Alliance Pest Blog - New Jersey's Reliable Pest Resource

Ants are not dangerous; they don’t sting, and they don’t transmit diseases, but they will hit your home in their numbers and that can be annoying. If you mistakenly spill some soda on your countertop, they are there, ready to feast on it. What will baffle you most is how a single ant that discovers the spilt soda notifies others about the feast. Within a few minutes a colony of ants is already on your countertop. When you kill them, it does not end the infestation. When something similar happens again, they will be back even sooner. That is exactly what makes them pesky. When this happens to you, it means you already have a colony of ants living large in your home. You need to exterminate them. But before then, let’s talk about what attracts them to homes. Why Do Ants Invade Homes? Ants invade homes for only one...

When the rains come, homeowners are often left wondering how they can protect themselves from the onset of ants and various other pests. Rains falls onto creatures both large and small and when it does, these pests are always going to look for shelter. In most instances, a residential home will do just fine. Even the most minor of storms can cause ants to come teeming into a residential home. Since ants tend to live in underground nests that are also quite shallow, they experience a great deal of flooding. All it takes is a quick storm that is over within minutes to flush these pests from their natural habitat. These floods cause ants to desperately search for higher and drier grounds. Once they have made their way into the home, they will usually set up shop inside of the kitchen. Their search for food and water leads them to...

While every homeowner enjoys having a nice, big yard to spend time in once the summer months arrive, these yards can also attract unwanted visitors. Bees, wasps and other stinging insects are often drawn to these areas and for good reason. The spring, summer and fall months are particularly busy times for these insects. There are some insects that can provide a certain level of helpfulness. However, there are other insects that are going to cause unwanted issues. For every insect that helps to control other pest populations, there are others that are not nearly as benign. Bees, wasps, hornets and other stinging insects pose several challenges for the modern homeowner. These insects are more than just a painful nuisance. In some cases, a homeowner can be affected by multiple stings at once. Those who enjoy spending time in their yards may affect a nest without ever having the chance...

Bats can play a very beneficial role out in the wild. They are responsible for the consumption of hundreds (if not thousands) of insects. While the average person certainly enjoys fewer insects at their residence, these benefits come with a wide range of drawbacks. Once these bats are given the chance to enter the home, they can become very harmful pests in their own right. These pests will not only cause damage to the home but they are also carriers of disease. In order to keep these pests at bay, home owners must look out for all of the common warning signs. To learn more about these warning signs and how they affect the home, be sure to read on. Have Bats Been Seen Inside of the Home? This is one of the more obvious signs of bat infestation but it is not going to tell the whole story. There...

Bed bugs are very tiny brownish insects that live solely on animal and human blood. Their body is so flat that they can hide in almost every corner and crevice. Therefore, they can hide in clothes, bags, and furniture without being seen. How Do They Get Into Homes? They latch on to bags, old furniture, and even clothes on the body of their host and follow them home. Once the host carries them home unknowingly, they will leave the bag and hide somewhere permanently waiting for when to bite. The biggest challenge with them is their rate of reproduction. A single female bedbug can lay up to 500 eggs. Under a favorable condition, a baby bug can become a full adult within one month. They hatch their eggs about two to three times a year. Even though they live on blood alone, they can stay for several months without feeding....

We do not often think of tiny little insects as being dangerous to us. However, the last few years have proved us wrong. The scariest part is that oftentimes we do not see most of these until after they have done their damage. Mosquitoes are one insect that can create a lot of havoc in your life before you even know that they had stung you. There is an incredibly high risk of ending up with severe health problems from one tiny mosquito. One mosquito can transmit many different infections that are harmful. The mosquito is responsible for more health troubles than any other current organism. Did you know that over one million people pass away each year due to the transmission of parasites and diseases by the tiny mosquito? These parasites and diseases are oftentimes transmitted to horses, dogs, and other livestock. Mosquito Bites The mosquito bite creates a...

In winter, insects do not disappear, but they remain lethargic. Although we do not see them, they are always there. The biorhythm of cockroaches , flies , and mosquitoes decreases with low temperatures, that's why they look less, but it does not mean that they are eliminated. Those that do arise with more strength are rats and mice. Unlike insects, rodents seek heat. That is why they live in the dumps of streets and vacant lots during the summer, and they get into the nearest houses where they find protection from the cold and food in the winter. And they like the house they find, they make their nest there and it is very difficult to get rid of them. Rats and mice are all years round, but in the winter, they look for heat and food in the nearby houses where they are most protected. Rodents go up the...

