Despite their pleasant-sounding name, kissing bugs have more than earned their notoriety as pests by spreading the infamous Chagas disease. Over the past several years, they have been migrating northward. Unfortunately, there are now kissing bugs in NJ, meaning that you should be prepared to fight against them. Here’s what you need to know about these dangerous insects.

Why Kissing Bugs Are Dangerous

Kissing bugs are primarily nocturnal creatures that feed on the blood of birds, reptiles, and mammals, including humans. They prefer to make their homes in cracks and holes in housing structures and outdoor areas. It’s not just their blood-sucking habits that make this pest so dangerous. Kissing bugs are known to carry the parasite trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. These parasites are normally spread when kissing bug feces gets into the wound made by a kissing bug. Chagas disease normally is mild, sometimes causing swelling around the wound. However, some cases can be quite severe and even life-threatening; they can lead to heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause sudden death through cardiac arrest.

Symptoms to look out for:

• Swelling
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Body Aches
• Eyelid swelling
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting

If you suspect that you might have Chagas disease as a result of kissing bugs, contact your doctor or medical provider immediately.

How to Protect Yourself

In order to protect your home against kissing bugs in New Jersey, you should ensure that all cracks and gaps throughout your house and in your roof are filled. Remove wood, brush, and rock piles near your house, and keep your property clean in general. Even with your own DIY preventive measures, the best way to protect you and your family is by hiring professionals who are experienced at eradicating pests with quality materials.

At ChemTec Pest Control, we offer home pest control services that have been keeping New Jersey homeowners’ properties pest-free since 1931. Contact us today for a free inspection of your home!

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Mosquitoes are infamous for their annoying ability to ruin any outdoor leisure time. Yet, it is also important to remember that these insects can present a significant health hazard to you and your family. Like other insects, mosquitos are a host for diseases harmful to humans.

Here at ChemTec Pest Control, we’ve put together a list of mosquito diseases in New Jersey that you should look out for.

New Jersey Mosquito Diseases

Here are some of the more common New Jersey mosquito diseases that may pose a risk to you:

Zika Virus

Many cases of Zika virus disease go unreported, likely due to the fact that its symptoms often only last about a week and are minor. However, a major danger is that Zika virus can lead to severe birth defects, so pregnant women are often most at risk.

Symptoms of Zika virus include fever, rashes, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.

Malaria

Possibly the most well known of all mosquito-borne diseases, malaria is responsible for millions of deaths around the world. While it’s been largely eliminated in countries with temperate climates, cases are still reported periodically in both Europe and the US.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, chills, and vomiting.

Encephalitis

This disease causes inflammation in the brain and can vary from very mild to life-threatening. Those who survive severe cases often suffer permanent damage to their nervous systems.

Symptoms of encephalitis include fever, fatigue, vomiting, drowsiness, visual sensitivity to light, and other problems.

Mosquito Disease Treatment and Prevention

Most mosquito-borne diseases have no specific treatments. If you suspect that you have a mosquito-borne infection, get plenty of fluids and rest. Make sure to also visit your doctor. In order to avoid contracting mosquito-borne diseases, wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and socks during peak mosquito activity from dusk till dawn. Perhaps, the easiest precaution, remember to use an EPA registered repellant on exposed skin before going outside during mosquito season. 

Want a guaranteed way to protect your family while enjoying summer? You can hire a professional to help mosquito-proof your home and keep your family safe. ChemTec’s home pest control services can help eliminate mosquitoes from your property so you can spend your leisure time in safety!

ChemTec: New Jersey’s Mosquito Experts

Mosquito-borne disease in New Jersey can impact your health forever. Contact ChemTec Pest Control today to learn how our mosquito extermination practices can protect your and your family’s health! Summer is a great time in New Jersey, and ChemTec’s goal is to help you enjoy it in peace!.

For additional information, check out our pest library to learn more about mosquitos.

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At ChemTec Pest Control, we’ve been leading our industry since 1931 not just by delivering safe, quality products and services but also through our customer-first approach that allows us to make a difference in the lives of our customers.

If you have never considered using green pest control, here are some reasons that could benefit you and your family!

What Is Eco-Friendly Pest Control?

There are plenty of pest control methods that provide results. However, most of these methods utilize harsh and dangerous chemicals that can linger on your property and in your soil, posing a real threat to both your family and your pets.

ChemTec Pest Control provides green pest control in NJ, with a green pest control solution that is not as harmful as the actual pest source. What do we mean? Our methods involve products that do not use any dangerous chemicals. Instead, we use naturally occurring pesticides.

What Should You Look For?

