Logo

Toughest On Termites • Bad News for Bed Bugs • Prepared for All That Pesters

Mon - Sat  |  7am-7pm  |  (908) 572-0911

Pest Facts

The Spotted Lantern Fly in New Jersey

Beware of the Spotted Lantern Fly:

The spotted lantern fly is a new invasive insect that has been rapidly spreading through New Jersey and its neighboring states. This exotic pest was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, where it has since caused ecological, economic, and regulatory problems. The primary host of the SLF is tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but it will also feed on many other plant species including important agricultural ones such as grapes and fruit trees. In addition to feeding damage, honeydew released by the spotted lantern fly attracts ants and can lead to sooty mold growth. At this time, there is no effective method for controlling or eradicating the SLF. As a result, New Jersey residents should be aware of this pest and report any sightings to the Department of Agriculture.

The spotted lantern fly is a serious threat to New Jersey agriculture. This invasive insect feeds on a wide variety of crops, including grapes, fruit trees, and other plants. The honeydew released by the lantern fly attracts ants and can lead to sooty mold growth, which can damage crops. In addition, the Spotted Lantern Fly is difficult to control or eradicate due to its wide host range and lack of effective control methods. As a result, New Jersey residents should be aware of this pest and report any sightings or contact us at Victorias Pest Control to help confirm.

The larvae are black with white spots and have waxy filaments protruding from their bodies. Adults are glossy, reddish-brown or grayish insects that are approximately 1 inch (25 mm) long; they often have wings but cannot fly. Spotted Lantern Fly can be easily distinguished from other similar-looking species of planthoppers by the spotted pattern on its abdomen combined with its large size and bulging eyes. The spotted lantern flys overwinter as eggs that hatch in April to produce new generations throughout the summer months. The adults will begin laying eggs again in September, which will then hatch into new spawn in October and November.

The Spotted Lantern Fly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 where it has caused numerous ecological and economic problems. Since then, the SLF has rapidly spread to New Jersey and other neighboring states. This invasive pest is a serious threat to New Jersey agriculture due to its wide host range and lack of effective control methods. The best way to prevent the spread of this pest is to be aware of its appearance and report any sightings to the Department of Agriculture.

If you think you have spotted a spotted lantern fly, please take a photo if possible and report it to the Department of Agriculture by calling 609-406-6939 or emailing slfinfo@njaes.rutgers.edu. Do not attempt to control this pest yourself as you may unintentionally spread it to new areas. For more information on the spotted lantern fly, please visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s website: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/slffactsheet.html.

Call the professionals at Victoria Pest Control to come to assess your pest control needs.

04/15/2022 | Pest Facts

Invasive Insects in New Jersey

Invasive insects are a growing problem in New Jersey, with several species posing serious threats to the state's ecosystems. Some of the most common and problematic invasive insect species in NJ include Asian long-horned beetles, emerald ash borers, gypsy moths, and Japanese beetles.

asian-longhorned

Asian long-horned beetles are a particularly destructive invasive species, capable of causing extensive damage to hardwood trees. The beetles bore into the tree's trunk and branches, causing them to weaken and eventually die. Emerald ash borers are another destructive invasive insect species, which attacks and kills ash trees. Gypsy moths are a serious pest of both forestry and agriculture, as they feed on the leaves of trees and plants. Japanese beetles are a destructive invasive species that feeds on the foliage of both ornamental and crop plants.

japan-beetle

Invasive insects can cause significant economic damage, as well as environmental damage. In order to protect New Jersey's ecosystem, it is important to be aware of the signs of these problematic invasive insect species and report any sightings to the proper authorities.

Call the professionals at Victoria Pest Control to help assess any potential issue with invasive insects or ANY other pest control need.

02/15/2022 | Pest Facts

The Benefits of Ladybugs

The Benefits of Ladybugs:

1,000-2,000 ladybugs can eat 60,000 aphids in one season! That's a lot of pests controlled without the use of harmful pesticides. In addition to their diet of aphids, ladybugs will also consume mealybugs, scale insects, whiteflies, and mites. This makes them a valuable ally in the fight against a number of plant pests.

ladybug_image_1

Not only are ladybugs effective at controlling plant pests, but they are also beautiful creatures. Their vibrant colors make them a welcome sight in any garden. Many people enjoy having ladybugs around and find their presence to be calming.

ladybug_image_2

If you are looking for a natural way to control pests in your garden, consider adding some ladybugs! They will help to keep your plants healthy and looking their best.

