Bugs, Insects, and Arachnids (spiders)

Bugs that fly or crawl, or do both; as well as invasive Spiders have been the curse of home owners and business owners for centuries. Besides simply being an annoyance, these pests can cause damage, (sometimes substantial), and cause/spread disease. Your home and/or business may be the biggest investment you'll ever make. So if you have a Bug/Insect and/or Spider problem you'll want a company who will protect and preserve your health, livelihood, emotional well being, and property. The experts at Knockout Pest Control have been doing that all across the New York area since 1975. We follow Green Integrated Pest Management processes and stay on the cutting edge of the most effective products and techniques. Plus, ALL of our Knockout Pest Control Technicians are highly trained and experienced; continually enhancing their abilities and knowledge with our Knockout Pest Control Continuing Educational Program. Regardless if the particular Bug or Spider is listed below, you can be sure that Knockout Pest Control will KNOCKOUT ANY your Bug and Spider problems. Hey, we don't have this BIG RED boxing glove in our logo for nothing.

Ants   Asian Lady Bugs   Bed Bugs   Bees   Booklice [psocids]   Carpenter Ants   Carpenter Bees   Centipedes   Cockroaches [Brown/German/Oriental]   Crickets   Earwigs   Firebrats   Fleas   Flies   Fruit Flies   Hornets   Millipedes   Mites   Pill Bugs   Powder Post Beetles   Roaches   Silverfish   Spiders  Stink Bugs  Termites   Ticks   Wasps   Yellow Jackets   Other Insects

Ants

There are basically two types of Ants in the NY area – the SUGAR ANT and the CARPENTER ANT. Here we will be referring to the Sugar Ant, (also known as a Pavement Ant, or Kitchen Ant) that eat sugary and greasy foods. [Please see below if you want information on the CARPENTER ANT that eats WOOD.] Sugar Ants are typically light to dark brown, and some have a reddish tint and are about a tenth of an inch long. Outdoors, Sugar Ants are in their element, preferring sandy dry soils, but in their quest for a food source Sugar Ants can quickly invade a home/building. Sugar Ant colonies are usually around 500,000 so the effects of an infestation can immediately become apparent. Sugar Ants can be a tremendous nuisance through all seasons. Since Sugar Ants live underground their entry to a structure can come from the tiniest of cracks in foundations or basements.

Many people try to use readily available store bought pesticide and baiting products to attempt to address a Sugar Ant problem, however the effectiveness of these products are at best temporary. An experienced Pest Control Technician, like our Knockout Pest Control Techs, are knowledgeable in the life process or the Sugar Ant and are trained in Green and most effective methods in eradicating a Sugar Ant infestation problem. Using a series of Green baiting systems and pesticides, Knockout Peat Control interrupts the Sugar Ants pheromone trails to food sources and eliminates colonies with properly applied and environmentally baiting systems and natural pesticides. A Knockout Pest Control Technician will also go over all the ways to eliminate a Sugar Ants food source and how best to stop & deter Sugar Ants entry into a building. Sugar Ants are pesky insects and they can come from more than one colony, so if YOU think you may have a Sugar Ant problem, call Knockout Pest Control today, before they establish foraging trails into your home or place of business. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Asian Lady Bugs

The Asian Lady Bug/Beetle, if often confused with the “Common North American Ladybug” which looks very similar to one another, is very prevalent in the New York area. Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles were first detected in the Southern United States back in 1988. People thinking they were the Common Ladybug beneficial to keeping gardens free from leaf destroying insects captured these Asian Lady Bug/Beetles are released them throughout the United States. Now, there is a rapidly growing population of these Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles and they are having adverse impacts on people and the environment. Unlike the Common Ladybug, the male Asian Lady Bug/Beetle have a tendency to group in large numbers, (hundreds to thousands), on homes and structures. Many work their way into living and working spaces making human habitation annoying at the least or uninhabitable at the worst. Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles infest cracks in exterior walls, interior walls, drapes, furniture, and carpets. When disturbed or crushed these pest excrete an orange liquid that not only leaves a stain but also contains a pheromone that attracts other Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles. The most serious impact of Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles is that the males BITE, especially in the fall months. These bites can hurt; can cause an allergic reaction and Rhinochjunctivitis. [Entomologists hope more people address the Asian Lady Bug/Beetle in the US, because these Asian pests are now competing with the native Common Beetle and have recently been identified as a “hazard” to the delicate and beautiful Monarch Butterfly population.]

Knockout Pest Control Techs are experienced in the control of Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles. They will instruct home and business owners how to help prevent future infestation of Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles. Ongoing prevention and treatment is key to Asian Lady Bug/Beetle control since they exist in countless numbers in the out of doors. Repeated attempts for clusters of Asian Lady Bugs/Beetles to re-invade a structure are not uncommon. Knockout Pest Control Techs use an Integrated Pest Management system to effectively treat for Asian Lady Bugs. These include manual removal, Green Pest Management exterior pesticides, and specialized Asian Lady Bug/Beetle indoor & outdoor trapping devices. If you think you may have an Asian Lady Bug/Beetle problem, call Knockout Pest Control. We will quickly identify the insect is the beneficial Common Lady Bug or the troubling/problematic Asian Lady Bug/Beetle. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs are becoming a serious infestation problem in the New York area, as well as the rest of the United States. After almost being totally exterminated from North America, Bed Bugs have had a tremendous resurgence with reported infestations in the New York area alone rising over 70% in 2009. Bed Bug were almost eliminated by broad spectrum pesticide use; then due to the concerns about the chemicals from less discriminating pesticides being released in the environment, more specialized pesticides were developed. So, a Roach pesticide that once killed Cockroaches and also tangentially killed Bed Bugs, now only kills Roaches. Then, since the Bed Bug was almost entirely eliminated there is a lack of awareness in the general population. Now, these opportunistic parasitic Bed Bugs that feed on the blood of people while they sleep, spreading through society and are in hundreds of thousands of homes, apartments, offices, hotel rooms, nursing homes, and schools in the New York area. And that’s how they travel and spread…with you and your family. Vacation and stay at a hotel with Bed Bugs and you’re not careful…you can bring them into your home. Children bring them to and from college dorms. Or you may unsuspectingly bring Bed Bugs into your home when purchasing clothes from an infested retail store, which happened in an upscale store in NYC in 2010. Many people who have Bed Bugs don’t even know it; until the infestation problem explodes into a major problem, infesting every nook and cranny of a space.

Bed Bugs are tiny oval, flat, brownish, wingless insects approximately ¼ to 3/8 inches long and resemble a wood tick. [Check the Knockout Pest Control “Identify Your Pest” for an image.] Bed Bugs and Bat Bugs are very similar, both are parasitic and feed on blood, but their habitats differ tremendously, so an experienced and knowledgeable Knockout Pest Control Tech can make the proper pest identification and locate and treat them accordingly.