There are plenty of pest control companies that tout themselves as eco-friendly, but sometimes they simply aren’t. Fortunately, there are easy methods to tell if they are:

1. Check their official website to see if they advertise themselves as green.
2. Ask what specific products they use.
3. Ask them what their eco-friendly pest control service means to them (you’d be surprised how answers can vary!)

You’ll learn a lot about their company practices depending on their answers.

Reasons to Try Eco-Friendly Pest Control

There are plenty of reasons why you should try green pest control in NJ. Some of the best ones include:

• More effective, longer-lasting results
• No damage to your landscaping
• Won’t harm you, your family, or your pets
• Makes it harder for pests to develop resistance to treatments

ChemTec Is an Exterminator You Can Rely On

When you choose eco-friendly pest control, you are choosing a method that is both safe and works long-term. If you have questions about our green services or about our satisfaction guarantee, contact ChemTec today! You can also schedule your free inspection at your flexibility

The post Eco-Friendly Pest Control in New Jersey appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

Spring is the season where most animals and insects become much more active. This, unfortunately, means you’ll need to keep an eye out for ants in spring, as they are an incredibly common pest to deal with during this time of year.

Luckily, you have ChemTec Pest Control on your side, and we can teach you all about how to tell if you have ants in your house in spring!

Timeline of Ants in The Spring

Ants usually become more active during springtime for one of two reasons:

1. They are seeking to find a warm place that is rich with food
2. They are seeking a safe space to reproduce during their reproduction cycle

In both cases, ants are likely to find your home an attractive location. They can sneak into your home via the smallest of cracks, which is why it’s so important to be prepared beforehand. If you find ants in your house in spring, you may need to call a professional to help you get rid of the problem.

Ant Prevention

Luckily there are methods to prevent ants from entering your house that can be effective, such as:

• Sealing cracks around your home with caulk
• Keeping your house clean
• Storing all food in sealed containers
• Using ant baits

What to Do If You’ve Already Spotted Ants

If you have spotted ants in your home, then you already have more ants on the way. The first thing to do is to identify what ants you’re dealing with. Some of the most common types of ants in the spring include:

• Carpenter Ants
• Pavement Ants
• Odorous House Ants

We’ve put together an ant index that will inform you on how to identify all of the most common ants you’ll see in New Jersey so you can better know your enemy.

When to Call a Professional

There are many home remedies out there that have varying degrees of effectiveness, but if you want to be completely sure that the infestation is gone, call a professional such as ChemTec.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for your professional technician:

1. Clean your house thoroughly (vacuum, wash dishes, etc.)
2. Make sure all food is in airtight containers
3. Prepare to relay exactly where you’ve been seeing ants

After Your Pest Control Service

The best thing to do after an exterminator visit is to be patient. Don’t try to deter or kill any ants you see, and don’t use any strong cleaners around any ant bait that has been set up. Just let time work on your side.

ChemTec: An Exterminator You Can Rely On

Ants can be dangerous for your property, so you should take care of any infestation you have right away.

Contact ChemTec Pest Control to schedule a free inspection. We offer a satisfaction guarantee so you know you’ll be treated well.

The post How to Deal with Ants in The Spring appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

The last thing you want to find in your house is an uninvited pest. They make your house seem less clean and secure. Mice are among the biggest pest problems. On top of being uninvited, they can cause considerable damage to your home, along with carrying disease.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep mice out. If you already know you have them, check out how to get rid of mice fast.

Tools to consider

There are a number of things you can try yourself when working on how to get rid of mice fast. There is a wide variety of mousetraps, including humane traps, and repellant sprays you can use. Unfortunately, many of the products available from hardware stores aren’t very effective.

The most effective way to get rid of mice from your house fast is to call a professional pest control expert. They have more effective tools available, including humane and non-toxic options that are safe for your family and pets.

Keeping Mice Out Permanently

Once you have exterminated the mice in your house, the key is keeping them away. You can schedule a free pest inspection with ChemTec Pest Control to find out how to best keep mice out. This includes sealing entry points and improving the storage of food and food waste. With the help of our experts, you can make your home as uninviting to mice as possible.

Contact Us

Contact us and find out why ChemTec Pest Control is the right choice for your pest control needs. Learn more about how to get rid of mice in your house permanently!

The post How to Get Rid of Mice in Your House Fast appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

We can all agree that nobody wants pests in the house. However, there are some pests, though, that fill us with dread more than others, and cockroaches definitely fall into that category. Even the thought of having cockroaches in the house can make a home feel unclean and less like home.

Why Do I Have Cockroaches?

