Much like for people, a city setting provides a refuge for pests of all kinds, from mice and birds to bed bugs and flies. Unlike their suburban neighbors, city dwellers also need to worry more about the pest problems of the people next door. One apartment's bed bug problem can quickly become another's, especially if a neighbor's treatment attempts drive pests into the wall...and closer to your home.
This month, we chat with Mike Whalen, Commercial Regional Sales Manager for the five boroughs of Manhattan and parts of NJ.
Name: Mike Whalen
Region: NJ / NYC
Years with Western: 18
How is pest control in the city different from the suburbs?
As you venture from the suburbs into the five boroughs of New York, pigeons definitely become a problem. In Manhattan, many of the buildings are old, which helps create a lot of pest pressures. For instance, structurally, you see a lot more holes, which provide entry points for all kinds of pests.
We have to ask... How do things look on the bed-bug front right now?
International travel has definitely had a big impact, as studies suggest. Overall, though, the bottom line is that bed bugs are a big problem in Manhattan. The problem we often see is that there are a lot of bed-bug treatment gimmicks – and people can waste time and money on treatments that don't work. Another problem is preparation. In a hotel setting, we don't usually have problems with pre-treatment preparation, but it's a little more challenging to convince a tenant to move a couch out for bed bug treatment. When people don't prepare, bed bugs are extremely difficult to eliminate.
What's interesting is that you never know where bed bugs will show up. We've seen 5,000-square-foot penthouses that are cleaner than clean with bed bugs. The way I see it, having bed bugs is like identity theft – it can happen to anyone.
Any tips on fly infestations?
People often don't realize it, but a lot of fly problems start in drains, where flies breed. In fact, about 20% of fruit fly development areas are drains. Grime inside the drains is a main culprit with flies. However, any crack or crevice with moisture and organic matter or a thin layer of scum is a potential breeding area. Often, people will try to use bleach as a drain cleaner, but it doesn't work to modify the fly breeding site. You really need to break up the gook and grime. Western uses natural enzyme treatments to help clients clear their drains, which often quickly reduces problems with flies.