Invasive Fall & Overwintering Pests
Signs Fall has Arrived: Orange Leaves, Pumpkins & Invasive Fall Pests
As the weather cools, the sun sets earlier and the leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red, we welcome fall and all of its changes. While it is a favorite time of year for many enjoying apple cider, pumpkin flavored coffee and hayrides, pests and bugs also very much enjoy this time of the year. Leaves, not to mention popular fall décor items like fresh pumpkins and gourds, are a breeding ground for pests. Common fall pests like spiders, crickets, cluster flies and stink bugs begin to migrate from your yard into your home in search of food and a place to overwinter. Read more about the 5 most common fall pests and easy prevention methods.
5 Common Fall Pests & Prevention Methods
Stink Bugs: These are by far the most common invasive pest you’ll see in and around your home once autumn arrives. Attempting to find shelter for the winter they gain entry through windows, door trim, exhaust fans or lights in the ceiling.
Prevention Tip: Inspect all entryways for cracks or gaps, these should be sealed immediately. Further, caulk around windows and doors and repair any tears in window & door screens.
Bed Bugs: As travel ramps up for the holidays beware of these opportunistic bloodsuckers! Not only do they infest mattresses, but also love hiding in baseboards, cracks in walls and electrical outlets.
Prevention Tip: Leave suitcase in the garage or away from the main house for 2 days before unpacking. Wash all clothes in hot water before returning to your closet & drawers.
Spiders: As with most fall pests, a variety of spider species are looking for a home to spend the winter.
Prevention Tip: Power spray treatment around the perimeter of your home and seal all cracks, especially in the foundation.
Squash Bugs: Fresh pumpkins and squash make great decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving but turn into a feeding frenzy when they begin to rot. Squash bugs, beetles, slugs and snails love to feed on rotting pumpkins and squash.
Prevention Tip: Throw your fresh fall decorations away before they begin to rot.
Boxelder Bugs: After they’ve spent the summer feeding on tree leaves, boxelder bugs are in search of a warm place to spend the winter. They especially like homes with a lot of sunlight.
Prevention Tip: Exterior power spray treatment is necessary in the early spring then again right before fall starts, which is their most active life cycle.
Year-Round Bug & Rodent Control Services
Richmond Pest Control provides year-round prevention and control services for residential and commercial properties in Atlantic City, NJ and the surrounding areas. We offer power spray services, exclusion services, treatment and extermination. For an on-site consultation, call our Atlantic City, NJ office at 609-266-4200.
Household Fly Prevention Tips for Summertime
Fruit Fly & House Fly Prevention in the Summertime Season
Summertime is the prime season for flies and maggots in your home, backyard and swarming your garbage & recycling cans. While they cause little harm, it is unsettling and disgusting to have flies buzzing around your house, disrupting BBQs and social gatherings. While an open window and rotting fruit are the easiest ways for these pests to enter your home, there are many other factors that draw flies in the first place. Richmond Pest Control in Atlantic City, NJ is here to provide simple summertime fly prevention and control tips for your home.
6 Easy Summertime Fly Prevention Tips
Eliminate Breeding Sites: To prevent flies from invading your home you must first eliminate breeding sites. Breeding sites include spilled food and organic materials where flies feed, procreate and lay eggs.
Control Moisture: Flies require moisture to thrive in any environment. Be sure to clean spills quickly, fix drips and eliminate any areas with excess moisture – inside and outside the home.
Restrict Food Access: Fruit flies seek out over-ripe or rotting food to nibble on the fermenting sugars of moldy vegetables and to lay their eggs. Make sure fruits and veggies are regularly checked and discarded properly if rotten. Trash bin lids should be tightly closed.
Clean Up Outside: Keep your outdoor area clear of trash, piles of cardboard, dog feces, rotting fruit from trees and other fly attractants.
Regularly Disinfect Garbage/Recycle Bins: It is no surprise that flies are attracted to filth and your recycling/garbage bins are a major attraction! Especially in the summertime, garbage and recycling cans should be rinsed out and disinfected.
Repair/Inspect Window Screens: Even if your house is spotless, flies will still sneak in through even the smallest holes in your window and door screens. Inspect them regularly throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons and repair any holes you find.
House Fly Pest Control
If you find flies are persistent in your home no matter how much you clean, disinfect or spray insecticides, a professional pest control inspection is necessary. Our expert extermination professionals can identify where flies have been laying eggs, remove & clean breeding sites and apply bait, traps & commercial-grade insecticide.
Visit our Pest Library to see all the pests and rodents we can expertly eliminate and prevent in your home or business location. Richmond Pest Control serves Atlantic City, NJ and the surrounding areas. For more information or schedule your service call 609-266-4200.