Having cockroaches in the house isn’t necessarily a sign of an unclean home. They are much more common than people tend to think, and they get into homes and properties for different reasons. Sure, food and unclean areas can attract cockroaches and encourage them to stay, but that doesn’t mean they only live in filthy places. Essentially, cockroaches can get just about anywhere. The key to avoiding cockroaches in your house is prevention and quality pest control from a trusted expert.

Preventing Cockroaches

Cockroaches pose a real health danger to your home and family. They can carry dangerous diseases and bacteria, and they can exacerbate allergies and conditions like asthma. To protect your family, prevention is your first line of defense. Consider utilizing some of the tips below:

• To prevent cockroaches from getting into your home, make sure cracks in outer walls and spaces around entrances are well sealed.
• Store garbage and pet food in tight, air-sealed containers.
• Inspect food containers for bugs before bringing them into the house.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Like many pests, cockroaches can be hard to get rid of, especially with store-bought treatment products. The most effective way to get rid of cockroaches and to keep them away is to call a professional. An experienced pest control expert knows where to look for cockroaches (they can be hard to find during the day) and has the professional-grade tools to get rid of them.

Contact Us

The experts at ChemTec Pest Control know how to deal with cockroaches. Our products are safe and effective. Plus, our treatment plans will help you keep all pests permanently out of your home. Contact us today to begin exterminating your home’s pests for good!

The post How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in the House and Keep Them from Coming Back appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

So you’ve found a large black or brown spider in your home. Do you wonder if you have found a brown recluse in NJ? ChemTec Pest Control has compiled some helpful information about distinguishing between the black widow spider vs. the brown recluse spider. 

Brown Recluse Spider Facts

Brown recluse spiders mostly live in the central and southern states. It’s possible to find a brown recluse in NJ, but it’s more likely you’ll find one of the many other types of brown spiders that live here.

Here’s what the brown recluse spider looks like: 

• Color: Ranges from dark brown to tan
• Size: Comparable to a quarter dollar coin
• Markings: A violin-like design on its back
• Legs: Long, thin legs without obvious spines
• Eyes: Six eyes in three groups of two

If you’re not sure, don’t look too closely, because brown recluse spiders are extremely venomous. Call either a pest control service knowledgeable about spiders or a scientist.

Description of the Black Widow Spider

Black widows can be found all over the US. Here’s what one looks like: 

• Color: shiny black or dark brown
• Body Size: 1/10 to 1/2 of an inch long
• Total Length (With Legs): About 1 1/2 inches
• Markings: Orange or red hourglass design on the belly, and (sometimes) red or red-white markings on the back

Dangers of the Black Widow Spider vs. the Brown Recluse Spider

Black widows and brown recluses don’t seek us out to attack us. They can’t even bite through clothing. They usually just look for flies and other insects to feed on. 

But a spider will bite you if it gets pressed against your skin. This can happen when you: 

• Pick up a box that has a spider on it
• Roll onto a spider in your sleep
• Put on shoes or other clothes a spider crawled into

Black widow venom can impair breathing and cause other muscular problems. Brown recluse venom can break down skin and other tissues. Bites can be painful and damaging but are usually not fatal.

Spider Elimination

If you’ve found a brown recluse in NJ or a black widow in your home, it’s important to get rid of a possible infestation. You may never be bitten, but it’s a risk, especially to smaller family members and pets. 

Schedule a no-cost, no-obligation inspection today to find out if you have dangerous spiders or other pests in your home. We’ll give you an estimate on the pest control services you’ll need. Contact ChemTec Pest Control today!

The post Brown Recluse vs. Black Widow Spiders in New Jersey appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

What are silverfish? They are a type of wingless insect that invades many homes. Specifically, silverfish in New Jersey are very common. While not dangerous to humans, they can cause damage to your belongings.  

How to Recognize Silverfish

Here’s what a silverfish looks like: 

• No wings
• Silver-grey in color
• Moves with a wiggling motion like a fish
• Back of the body tapers to a point
• 1/2 to 1 inch in length
• Long antennae
• Rear bristles

Silverfish are most active when the sun goes down. You might only notice them when you flip on the bathroom light in the middle of the night, or when they move near heat sources in the evening.

Where Do Silverfish Live?

In the wild, silverfish live in warm, damp places. That’s why in our New Jersey homes, silverfish find similar breeding grounds, staying in or near:

• Attics
• Restrooms
• Porch lights
• Laundry rooms
• Furnace rooms
• Hot water pipes
• Warm window sills
• Kitchens near the oven
• Other sources of heat and moisture

What Problems Do Silverfish Cause?

