Move Over Bedbugs: Stink Bugs Have Landed

An interesting article from the New York Times about the new nuisance bug in town; stink bugs. However, if you ask me, I'll take stink bugs over bedbugs any day! What do you think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27stinkbug.html?emc=eta1

Termites in the Fall? You bet.

Hey everyone! Hope this post finds you well! We just can't believe summer is coming to an end! We're sad to see it go - but fall always brings new and exciting activities like football and of course, it's back to school! Autumn also brings some new pests...along with some not so new ones that you might least expect this time of year...

This time of year, many people call when they see mud tubes or even damage on wood areas of their homes and are shocked to find that there is a termite colony slowly eating away at their homes. We're here to tell you that termites are not just a spring pest.

The average termite colony, depending on the part of the part of the country and species, can be well over a million. That's a lot of bugs! In nature, termites do a great job breaking down wood as they feed on cellulose. It is nature's recycling program. However, we don't want them to be recycling the wood that our homes are made of!

Termites can work year round - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The spring "swarmers" that you might see don't attack your house. They are winged reproductives whose job it is to start new colonies. Instead, the real damage is cause by "workers" or soft bodies white termites which can't fly.

Termites account for over five billion dollars per year in damage, so if you live in the termite belt, any area below the most northern parts of the United States plus some parts of Canada, your home or business can be susceptible to a termite attack.

If you suspect termite activity or even if you just see them your mulch outside your home, we can inspect to see if there is an infestation of the structure. It is also smart to have a periodic inspection to head off infestations before they cause serious damage. Today's termite technologies are very effective and cause minimal disruption to you and your family's activities.

Pigeons force Kins of Leon off stage!

Why is bird proofing so important? Check the link below to find out the latest pigeon story and where they have been causing some trouble - you might be surprised:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/24/kings.of.leon.pigeons/?hpt=Sbin

Click here to find out more about how Horizon can help you with bird management by providing fast and effective solutions for your home or business!

http://www.horizonpestcontrol.com/bird-management.php

Bedbug Epidemic on the Rise

We've been talking to our clients regarding their concerns about bedbugs more and more over the last couple of years. Let's face it, the thought of bedbugs crawling around you when you're sleeping is more than creepy, but there is some good news....their bites are relatively harmless, albeit itchy and unsightly!

News 4 NY aired two stories last night about the increasing bedbug activity in New York City, so we thought we'd share them with you. Please keep in mind while you're watching these stories, that bedbug sniffing dogs aren't the only way to find bed bugs in your home...you can call Horizon at 201-447-2530 for a free inspection by our trained, non-shedding, hypo-allergenic, two-legged inspectors!

If you're simply wondering what you can do to prevent bedbugs from getting into your home, here are some things you can do to protect yourself from getting bedbugs:

• Before booking a hotel room, you may want to read user reviews of the particular hotel and location - frequently, guests who've had bug problems report them online. Bear in mind that a report about one hotel does not mean the issue wasn't isolated to one room, or that hotel management hasn't since exterminated.
  
• Peel back the bedsheets and check the mattress, running your fingers along the upper and lower seams. Make sure to check the mattress tag, since bed bugs often hide there.
• Removing and examine the headboard, if possible. Check for tiny black spots (excrement) that are smaller than poppy seeds. You may also see translucent light brown skins or, in the case of an infestation, live bugs.
• Check near the bed. At the bedside table, look for signs of bed bugs in the drawers and along the wall on the side of the bed that is less likely to be disturbed by cleaning staff and guests. Even check behind pictures hanging near the bed: If they're attached to the wall, tap on them to see if anything falls from behind.
• Elevate suitcases and keep them off the floor by using provided luggage stands.
• If you see powder in the drawers or on the headboard, it is likely that the room has already been treated for bed bugs by an exterminator, but check with the front desk.
• If bed bugs are detected, you should request for another room. Be sure to inform hotel management.
• Just moving to a different room may not be the total answer. You should repeat the thorough inspection of any new or different room you are offered.
• When you pack to leave, inspect your luggage carefully first, and inspect every item as you pack to help detect any bugs or their signs. Laundering most cloth items with typical hot water and detergent followed by drying on low heat for at least 20 minutes (or standard dry cleaning) should kill all bed bugs in or on such items. Sealing freshly-laundered items inside a plastic bag should help keep any more bed bugs from getting in those items later to hide (and be carried back with you).