Why are treating Bed Bugs important? Besides the thought of having blood sucking bugs feeding off you and your family in what you thought was in the safety of your bed or an arm chair or sofa, many people develop rashes from Bed Bug bites. Bed Bugs are invasively infestative and are very difficult to eradicate. The most serious is that Bed Bugs, although there is CURRENTLY no evidence of Bed Bugs passing on any diseases to people, is that Bed Bugs carry more than 28, (some entomologists say as many as 40) different human pathogens/diseases. Some of the diseases Bed Bugs have been identified in carrying range the gamut from Hepatitis to the Plague. [Please note, due to the method Bed Bugs use to suck blood from human hosts, it is current expert wisdom that Bed Bugs cannot transfer the disease pathogens that they carry to people.]

If YOU think you have Bed Bugs call Knockout Pest Control IMEDIATELY! Knockout Pest Control suggests that at most YOU do a cursory inspection to identify a Bed Bug problem. Then STOP. An aggressive inspection can disturb the Bed Bugs which will move to more&other hiding places. A Knockout Pest Control Tech will conduct an inspection along with control methods, so the problem doesn’t spread while evaluating the problem. Untrained people who attempt to treat Bed Bugs themselves usually just drive Bed Bugs deeper into hiding and exasperate the problem. Knockout Pest Control will admit that the treatment/elimination of Bed Bugs is probably the most intense, detailed, and invasive process than any other pest. Our Knockout Pest Control Techs literally have an arsenal of proven techniques and products that successfully eradicate Bed Bug infestations within a space. Knockout Pest Control uses a Green Pest Management approach, innovative and state-of-the-art; that kill Bed Bugs in ALL stages of their life cycle — Adults, Nymphs, Larvae, and Eggs. Knockout Pest Control also uses the revolutionary FREEZING methods killing Bed Bugs in some of the most hard to reach places, including cracks in bed frames, electrical outlets, drawers, and electronic equipment like clock radios and computers. And Knockout Pest Control offers the HOT BAG, which will kill Bed Bugs in clothes, shoes, books, toys, handbags, backpacks, and hundreds of other items in the privacy of your own home, to effectively kill Bed Bugs, eliminating the need to pack up all your clothes and carting them off to the Dry Cleaners fro treatment; thereby saving you hundreds of dollars and avoiding the embarrassment.

Plus, Knockout Pest Control offers a INDEPENDENT K9 Bed Bug detection service. The same way dogs can search for drugs and explosives in airports, these highly trained dogs can sniff out a single Bed Bug in a room or office.

So if you suspect that you have Bed Bugs, STOP and call the Bed Bug EXPERTS from Knockout Pest Control. We WILL knockout your Bed Bug problem. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Bees

Bees, there are a wide variety of Bees in the New York area. Many people confuse Bees with Wasps and Hornets. Bees are generally less aggressive than Wasps and Hornets. Some of the species of Bees are: Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Carpenter Bees. Please see the Knockout Pest Control portion of this website to help you identify the Pest you may have. [If you have a Wasp/Hornet problem, please see below.] Bee species can be very different from one another; for instance Honey Bees are perennial with colonies that survive for more than one year, while Bumble Bees have annual colonies where the colony dies in the fall with only the newly born Queens surviving the winter. Nests and hives differ as well as possessing unique behaviors. Bees are generally a beneficial insect unless they invade into the living space of people where they can become aroused and protective. Bee stings can be harmful to people if an individual is allergic or if someone is bitten numerous times.

It is rare but there are recorded cases of people dying from a serious allergic reaction, (anaphylactic shock), to Bee stings.

Besides stinging, Bees can cause damage when nesting in structures developing honey stains that can seep through walls, and large internal nests can also deform walls. Carpenter Bees bore into wood to create nests called “galleries” where they can winter over, creating a huge colony in a few short years. But the fear of being stung is probably the biggest problem with Bee hives and nests. A large hive under an eve of a roof can fall enraging an entire colony into a stinging frenzy; a very dangerous situation for anyone in the area.

The first step if you think you have a Bee, Wasp, or Hornet problem is to call a professional like Knockout Pest Control who can quickly identify the pest and determine the best tack to take to address the problem. It may be the removal of a colony or the destruction of the Bees and nest. Not only do the experts at Knockout Pest Control know just the right methods but the best time of day to deal with the problem, how to explore and probe nests and hidden nesting places, the least invasive, most effective mechanical means of applying products, and discovering all possible points of entrance into joists, studding, and attic spaces. And only an expert, like a Knockout Pest Control Tech understands and knows how to PREVENT driving Bees further into a structure. Knockout Pest Control Techs also know how to seal holes and opening to prevent scavenger insects like Carpet Beetles from seeking out the decayed Bee nests giving the home and/or business owner a NEW pest problem. When Bees become pests they can be more than a pest, stings at the very least can be painful, and at the most deadly; if you have a Bee problem, call Knockout Pest Control, we have more than 35 years experience in pest control. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Booklice [psocids]

Although you may not know, (or maybe you do) it due the tiny size of Booklice they are very common in the New York region. Normally in nature/the outdoors, these insect pests are referred to as Barklice. These insects naturally live in the canopies of trees and the crevices of tree bark, however when these tiny, white/grayish/or translucent, wingless insects invade an indoor space they can be very destructive. Unseen these Booklice can ruin/contaminate foods stores of flour and cereals. The greatest damage is done to books and papers; destroying files, important papers, and have been known to cause considerable damage to museum collections. Unchecked and in the right environment Booklice can grown into populations of 100,000 or more.

Knockout Pest Control is very familiar with Booklice and will be able to identify the extent and which specie of Booklice is infesting an area so they can properly treat/control the pet problem. Knockout Pest Control Techs will explain all of the ways YOU can help change the conditions that are attracting the Booklice, like the removal of sources of fungus and moisture. Then the Knockout Pest Control Techs will check for areas the Booklice may be entering a structure, like cracks and window sills, and deal with those situations. Then the Knockout Pest Control Tech will apply effective pest control products and use systems that work immediately while leaving NO oily or wet film behind, and not cause any damage or discoloration to treated surfaces. Whatever pesticide product used will also have a half life of an hour or less. To effectively treat for Booklice an Integrated Pest Management Program will be suggested as well as a KO-12 ROUND plan, since in order to treat un-hatched eggs may be required. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are one of the wood destroying insects that is prevalent in the New York area. Depending on which “station” Carpenter Ants have in their colony and in what stage of development, Carpenter Ants can range in size from ¼ inch to ¾ inch long. Unless it is swarming, the Carpenter Ants most people see are wingless. They are usually blackish in color and may have grayish bands. Some Carpenter Ants also have a red or purple color in their mid section, called the thorax. The largest portion of a Carpenter Ant colony is the wingless worker Carpenter Ant. They are medium in size, about ½ inch long. Unlike Termites, [see below], Carpenter Ants DO NOT EAT WOOD, they are just as destructive as termites to wooden structures, but Carpenter Ants actually rip apart and harvest wood in their sharp mandibles for their nests, called Galleries. The results of Carpenter Ants and Termites are similar but the damage they create is very distinguishable from one another. A Knockout Pest Control Technician can quickly identify a problem merely by examining the damaged area.