Pest Control Tips for Winter & Cold Weather
Reasons to Invest in Pest Control During Winter Season
Almost all home and business owners associate pests, insects and rodent infestations with the warm weather. However, what people tend to forget is that when the weather begins to turn cold pests will seek shelter – usually in your warm home. For this reason, winterizing your residential or commercial property is a very important part of pest control. Richmond Pest Control has highlighted several DIY winter pest control methods that are very effective at keeping insects & rodents out of your property.
10 Easy Tips for Effective Winter Pest Control
Store Firewood 20+ Feet from Home: Termites, squirrels and other insects use wood piles to nest and mate. If this wood is close to your home, pests can easily gain indoor access through cracks & holes in your siding or foundation. Keep wood piles at least 20 feet from any entry point.
Frequently Vacuum Around Windows & Doors: This allows you to catch and trap spiders, silverfish, earwigs, beetles & pest droppings.
Eliminate Moisture: Cockroaches and other pests love moisture and will actively seek out damp spaces in your home or business. Regularly inspect for and fix leaking pipes, clogged drains and excess moisture throughout the property.
Store Food Properly: Uncovered or improperly stored food is the #1 reason bugs & rodents are attracted to your home. Leftovers should be tightly sealed & put away immediately. Further, daily vacuuming of your kitchen ensures there are no crumbs left behind.
Read More: 5 Reasons Pests are Attracted to Your Home
Keep up on Landscaping: Give your grass one last cut before the temperatures drop significantly. It also helps to clean up fallen branches and keep shrubbery & trees trimmed away from your home.
Regularly Inspect for Bugs & Rodents: The eye test never fails. Look for droppings, dead insects and the obvious signs that pests are present in your home.
Invest in Year-Round Pest Control: Don’t just call in the professional exterminators when there is a current pest problem. Invest in pest control & prevention services all year long to stop invaders before they take up residence.
Seal Cracks & Holes Outside of the House: Bugs and mice need only a tiny opening to sneak into your house. Cracks and holes in the foundation, windows, utilities and pipes leave your home susceptible to an infestation. A thorough inspection should be done yearly, using a high-quality caulk to properly seal all openings.
Screen Vents to Chimney: Chimney guards and screens stop persistent birds, squirrels and other pests from living in your exhaust vents.
Replace loose mortar around the basement foundation and worn weather stripping around windows.
Professional Exterminator Services in South Jersey
As the temperatures drop in the early fall months, bugs, insects and rodents are preparing for a chilly, frigid winter ahead. Winterizing your home in preparation for the cold is a vital part of pest control. Following the tips we’ve highlighted above will help reduce the chance of your home experiencing pest and rodent issues. When you put in the effort to keep winter pests outdoors, your home becomes a healthier, more comfortable space to host the holidays with your friends, family and loved ones.
If you suspect you have an issue with pests in your home, it is best to contact a pest professional right away. Richmond Pest Control provides year-round protection against pests for both commercial and residential properties. Our technicians proudly service Atlantic County, NJ and the surrounding communities. For winter pest control or any of our other prevention services, call 609-266-4200.
Spring Pest Control Tips
Essential Tips for Spring Pest Control & Prevention
The arrival of spring doesn’t just mean longer days, warmer temperatures and the beginning of a new bloom of flowers; it is also the return of hungry pests emerging from their winter slumber. When putting together your yearly spring cleaning list, pest prevention should be a top priority. The expert exterminators from Richmond Pest Control provide a list of essential tips for spring pest control and prevention. Spring and summer are known for the breeding and infestation of ants, flies, hornets, mosquitoes and ticks. Safeguard your home by following our easy spring pest control tips below.
6 Spring Pest Control Tips from the Experts
Inspect & Repair your Roof: Damage to your roof provides easy access for a variety of pests to mate and invade. Stinging insects will begin to build a nest, mice will use your attic to store food and termites can eat away at the vital woodwork in your roofing system. Call professional roofers for a full inspection at the beginning of the spring season. They will check for missing or cracked shingles, leaks and overall roof damage and make all necessary repairs to safeguard your home against pests.
Install Fly Screens in Windows: Fly screens offer extra protection against flies, mosquitos, stink bugs and most other flying pests. They’re affordable, fit most standard residential windows and are very easy to install in just a few minutes.
Outdoor Upkeep: Exterior and yard maintenance are vital to the prevention of pests all year long, but especially in the spring. As the snow melts all of fall and winter’s nuisances are exposed: fallen branches, damp wood and dead leaves, which are prime areas for spring pests and should be cleared right away.
Control Moisture: Stagnant and standing water are a breeding ground for mosquitos. Remove old water from bird baths, unclog the gutters and check for puddles. Keep up on this spring pest control tip throughout the summer and into fall as well.
