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Pest Control FAQs

 

Common pests in Upstate NY, Massachusetts and CT include a variety of insects and rodents, with specific seasonal patterns and risks:

  • Insects:

    • Ladybugs: Often invade homes in fall, causing allergic reactions and an unpleasant odor when disturbed.

    • Western Conifer Seed Bugs: Found near conifer trees; they do not bite or damage structures but can be a nuisance.

    • Stink Bugs: Emit a pungent odor when crushed; invasive and a concern for crops.

    • Ants: Various species such as carpenter ants (which can cause structural damage), citronella ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants.

    • Cockroaches: German, brown banded, and American cockroaches are common; they contaminate food and spread germs.

    • Spiders: Wolf spiders, jumping spiders, house spiders

    • Bees, Wasps, Hornets: Can pose stinging risks and allergy concerns.

    • Ticks and Centipedes: Present risks especially for allergies and bites.

    • Basement pests: Camel crickets, earwigs, springtails, and spiders thrive in dark, damp areas.

  • Rodents:

    • Rats and mice are common, especially in colder months as they seek warmth indoors. They can cause property damage and health issues.

  • Wildlife:

    • Bats and raccoons may also be present around homes.

 

Control Methods:

  1. Prevention:

    • Seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and foundations to block entry.

    • Keep shrubs and vegetation trimmed and away from the house exterior.

    • Repair torn screens and maintain door sweeps.

    • Eliminate food sources by storing food securely, cleaning up crumbs, and removing garbage frequently.

    • Fix plumbing leaks and reduce moisture to deter cockroaches and other moisture-loving pests.

    • Reduce clutter and clean regularly to minimize hiding spots for spiders and insects.

  2. Professional Pest Control:

    • For infestations, especially with ants, cockroaches, rodents, and stinging insects, professional treatment is recommended.

    • Experts like Meerkat Pest Control use targeted methods and tools to quickly identify and eliminate pests.

    • Seasonal pest control plans like Meerkat's quarterly plan can help manage recurring issues, particularly for fall invaders like ladybugs and stink bugs. It's also eco-friendly, which uses botanical oils to control pests. 

  3. Specific Advice:

    • For rodents, blocking entry points and removing attractants is key. Meerkat's Metal-X System is the #1 Exclusion System in Pest Control. It utilizes high performance metal to block rodents and insects from entering through your foundation at the sill plate.

    • For ants, sealing access points and reducing food waste are essential.

    • For spiders, regular vacuuming, reducing clutter, and sealing cracks reduce their presence.

    • For stinging insects, professional removal of nests is safest.

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Overall, combining good sanitation, home maintenance, and professional intervention by Meerkat Pest control is the most effective approach to controlling common pests in Upstate NY & NE including Albany's Capital Region, The Hudson Valley, Berkshire's, Worcester MA, Boston, MA and Hartford CT

What are common pests in the region and how to control them

 

To identify signs of pest infestation in Albany, NY homes, look for the following key indicators:

  • Droppings: Rodent droppings are the most obvious sign. Mouse droppings are small, pellet-like, similar to grains of rice, while rat droppings are larger and more oblong. These are often found near food sources, along baseboards, or in hidden places like cabinets and pantries.

  • Gnaw or chew marks: Rodents constantly gnaw to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Look for fresh or darkening chew marks on furniture, wiring, food packaging, or structural materials such as wood and drywall. Electrical wiring damage from rodents can pose fire hazards

  • Unexplained noises: Scratching, scurrying, or gnawing sounds, especially at night inside walls, ceilings, or under floors, indicate pest activity like rodents or insects

  • Foul odors: A strong, persistent, unpleasant smell may come from rodent urine or droppings. Musty odors can also indicate moisture attracting pests like termites

  • Greasy or urine trails: Rodents often leave greasy marks or urine trails on walls and baseboards where they travel regularly,

  • Changes in pet behavior: Pets may act restless, alert, or agitated if they sense pests like mice inside the homes.

  • Increased presence of spiders: Spiders inside the house may signal other insect pests are present, as spiders feed on insects.

 

These signs warrant prompt investigation and often professional pest control intervention to prevent infestation escalation and damage. If you notice any of these signs in your Albany, Boston or Harford home, consulting a local pest control service like Meerkat Pest Control can help address the problem effectively.

How to identify signs of pest infestation in your home?

 

Rodent exclusion techniques work by physically blocking all possible entry points that rodents use to invade a property, creating a barrier that prevents rats and mice from getting inside. This method involves sealing cracks, gaps, holes, vents, and other openings as small as 1/4 inch (for mice) or 1/2 inch (for rats), since rodents can squeeze through tiny spaces. Meerkat Pest Control is one of the biggest rodent exclusion companies in the United States. Meerkat is equipped to modify the habitat by eliminating harborage from tall grass and debris. Once prepped their two-man team rodent proofs every quarter inch of the home from top to bottom. When complete Meerkat removes all the mice from inside the home and re-entry has been blocked. The foundation is then sanitized and disinfected. 

 

Key aspects of rodent exclusion include:

  • Identification and sealing of entry points: Thorough inspections to find cracks, crevices, gaps around pipes, vents, doors, windows, and utility lines. These are then sealed using durable, rodent-proof materials like High Performance Metal, Critter Cloth (hardware cloth, a tough chicken wire), stainless steel mesh, copper mesh, or specialized pest-proof fabric rather than just caulks or foam, which rodents can gnaw through as a standalone barrier.

  • Installation of physical barriers: This can involve installing a metal wrap around the foundation, door sweeps, chimney caps, vent covers, mesh wire over attic openings, and sealing around plumbing or dryer vents to block access, corner posts, deck/sunroom tie-ins

  • Ongoing maintenance and monitoring: Since new gaps can develop over time, regular checks and resealing are important to maintain the exclusion barrier

  • Eco-friendly and preventative approach: Unlike traditional pest control relying on poisons or traps, exclusion focuses on prevention by eliminating access, reducing the need for chemical treatments and lowering health risks from rodent-borne diseases

  • Additional sanitation: Removing attractants such as food sources and shelters complements exclusion, making the environment less inviting for rodents

In summary, rodent exclusion is a proactive, physical barrier method in pest control that prevents infestations by denying rodents access to buildings, thus providing a sustainable, safer, and often more cost-effective solution than reactive extermination methods

How do rodent exclusion techniques work in pest control?

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