When it comes to pest trends, Western Technicians see it all from the ground up – and when it comes to this year's termites and other pests, they're seeing it earlier than ever before. Find out what to expect from this year's termite swarms, ants, stink bugs, and more with the insight of Mark Derasmo, Service Supervisor from our Monmouth County, NJ office. Then check out a video of one of our Western technicians conducting a real termite inspection in a client home!
Name: Mark Derasmo
Home Office: Monmouth County, NJ
Years with Western: 23, first in Sales and now as a Residential and Commercial Service Supervisor
Top 3 Pests in Your Region Right Now:
- Stink Bugs: We've been getting calls like crazy for stink bugs, although now is really time for exclusionary work – vacuuming up the bugs that overwintered in the wall and eliminating them as they re-emerge. The best time to treat for stink bugs is really in later summer and the early fall months.
- Ants: In our region of the Jersey Shore, many structures are built on slabs, and we see a lot of pavement ants. We actually see this quite often in hospitals, or even schools. All it takes is one dropped potato chip or jelly bean and soon enough you have ants. Also, as buildings settle, cracks in the slab can provide an ant entry point, along with spacing around the pipe chase in bathrooms. We focus on low-impact treatment – identifying and blocking entry points.
- Rodents: As the snow and ice have melted from the winter season, a lot of Western's outdoor rodent control equipment was destroyed. Also, Western technicians have had difficulty accessing areas piled up with snow. Many times, we'll see door sweeps missing, which help give rodents a way in.
Do you expect to see a lot of termite activity in 2011?
With all of the moisture in the ground from this winter's snow, we expect a good bit of swarming activity this spring as the ground dries out and termites move toward the surface. We had several calls as early as February, which is not at all typical.
How can homeowners gear up for termite season?
Right now, it's time for inspection. A homeowner typically isn't out there looking for termite damage. Many have bought a home previously treated or tend to think everything is fine – until they find damage, the appearance of swarmers or mud tubes. Good places to look include the garage along the wall, the foundation, and walls within a crawl space.
Interesting bug facts: Many times, people try to eliminate infestations of roaches and bed bugs themselves with a fogger. However, this almost never eliminates the problem, especially in multi-unit complexes. The fogger will repel the roach or bed bug, which can sense it, so they go deeper into the wall or move on to the next apartment. Proper preparation for service and the right treatment are the only real solutions. Unlike a fogger, our treatments for cockroaches include growth regulators and gel bait that attracts them for a lethal dose of bait and exposure to the growth regulator product which reduces or prevents reproduction.
Watch Western Conduct a Real Termite Inspection