Monitor Food & Garbage: All food inside your refrigerator and cabinets should be kept in airtight containers. Outdoor garbage and recycle bins should be located as closely to the street at possible and sealed tightly. See more reasons why pests are attracted to your home & how to prevent it.
Schedule a Pest Control Inspection: Regular inspections from a professional pest control company are necessary to spot problem areas and implement effective prevention tips.
Effective Pest Prevention Solutions
Following these spring pest control tips provide effective solutions to prevent an infestation from common pests including ants, termites, mosquitos, stinging insects and rodents. If you believe you are experiencing a pest control issue in your home, contact the professionals at Richmond Pest Control for fast & efficient service in Southern, NJ. Call our office in Atlantic City, NJ today at 609-266-4200 to speak with a friendly representative.
Bed Bug Prevention Tips and Tricks
Bed Bug Infestation Prevention Steps
Bed bugs remain one of the most difficult pests to treat. Therefore, bed bug prevention is much easier to handle than a full on infestation. Once your home has a bed bug outbreak, it takes a professional pest control company several treatments in order to manage and fully stop the spread. To protect your home and family from these creepy invaders, there are several steps you can take to prevent a bed bug outbreak. Richmond Pest Control has outlined the 5 best prevention tips to stop bed bugs from invading your home.
5 Easy Bed Bug Prevention Tips
Avoid Curbside Furniture: While that free loveseat sitting on the side of the road may seem like the perfect addition to your apartment, chances are it is already infested with bed bugs. Curbside and secondhand furniture are common breeding grounds for bed bugs and when you bring it inside your home an infestation will quickly grow out of control. If you really cannot resist, Richmond Pest Control recommends treating furniture with an insecticide thoroughly, a few treatments is best.
Encase Mattresses & Box Springs: Invest in a high quality bed cover with a zipper to prevent bed bugs from infesting your mattresses and killing any that are currently there.
Be Diligent While Traveling: The most common way a home becomes infested is bringing these nasty pests home with them from a vacation. In order to prevent this from happening to you, be diligent while traveling. Inspect the mattresses, don’t leave anything on the floor and thoroughly wash & clean everything as soon as you get home.
Know how to Spot Them: While following the above bed bug prevention steps will offer protection, it is important for you to be able to identify these pests so you can quickly stop an active infestation. An adult is usually reddish-brown, flat and oval shaped, while the eggs are small, over and white.
Call the Professionals: Finally, call for professional pest control services if you suspect your home has been invaded by bed bugs. Store-bought treatments and DIY methods are not strong enough to handle these pests. Read more about why DIY pest control methods don’t work.
Pest Control Services in Atlantic City NJ
With over 25 years of professional experience, Richmond Pest Control is equipped to handle all of your bed bug pest control needs. From infestation treatment to bed bug prevention & maintenance, we’ll safeguard your home & protect your family. For bed bug and other pest control services in Atlantic City, NJ – call 609-266-4200 for an appointment today! For pest control services in Staten Island, NY, click here.
Rodent Control Facts from a Professional Exterminator
Interesting Rodent Facts from a Professional Exterminator
Rodents have garnered a well-earned reputation as being one of the creepiest and most troublesome pest control issues homeowners are faced with. Mice and rats sneak into your home in search of shelter, food and a safe place to mate, which spells massive trouble for the unlucky house they end up in. Rodents are the most common pest control and extermination service called in by homeowners. Since we deal with them so frequently, you’d think we’d know all there is to know about these creepy creatures, but we don’t. Richmond Pest Control has highlighted several weird and fascinating rodent facts below.
6 Weird Rodent Facts you Probably Didn’t Know
Small Rodents have Large Appetites: Despite their small bodies, mice & rats eat up to 20 times per day. With such large appetites, they will migrate in mass to food sources and stay there until it runs dry.
Rodents don’t Sweat or Vomit: This is one reason pest & rodent control companies choose to use poison to get rid of these pests. Once ingested, they do not possess the ability to get rid of it through sweat or vomit.
One Rodent can Spawn into One Hundred – Quickly: Rodents can begin to reproduce as young as two months old and repeat the cycle every three weeks. At that rate, a single mouse can give birth to as many as 100 babies in a single year.
Excellent Swimmers, Climbers & Jumpers: Mice & rodents are very agile on their feet. They can jump as high as 18 inches, wade through water for up to three days, and climb up and over almost any surface to escape or find food.
Rodents aren’t Potty Trained: They do not designate certain areas, rodents simply walk and go as they please. This leaves humans susceptible to hundreds of dangerous diseases including salmonella and Hantavirus. If you think you have a problem with rodents in your home, call our professional rodent control company today.
Lifespans are Short: Rodents that live in controlled environments can live up to two years or longer. In the wild, mice only live about five months due to predators.