The signs of a Carpenter Ant problem can be finding sawdust or wood shavings around the outside or inside the home/structure, however months can go by without any tell tale sign of a Carpenter Ant problem. Then there are the swarms of Carpenter Ants that can fly or bust from there nests in the hundreds and come pouring into a dwelling. And by then Carpenter Ants can cause damage to a building's structure from the basement to the roof's peak. That is why Carpenter Ant inspections are so important in the New York area. Many New Yorkers use the Knockout Pest Control KO-12 plan to have routine inspections and on-demand protective service ALL YEAR ROUND, usually having an annual early Spring treatment – [preferably before May 15th] - especially if the dwelling/structure is within 300 feet from an outside Carpenter Ants source. These outside colonies will continually send out “scouts”. Proper treatment and barriers can help kill these scouts keeping the structure protected from Carpenter Ant damage.

At Knockout Pest Control treatment starts with a thorough inspection in and around an entire building's structure from the bottom up. Our highly trained and experienced Pest Control Techs know the areas to search, such as inside hard to reach, such as inside walls and ceiling voids.

The goal of the inspection is to find the colony/colonies, which is the key to Carpenter Ant control, because there may be more than one colony in a structure. Many times Carpenter Ants establish “satellite” colonies as they crawl through walls and wooden rafters. It takes experience to locate both main and satellite nests.

After locating all of the colonies in a structure, Knockout Pest Control Technicians drill tiny holes to introduce just the right amount of odorless low toxicity chemicals into the voids to effectively treat and eliminate the Carpenter Ants and their colonies. Colonies can have as many as 40,000 ants and satellite colonies can be close to 4,000 ants. In short order, tens of thousands of Carpenter Ants can rip through the wood in a structure causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage and destruction.

If you think YOU may have a Carpenter Ant issue in or around YOUR home or place of business, call Knockout Pest Control for an inspection and possible treatment. Don't delay; you should have an inspection/treatment today! And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Carpenter Bees

Although Carpenter Bees are prevalent in the New York area and although they a wood destroying insect they are not as prevalent and as devastatingly and generally destructive to a structure in scope as the Termite and Carpenter Ant. Like Carpenter Ants, Carpenter Bees do not eat wood, but bore small almost perfectly round ¼ inch holes creating tunnels to lay eggs. Carpenter Bees prefer soft wood, almost exclusively new unpainted exposed wood, and are usually seen in areas of new wooden construction, or unpainted outdoor furniture and/or outdoor decking. Carpenter Bees closely resemble Bumble Bees, so without seeing where either of these two Bee types are nesting, only a trained expert, like a Knockout Pest Control Tech can properly identify the Pest in order to properly treat/control the pest problem. Carpenter Bees unchecked can cause serious problems if not addressed over a period of time. Carpenter Bees especially the male can be very aggressive, but since the male lacks a stinger, the most the male can be is extremely annoying when directly interacting with people. However, if someone cannot identify if the Carpenter Bee is male or female when the Bee is agitated, (which is almost everybody), can result in a Bee sting.

A Knockout Pest Control Tech, can quickly evaluate the Bee problem and using the appropriate treatments of a pesticide dust and/or liquid into the Carpenter Bee entrance holes and tunnels. Then the Knockout Pest Control Tech will explain how to deter/discourage future Carpenter Bee problems by eliminating food sources, closing garage doors that may be exposing raw/unpainted wood framing, as well as sealing Carpenter Bee holes/tunnels to prevent a re-infestation of other Carpenter Bees. So if you think you have a Carpenter Bee problem, call Knockout Pest Control, we’ll solve your Bee problems, whatever they are. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Centipedes

These bugs aren't bugs at all. Centipedes and Millipedes aren't insects but are “arthropods” a relative to insects. Bugs have 6 legs, while Centipedes have 30 long legs and Millipedes have 400 short legs. Overall Centipedes and Millipedes do not cause any damage to homes, furniture, food, or clothes. Their preferred habitat is not the indoors but the moist decaying leaf matter of the outdoors. It is heavy rains or cold weather that can drive these arthropods indoors, usually into basements, entering from ground level windows and under doors. People usually see Centipedes and Millipedes indoors in the spring when they are seeking the outdoors, and may have…gotten misdirected to the exit. It should also be pointed out that Millipedes normally eat decaying organic matter, while Centipedes eat small living creatures like tiny insects, small spiders, and…Millipedes. So it shouldn't be a total surprise to learn that Centipedes have been known to bite people when handled. In the event of a Centipede bite, some swelling should be expected due to the reaction from the small amount of toxin in the jaws of the Centipede. Bites have been known to be painful.

Knockout Pest Control Techs know how to treat for these Arthropods. Techs know the best times to treat the outside foundation of a structure and when and what is best to use for indoor pest control. Knockout Pest Control is acutely aware of the benefits of Centipedes and Millipedes in the outdoor environment, and as a Green Pest Control Service takes every effort to assure that these creatures remain outdoors and not in your home or place of business. If YOU have a Centipede or Millipede problem call the experts in Green Pest Management, we look after you and the environment. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Cockroaches [Brown/German/Oriental]

There are four kinds of Roaches that can infest homes and businesses in the New York area. They are the German Cockroach, the Brownbanded Cockroach, the American Cockroach, and the Oriental Cockroach. There is a fifth roach called the Pennsylvania Cockroach, but these are an outdoor species of roach that do not reproduce indoors. If a Pennsylvania roach is indoors there is probably only that one who flew…yes flew in, by accident. However, if you have any of the other four types of roaches, odds are that at a minimum you have dozens if not hundreds.

Besides the obvious repulsion from simply seeing roaches, however a roach problem/infestation presents a very serious public health issue. Roaches carry a host of human pathogens/diseases like E. Coli and Salmonella which can be deadly diseases resulting in food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, and serious dehydration, and there are records of these diseases resulting in death to small children or infirmed elderly people. The feces, urine, and casings of roaches have also been known to cause allergies, asthma, and skin irritations. Roaches can stain surfaces and produce a disagreeable odor.

Properly identifying the pest as a Roach is important, because there are many insects that look similar to the Cockroach. In general, a Cockroach has a flattened body, oval in shape, with antennae about as long as it's body, and has a head that is turned downward and hidden when looking at one from above. Although most Cockroaches have wings, only a few species fly. Depending on the type of Roach their “favorite” dwelling places differ. Some like it warm and moist and others seek cool dry spaces. Roaches are nocturnal, so if you see one in the daytime/lighted room…you probably have hundreds…if not more. Roaches are scavenger eaters, and can survive on just about anything – from garbage, to paper and the glue in book bindings to electronic wire casings and even soap. A general rule about most Roaches regardless of the differing climatic conditions they may prefer, Cockroaches tend to group together and spend most of their time in cracks and narrow tight spaces where surfaces touch them on both sides of the Cockroaches body. This is why Cockroaches usually travel along corner and surface edges.

Most Cockroaches are introduced to a home or business through packages that have Roaches within them. Roaches love paper and corrugated cardboard boxes. Even if you inspect packages and luggage for Cockroaches you may miss their egg capsules, so before you know it…YOU have a Cockroach pest problem, if not a full blown infestation.

