Category Archives: Precise Pest and Termite Control Services

Are Flying Ants as Bad as Termites?

Damage caused by TermitesFor many homeowners, having termites in the house is just about as bad as it can get because of how much damage they can cause. But how bad is it to have flying ants around your home, and what kind of damage can these insects cause?

This article compares flying ants vs. termites and how to handle a flying ant situation when one occurs.

 

Similarities Between Flying Ants vs. Termites

Both flying ants and termites are insects that fly and swarm, which makes many people mistake one species for the other. They also have similar sizes, shapes, and colors – at least to the untrained eye of someone who is not a pest control professional.

Also, both of these insects live in large colonies and operate within caste systems. Neither termites or flying ants are known to typically bite humans.

 

Differences Between Flying Ants vs. Termites

Yet when you take a closer look, there are a lot of variations between a winged ant and a termite. The body of a termite has a straight abdomen, while a flying ant has a thinner, pinched waist. Termites have equal length wings, while flying ants have wings of unequal length. The antennae of a termite are straight, while a flying ant’s antennae are bent.

The best way to tell which type of insect you are dealing with is to get a good up-close look at it, which is why pest control diagnoses are best left to an experienced professional.

Although both insects can live in wood, termites cause structural damage while ants usually do not. Flying ants are less likely to cause actual damage to your home but they can certainly be a nuisance. Termites eat plant matter, while flying ants eat both plants and other insects. The life cycles of these two insects differ as well because termites go through three phases and ants go through four stages of life.

 

Get Help to Control Winged Ants

Whether you have termites or flying ants around your home, chances are that you just want them gone as quickly and safely as possible.

We have been in this business for over 30 years and know all the best strategies for keeping Northern New Jersey homes pest-free. If you suspect that you have termites or winged ants around your home, contact us today at 866-971-2847 for a free inspection.

Where Do Bugs Go in the Winter?

spider in web during winter seasonHere in New Jersey, we usually think of summer as the most bug-prone season because we see so many pests flying and crawling around when the weather is warm. But this prompts the question, “Where do bugs go in the winter?”

Unfortunately, the most common answer is inside your home, where it’s warm, cozy, and has a readily available food supply. Here are the most common bugs that move from the outdoors into your home in the winter and what you can do to stop them.

Spiders

Spiders of varying types and sizes seek warmth in the winter, especially in crawl spaces beneath your home that are easy to access. Spider activity is generally less in the winter, but they can still create nightmares for homeowners. Keep an eye out for spider webs and destroy webs as soon as you notice them to make your home less inviting for spiders.

Ants

Ants, especially carpenter ants, love the moisture caused by winter rains, ice, and snow melt. These pests set up nests in places where wood has been exposed to winter moisture, such as firewood that you bring into your home for the cozy fireplace. To keep ants away, never leave food out in the open, and try adding some peppermint oil drops around the kitchen to deter them from food storage areas.

Ladybugs

Lady bugs may be one of the “cuter” bugs in our area, but that doesn’t mean you want them living inside your home. These insects love to find warmth in the winter to hibernate, and while they don’t do significant damage, they can secrete a fluid that stains fabrics and cause a foul odor if squished. Minor lady bug habitats can often be vacuumed up and released back into the outdoors.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches have a reputation for being able to survive anything, but they actually will die if the temperatures drop to around 15 degrees Fahrenheit. When our New Jersey winters get really cold, cockroaches look to move indoors through crawl spaces and basements. Where you see one cockroach, there are usually more hiding in the area, which is why it’s best to call an exterminator as soon as possible.

Stinkbugs

As their name suggest, the main problem with stink bugs are their terrible smell if they are stepped on or even just disturbed. These bugs crawl into cracks and holes in a home’s exterior and often go unnoticed until they are disrupted or even wait until spring to emerge.

Termites

Termites also thrive in moist areas, which is problematic in the winter if you have dense vegetation and brush around your home to attract them. It is also common for some termites to swarm in the fall, take up residence in homes in the winter, and then reproduce in the spring, which means that you could have a lot of termites on your hands next season if you don’t catch them early.