Rodent Control Company in Atlantic City NJ
If rats or mice have found their way into your home, call the professional rodent control professionals at Richmond Pest Control. We’ll safely and effectively bait and remove these troublesome pests and relocate them to a more conducive environment. Richmond Pest Control services all townships within Atlantic County, NJ. Call 609-266-4200 to make an appointment today. For pest control services in Staten Island, NY, click here.
11 Simple Ant Control Tips for Keeping Ants Away
Simple Ant Control & Prevention Tips
Ants are a problem almost everywhere in the Garden State, especially during the warmer months. They march right into your home and invade all of your favorite, precious spaces in the kitchen, bathroom and even bedrooms! Richmond Pest Control has outlined our 11 best ant control tips below, which are simple and many are environmentally friendly! Call 609-266-4200 to schedule an appointment with our Atlantic City NJ pest exterminator today!
Ant Control Tips for a Pest-Free Home
Keep it Clean: Properly store all food and be sure all surface areas and floors are free of crumbs.
Keep it Dry: Ants are also attracted to moisture, be sure to wipe up all leaks and spills.
Empty Trash: Overflowing garbage bins are a surefire way to attract ants.
Caulking: Continuously seal all windows, doors and cracks that ants could crawl through.
Vinegar-based Cleaning Solution: Mix 1 part water with 1 part white distilled vinegar for a DIY cleaning product. Ants hate the smell of vinegar and will be sure to leave your kitchen alone.
Citrus: Ants do not like citrus smells. Save and dry the peels of oranges and lemons, then grind them and spread at entry points.
Coffee Grounds: Sprinkle used coffee grounds in your garden and the perimeter of your home.
Move Leaves, Lumber, Rocks & Mulch: Ants will quickly build nests in these piles; make sure to keep them away from your entryways for easy access.
Keep Shrubs Neat: Trim trees and shrubs so that branches do not touch your home letting ants easily crawl inside.
Mint: Place a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cloth and wipe down surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom.
Call a Professional: If the above ant control tips do not seem to be working, it is time to call in our professional pest control company. We have proven pest control methods to eliminate and keep ants and many other bugs away!
Ant & Bug Extermination Company in Atlantic City NJ
Besides ants, Richmond Pest Control offers a variety of extermination services for homes and business in Atlantic City, NJ and the surrounding areas. Our most frequent pests include fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, wildlife pests and much more. If you’re dealing with any of these bugs or rodents, call our professional pest control company today to eliminate and prevent further pest problems quickly.
5 Reasons Pests are Attracted to Your Home
Why your Home is Attracting Pests
Pests and insects are not only disgusting nuisances to homeowners, they’re also destructive. Once they’ve decided to settle into your home they can spread diseases, ruin the foundation, eat 
through your electrical wiring and more! Richmond Pest Control of Brigantine, NJ has come up with 5 common reasons your home is attracting pests and how to keep your space pest free.
5 Reasons your Home is Attracting Pests
Reason 1: Food Lying Open – Open food is probably the most obvious reason for pests and insects to feel welcome in your home. All food, including dirty dishes in the sink, should be discarded and cleaned immediately. The smell of food in the open attracts a variety of bugs such as mice, ants, cockroaches and more. Even a minor crumb can attract pests.
Reason 2: Holes & Cracks in the Wall – Hiding places in your walls become a safe haven for insects and pests, especially since they can go unnoticed for long periods of time. The inside walls of your home can become a breeding ground and home to many insects and if the holes are large enough, rodents will make their way inside too!
Reason 3: Water – Leaking pipes and dripping faucets provide just enough moisture to keep insects alive. Standing water in your backyard from buckets, bird baths, etc. can become a breeding ground for mosquitos.
Reason 4: Clutter – Clutter such as paper and boxes make great homes for rodents and many insects. Rodents love living in dark spaces, so those boxes lying around your home can become a haven for rats and mice. Similarly, piles of paper draw in silverfish and even cockroaches.
Reason 5: Still Air – Keeping those ceiling fans running during the warm months are not only great for your air conditioning bill, but they can also keep away unwanted bugs. The turbulence created by the fans will discourage flies and other insects from entering your home.
Simple Pest & Insect Prevention Tips
Now that Richmond Pest Control has highlighted the reasons your home is attractive to pests, we’ll leave you with some simple tips on how to prevent critters from entering your home. First and foremost, make sure your house is as clean and tidy as possible. Always clean up your food and dishes, discard any useless clutter/paperwork and regularly clean the still water around your home (inside and outside). Fill all holes and cracks around your home to prevent bugs and rodents from making a home out of your foundation. Lastly, call our professional Atlantic City, NJ pest control company for a home evaluation and extermination service.