Call the professionals at Victoria Pest Control to come to assess your pest control needs.

08/15/2021 | Pest Facts

Ants!

Ants anywhere but in your home are incredibly important to the ecosystem. They are masters in aerating the soil, recycling organic material, feeding other animals and insects, and providing an important source of protein for many people in different parts of the world. In our homes, though, they are nuisances and can be dangerous to the structure of our homes.

Ants like many other insects are most active in the summer, warmer months.  In a matter of about two months, ant eggs will develop into larva then into pupae before exiting from cocoons as ants. Ants are either workers or reproductive ants, predetermined by the role they play.  Worker ants feed and look after the queen, search for food, defend the nest, and care for the young. Reproductives, reproduce.

From barbeques in Blairstown to a birthday party in Alpha, ants are opportunistic eaters attracted to sticky liquids and sweet foods as well as crumbs on counters or food in pantries. Once inside your home, they also typically find their way into food boxes and any unsealed storage containers.

Of the three primary species that enter homes in New Jersey: carpenter ants will do the most damage and are the largest, odorous house ants are small but show up in crowds, and pavement ants over time can create havoc with your foundations.

Types of Ants:

Carpenter Ants

  • These ants can damage structures. They do not ‘build’ like carpenters, nor do they eat wood. They excavate space creating tunnels for nesting sites and trails to foraging areas.
  • Carpenter ants like many ants feed on honeydew-producing insects such as aphids.
  • They will find access to nesting sites within homes under insulation, in crawlspaces, or in attics.
  • Often, they are found in damp wood like decks, woodpiles, or porches, carpenter ants create tunnels by chewing up damp pieces of wood with their strong jaws.
  • Carpenter ants are not dangerous to humans, they are destructive to your home.

Odorous House Ants

  • Temporary homes will be found under pieces of wood or debris in landscaping. These ants are not known to bite, and they do not sting.
  • Like many ants, these ants will forage on honeydew from aphids living in vegetation.
  • If there are plants or vegetation close to a home, it will provide easy access to the ants. Houses need to be away from vegetation so ants cannot trail into your home.  These ants are very small and do not need much space to get inside a home.
  • While they do not cause structural damage, due to the large numbers they are frustrating to homeowners.
  • They are named for the almost sweet smell they give off when they are crushed, these ants are especially attracted to food left behind in trash cans and countertops. They tend to forage in swarms and can be found on floors and counters where they find sweet liquids and foods.

Pavement Ants

  • These ants will nest under rocks or pavement. Pavement ants nest under pavement, stone, wood, and building slaps and can swarm inside of buildings built on slabs.
  • Homeowners will be aware of these ants as they mine the sand and soil from under concrete slabs, patios, sidewalks, driveways, or basements.
  • These ants do possess a stinger.  You will not get stung easily unless the ant is caught in close circumstances.
  • These ants will also forage into structures on food items and will feed anything sweet or greasy.
  • As these ants are underground and have multiple queens, management is challenging as they swarm under your foundation.

Workers who are blind, are soft-bodied and look like larvae. The termite's damage wood to get to what they are really after, which is the cellulose from which wood is made. Cellulose is the main component found in the cell walls of wood, plants, and grass. To feed the growing colonies, they will devour anything that contains cellulose.

In the springtime, subterranean swarmers, the reproductive termites, emerge from the nest to mate and create a new colony. While you may see swarmers themselves flying, it is more likely you will see discarded clumps of wings near closed doors and windows. Termites shed their wings once they land because they no longer need them.

Termites do serve an ecological purpose; they are important decomposers. They break down tough plant fibers, disposing of dead and decaying trees and turning them into the new soil. These hungry insects are vital to the health of our forests. As they tunnel, termites also aerate the soil. In your home, however, they cause damage to wood. There are actions you can take to limit the possibilities of termites in your home.

Calling the professionals at Victoria Pest Control to come to assess  and resolve your ant infestation is your best chance at having an ant-free summer.