If you notice any bug activity inside your home or want to be proactive and keep them away for the winter, call Precise Termite and Pest Control at 866-971-2847 for a free inspection.

Termite Poop: The Dangers, What It Looks Like, and What to do About It

Pests can be difficult to see and track with the naked eye, but they often leave droppings behind that make their presence very obvious in a home. One such pest is the termite, an insect that eats wood and is known to destroy walls and furniture. But the droppings that termites leave behind can put your health at risk if not properly controlled by a professional.

Here is some information about termite poop and answers to common questions like “Is termite poop dangerous?”

What Does Termite Poop Look Like?

Although the droppings of a termite can vary from one species to the next, it is most commonly oval-shaped, has concave sides, and rounded ends. It may look like tiny pellets of salt and pepper, but overall, it is typically the color of the wood. It is best to have a professional exterminator help you identify what the droppings are to correctly diagnose the problem and then pursue the best solution for that type of pest.

Is Termite Poop Dangerous?

To answer the question is termite poop dangerous, research shows that termite poop is not necessarily toxic to humans. However, there are still health risks of exposure to termite poop, including skin irritations, allergic reactions, and asthma attacks. Unlike some pests, such as rats and mice, termite poop is not associated with a great risk of spreading communicable diseases. But it could make you feel sick if the termite poop enters food or water sources in your home.

Why Is Termite Poop Harmful?

In addition to these potential health risks, termite poop is harmful because it is a telltale sign that costly property damage is on the horizon. Termites are sneaky pests that often go unnoticed, but you can be more proactive about termite removal if you take action as soon as you notice termite poop.

Termite poop on a bed often means there is a termite infestation in the ceiling or roof. Termite poop on a window sill commonly means there are nests and mud tunnels nearby. If you see termite poop on the carpet or floor of your home, termites likely live in or under the floor, causing an effect that may resemble water damage.

What to Do If You Discover Termite Poop

At Precise Pest Control, we offer full-service termite inspections and removal in homes and businesses throughout northern New Jersey. Termites are our top specialty, and by calling us at the first signs of termite poop, you can save yourself thousands of dollars of property damage and reduce your risk of health problems. We look forward to helping you identify and solve termite problems in your home so that you can rest easy and save money in the long-run.

Pests to Be on the Lookout for in Your Home This Fall

It’s a fact of life in New Jersey that pests start making their way inside your home once the summer comes to an end. With cooler temperatures outside and plenty of warm and inviting homes in the area, fall is a prime time for infestations of many types of pests.

These are the top Bergen County pest control concerns for fall and what you can do to keep pests away from your home all season long.

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Best Ways to Prevent Pests in Your Garden

Preventing Garden PestOne of the best things about having your own backyard is planting a garden with beautiful plants and fresh vegetables that you can use in the kitchen. But while we’re rooting for your garden to be healthy and successful, not everyone is.

Controlling pests are a huge part of maintaining a garden, especially during the hot and muggy summer months in New Jersey. Here’s what you need to know about keeping gardening pests at bay to enjoy lovely garden and bountiful harvest all summer long.

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How to Spot Termite Damage

 

 

Termites compromise the strength and safety of your home, and unfortunately, they often go undetected for many months or even years. Termites are silent but deadly attackers that cause extensive damage and can even make your home unlivable for a significant amount of time.

To prevent extensive damage in your home, it’s important learn about the early warning signs and call a professional exterminator right away to control the situation.

Types of Termite Damage

There are many different types of termites that affect homes in our area, and each one causes distinct damage to wooden structures on your property.

For example, subterranean termites live underground in loose, damp soil and are the most common type of white ant that attacks American homes. The damage that these termites cause can resemble water damage, such as swollen or bucked floors or ceilings. You might also smell scents of mold and mildew. Subterranean termites prefer soft wood and tend to eat wood along the grain.

Another common type of damage is caused by drywood termites, which build colonies inside wooden structures in homes. These types of termites build tunnels inside walls and even furniture, so you may see cracks appear where drywood termites have taken over. Drywood termites like to eat large sections of wood and chew along and against the grain of your wood. It is very difficult to control these types of inner-wall infestations yourself, so call a professional exterminator as soon as you notice unexpected cracks in your home.