When it comes to wildlife control , there are several pests that could make their way into a residential home, building or school. Once these pests have made their way inside, they can cause a great deal of havoc. Fortunately, there are several ways to make sure that these problems do not occur in the first place. If you would like to keep wildlife from moving into your home, building or school during the cold weather months, it is time to follow these helpful tips. Don't wait for wildlife to set up shop and cause serious property damage while spreading disease. Be sure to read on and learn more about the best ways to keep your structure safe during the months to come. Inspect All Openings Animals can find various entry points in any building and these entry points are in numerous areas that are not always visible to the...

As the temperature begins to drop, the likelihood of having pests in your home will increase because they also want to enjoy the warmth in your house. Just as long as you can’t stand cold, you can’t stand it too. This article gives a few tips on how to ward unwanted rodents off your home. 1. Keep Your Food Protected While rodents will continue to look for warmth in homes, homes where food crumbs lie around have already doubled the attraction. You should remove all food crumbs on your countertop and on the floor of your home. This is harder to achieve when you have toddlers at home. Make sure they eat their snacks on one spot. Also, check your surroundings for food crumbs. Remove them if any. Keep your trash can firmly closed. Nothing attracts rats and mice like unsealed food because they have a very strong sense of...

Christmas is around the corner as well as New Year. This is the season a lot of people look forward to. In fact, it is usually the best and most fun-filled part of the year. Here are some of the reasons people look forward to the season. Christmas Decorations By now, most retail stores would have started selling different types of Christmas decorations. Of course, people derive so much joy and fun from decorating their apartments and surroundings. That is even beside the facelift the decorations will give their homes. Christmas Shopping It is the season for gifts. You have to buy gifts for your spouse and every member of your family and some other people that you love. You may also receive gifts from several people too. It is a gift-sharing season. So, Christmas shopping is another fun brought about by the season. Parties and Get-Togethers This is the...

The construction of a house, as a rule, takes place in clean spaces that used to be forests, agricultural land, or simply free space near cities. It is not surprising that initially these areas were inhabited by various rodents living in the ground, among the vegetation, in the roots of trees. Attracted by human activity, mice, rats, and other species can relocate to the construction site and become a real scourge for both builders and future homeowners. Effective means of rodent control are always used in the construction of houses, and residences - they are laid at the design stage. When building a house, you should take into account the possibility of penetration of rodents into different parts of the building, use mechanical means to protect the building's constructive and finishing materials, to prevent the formation of lesions and voids that can be used by rodents as housing. Reasons Why...

Every year, birds cause damages worth tens of millions of dollars to building facades, roofs, and ventilation system. In addition, it is known to spread diseases and may jeopardize the credibility of your brand. Understanding bird control can save you a lot of stress and money. Principles of Protecting Commercial Buildings from Birds and the Damage They Cause In contrast to the control of other insects, the control of birds does not need destructive measures - the main way of protecting a building from birds is to scare the birds away. There are some methods to keep the birds at a distance from commercial buildings . In some cases, it is necessary to protect the birds themselves from possible damage and death because of interactions with various engineering structures. The control of birds is based on the knowledge of the biology and behavior of these animals and deals with creating...

First, what is a pest? In the simplest form, the dictionary defines pest as destructive insects or other kinds of animals. They attack livestock, food, crops, and they even cause diseases. Bird droppings have been linked to more than 60 diseases. Why Pest Control is Important Unfortunately, pests have become a part of human lives despite their disadvantages. Whether in your residential apartment or your office premises, you need pest control services. Here are some of the reasons you need pest management. 1. To avoid property damage It may not be a problem when you see a pigeon hanging in a part of your roof. The problem is that their number will increase tremendously within a very short period. Therefore when you see just one bird, you should be thinking of how to remove it. When they become too many, their nests will also increase in number, and since nests...

When residents of Monmouth County are looking to keep their properties safe, they need to remain aware of the most common wildlife problems that are going to take place. Many of these concerns arise when they are least expected. This forces Monmouth County residents to scramble in search of solutions. Fortunately, this helpful guide is here to provide locals with the tools that they need to remain cognizant of the threats that they are going to be experiencing. There are some wildlife issues that are more commonplace than others. Thanks to the following guide, home and business owners in the Monmouth County region will be able to avoid these issues in the future. Overly Aggressive Animals Animals do not make their way into a home or business because they wish to become aggressive towards the people or employees who happen to be present. They typically have a reason for doing...

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...