06/15/2021 | Pest Facts

Termites in the Wood

The type of termites most common to New Jersey is the eastern subterranean termites.  Termites cause costly damages every year! Homeowners can have termites eating away inside the walls of their home, causing potentially irreparable damage and not be aware of it.

The subterranean termites need moisture to live, so they can be commonly found in crawl spaces and basements. When you see the signs of termites in your home call the professionals at Victoria’s Pest Control.

These termites usually begin to swarm in early spring. Particularly warm and wet winters can result in earlier swarm times, however, there is no start date for swarming season. If you see scattered wings outside near your foundation, this is an indication that your home has termites. Termite damage can look like water damage. In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in a home’s exterior.

Signs of termite damage include:

  • Blistered flooring and ceilings can be termites feeding within or below.
  • Areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage can have mazes within walls or furniture.
  • Infestations also can have a scent, not unlike mildew or mold.
  • Subterranean termites create a clicking sound to signal danger to other termites by banging their heads against the walls or shaking their bodies.
  • Look for mud tubes at the base of your foundation. If you find one break it open, a couple of days later if it is repaired, you have termites. Mud tubes are how termites travel.

Workers who are blind, are soft-bodied and look like larvae. The termite's damage wood to get to what they are really after, which is the cellulose from which wood is made. Cellulose is the main component found in the cell walls of wood, plants, and grass. To feed the growing colonies, they will devour anything that contains cellulose.

In the springtime, subterranean swarmers, the reproductive termites, emerge from the nest to mate and create a new colony. While you may see swarmers themselves flying, it is more likely you will see discarded clumps of wings near closed doors and windows. Termites shed their wings once they land because they no longer need them.

Termites do serve an ecological purpose; they are important decomposers. They break down tough plant fibers, disposing of dead and decaying trees and turning them into the new soil. These hungry insects are vital to the health of our forests. As they tunnel, termites also aerate the soil. In your home, however, they cause damage to wood. There are actions you can take to limit the possibilities of termites in your home.

To lessen the likelihood of termites in your home:

  • Turn off outdoor lights at night when it is swarming season.
  • Remove stacked firewood and any other wood products, including cardboard and mulch from around your home.
  • Make sure your gutters and drain spouts empty far away from the foundation.

This task of determining where termites are and resolving the problem is best left to the professionals at Victoria Pest Control. As soon as any sign of termites is spotted your best course of action is to ask for help.

05/15/2021 | Pest Facts

Bed Bugs

bedbug

Very much like the vampires of lore, bed bugs not only want to feed on your blood, but they also inject saliva that contains an anesthetic and an anti-clotting agent so your blood with flow freely. You won’t feel a thing. Drawn by your body heat and the carbon dioxide you exhale, which also means you are easier to locate, bed bugs will feed on you for about 10 minutes and leave to digest.

Bed bugs like mattresses because they make ideal places to hide and are near their main food source, you.

Signs of Bed Bugs:

  • You can see the bed bugs themselves, or their fecal droppings in mattress seams and other items in the bedroom.

  • Blood drops on sheets.

  • Bites on your skin.

They are called bed bugs as they are often found hiding in the edging of the mattress or bedding. While they aren’t big, roughly 5-7 mm. long and 2-3 mm. wide, they are still visible to the naked eye.  While they are called bed bugs, there are several ways they get into your home:

  • Furniture purchased from thrift stores or consignment shops.  Always check along the seams and underneath to make sure the only thing that comes home with you, is the furniture.
  • Staying overnight away from home, even 5-star hotels have been found to have bed bugs. Hostels, any type of hotel, all can have bed bugs. They are also found in hospitals, offices, retail stores and libraries.   When traveling put your luggage up off the ground and check the seams along the mattress. If you see any evidence of bed bugs themselves or small droplets of blood, request a room change.
  • Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers. They will attach themselves to backpacks, purses, clothing, laptop bags, and luggage.

Bed bugs are not attracted to fecal matter and have little to do with places that are dirty.

According to the Bureau of Epidemiology of Utah:

  • Bed bugs cannot transmit diseases to humans.
  • It has been shown that one person can have an immediate reaction to the bite of a bed bug, probably an allergic reaction, while someone else has no reaction.
  • Bed bugs can be killed by cold temperatures. While that is true, the freezing temperatures must be for an extended period.