Check out these links for the News 4 stories:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/Bedbugs_on_the_Rise_in_NYC_New_York.html

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/NYC_Bedbug_Epidemic__How_to_Find_Out_if_You_ve_Got_Them_New_York.html

Thank You!

Well friends - June has come and gone! I am happy to report that we will be delivering a check to RBARI for $107! Fantastic! Thanks to everyone who joined our group in Facebook to raise MOOLA for homeless pets this month!

To learn more about RBARI - visit them online at: www.rbari.org

What's crawling on your keyboard?

Hey friends - so...the Daily News recently ran an article about the (lack of) cleanliness of computer keyboards in the work place. I thought that the article was going to address the obvious; ya know, that people just don't wash their hands enough...that the warm energy generated by the computer creates the perfect place for all kinds of germs and bacteria to grow...but this was not the case. The article talked more about a problem that I wasn't really expecting...

Nearly everyone eats at their desk at one time or another. There are the people that are so busy, they do it every day. Then there's the occasional snacker and the people that just eat the birthday cake on that special occasion. Although it seems perfectly harmless, in each case, there's always the possibility of leaving some crumbs behind...

Once you leave for the evening, there may be someone else who wants a snack...and just a tiny crumb stuck between your number "2"and "w" key will hit the spot. When you're gone for the day, mice will come out to play, and when they do, they'll leave you something in return...droppings and urine - which pose serious health risks. Mouse droppings can easily fall between the spaces on the keyboard - just like the crumbs the mice are after.

The Daily News article states that workers who fail to keep their desk area clean and crumb free can get sick simply by typing on a pooped-on keyboard and then picking up a sandwich or piece of fruit with their unwashed hands. Scientists swabbed keyboards in a London office and found traces of E. coli, coliforms, and enterobacteria, which all cause food poisoning. It's been said that our keyboards are dirtier than the average toilet seat. How scary is that?

You can take some very simple precautions to keep your space clean and healthy:

• Be sure to clean your work area when you leave at night using antibacterial surface cleanser. Wipe down your key board and your phone and the surface of your desk.


• Make sure you do not leave food in or around your desk that is not properly sealed.


• Take the trash out nightly - especially it contains left overs.
  
• And of course, wash your hands throughout the day.

If you suspect that you have some desk/keyboard invaders at your work place - make sure you let someone know who can help get the problem fixed ASAP.

$42

So far, we've raised $42 for homeless pets...but we want to give SOOOOOOO much more! Please help us by forwarding this blog or joining our facebook group. PLEASE share this message with your friends and family!

1 little click = $1 for homeless pets! That's how simple it is!

:)

29+

YES! 29+ new friends on FB = $29 for RBARI that will help rescue dogs & cats that need our help! PLEASE - tell your friends...help us make a difference in the lives of these sweet and helpless souls. They are counting on us! Thank you to all who have helped thus far! There is no limit...friend friend friend away!

Help Horizon Save Pets!

For the month of June, if you join Horizon's group on Facebook, we will donate $1 to RBARI (Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge Inc.)!

The above picture is is just one example of some of the animals RBARI has rescued JUST IN TIME...and why tick protection is so important! Yes - those are engorged ticks in this puppy's ear! RBARI rescued 3 of them from Paterson and took them to an animal hospital immediately! Just 2 days ago, they were all adopted and in perfect health!

Please help us raise some money to help our cause for paws!

So many woofs and meows will thank you!

And the answer is....