Silverfish eat materials that have starches or glues in them. This includes: 

• Silk
• Dust
• Paste
• Paper
• Cotton
• Carpet
• Leather
• Pictures
• Clothing
• Wallpaper
• Synthetic fiber
• Many other household materials

They can eat your books, pictures, tapestries, clothing, and much more. They’re a special problem if they get into a storage area. They show up a lot in new buildings, which have a lot of fresh glue and new lumber (which brings extra humidity).

How to Eliminate Silverfish

You can start to control silverfish by implementing some simple home proofing. Try these tactics: 

• Dust every surface.
• Keep everything as dry as you can.
• Clean out storage areas, including closets and cabinets.
• Check magazines and pictures occasionally and move them around.
• Patch any unnecessary holes.
• Repair drips and leaks.

What are silverfish? An insect that ChemTec can completely eliminate for your New Jersey home!. A true infestation can take several treatments from a professional pest control service to completely eliminate. 

If you want to get rid of silverfish quickly, contact ChemTec Pest Control. If you call before noon, we will perform a same day,  free home inspection.

The post Bugs Found in New Jersey Bathrooms: Silverfish appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.

Termites can quickly become a serious problem in your home if they are left untreated or are not found right away. They eat through wood at a rapid pace and multiply in large quantities, so keeping up with the rate of damage can present quite a challenge. The best course of action is to hire a professional and start termite treatment as soon as possible.

How Do I Know if I Have Termites?

Termites love damp and warm spaces, and will often move toward light, so they are commonly found around windows or doors in basements and attics, though any area of your home that contains wood is at risk. Termites are often confused with carpenter ants, which also have wings and swarm in a similar fashion. However, termites have straight antennae, a thick waist area, and wings that are the same size. Carpenter ants have narrower waists, different sized wings, and bent antennae. A termite pest control professional will be able to help you differentiate and choose the right treatment.

Other than identifying termite swarms, you may find what looks like small tubes made out of mud running up and down your foundation or joists. These are tunnels created by the termites to travel between your home and their colony. Wood that has been damaged by termites will also contain some of these mud tunnels and will be hollowed out along the grain on the inside. 

Do I Need Termite Treatment?

If you have any reason to suspect a termite infestation, seek termite treatment right away. The sooner you can evacuate these intruders, the less costly the damage will be. Termite damage may be contained to trees and shrubs and not bother you much, or it can destroy the very structure of your home. Do not wait to get termite pest control in NJ—or anywhere else!

How Long Does Termite Treatment Last?

The length of time that termite treatment will last depends on a few factors, including your environment, the type of treatment used, and how thoroughly the area was covered. Liquid termite treatments can last for up to 5 years if applied properly. If you notice more termites after treatment, they have most likely found a way around or through a spot that was missed.

Contact ChemTec Pest Control

The experts at ChemTec Pest Control will provide termite treatment for your home using the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. Contact us for more information or to set up an appointment for termite pest control in NJ.

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The holidays are quickly approaching, which means you’re going to have your hands full with extra cleaning, cooking, parties, and house guests. The last thing you need to worry about is potential uninvited guests like rodents and insects. Follow these tips right away to prevent winter infestation so you can spend the holidays entertaining and relaxing in a pest-free home.

Check for Possible Entry Points

Mice can squeeze into holes as small as a dime, and insects need even less space than that, so make sure you conduct a thorough check for any spots that may provide an opportunity for pests to enter your home. 

Seal Cracks

After you have located any crevices, cracks, vent openings, or other holes, seal them up with screens, caulk, or other material. Be sure to check around pipes that enter your home from the outside, as well as chimneys, door frames, and around windows and eaves, especially if there is wood damage.

Become Less Attractive

Pests may try to enter your home simply to escape the cold, but often they are looking for food. Don’t advertise available living space with the delicious aroma of garbage and beautiful allure of bags and boxes. Store food in airtight containers, clean up spills immediately, and clear your porch and other outside areas of any trash or debris.

Remove Wood and Branches

If you have a woodpile near your home, make sure it is at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches off the ground. Insects and rodents often look for shelter in dark or damp places, so you will also want to make sure there is no buildup of soil, mulch, or other material around the foundation of your home. You should also trim back branches of trees and shrubs so raccoons and other animals cannot use the limbs to get to your roof or attic.

Professional Treatments

Finally, the best thing you can do to be sure your home is safe from intrusive pests is to have a professional come to your home and create a personal plan of action. Experienced exterminators can locate any potential problems, as well as eliminate any current infestations. 

Contact ChemTec Pest Control

For pest control in NJ, contact ChemTec Pest Control and speak with one of our expert technicians. Our staff will assess your unique needs and help you understand all of your options before proceeding with a treatment plan. Call us for a pest-free home for the holidays!

The post Keys to a Pest-Free Home this Holiday Season appeared first on ChemTec Pest Control.