If you think that YOU may have a Cockroach problem call Knockout Pest Control. The treatment/control of Cockroaches has been one of our specialties since our company was founded back in 1975. Our Green Pest Management approach is a fully Integrated Pest Management approach, dealing with Identification, Inspection, Addressing Sanitation Issues, Manual Harborage Reduction & Physical Removal of Roaches and Egg Cases, the Possible Use of Pesticides, the Introduction of INCONSPICUOUS Baiting Products, and Alternative GREEN Methodologies like Freezing Techniques that are extremely effective when treating electronics like: Computers, Clock Radios, Stereo Equipment, Cash Registers, Electric Motors, and even many delicate Electronic Medical Devices & Monitors, to name only a few.

A Knockout Pest Control Tech knows how to best treat for YOUR particular Cockroach situation and in a variety of environments, homes, apartments, kitchens, bathrooms, restaurants, office buildings, warehouses, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hotels…etc. We are the area'…region's leading Cockroach Pest Management Service. If YOU think you have a Cockroach issue call us today…we'll be there to remedy your Roach problem FAST! And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Crickets

Crickets are a common outdoor insect in the New York area. Related to the grasshopper, there are a variety of Crickets. There is common Field Cricket, known for its famous chirping sound, the Camel Cricket with its huge hump backed shape, and the yellowish brown House Cricket. These three insects, although all Crickets, require different living environments and food sources. Some Crickets find their way into a home or other buildings where they can quickly turn into a pest.

Field Crickets can multiply and feed on fabrics, like silk, cotton, wool, and linens. Camel Crickets prefer cool damp places like basements and dark areas, like inner wall spaces and feed on paper products. Camel Crickets are hearty multipliers and although most die by winter their numbers can become formidable for short durations during late summer and early fall. Similar to the field Cricket in preferences the House Cricket is attracted to light and feeds on fabric, but is much more reproductive than the Field Cricket. House Crickets can cause a great deal of damage, especially if they become numerous.

If you suspect that YOU have a Cricket problem, call Knockout Pest Control. Our Knockout Pest Control Tech will be able to identify the type of Cricket you may have and address the problem accordingly. In most cases the problem is more of a noise nuisance more than causing actual damages to personal and business property, but there are many cases where infestation problems are extreme, or the sheer numbers of Crickets is affecting the acceptable quality of life of a home or business owner. Using an Integrated Pest Management approach, the Knockout Pest Control Tech will utilize manual, non-chemical, and chemical methods to eliminate the Cricket problem. The Knockout Pest Control Tech will also identity the Crickets points of entry into a structure and either help seal and address problem areas and/or make suggestions to the home or business owner how to prevent Crickets from entering a structure in the future. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Earwigs

These long beetle like bugs are common in the New York Area. Not common in residential or commercial structures, most people may mistake an Earwig for a Cockroach. One of the scary features of an Earwig is the long set of forcep like pincers, called cerci, in the distal end of the Earwig. These are used to capture prey and defense. Earwigs eat mostly plants and other insects but seem to eat more plants than bugs. Earwigs are nocturnal and generally live and travel in groups.

During times when food is in short supply Earwigs may enter a building through a crack or fissure. It is an “old wives tale” that gave this insect its name; it being said that: Earwigs crawled into the ears of sleeping people and using its pincers chomped its way into the unsuspecting sleeping person brain. Not true! Although Earwigs have those scary rear pincers, they are harmless to both people and property. Earwigs are simply generally just a disgusting and scary looking bug. And since they travel in groups it is likely if you have one you have more. There have been cases of seriously large Earwig colony infestations in building with ground basement windows and excess exterior plant debris around a structures foundation. Some people, with a lesser Earwig problem have also complained of the insect causing damage to house plants.

If YOU think that you have an Earwig problem in your residential or commercial space, call Knockout Pest Control. Our Knockout Pest Control Technician will help you identify if it is indeed an Earwig or a Cockroach problem. Either way, utilizing a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management Control process, our techs will locate the problem areas; and both manually and chemically treat the affected areas. If the problem calls for it, the Tech may discuss a treatment to create a barrier around the perimeter of a structure. The Tech will also address and/or discuss the various points of entry that Earwigs and other crawling insect may have into your building, so that you might avoid a similar bug infestation problem in the future. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Firebrats

Firebrats are an insect that looks very similar to a Silverfish, but slightly larger. They are both wingless, tapered on both ends, and present long antenna and three long tail bristles, but their habitat preferences differ. Silverfish like damp moderate environments while Firebrats like moist and hot environments. Both move very fast.

Firebrats can usually be found in boiler rooms and furnace spaces and, but can also be found in just about any room traveling along water and heating pipes, and often they can be found behind ovens. A perfect environment for a Firebrat is a commercial bakery. Firebrats are known to eat flour, sugar, wallpaper pastes, cotton, wool, and silk, and consume paper. Although generally no known to be a harmful or destructive pest, the Firebrat whisks along at great speed and its appearance often scares occupants of a home or other building.

If YOU think you have a problem with Firebrats creating a nuisance or causing damage in your residential or commercial property, call an expert pest control technician from Knockout Pest Control. A highly trained Knockout Pest Control Tech will know where to look for the hiding places of Firebrats and correctly identify if your pests are Firebrats or Silverfish and initiate the proper remedy using an Integrated Pest Management approach that will target and control the pest problem without any negative impact to your home/business, family/staff and environment. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Fleas

Fleas are especially prevalent in the New York area in the months of June through October, but they can persist indoors especially if there is a host for fleas to feed upon. Adult Fleas are insects that are a dark shinny brownish color, about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long, that are sort of flattened laterally, wingless, and with hard bodies that make them very difficult to crush. Fleas have only rear legs that are very large for its size. It allows the Flea to jump great distances for its tiny size. A Flea can travel anywhere from a distance from seven to thirteen inches in one jump. Fleas primarily feed by sucking the blood of animals with its specialized piercing mouthparts, which makes them parasitic insects and therefore harmful and disease carriers. Outdoors Fleas host on rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, foxes and other warm blooded animals. A flea lays about 20 eggs per day, in the out of doors in sandy soil. When the larvae mature they remain in a cocoon until they detect vibration or pressure and jump onto their new host.

It is when Fleas invade the environment of people and pets are when the issue becomes more serious. Fleas are not only a nuisance to people and pets causing allergic dermatitis, resulting in secondary infections, and in some cases anemia. Fleas also carry Tapeworms that can infest dogs and cats and in some cases have appeared in young children. It is known that Fleas transmit diseases from rodents/rats. It was the Flea that was responsible for transmitting the Plague from rodent to rodent and then rodent to people that killed 10 million people in Europe in the Middle Ages and another 10 million in India in the 1890s. Although Fleas are considered by most as just a pest to Dogs and Cats, Fleas bite people as well and often. They are much more than an annoyance but can pose a serious health risk to people and pets.