B - Fleas

Fleas are vectors of Bubonic Plague, carried from rodents to humans when the fleas feed on human blood. In 14th century Europe, more than 1/3 of the continent died from the disease. Although the plague is often believed to be a historical disease, about 10-15 people in the US still contract this flea-borne illness each year.

Would you have ever guessed...

Fill in the blank:

More human deaths have been attributed to _______ than to all the wars ever fought.

A) Bed Bugs

B) Fleas

C) West Nile Virus

D) Salmonella

E) Lyme disease

Check back next Tuesday for the answer!

PCT Media Group - Pest Control Technology Magazine : Horizon Celebrates 40 Years

PCT Media Group - Pest Control Technology Magazine : Horizon Celebrates 40 Years

Clover Mites

What's round and red and can fit on the head of a pin? A clover mite! They are tiny reddish to dark brown pests often seen on sunny days in early summer months. Clover mites are not insects, but belong instead to the arachnid group of arthropods - meaning they have 8 legs. They are very small (1/30 of an inch), oval-shaped and red colored. They make their way into buildings and homes through window screens, cracks in bricks, and under door sweeps. In some cases they will invade a structure in large numbers. Clover mites usually appear in May and June, but can also reappear in the early fall. They cause no damage and no not bite, however, if squished on a lightly colored wall or on a piece of fabric such as a curtain or pillow, they can leave a red stain.

Colver mites feed on well fertilized grass and lawns or on rooftops where there is mold or mildew growth. Once the summer temperatures heat up to above 85 degrees, clover mites will naturally die back, as their food source also dies back and they cease to be a problem. Sometimes they will reappear briefly during the early fall months until temperatures drop below about 50 degrees.

To prevent clover mites, keep your home free of grasses and vegetation from around the structure's perimeter foundation...this also helps to pest proof you home from several other pests! Here are some great tips that not only work for clover mites...but are pretty universal for pests in general. Seal up gaps, cracks and other points of entry into structures and around mortar and sidewalk areas near the foundation. You can close up openings with tight-fitting screens and tight fitting door sweeps.

If you have clover mites in your home, you can sucks them up with vacuum. Make sure you seal up the bag or empty the bin immediately and take the trash out because they can easily crawl out of the garbage. If the problem persists, we can treat for clover mites easily and effectively...but just remember, that the hot weather is around the corner and once the temps go up - the mites should no longer be a concern. :)

Starlings, Pigeons and Sparrows....Oh My!

Did you know that all birds are federally protected in the US except for three? Starlings, pigeons and sparrows are not protected and may be removed of eradicated by a pest management professional when they are causing problems. For all other nuisance birds, pest management professionals must obtain a special permit or licence from the state's fish and wildlife department for any removal.

Did you also know that pest bird droppings can create a health hazards? A roost of nuisance birds can create a large pile of droppings resulting in hazardous walking areas and the acids in the droppings may corrode a car's finish.

But, more importantly, over time a roost full of dried droppings becomes a breathing hazard. Fungal spores may grow rapidly in such droppings, and if the pile of droppings is disturbed, the spores ca become airborne and aerosolized and when breathed in, this can lead to a lung disease called histoplasmosis.

Horizon Pest Control has the breathing equipment and experience to safely remove these roots with dried droppings. If you suspect an old bird roost full of droppings in your attic space or living areas, let us safely remove it for you.

Holy Mosquitoes Batman!

The mosquitoes are out and about and they are letting us know it! The weather has been wet and damp...a flying-blood-sucker utopia! Over this past weekend we spent a lot of time outdoors and the mosquitoes were constantly crashing our party! Between the declining bat population and the very wet spring - mosquitoes are thriving. To give you an idea of just how much bats help control the mosquito population - here's a little factoid: A single bat can consume more than 3,000 mosquitoes in just one summer night.

