Yellow jackets are considered to be the most aggressive wasp in northern New Jersey.  Unlike carpenter bees which tend to buzz, stare, and engage in the occasional dive bomb, yellow jackets will chase humans and pets down for no apparent reason.  An accident encounter with a yellow jacket nest can result in continuous stings for both humans and pets as these aggressive wasps will send out their alarm pheromone to let other wasps in the nest know that danger is near.

A typical yellow jacket wasp nest will contain several thousand insects.  Scientists believe that mild winters followed by an early spring, such as the one we have just encountered, often allow yellow jacket colonies to grow even larger.  Because of their potential to cause dangerous allergic reactions, it is not recommended that you attempt to exterminate yellow jacket nests on your own.  NJ pest control professionals are trained in the proper eradication procedures of yellow jacket colonies.

Don’t let yellow jackets ruin your backyard barbeques.  Stop by our website to learn more about yellow jackets and how Heritage Pest Control can help eliminate their nest once it’s discovered.

There are more than 12,000 species of ants worldwide, much less living in the United States.   In New Jersey, the ants that cause home and business owners trouble are Acrobat Ants, Argentine Ants, Black Ants, Citronella Ants, Little Black Ants, Odorous House Ants, Pavement Ants, Pharaoh Ants, Thief Ants, and one of the worst ants of all…the Carpenter Ants.

Just like human taste buds differ so do those in the ant world.  Many ants prefer to feed off of the sweet material (honeydew) that is produced by aphids.  Some feed primarily off of other insects – both live and dead ones.  Some ants will eat anything that humans eat or drink.  It is not uncommon for ants that invade the home to contaminate food sources and gain access to inadequately stored food products.

The spring is a perfect time to begin a pest control service plan and put an end to multi-generational colonies by calling Heritage Pest Control. Follow us on Facebook for interesting information about all types of pests.

New Jersey pest control experts warn that any home can become infested with fleas at any time of the year.  Fleas feast on the blood of warm blooded hosts so any animal or human will suit their fancy.  It should be noted that homes that do not have pets can become infested with fleas because they are opportunistic hitchhikers.  Fleas can easily hop a ride upon an unsuspecting person who is outside working in the garden or even walking from their car into their home.  People have also been known to bring fleas home with them in the luggage, purse, briefcase, or other type of belonging that was placed in a flea infested location.

Heritage Pest Control can help prevent fleas and other pests from entering your home and keep your yard pest free as well.  Stop by our website to learn more about our Integrated Pest Management procedures and let us help stop their pathway into your home.

There are reports that some wild animals, in particular raccoons and skunks, that are testing positive (post mortem) for rabies.  There are other reports of wild animals acting strange, and suspected to have rabies, throughout the United States.

Most people know to look for the typical sign of rabies as “foaming of the mouth”.  NJ pest control professionals also warn that animals that are walking around in circles, stumbling, or acting extremely aggressive are likely infected with rabies.  Wild animals that are normally nocturnal but are seen during the daylight hours could also be harboring the virus as well.

Because of the threat of contracting rabies, removal of wild animals that are nesting in an attic or crawl space should be left to a NJ pest control professional. Check out our website to learn about the removal and repair services that we offer.

Here are some interesting ant facts…

Ants have the largest brain of any insect.

Queen ants can live up to 20 years, but most worker and soldier ants only live 45 to 60 days.

An ant’s sense of smell is as good as a dog, which explains why they come in droves to backyard barbeques so quickly!

The antennae of an ant are used for smelling and feeling.

Other insects chew their food.  Ants suck the juice from food leaving the remnants behind.

Ants give the saying “eating for two” new meaning. They have two stomachs.  One is for itself and one is used to store food for other ants in the colony.

Ants have a smell that is distinctive to each colony.  When intruders are near, other ants can smell their presence.

There are a million times as many ants as there are humans in the world. It’s no wonder they are so difficult to control!

In some colonies, if the queen dies, the entire ant colony will die within a few months because all of her offspring are sterile.

Be sure to stop by our website to read important information about ants.

Wood destroying insects such as termites and carpenter ants can be a nightmare to discover in your home or business.  Our experienced pest control professionals will be able to quickly identify the main location of the infestation so that the entire nest can be wiped out.