If YOU think you have a Flea problem in your home or place of business, you should call Knockout Pest Control right away. Controlling a Flea problem requires a simultaneous coordinated effort of identification, inspection, evaluation, manual removal and control, sanitation, the use of targeted biologicals, and chemical controls; all implemented using a Green Pest Management program targeting the Fleas in all stages, while causing no negative impact to people, pets, or the environment. Plus Knockout Pest Control offers the latest in breakthrough technologies like CRYONITE that even further reduce the use of chemical treatments. And we’ll discuss how you can prevent a recurrence of your Flea problem. If you want a Pest Control Company with the knowhow, a proven track record for effectiveness, rapid response time, and using the Greenest methods and products; the choice is clear — Knockout Pest Control. You, your family, and your pets deserve it. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Flies

There are billions of Flies in the New York area; and dozens of different species of fly can be found in residences and places of business throughout the year, some are seasonal, however because in general Flies are attracted to decaying garbage and human and animal WASTE. Flies are well know carriers of FILTH related diseases — such resulting in cases of mild to serious diarrhea and dysentery. There are Fly varieties that don't bite and those that do; many Flies vomit/regurgitate liquid from their stomachs onto food sources to in order digest and suck it up. Flies leave feces over a variety of surfaces including clothes and food. Flies lay eggs in feces-cakes placed in a variety of places including the hair of animals as well as in the decaying flesh of dead creatures, or even in open wound or sores of people, often in hospitals or nursing homes. Sanitation is important and the most effective measure to control Fly infestation. Removing food sources and orders goes a long way in deterring Flies.

A Knockout Pest Control Tech is knowledgeable in the proper identification of the type of Fly, treatment of, and control of Flies. With literally an arsenal of products and devises, a Knockout Pest Control expert can quickly turn around even the most severe Fly infestations — regardless of the size of the space involved; be it a room or a warehouse. The right products used and techniques applied can quickly reduce and eventually eliminate the existing Fly infestation problem effectively. As with all potentially chronic pest problems, a Knockout Pest Control Tech will explain ALL of the Integrated Pest Management techniques available to maintain ongoing long term Fly control. It is Knockout Pest Control's successful track record in Fly and Cockroach Pest Control that has made and keep us a LEADER in pest control throughout the New York and Long Island restaurant industry. If you have a Fly problem, in a home, place of business, hospital, nursing home, in stable space, or barn…year round or seasonal…Knockout Pest Control will solve your pest problem. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Fruit Flies

Fruit Flies are a very common pest in the New York area. These tiny insects are only 1/8 of an inch fully grown. The Fruit Fly has red eyes and its front portion is tan colored and the back body section is black. Although most noticeable in the summer and fall months, where their food supply of rotting fruit and vegetables are most common, Fruit Flies are an all year insect, present wherever foods and fruit are allowed to rot and ferment. Fruit Flies have a very short life cycle — around a week. However, they are prolific reproducers. In the brief couple of days in its adult stage, a single Fruit Fly can lay over 500 eggs. Fruit Flies have such short life spans and reproduce so quickly many research faculties use them to study genetics.

However, when Fruit Files enter the confines of a home, restaurant, grocery, supermarket, food processing plant, food distribution warehouse or wherever food may be overly ripening or decaying, Fruit Flies can quickly become an enormous infestation problem. Fruit Flies lay their eggs on the decaying food and within its extremely short life cycle hundreds of additional Fruit Flies will emerge. Fruit Flies can also lay their eggs in sink or floor drains, mops, garbage disposals, empty bottles, and trash containers. Although mostly a nuisance pest, Fruit Flies have the potential to contaminate fresh foods with bacteria and other disease producing organisms. To some it is a frightening ordeal where in only two weeks time, under their ideal environmental conditions, a few Fruit Flies can quickly evolve into a serious infestation problem of one million…and growing. With Fruit Flies, time is definitely NOT on your side.

So if YOU think you may have even a small Fruit Fly problem, do not hesitate, call the pros at Knockout Pest Control now. As part of Knockout Pest Controls comprehensive Integrated Green Pest Management program, the pest will be identified, and all existing and potential breeding areas will be located and eliminated. Unless these areas are removed or conditions addressed the problems will continue. Using a series of effective measures including targeted pesticides and possibly Fruit Fly traps will be deployed. It is important to remember that Knockout Pest Control always follows the five steps of Green Pest Management — assessment, treatment, and maintenance programs that are both Earth friendly and target and control pests without any negative impact to homes, businesses, people, or the environment. And our expert Knockout Pest Control Tech will review all the possible prevention techniques to avoid future infestation problems AND some insights to the Fruit Flies biology and behavior so the home and business owner can be made aware of any unexpected problems, especially if the homeowner may have canned fruits & vegetables or the business packages produce for sale. It is important that YOU speak to a qualified professional who has the answers to all of your questions and solutions to all your pest control problems — a Knockout Pest Control Technician. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Hornets / Wasps / Yellow Jackets

The term Hornet is for generalized insect identification classification purposes can basically refer to the same social Wasp groups as: Paper Wasps, Bald Faced Hornets, German Wasps, and Yellow Jackets, to name a few. All are prevalent in the New York area, have unique identifying markings characteristics, come in a variety of sizes, utilize a range of nesting habits and hive building. Some make distinct paper hives, others out of mud, and some prefer living in hollows of trees. But all of them sting. More than not Hornets/Wasps live in a protective colony and have a behavior more likely to take flight than fight, but some like the Yellow Jacket are a little more aggressive can sting people even when not being threatened. Unlike Bee stings, stings from Hornets/Wasps can sting multiple times. Stingers are both painful and they deliver venom into the skin. One wasp sting can create swelling, hives, and nausea to someone who is allergic to the venom. People who are more sensitive can suffer worse reactions, and if stung multiple times can have life threatening reactions, with stomach cramping, unconsciousness, and difficulty breathing. Some people experience a reaction called Anaphylaxis. Blood pressure drops, fluids build in the lungs, there is swelling of the throat, and without immediate medical care a person can die of shock.

Hornets, Wasps, and Yellow Jackets become even more dangerous when they invade structures and build hives/nests in places excessively close to where people live, work, or play. Hives on building walls, roof overhangs, window ledges, near doorways, in and around HVAC vents, near doorways, or in interior spaces like attics in homes or ceiling of factories or warehouses are a potential for disaster. It will be inevitable that the mere activity of people and related machinery noises and vibrations will disturb and provoke a few or many Wasps/Hornets to sting someone.