Although structural damage is the most common type of termite destruction, these invasive pests eat their way through many other important materials as well. In addition to the structural wood that your home is built with, these are some of the other household materials and areas that termites frequently cause damage to:

  • Siding
  • Plaster
  • Metal
  • Floors
  • Ceilings
  • Furniture

What to Look for in Your Home

Although termites affect homes in different ways, there are a few tell-tale signs that you should remember for future reference. Termites cause at least $5 billion in damage to American homes annually, and it’s better to be safe than sorry so that your family doesn’t end up being part of that statistic.

These are some of the most common signs of termite damage to look for:

  • Weak or missing parts of wood structures
  • Termite wings near closed windows and doors
  • Mud tubes where your house touches the ground
  • Fecal pellets outside of termite tunnels
  • Wood that sounds holly when you tap on it
  • Buckling paint and tiny holes in wood
  • The presence of live termites in your home

Bergen & Passiac County Termite Control

Spotting termites can be very difficult, especially if you haven’t dealt with an infestation before and aren’t sure what to look for. Always call a professional service you trust before trying to control a termite situation yourself. In Northern New Jersey, you can trust the experts at Precise Pest Control because we have over 25 years of experience in the pest control industry and a reputation that lives up to our name.

We specialize in all types of white ant removal, so call us today for prompt and thorough extermination to get the results that you need to ensure the safety of your family, tenants and property.

How to Pest Proof Your Home in the Winter: Bergen County, NJ

pest control bergen county

People think summer pests are terrible, but they should just wait until winter. When the temperatures drop in New Jersey, pests like insects and rodents are just like us: They head indoors. Here are some things you can do to pest-proof your home in the wintertime. Continue reading →

5 Winter Pests to Look Out For

pest control in Bergen County

Now that the winter season is here, the temperatures are starting to rapidly decline in New Jersey. Once the temperatures start to drop, unwanted pests start to try to enter your warm home. This makes pest control in New Jersey vitally important during the cold winter months. These are the five winter pests to look out for before they damage your home. If you see any signs of these pests, then make sure to check out our pest control services.

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Stinkbug Season Is Upon Us

Stink bugs can be major household pests, stealthily getting into your home through doors, seal cracks, utility pipes and other types of openings. Not only do these creepy crawlies often make homes smell unpleasant, but they also tend to gather in large groups — not exactly fun to see in your living room. Mature stinkbugs also like to consume fruit.

It’s a real stinker of a problem

Stinkbugs, true to their name, often stink. It’s no joke. Their strong odors are a means of defense. They release these smells via openings in their abdomens. When they do so, it generally means that they’re trying to protect themselves from potential predator attack — think reptiles and birds. If you try to catch a stinkbug to remove it from your residence, however, you might notice the pest giving off the odor, too. Not only are stinkbug odors yucky, but also they’re also extremely strong and persistent. They sometimes linger for a minimum of six months, which is the last thing you want in your home.

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Protect Your Home from Roaches this Summer

Cockroaches are very tough insects that can survive in virtually any type of environment. However, roaches tend to thrive in warm weather. As the summer heat approaches, your home could become the perfect habitat for a colony of roaches. Not only are these household pests extremely filthy, but they are also a major threat to your family’s health. In order to prevent cockroaches from overtaking your residence, you must take the necessary precautions. Talking to an experienced pest control service in New Jersey will not only give you options in order to successfully remove these pests from your home but will also make sure to secure any access points into your home.

Allergic Reactions

Cockroaches are known to cause allergic reactions in humans. Often times, some skin rashes actually stem from being exposed to roaches. Children are especially at risk of becoming sick due to the presence of roaches within the home. These annoying insects tend to leave feces and saliva wherever they roam. The kitchen counter-tops, bed sheets, and carpeting are all susceptible to being contaminated by cockroaches. Roaches prefer to roam in the darkness of the night, so you may not even catch them in the act.

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