One of the summer’s lazy pleasures is watching bees buzzing in your yard, going about their business. Not so pleasurable is finding out that some of these busy bees are busy damaging your home.
Carpenter bees are a common summertime sight on Eastern Long Island and sometimes a significant headache for homeowners. These destructive pests can do a shocking amount of damage to your home and other wood structures. [Read more…]
Squirrels are the most visible rodent on Long Island and arguably, the cutest. Or at least they’re cute until they get into your attic or walls. Still, there’s much more to these bushy-tailed rodents than you might think.
Yes, the Southern flying squirrel lives on Long Island, and it’s one of only two flying squirrel species native to North America. Asia has 40 native flying squirrel species, and there are only 43 species worldwide.
Despite the name, flying squirrels don’t fly as bees or birds do. Instead, they glide using a membrane between their limbs that can act as a parachute.
Squirrels flick their tails to send information to other squirrels. Twitching their tails in specific ways signals possible danger.
Squirrels can be difficult to remove, whether they’re in your attic or climbing in your chimney. Twin Forks Pest Control® has more than 20 years of experience resolving squirrel infestations. Our trained experts will rid your property of these unwanted pests. Call us today for a free estimate.
Every spring, homeowners wonder, what is the best defense against pests? It can seem daunting, but the good news is that a few steps, which also provide additional benefits, will help prevent pests from infesting your home and property.
Ultimately, preventing pests boils down to a two-pronged approach. It would be best to have both outdoor pest control methods and indoor.
Proper grading ensures that water will flow away from the dwelling instead of pooling against the foundation, leading to cracks, wet basements, or insect infestations. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, so get rid of any puddles or pools.
Gaps around these items can form or widen, allowing pests and vermin to enter your home, using the pipes as a sort of through-way. Use chalk to seal the gaps or pack with steel wool. Mice can’t chew through steel wool.
While doing your exterior inspection, check window and door screens for damage or holes. Check them from the inside for best results because small holes might only be visible through a closer look than you can get from the outside. A variety of insects can get through even the tiniest of tears.
After the inventory, start bagging any leaves that fell late in the season and any papers or trash. Collect broken branches and bundle them for garbage or as fireplace kindling.
Bushes and tree branches that touch the house can help insects find their way into your home. Check the species of your trees and bushes for when to cut them back but make sure to trim them all at least once a year.
Wood piles can attract termites and carpenter ants. If you have a fireplace, ensure the woodpile is at least 50 feet from the house, and the logs are stored off the ground.
The white light from typical outdoor bulbs attracts clouds of insects because of the light’s wavelength and temperature. Swap them for yellow “bug lights,” which use a less appealing part of the spectrum for insects. Motion sensor lights closest to the doors will further discourage insects from hanging around there and ducking inside when the door is open.
Backed-up rain gutters can lead to structural damage that pests can get inside. Mosquitoes can also lay eggs in water pooled in clogged gutters.
Pet doors don’t just let in your dog or cat; rodents and insects can also use the entry. Unless necessary, avoid feeding pets outside since the food will attract pests and vermin. If you have to feed pets outside, take in any leftovers as soon as they’re finished.
Remember that indoor/outdoor pets are more prone to picking up fleas, ticks, and mites. If you can’t switch them to indoor-only, consult with your veterinarian on the best options to protect your pets from such parasites.
Protecting your property from pests isn’t solely an outdoor endeavor. Steps you take indoors will also make a difference. You can do these on rainy days or when it’s still chilly instead of waiting for good weather.
Season changes are a great time for the in-depth cleaning that’s often neglected when busy. It deters insects and helps you spot any that might have already made their way inside. Clutter clearing deprives them of places to hide, too.
Preventing pests means depriving them of food, water, and shelter. When swapping winter clothing for summer, make sure everything is clean before putting it away since that untreated food stain could attract bugs.
Dirty dishes are food magnets for pests, and soaking doesn’t change that. The only thing worse than dirty dishes in a sink for attracting pests is a big pile of dirty dishes sitting there for days.
Termites love Long Island’s sandy soil, so a yearly termite inspection and treatment is essential. Tick treatments are also necessary, especially for Suffolk County residents. If your property is near woods or grasslands or has deer visits, tick treatment is essential to avoid Lyme disease.
The Twin Forks Pest Control® team is the expert in pest removal methods and preventing the return of pests. We have provided pest control for homeowners across the Eastern Long Island area for more than 20 years. Call us today for a free estimate.