If YOU think you have a Wasp/Hornet/Yellow Jacket of any type of Wasp problem — including a Non-Social Wasp problem, like the solitary MUD DAUBERS or CICADA KILLER Wasps, then you need to call Knockout Pest Control. Our Certified Techs will quickly identify your pest as a Wasps or Bees, (Honey & Bumble Bee Hives can be taken away and relocated while Wasp Hive/Nest must be eliminated), and address the problem quickly and appropriately. Knockout Pest Control Techs are trained to handle all of the different varieties of Wasps and are aware of all the precautions necessary for their removal/elimination. Our Techs have the knowhow, experience, and equipment to safely reach the most difficult areas and all out Techs are insured so all you have to think about is how great it's going to be without the fear of anyone getting stung anymore. You can rest assured that all of Knockout Pest Control Techs are trained to be stewards of the environment, highly trained professionals, committed to excellence and the highest performance standards. That's why Knockout Pest Control is one of the few companies that have earned the designation of being a Quality Pro and Quality Pro Green company from the National Pest Management Association. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Millipedes

These bugs aren't bugs at all. Centipedes and Millipedes aren't insects but are “arthropods” a relative to insects. Bugs have 6 legs, while Centipedes have 30 long legs and Millipedes have 400 short legs. Overall Centipedes and Millipedes do not cause any damage to homes, furniture, food, or clothes. Their preferred habitat is not the indoors but the moist decaying leaf matter of the outdoors. It is heavy rains or cold weather that can drive these arthropods indoors, usually into basements, entering from ground level windows and under doors. People usually see Centipedes and Millipedes indoors in the spring when they are seeking the outdoors, and may have…gotten misdirected to the exit. It should also be pointed out that Millipedes normally eat decaying organic matter, while Centipedes eat small living creatures like tiny insects, small spiders, and…Millipedes. So it shouldn't be a total surprise to learn that Centipedes have been known to bite people when handled. In the event of a Centipede bite, some swelling should be expected due to the reaction from the small amount of toxin in the jaws of the Centipede. Bites have been known to be painful.

Knockout Pest Control Techs know how to treat for these Arthropods. Techs know the best times to treat the outside foundation of a structure and when and what is best to use for indoor pest control. Knockout Pest Control is acutely aware of the benefits of Centipedes and Millipedes in the outdoor environment, and as a Green Pest Control Service takes every effort to assure that these creatures remain outdoors and not in your home or place of business. If YOU have a Centipede or Millipede problem call the experts in Green Pest Management, we look after you and the environment. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Mites

There are many types of Mites in the New York area, but here we are only referring to Mites that bite, (not Dust or Plant Mites). These Mites are the Bird Mites, the Rodent Mites, and Raccoon Mites to name a few. Mites are not insects, but are actually Arachnids (Spiders/Ticks. Mites are parasites, feeding off of the blood, (or skin), from a warm blooded host animal. Mites are extremely tiny. Some larger species of fully grown adult Mites are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence; the smaller types can only be seen with a magnifying glass. About a full third of a Mite is its front gripping legs and it biting jaws, (mouthpiece). Mites are fast reproducers and their offspring are 95% female. With a good food source a few can multiply into thousands very quickly. Mites can be very hearty survivors, withstanding great extremes in environment. Mites can adapt to temperatures from — 4° below zero F, and as high as 125° F. Mites can also go without feedings for extended periods of time, almost completely shutting down their metabolism until conditions become more favorable are a host becomes available.

Mites are more than annoying, because as with most parasites, Mites carry and transmit disease throughout the bird and animal communities, both wild and domestic. Mites have been known to create serious problem to chicken farmers and people who keep fowl, pigeons, or parakeets as pets.

However, when Mites invade human spaces where people live, sleep, and work the problem can be more than an annoyance, but can exacerbate left unchecked and can impact the health and wellbeing of people. Mites can spread from one host to another and in short order every member of your family, (including pets — dogs, cats, etc.), and the people you work with or come in contact with can become hosts to Mites.

If YOU think you have a Mite problem then can Knockout Pest Control. We're experts. We can analyze and identify evidence of Mite infestation. We can also identify which one of the tiny parasites you may be dealing with…AND, in some cases we might suggest that you, your family, or staff should visit a physician to be checked out and maybe medically treated for Scabies Mites…and maybe suggest that you take your pet to a veterinarian to check for a Mite skin condition that resembles Mange. Mites can be very difficult pest to eradicate; it takes the professional knowhow and expertise of a Knockout Pest Control Certified Pest Control Technician. We always take a comprehensive Intergraded Green Pest Management non-chemical & chemical approach to Mite infestation problems, starting with an exhausting inspection to find locations and sources of invading Mites. Knockout Pest Control has the equipment and training to eliminate a broad base of Mite infestations, including those who have built up resistances to certain pesticides. If you want to ride your home or place of business from biting Mites call the champions of the Pest Control Industry — Knockout Pest Control, we'll KNOCKOUT your pest problem. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Pill Bugs

Pill Bugs, also known as Sowbugs are very common in the New York area. They aren't really bugs/insects at all, actually they are more a crustacean, like a crayfish or a shrimp. But unlike crayfish & shrimp they live totally on land, however they do like moist environments. Pill Bus are about ¼ to ½ inch long and are dark slate grey in color. Pill Bugs are oval in shape. One of the most recognizable feature of a Pill Bug is that they roll up into a tight ball when disturbed. Many people refer to Pill Bugs as “Roly Polies” because of this trait. Pill Bugs feed on decaying wood. The do not bite. They do not sting. They do not eat fabric. They are not known carries of any pathogen that is harmful to people or pets.

When Pill Bugs enter a structure, they usually do so and remain in basement areas. A Pill Bug problem can be because of the numbers that can invade an area. They are more of a nuisance than a significant problem.

If YOU have a Pill Bug problem, call Knockout Pest Control. Out Knockout Pest Control Techs can quickly size up the level of infestation and quickly address/treat the problem. The Tech will also discuss with the home/business owner the possible access points into the structure and ways to address the problem, in order to avoid re-infestations. Although Pill Bugs generally do no damage, they demonstrate that there is access from the outside, and since Pill Bugs can be a good food source to other Pests , like Centipedes and Mice, therefore their presence can attract other pests that can cause damage and do harm. It is basic preventative knowledge like this that makes Knockout Pest Control “the” Knockout Champion in the Pest Control Industry. We help our customers treat a pest problem before it becomes a PEST PROBLEM! And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Powder Post Beetles

Powder Post Beetles are one of two primary wood boring beetles in the New York Area, the other being the Twig/Branch Borer (sometimes referred to as “false powder post beetles”). Although both are different in appearance and size, ¾ inch and the other ¼ inch, they are both are typically similar in biology and behavior. Powder Post Beetles lay their eggs in cracks and crevices of wood, or in small holes made by female Powder Post Beetles. The larvae that hatch burrow deeper into the wood. As the Powder Post Beetle tunnels through feeding on the wood, it eventually tunnels it way out emerging as an adult Powder Post Beetle. As the adults leave the holes they mate and the cycle repeats.

When Powder Post Beetles are within a structure, the damage is slow, but it may require the examination of an expert, like a Knockout Pest Control Tech to fully evaluate the activity, extent, and severity of the problem AND to confirm the identity of the insect making sure it isn't another more ferocious wood destroying pest like Termites or Carpenter Ants.

If YOU think that you have a Powder Post Beetle, or any wood boring beetle problem in your home or place of business, contact Knockout Pest Control. Our Certified Pest Control Techs can quickly identify the pest and their tell tale signs. The Tech will review all of the traditional and innovative options available and then undertake a comprehensive Integrated Green Pest Management approach to deal with your Powder Post Beetle problem. Then our Tech will review the issues regarding prevention of future issues with Powder Post Beetle infestations. You can always count on the knowledgeable, highly trained, experienced Pest Control Techs from Knockout Pest Control to properly address any of your pest control/management issues. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Roaches

There are four kinds of Roaches that can infest homes and businesses in the New York area. They are the German Cockroach, the Brownbanded Cockroach, the American Cockroach, and the Oriental Cockroach. There is a fifth roach called the Pennsylvania Cockroach, but these are an outdoor species of roach that do not reproduce indoors. If a Pennsylvania roach is indoors there is probably only that one who flew…yes flew in, by accident. However, if you have any of the other four types of roaches, odds are that at a minimum you have dozens if not hundreds.

