrations, these alone can make the holidays depressing and stressful event for anyone. As you prepare for a happy holiday season, here are some simple pest control techniques which can help to prevent...

During the cold winter months, many people believe that the falling temperature will be sufficient enough to kill off all forms of pests. But this is far from the truth. Some of these pests display intelligent survival tactics that help them survive the biting cold of the winter. Just like humans, pests will also seek shelter from the cold and the first place that comes to mind is the home. The cold winter months should not be an excuse to let your guards down. Make sure your doors and windows are caulked from invasion. If you have torn screens then it is high time you get it replaced. And for holes in the home, consider filling them up. The truth is, once these insects find their way into the home, it takes a lot of effort to get them out. There are several pests to watch out for during the...

In a bid to find a new place to call home and create a nest, many birds would migrate from the south especially in the springtime in search of places that can protect their young and provide ample shelter from the elements of weather. As a matter of fact, this so-called “home” can mean bird damage to your chimney, shed, garage, deck, attic, soffit and other areas on your property where birds can easily get into. Just so you know, bird damage can become extensive and very expensive to repair if left untreated. Depending on the location, there are many different types of birds that take up residence around a property which can turn out to be a very serious problem. Most common birds that can be a problem in homes include starlings, sparrows, pigeons, hawks, swallows, and ravens. Here is a list of some common damage-causing birds. Owl Owls...

It is natural to come across bed bugs in the home. This can happen from time to time when there are animals in the house or when they begin to gather in the furniture and the mattresses. Homeowners begin to notice this, and they are able to take action. However, when you see bed bugs in the office, in a restaurant or at your desk in work environment, it can be health risk. They can cause people to develop various types of diseases. This especially becomes a problem with young children. When someone has been bitten, it can cause additional risks. Why bed bugs have become a problem in public places There have been many instances over time where people have come across numerous of these bugs while they were out and about. This can happen at schools, in offices, in public toilets or shopping centers. Few moms will be...

It may be a relief that Summer is over in a way. You got rid of the pests that come with this season. However, you will now have to be aware of the pests that are associated with the cooler months of the year. Some of these pests can be difficult to get rid of. However, when you are prepared, the chances are that you can avoid these problems. Types of pests to expect over fall There are certain types of bugs you will find that are specific to this season. There are less flies and stinging instincts, but the crawling insects are looking for warmth. In saying that, there are a couple of stinging insects that are no longer active during this time. For example, bees will need to find a sheltered spot where they can stay during this time. The attic is a common place to find such...

Everyone has probably heard those undesirable scratchy noises in the attic or in the ceiling. This is a sure sign that there is a rat of a mouse in the home. Your home doesn’t have to be dirty or messy for a rodent to come inside and take advantage of your cozy environment. Often, they are looking for a little warmth. They don’t have to fend for themselves. There is always something that they can nibble on in the kitchen. They can easily hide away for quite some time without anyone realizing it. This can particularly happen in the winter months when rodents are looking for a warm environment to hide away in. How rats and mice get inside the home These rodents are intelligent. Although rats can appear to be large in size, they are able to squeeze into the tiniest of openings. It can be difficult to prevent...

Stink bugs are usually not popular in the garden or in the home. There are a couple of different varieties of these bugs which attack plants and vegetables and this needs to be controlled. They will also attack crops and farmers will often have a great deal of problems controlling this. It is essential to know how to cope with this because when these bugs multiply, large amounts of fruit trees and vegetables can vanish in a short space of time. They can enter the home as well and begin to multiply. This obviously problems in the long run. What are stink bugs These particular pests are from the family, pentatomidae. The name is relevant, as they leave an unpleasant odor behind which is produced from a chemical. This originates from glands in the abdomen. It can be seen as a defense when they are trying to protect themselves from...

Ticks are under the scientific classification known as Arachnida, which is a class of joint legged invertebrate like mites, spiders, scorpions, etc. They have been in existence for 90 million years according to fossil records. They are small arachnids with a complex life cycle, and they need blood meals to complete this cycle. This life cycle includes; nymphs, male tick, female ticks, eggs, and larvae. The Life cycle of the Tick Egg The female tick lays a maximum of 8000 eggs all at once then dies. The eggs which are brown are then hatched into Larva after a period of 3 weeks. Larva The Larva of a Tick has a pair of three legs and feeds on a host (blood meal) before it can become a nymph. It takes a period of 3 to 13 days before a Larva becomes a Nymph. Nymph The Nymph has a pair of four...

Carpenter bees are often categorized into two genera- Xylocopa (large carpenter bees) and Ceratina (small carpenter bees). These two genera do not have the same size, and this is probably the most obvious characteristic used in differentiating between both of them. While Xylocopa is around 12-25 mm long, Ceratina is less than 8 mm long. Carpenter bees derive their name from the fact that they build their nest in woods. Large carpenter bees have the same size and appearance as bumblebees. However, the top of their abdomen has a somewhat glossy look as they lack the visible hair that is found on those of bumblebees. Unlike Ceratina, Xylocopa infestation is easier to detect because they make their presence known through property damage. The insects can be black, purplish blue, metallic blue or greenish black. Yellowish hairs can be found on the legs, abdomen, and thorax of both the male and...

Introduction and Overview Fleas are one of the rampant external parasites that infest pets like cats and dogs. These blood sucking parasites are not only limited to dogs and cats but infect other mammals too. Severe health and skin issues result from minor flea infestation in pets and other mammals. But this can become life-threatening in cases of major infestation in animals. The infestation of fleas if left unchecked in the home will make such home a breeding ground. This leads severe cases of infestation from the continuous hatching of eggs. Managing such situations via treatment is very frustrating and tasking. In pets such as dogs and cats, the foremost root of skin problems is sensitivities to fleas. The truth is; pets like cats and dogs can painstakingly remove fleas from their body. They groom themselves in this manner. This reduces the number of fleas in the bodies of animals...