April showers may bring May flowers, but spring rains also bring unwanted visitors into our yards and homes. Insects can cause issues at any time of the year, but you may notice significantly more flying or crawling pests when it rains. Wet weather lures some predatory insects outside into fertile hunting grounds while compelling other bugs to take shelter by invading your home. [Read more…]
Spotted lanternflies, sometimes also referred to as lanternflies, are an invasive species that arrived in the United States a few years ago. Since they have no natural predators on this continent, spotted lanternflies have swept across Pennsylvania, spread down to Maryland, and now are present in New York, including Long Island. This past fall, the spotted lanternfly report from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County found the flying insects near MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. It issued an alert for agricultural producers, mainly vineyards and fruit orchards.
Spotted lanternflies are native to China, India, and Vietnam. They’re known as planthoppers because they’re weak flyers, so they mostly jump or walk and only fly short distances.
Spotted lanternflies have five stages of life, so their looks change several times, starting with an appearance like shiny black jewels with white spots. In their final adult stage, they have a distinctive look, almost like a bumblebee body with large, multi-colored wings. The front wing segment is brown with darker brown spots. The back wing part starts as red with brown spots near the body before turning white and then dark brown or black on the outer edge.
Spotted lanternflies were detected in America in 2014. The National Invasive Species Information Center believes they entered the country 2-3 years earlier in a shipment of wood items sent to Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Since then, spotted lanternflies have spread out from Pennsylvania and confirmed in New York. The Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Cornell CALS) has maintained and updated a map of spotted lanternfly reporting.
Spotted lanternfly damage is worse than any other invasive species, in part due to their method of feeding. Instead of just eating leaves, fruit, or bark, lanternfly bites can penetrate the plant’s surface to suck its sweet sap, which significantly weakens the plant. Spotted lanternfly damage also includes giving off a sticky substance known as honeydew, which attracts other insects to the plant, and a sooty mold that damages the weakened plants.
If that’s not bad enough, because the plant’s essential sap is consumed, it can affect the development of any fruit on that plant before killing it. For example, infested grapes will lose their natural sweetness, making them inedible.
Spotted lanternflies are an agricultural threat because of the wide range of plants they will attack. They’ve been found on more than 70 plant species, including grapevines, blueberries, hops, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, and more. They also lay eggs almost anywhere.
Spotted lanternfly damage can occur to a wide range of trees, including oak, walnut, poplar, walnut, apple, peach, plum, and cherry trees. Their all-time favorite, though, is tree-of-heaven.
In the United States, spotted lanternflies do not have any natural predators, and that’s part of what makes them so dangerous to agriculture.
Spotted lanternflies do not bite humans or animals, and their mouth is more like a beak that inserts a straw into a plant than a typical mouth that would chew skin.
Spotted lanternfly reporting is essential so if you find one, first, contact the NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Second, check your car. The insects lay egg masses on almost any surface and are easily overlooked. Spotted lanternfly eggs on or in a vehicle can be transported to other areas, worsening the problem.
Next, squash them if you can. Spotted lanternflies tend to be fast, so it’s not easy to do, but a hard smack or stop will kill them. Mark or band any trees that are infested until action can be taken.
While mechanical extermination, meaning squashing the bugs, is effective for a handful of spotted lanternflies – if you’re quick enough to make contact – it’s not practical for an entire infestation. Professional exterminators are the best solution to a spotted lanternfly infestation because of their severe environmental and agricultural threat and the difficulty in killing them.
The Twin Forks Pest Control® has more than 20 years of experience handling every type of pest issue that can plague homeowners across the Eastern Long Island area. Take the first step; call us today for a free estimate.
Moles are one of the many creatures which, in small numbers, can be helpful to a property but, in large numbers, are pests to be eradicated. A small mammal that lives underground, moles are exceptionally efficient diggers who can help aerate your soil or quickly destroy your lawn. These furry insectivores burrow 15 to 18 feet an hour, a noteworthy feat for a creature that measures about 10 inches when fully grown. While they can be helpful, it is better to get rid of moles than let them take over and destroy your lawn.
Molehills are the most prevalent and recognizable signs of mole invasions. This is one primary means of determining whether you have gophers or moles on your property. Gophers don’t make piles of dirt; they destroy the soil as they dig their tunnels. Moles displace the dirt. The displaced dirt ends up on the lawn surface in random piles.
Although moles generally burrow about a foot down from the surface, another common sign is their tell-tale tunnels that show up on lawn surfaces as raised soil ridges. The ground under these ridges can collapse when walked on, presenting a hazard to homeowners. The tunnels can destroy the root systems of not only grass but bushes and flowers as well.
Twin Forks Pest Control® has over 20 years of experience eliminating pests, including moles. Our trained experts will rid your property of unwanted pests. We offer year-round protection plans so that your home stays pest-free. At the first sign of pests, contact the local professionals near you. Call us today for a free estimate. We look forward to hearing from you.