Besides the obvious repulsion from simply seeing roaches, however a roach problem/infestation presents a very serious public health issue. Roaches carry a host of human pathogens/diseases like E. Coli and Salmonella which can be deadly diseases resulting in food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, and serious dehydration, and there are records of these diseases resulting in death to small children or infirmed elderly people. The feces, urine, and casings of roaches have also been known to cause allergies, asthma, and skin irritations. Roaches can stain surfaces and produce a disagreeable odor.

Properly identifying the pest as a Roach is important, because there are many insects that look similar to the Cockroach. In general, a Cockroach has a flattened body, oval in shape, with antennae about as long as it's body, and has a head that is turned downward and hidden when looking at one from above. Although most Cockroaches have wings, only a few species fly. Depending on the type of Roach their “favorite” dwelling places differ. Some like it warm and moist and others seek cool dry spaces. Roaches are nocturnal, so if you see one in the daytime/lighted room…you probably have hundreds…if not more. Roaches are scavenger eaters, and can survive on just about anything – from garbage, to paper and the glue in book bindings to electronic wire casings and even soap. A general rule about most Roaches regardless of the differing climatic conditions they may prefer, Cockroaches tend to group together and spend most of their time in cracks and narrow tight spaces where surfaces touch them on both sides of the Cockroaches body. This is why Cockroaches usually travel along corner and surface edges.

Most Cockroaches are introduced to a home or business through packages that have Roaches within them. Roaches love paper and corrugated cardboard boxes. Even if you inspect packages and luggage for Cockroaches you may miss their egg capsules, so before you know it…YOU have a Cockroach pest problem, if not a full blown infestation.

If you think that YOU may have a Cockroach problem call Knockout Pest Control. The treatment/control of Cockroaches has been one of our specialties since our company was founded back in 1975. Our Green Pest Management approach is a fully Integrated Pest Management approach, dealing with Identification, Inspection, Addressing Sanitation Issues, Manual Harborage Reduction & Physical Removal of Roaches and Egg Cases, the Possible Use of Pesticides, the Introduction of INCONSPICUOUS Baiting Products, and Alternative GREEN Methodologies like Freezing Techniques that are extremely effective when treating electronics like: Computers, Clock Radios, Stereo Equipment, Cash Registers, Electric Motors, and even many delicate Electronic Medical Devices & Monitors, to name only a few.

A Knockout Pest Control Tech knows how to best treat for YOUR particular Cockroach situation and in a variety of environments, homes, apartments, kitchens, bathrooms, restaurants, office buildings, warehouses, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hotels…etc. We are the area'…region's leading Cockroach Pest Management Service. If YOU think you have a Cockroach issue call us today…we'll be there to remedy your Roach problem FAST! And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Silverfish

Silverfish are glossy silver colored wingless insects with long antennae and three long tail bristles. They are called Silverfish because of the silvery scales. Silverfish are very active at night. They prefer a dark, cool, damp environment. Silverfish are general feeders and can go months without feeding.

Silverfish are often introduced into a building within boxes of materials that have been stored in an infested area or have been known to work their way into a building’s squeezing under an unsheathed wooden shingle exterior wall. Once indoors they move extremely quickly in search of food. Once a food source is found they usually stay close to it. Silverfish eat flour, cereals, wallpaper, wallpaper paste, and book bindings. They also chew holes in natural fibers even though they cannot digest them. A trained professional can recognize the damage done by Silverfish by the irregular feeding marks they make and by the yellowish feces stain they leave behind. Many people see a Silverfish in a bathtub or sink, because the Silverfish entered there seeking the moisture but was unable to climb back up the slick tub or sink surface trapping it there. Despite the common rumors, Silverfish do not come up plumbing drains. Silverfish can be found hiding in basements, kitchens, cupboards, bookcases, behind baseboards, and in floor and wall voids. A favorite hiding place is in walls and ceiling spaces with old blown in paper insulation.

If YOU think that you may have a problem with Silverfish, call Knockout Pest Control. Our highly trained and knowledgeable Pest Control Technicians will identify the insect and evaluate the severity of the infestation. Using Integrated Green Pest Management practices and methods for effective Silverfish control, the Technician may physically remove insects from their harborages and will utilize the necessary exterior and interior pesticides deep into unseen unexposed areas. And as always when we are targeting the pest we do so focused on doing it without any negative impact to your home, family, business, staff, or the environment. It takes experts like Knockout Pest Control to effectively deal with a Silverfish infestation problem fully and effectively as we can. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Spiders

Spiders are not insects, they're Arachnids, and they are very common in the New York area. Most Spiders are small, inconspicuous eight legged creatures that play an important role in keeping insect populations in check. There are literally hundreds of types of Spiders and only a small few in the New York area pose any threat to people and pets. However some can bite and the bite of some species of Spider can cause health problems. The most common Spider complaints have to do with issues of their WEBS and cleanliness, and more commonly a fear of Spiders — a PHOBIA to Spiders called Arachnophobia is the most severe of fears of Spiders.

Signs of Spiders in a residence or place of business is more of a bulletin that the home or commercial space has other insect issues. If Spiders can live within a structure, then there has to be a food source, therefore you probably have more than just a Spider problem, but another pest that the Spiders are feeding upon. Like many of the inspections a Knockout Pest Control Tech makes, there are often secondary problems that are tied into a “food chain” of pests and/or conditions that allow and/or exasperate a pest problem.

If YOU think you have a Spider problem, then call Knockout Pest Control. Our experienced and highly trained, Certified Pest Control Techs will identify the Spider, and proceed with a comprehensive approach to the treatment/elimination of the problem and associated conditions, removal of webs and nests, using manual and chemical means always utilizing a Green Pest Management Approach to assure that we only target the pests without any negative impact to your home/business, family/staff, and the environment. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Brown Stink Bugs

The “Stink Bug”, the brown variety, is a relatively new pest insect to the New York area. As many pests, it was “accidentally” introduced to the American continent back in the late 1990’s, in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Stink Bug, (Halyomorphia Halys), is a pest from Asia. It is a serious pest to fruit trees, vegetables, and farm crops. Stink bugs are approximately ½ inch to one inch long and have a brown shield shape, fly, and deep red eyes. The name “Stink Bug” refers to the scent glands located on the dorsal side of the insect’s abdomen and underside of the thorax. When crushed, Stick Bugs, emit an unpleasant odor. Stink bugs are rapidly becoming a nuisance insect in the New York area, especially in the outlying areas of NYC, and are more prevalent on Long Island, in Westchester, and Rockland counties. Stink bugs enter a home, apartment, building via exhaust vents, chimneys, and around door and window trim.