They are found in all fifty states, and while they are more likely to be found in urban areas due to increased hitchhiking, which increases their rapid spread; rural areas suffer as well. They can live without feeding for several months, hanging out in suitcases, furniture, and bags. They can survive freezing temperatures as well as extreme heat. Hiring the professionals at Victoria’s Pest Control is the best way of resolving your bed bug issues.

They are called bed bugs but will hide in picture frames, box springs, mattress crevices, behind electrical switch plates, and even behind wallpaper during the day.  But at nighttime, the carbon dioxide we exhale often coaxes them out of their hiding spots. They are predictable, when a host is found, bed bugs will feed for five to 10 minutes until full.  The bites if there are any, will often be in a cluster.  They will then hide and digest for about a week. While they do not feed at this time, they will mate and lay eggs.

If you find signs of bed bugs, don’t try to get rid of them alone.  After calling for a professional’s help, take these steps:

  • Wash all bedclothes on the hottest water setting, and dry on high as well.
  • Buy bed bug interceptor cups, these go around each bed footing. Sprinkle with talcum powder. They are sloped so when bed bugs fall in, they cannot climb out.
  • Vacuum and toss the vacuum bag after you have sealed it when you are done.

 

Having the professionals at Victoria’s Pest Control in the survey what needs to do is the fastest way to enjoying your home in peace again.

04/15/2021 | mice / Pest Facts / Pest Prevention

Mouse in the House Prevention

house-mouse

At last, the weather is turning cooler, night is gathering earlier as well. Of all the pitter patter of little feet you enjoy hearing, the scrabbling of tiny feet is not one of them. Of course, mice would like the warmth of your home, and the added bonus of availability of food, and there is a mouse party in the making.

Signs to watch for:

  • Look for any cracks or holes in your foundation or where the foundation meets the house. Mice need minimal (1/4 of an inch) room to wiggle into a crack. Think of spaces around gas lines or sewer lines.
mouse

Seal all the cracks you can. Fill small holes with steel wool and put caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place. Use metal screens or metal sheeting to fix larger holes.

  • Unwanted items, furniture or trash scattered around the yard can be an invitation.
mouse-in-garbage

Clean up any debris and make sure your trash cans have secure lids.

  • Bird feeders are a source of food for unwanted rodents.
Small mouse in a hanging bird feeder

Make sure bird feeders are well away from the house. Remember to sweep up seed leavenings regularly.

  • Leaves piled against the home and mulch, or wood stacks is another way for rodents to get near the home and remember they can jump nearly a foot as well.
mouse-in-leaves

Keep all these materials away from the foundation of the home. Remember to rake around shrubs near the home to keep the area free of leaves.

  • Signs of gnawing, either on baseboards or around vents, cupboards, holes in dog food, or frayed wires.
signs-of-a-mouse

These are signs mice are already in the home. Either begin setting traps and call for professional assistance.

You can certainly try and get rid of mice on your own.

Here are some ways of reducing the mouse population:

  • Traps, there are a wide variety of traps to choose from, including snap traps as well as humane traps where the mouse is caught live and will then need to be transported away from the area. Mice are excellent trackers.
  • Peppermint can be soaked in cotton balls and may help deter mice.
  • Crushed onions and peppers may work as well.

Female mice can produce 10 litters in a year and as an inside house mouse may live to 3 years of age. Her offspring can start reproducing at 4 to 7 weeks. If you keep finding mouse feces or signs of mice infestation, after a time of setting out traps, call in the experts at Victoria’s Pest Control.

Unlike the cartoons of our youth, rats and mice DO NOT CO-EXIST!!!!! What may start out as a mouse issue can quickly become a rat issue and that means larger holes more extensive gnawing and the smaller traps you have gotten will go unused. If you started with mice, whose droppings (feces) are approximately1/4-inch-long with pointed ends; and now see visible signs of larger(feces), rat droppings are longer (3/4 inch) with blunt ends, it is time for professional level care.