Here at Horizon, we expected populations to be at an all time high this summer...which is why we rolled out our new Block Party Mosquito program. This program offers our mosquito protection plan at a deep discount. All you need to sign up is 4 other participating houses in your neighborhood to participate. By proactively treating your neighborhood for mosquitoes, you will dramatically reduce the populations - not just in your yard- but in the other yards that surround your home! Your Block Party Program will collectively help your neighborhood stay protected from growing mosquito populations.

Take the BITE out of your sunny days and make sure you claim your deck and yard before those pesky mosquitoes do!

Check out more info on our declining bat populations here:


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/fungus_kills_90_percent_of_nj.html

The Importance of Pest Management...

Happy Monday everyone! I'd like to share a quick (and unfortunate) story with you guys from my weekend. It really hit home just how important pest management is. I hope none of you ever experience this...

I went out to dinner to a favorite spot with some friends. It was the kind of place where the owner knows your face. Dinner was off to an amazing start! Drinks and appetizers were all delicious as usual. I ordered the seared yellow fin tuna. My first bite - amazing. The second...even better...when all of a sudden, a roach crawled out from under my tuna steak and flipped itself over on my plate. My face went white as I watched the roach's legs squirm on my plate in a struggle to flip itself over. I get the chills just writing about it. I was totally paralyzed. One of my friends saw my face and came over to pick up my plate and deliver it to the waiter. Mortified - the waiter came over...then the owner. I had to excuse myself because I was pretty upset. While I was gone, the owner sat at our table and apologized and tried to assure us that this has never happened before and would never happen again. Of course, no one finished their dinner and the offer for a new set of entrees was refused. As was desert. We still had bottles of wine on the table so we sat around for a few minutes. Our entire check was comped...but there is nothing that that restaurant owner can do to erase that image from our minds. Nor can he stop us from telling the story over and over again to everyone we know.

So, needless to say, while I have always appreciated what the pest management industry does to ensure the success of the many other industries that rely on it, it was certainly renewed on this evening.

PS - When I went looking for the above image of a roach using google images, a plethora of stories similar to my own came up. SCARY! Do you dare to find out what some other people have experienced...? Is there a story about your favorite restaurant?

April is National Pest Control Month

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) celebrates April as National Pest Management Month, an observance that has been taking place for more than 30 years. In honor of National Pest Management Month this year, the NPMA is raising public awareness about the risks posed by household pests and encouraging homeowners to take proactive steps to prevent pest infestations in their homes and properties.

“When most people think of pests, they likely think of the ‘ick-factor’ associated with an infestation, but few people consider the serious health and property threats that pests like termites, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents and stinging insects can pose,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA.

Some pests, including termites, rodents and ants can cause costly damage to the structure of a home. Termites and carpenter ants have the ability to chew through wood beams, walls, floors and even wallpaper. Rodents can spark house fires if they gnaw through electrical wiring or build nests close to heat sources.

Other pests, like cockroaches, mosquitoes and stinging insects pose health threats to humans. Cockroach allergens are known to trigger asthmas attacks, especially in children. Mosquitoes, meanwhile, can carry West Nile virus and stinging insects send more than half a million people to the emergency room every year.

“During National Pest Management Month, the NPMA encourages homeowners to learn more about pest management and to take steps to prevent infestations before they occur,” says Henriksen. “Pest pressure increases significantly in spring and summer, which is why simple measures like sealing cracks and crevices around the home, keeping kitchen counters and floors clean and free of crumbs, sealing garbage cans and eliminating sources of still-standing water on your property now can go a long way in preventing pests from making a home in yours.”

If you think you may have pest threats around your home or business, please call today at 888-612-2847 for your FREE inspection or visit http://www.horizonpestcontrol.com/

Wind Storm Disrupted Pests Along with Branches

Undoubtedly you've heard about the thousands of families who were forced to live elsewhere because of extensive power outages and flooding from the wind storm two weekends ago. (If you were one of those thousands, our hearts and thoughts go out to you as you try to put your life back in order.) What you probably didn't hear about are the millions of insects overwintering in those trees who were abruptly awakened from their winter slumbers as their 'homes' crashed to the ground.