Many people are attempting to address the Stink Bug infestation themselves with DIY measures, but are finding them a difficult pest to rid themselves of and that over the counter insecticides relatively ineffective. Manual removal is most effective for small infestation problems within a structure, as well as a careful evaluation of the areas that Stink Bugs are entering a structure. A Knockout Pest Control tech is familiar with the areas that Stink Bugs enter a building and assist with the sealing off of these entry points and remove areas of congregation via manual means, including vacuuming. A Knockout Pest Control tech also has the license and expert knowledge of what, when, and where to use “controlled” pesticides to assure optimum effectiveness. Although Stink bugs themselves do not cause structural damage to a building, and are not known to cause any threat to human health, [A STINK BUG UPDATE: the National Pest Management Association Inc. International reports that: "A few common species of stink bugs are predatory and use their mouthparts to drain fluids from caterpillars and other pest insects". There is also anecdotal evidence that stink bugs have bitten people when the insect is aggitated. It is said that the bites are painful.] or are they known to reproduce indoors, they are a recurrent pest. It is advisable to contact Knockout Pest Control at first signs of a Stink Bug problem and to get on top of the problem with a KO-12 year round program to not only address a Stink Bug Problem but a wide variety of insect and rodent pests that can invade a home or place of business. So ask about our KOP-12 program to get protection throughout the year.

Termites

Termites are a major pest problem in the New York area, as well as in most of the United States. These wood destroying pests typically nest underground and seek sources of wood for food, which in many cases is the structural framework of a home of building. Once termites make their way into a structure they move, (tunnel), their way through wood or build pencil sized mud tubes in which to travel, eventually eating foundation sills, floor joists, supporting beams, dry wall, and eventually all the wood in an entire building, if left unchecked. Termites can also establish satellite colonies within wall spaces. A mature subterranean Termite colony can contain more than 2 million. As colonies grow they can split up into secondary colonies with new Queens. Termites are responsible for more damage to wooden building structures in the US than all the hurricanes, tornadoes, and house fires put together. Knockout Pest Control gets more service calls for Residential & Commercial Termite Inspection and Control than for any other pest.

Termites are a social insect that live in colonies with an hierarchy, categorized as: King & Queen Termites, Solider Termites, and Workers . Each category of Termite looks different, from brown in color, to those with large heads and powerful mandibles, or small whitish and almost translucent. It is the Queen Termite which lays thousands of eggs that the colony requires to remain established and the small white Worker Termites to feed the colony and the Queen. Pest control methods and techniques have been developed to capitalize on Worker Termites feeding the colony and the Queen a pesticide thereby eliminating the entire Termite Colony. The most effective is the SENTRICON Termite Colony Elimination System. Besides eliminating individual subterranean Termite colonies, a Sentricon System is a proven method of ongoing Termite control and monitoring. Knockout Pest Control was the very first pest control service in the region to authorized use the Sentricon System. There are other Termite Baiting Systems on the market, but none are as effective as Sentricon.

Because, all homes purchased require a Termite Inspection, many homeowners have their homes infested after they purchase their home. These home owners usually become aware of the Termite problem usually when a SWARMING occurs. Swarming happens in the spring when Winged Adult Termites leave their colony to establish a new one; or the homeowner finds a Termite Travel Mud Tube on an interior or exterior wall; but in most cases when a homeowner opens a wall or floor in the process of doing some home renovation.

If you discover that YOU have a Termite problem, or any wood destroying insect problem, call Knockout Pest Control right away. Knockout Pest Control provides fully Integrated Green Pest Management treatments methods and controls for Termites. Knockout Pest Control uses the highly effective Always Active Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System with Recruit HD [click here]. Knockout may also use traditional liquid barrier trench treatments and may also use drilling treatments, using termicides to create a chemical barrier and introduce pesticide around the footing of a building structure. All chemicals use are used with the utmost care; keeping in the forefront of our minds without any negative impact to your home/business, family/staff and environment. In the New York area the war on Termite is an ongoing never ending battle. Only a Company like Knockout Pest Control has the experience and the right tools like the Sentricon System to take on this fight. We will KNOCKOUT your Termite problems. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Ticks

Ticks can be found throughout the New York area. Ticks are not insects but are actually, in the Spider family — like Spiders and Mites. There are over 800 different species of Ticks that fall into two main groups: Hard Shell Ticks and Soft Shell Ticks. Generally, all Ticks are eight legged, with no antennae. Ticks cannot fly nor can they jump. They come in contact to animals and people who brush against them in wooded and grassy areas. A Tick can lay 4,000 eggs in its life time. Ticks are tiny and hard to see, however Ticks are blood feeding Parasites that can consume 100 times their body weight so their engorged body, filled with a blood meal, is easier to see on the host animal. Some Ticks fed quickly on a host while others may take days to feed. As with most parasites that feed on blood, Ticks are vectors/transferors of many infectious diseases that affect animals and people. Ticks are known carries of Lyme Disease, Tick Fever, Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Babesious (a Malaria like illness), Hemolytic Anemia, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, and Encephalitis. Ticks are the biggest carriers of diseases transmitted to people and pets — second only to the Mosquito.

If YOU think you have a Tick problem in your home of place of business, call the professional at Knockout Pest Control right away. Out Knockout Pest Control Techs know how to treat for Ticks in all stages of their biology and are experiences with dealing with Ticks in areas where pets are also involved. All of Knockout Pest Controls methods entails taking a comprehensive Intergraded Green Pest Management Approach, identifying the possible sources of the infestation problem, addressing those aspects of the problem as well as discussing with the home and business owner the best ways to prevent future problems while addressing the current Tick problem. The best part about our Green Pest Management approach is that we target and control the pests without any negative impact to your home/business, family/staff, and environment. Ticks are one pest that YOU should call a professional pest control service to deal with. Attempting to handle the problem yourself may lead to a prolonged or recurrent Tick infestation problem; Ticks are too serious of a problem not to address it professionally. You can be assured that Knockout Pest Control will KNOCKOUT your Tick problem, as well as all of the pests that may be associated with your Tick problem. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.

Other Insects

There are hundreds of different insects in the New York areas other than the ones mentioned above. There are crawling insects and bugs that fly and many that do both. From Water Bugs and Drain Flies to Moths and Pantry Pests, Knockout Pest Control has helped home and business owners become and remain pest free since 1975. Knockout Pest Control's trained Techs have the knowledge and experience to address/treat/control any insect infestation problem. In fact, we're the industry leader in insect control and all aspects of pest management. Our comprehensive pest control process is enhanced by our staff's ongoing training and Knockout Pest Control's commitment to staying on the cutting edge of pest management technology and innovative pest control products and always utilizing environmentally friendly Green pest eradication methods. So whatever your Insect, Bug, Spider, or other creepy, crawly, slithery pest problem you may have; the experts at Knockout Pest Control will identify the pest, locate ‘em, use all appropriate measures to eradicate them from the premises, put preventative measures in place, as well as assist the home/business in implementing preventing and ongoing monitoring controls. We take all invasive pest seriously, as we do for the quality of life and health of our customers. And when you call ask about our KO-12 program to get pest protection throughout the year.