10/01/2020 | mice / Pest Facts / Pest Prevention

End of Summer Wasps

Wasps can be aggressive just because they are wasps, as summer ends, however, being hungry makes them more aggressive. In the beginning of spring into summer wasps eat flies, aphids, caterpillars, and other invertebrates, making them an important insect-controlling predator. As a result of feeding aphids to the larvae the worker wasps are rewarded by a sugary sweet substance that wasps ingest. As the summer winds down, the production of the larvae is reduced as the queen is producing less eggs. This means those worker wasps will be hungry and more aggressive and bolder.

wasps

What attracts worker wasps:

  • Open cans of soda, if you put the soda down and walk away, you may not want to sip from it again as wasps will climb inside.
  • Most sweets, including potato salad and condiments will have you ducking from wasps.
  • Outside picnics or bar-b-ques on the deck.
  • Wasps also love the spoiled and fermented fruits that falls from trees and bushes in late summer and fall. They will become drunkenly aggressive chasing people or pets if they feel annoyed. Wasps in the late summer and fall are often annoyed.

While the life span of a worker wasp is generally only 22 days, while a queen if she hibernates well can live up to a year, the worker wasp’s job is to provide food to the larvae and protect the nest. Let us talk about wasps’ nests. Wasps construct their similarly honeycombed hives out of scavenged materials: leaves, stems, bark and even mud. The so-called paper wasp chews up plant material and regurgitates a kind of paper. If you see black and yellow insects flying around a grayish-brown comb hanging from your porch roof, you have wasps, not bees.

wasps_nest

Likely places you may see a nest:

  • Garden sheds and (childrens’) playhouses
  • Lofts, basements, and attic areas
  • Gutters and roof lining
  • Cracks, holes, and fissures in walls

These are the reasons why you will want to call Victoria’s Pest Control, as wasps are opportunistic and like safe secure surroundings for their nest. Wasps will also seek an indoor place for the nest if the queen can safely hibernate. Any cracks or holes in plaster or wood can suffice. Removing a nest can be made complicated depending on its location, if it is accessible from the outside or in a wall, or crawl space.

There are three prevalent wasps to consider, these are all considered ‘social wasps’ as they live in large colonies with one queen. Solitary wasps are not aggressive and seldom sting. Hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps are all social wasps. They commonly have narrow wings that fold longitudinally, nests made of recycled wood fibers, and, of course, the ability to sting repeatedly. Although these wasps have traits in common, there are a few things that set them apart as well.

Paper wasps are about 1” long, have long legs, and range in color.

  • They are reddish-orange to black, sometimes with yellow highlights.
  • Their umbrella-shaped nests are often suspended from eaves or window casings.
  • Paper wasp colonies usually number fewer than 100 wasps. When they fly, their long legs dangle.
paper-wasp

Bald-faced hornets are about ¾” long with black bodies and gray bands.

  • Despite its name, the bald-faced hornet is more closely related to the yellow jacket than it is to the less common European hornet.
  • Hornets have massive, enclosed nests that hang from sturdy perches like tree branches.
  • Hornet colonies contain over 100 wasps.
Bald-Faced-Hornet

Yellowjackets are the smallest at ½” in length.

  • They can be mistaken for honey bees because of the yellow markings on their bodies.
  • Yellowjacket nests are enclosed like hornets nests are, but yellowjacket nests are found below ground.
  • In late summer, they will sting if you simply get too close to the nest.
wasps

Although you are not likely to remove a yellowjacket’s nest, it is still a good idea to know where one may be on your property. Remember that while one wasp sting is not harmful, it sends out a pheromone that signals other wasps to join the attack.

Having a professional pest control company on your side will help you eradicate wasps’ next from the exterior and interior of your home and making your home and property safer for next summer.

09/01/2020 | Pest Facts

Ants on the March

Ants are attracted to water sources, which can be found in sinks, bathrooms and anywhere else there is water or moisture. On the way to a water source if there is a crumb, a smear of sauce or breadcrumbs left unswept, said ants will stay for a while. The ones you see first in the warmer weather are known as little black ants, common ants, or odorous house ants.

05/14/2020 | Pest Facts

Recent Comments

    CONTACT 
    VICTORIA'S 
    PEST CONTROL:

    SUBMIT

    Copyright ©2020

    8 McConachy Lane, Blairstown NJ, 07825
    Phone: (908) 572-0911
    Email: office@victoriaspestcontrol.com

    NJ Pest Control Lic# 91540B • NJ Pesticide Lic# 59920B • PA Pest Control Lic# Bu14033

    Site Designed & Managed by
    Lattice Marketing in Phillipsburg, NJ