Take a look at the Seasonal Protection Plans that we offer our customers to ensure that they are pest free year-round.  We are sure that with our four levels of service that is offered (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus) that your home and family will be safeguarded against unwanted pests.  Our service is 100 percent guaranteed with a one year warranty.  Each of our service programs are offered in our “Green” pest control services as well.  By using Heritage Pest Control, you can easily have all of your pest control needs met all year long.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for important information about annoying insects and rodents and helpful tips to avoid them!

There are more than a dozen species of carpenter ants.  They prefer to live in dead and rotting logs, trees, and stumps, but will not hesitate to invade a home, especially if it has endured water damage.  Carpenter ants will also enter a home while searching for food or water sources.

Besides causing damage to wood, carpenter ants are known for their fighting abilities. Once a nest is disturbed, carpenter ants will fight back, whether it is to another insect or a human foe.  Carpenter ants can and will bite humans.  The bite of a carpenter ant is not poisonous, nor does it carry any disease.  They do however inject formic acid into the skin which does cause pain to the recipient.

If you discover a carpenter ant infestation in your home, its best to contact a licensed NJ pest control professional.

Prior to calling Heritage Pest Control, one customer recently used a store bought ant spray on what appeared to be a small amount of ants that were trailing on her new patio that is made of paver stones.  Pleased with the immediate kill of the spray, she was surprised to see that within 24 hours, what was previously only one ant hole are now six holes, in various areas of the paver stones.  There now appears to be thousands of ants trailing in and out of each hole.  It is clear to see that the spraying caused the ants to spread their colony.

Depending on the species of ant, there could be one queen or several queens in the colony.  NJ pest control professionals report that to effectively control any ant colony you must kill the queen or queens in order to eliminate the colony fully.  Spraying the surface where you see ants trailing is never effective because those ants represent only a small portion of the colony.  It is always best to hire a licensed pest control expert for identification and management of ant infestations.

Ants are resourceful creatures that will make their nests just about anywhere.  My neighbor recently removed the cover to her hot tub and found a massive amount of ants living under the vinyl cover.  Once unearthed, thousands of panicked ants grabbed their eggs and began to scatter in all directions.  What’s interesting is that this nest was found on the cover of a running hot tub with the temperature set at 106 degrees.  The ants were apparently not bothered by the large amount of steam of the hot tub or the people who frequented it.  In following the ants as they scattered, it did not appear that that they had another nest nearby or one in the ground.  The hot tub cover served as their nesting ground.

NJ ant colonies can be more than just an annoyance.  A carpenter ant infestation can cause a home or business owner costly repairs that will not be covered by insurance.  Ant infestations are not considered to be a health threat like cockroaches are, however; they do contaminate food sources by the bodily waste that they leave behind.  A NJ pest control professional like Heritage Pest Control will be able to attack ant colonies and keep them out of your home or business.

Pharaoh ants cannot withstand cold temperatures.  Outdoors they may be found living in lawns and gardens, but only in climates that are consistently warmer in the United States, such as in the state of Florida.

Pharaoh ants survive by consuming all types of food, their favorite being those that contain sweets, fatty, or oily foods.  They will also consume both live and dead insects.  They cause significant economic problems when they infest bakeries, office buildings, restaurants, as well as hospitals.

Some hospitals in the United States have reported pharaoh ants obtaining moisture from the mouths of sleeping infants and from IV bottles that are in use on patients.  Pharaoh ants are known to transmit a host of pathogens to humans such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus.

Scientists believe that pharaoh ants are likely native to Africa, but they can now be found in all areas of the world.  Like some other types of ant species, these persistent pests should not be treated with store bought chemicals.  Once pharaoh ants detect pesticides, they will quickly scatter making controlling the colony extremely difficult.  When dealing with pharaoh ants, it is always advisable to seek the help of a licensed New Jersey pest control professional who has extensive experience in pharaoh ant control and eradication procedures.  Heritage Pest Control provides excellent pest control services for homes and businesses in Bergen County, NJ; Essex County, NJ; Hudson County, NJ; Morris County, NJ; Passaic County, NJ.  Call us today!