The great weather we had this past weekend, combined with our access to...not only 1 but...2 chainsaws, gave us the perfect opportunity to clean up the mess that Mother Nature had dumped in our yard. While cutting down a partially-broken branch (see photo), we encountered a carpenter ant condo. They weren't very happy to have their home broken into, but since it was so nice out, we're sure they were able to find a new residence in no time in another nearby dead branch.

Since carpenter ants, and termites, feed on decaying plant material, dying branches and dead trees are the perfect place for them to live. If those trees are close enough to your home, as the ant colony grows, they may look for new opportunities to feed and live, such as the mulch around your house. Once near your home, that's when they can then get into your home and cause damage.

Interestingly, some carpenter ants don't even look like ants: The workers of the colony have the typical ant body, while the reproductives have wings and look more like a termite (see photo at left).

Now is the perfect time, before the leaves start popping out, to see if parts of your trees may dying and subject to carpenter ant infestation. Once carpenter ants infest a tree, they will then speed up its demise. Proper trimming and sealing of decaying branches can protect and prolong the life of your trees. Obviously, once carpenter ants are inside your home, trimming is no longer an option and that's were we come in!

Horizon Educates Students on Insects & Shows Live Madagascar Hissing Roaches at Super Science Saturday

As part of its community outreach program, Horizon Pest Control recently participated in Ridgewood’s Super Science Saturday to share its knowledge of insects and pests with children of all ages. Although many people think that Horizon exists solely to kill all bugs, it’s not entirely true. In general, we like bugs: We’re only interested in eliminating the pests that threaten heath and cause problems in people’s homes and businesses.

Our interactive exhibit at the area’s largest science fair featured Madagascar Hissing Roaches that attendees could touch and hold, as well as a live tarantula, which we kept safe in an observation habitat…for obvious reasons! It was exciting to see so many people approach the roaches with trepidation, but then, upon seeing their mild demeanor, muster the courage to pet them. Our team was eager to answer any and all questions…from ‘what does the tarantula eat’ to ‘how many roaches are in there’ to ‘can I have one?!’ For those less inclined to be near live insects, we also displayed preserved specimens of common pests and the damage they can create.

Many students and their parents also attended our new presentation, titled ‘How Do Such Small Pests Cause Such BIG problems’, which covers diseases and illnesses caused by pests and their global impact. From Malaria killing 3000 children a day over 1/3 of the world to Lyme’s Disease threatening us here in the United States, we discussed how the economy, weather and local demographics can affect how pests interact with humans with negative outcomes.

For more information on Horizon’s community outreach programs, please visit us at http://www.horizonpestcontrol.com/ or contact vholst@horizonpestcontrol.com.

ABOUT THE COMPANY
New Jerseyans rely on Horizon Pest Control to protect their health and homes from pests. Our services are effective and safe. Our service technicians are State certified. Our service guarantee gives peace of mind to our customers. Would you like to sell for Horizon? Read on.

ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking entrepreneurial sales professionals who enjoy the challenge and reward of hunting and closing new business. You will be responsible for prospecting, and solving often complex problems utilizing a technical, consultative approach, and closing new business in the form of customer-specific pest management programs and home services.You will receive company-provided leads, while aggressively self-generating leads, and developing your sales territory. Our ideal candidates are independent and analytical, with strong problem solving skills. We prefer college graduates with technical or business degrees, and demonstrable accomplishments selling to home owners.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum 2 years sales experience with a stable work history
Experience in pest management, security services, home improvement, and/or other industries selling directly to home owners is preferred
Proven prospecting, presentation, negotiation and closing skills
Skill using MS Office, Internet/Email, and CRM software
Valid driver's license and drug-free

BENEFITS
Generous Base Pay + Commissions / Health Insurance + Paid Vacations + Sick Days

HOW TO APPLY
You bring your sales acumen, we will train you in our business. Curious? Apply now to learn more.