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How to Apply Insect Repellent - NPMA

Watch this video to learn the proper way to apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors. Video provided by the National Pest Management Association (NMPA).

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Recently, I was sent to a home in Red Bank, NJ after Cowleys had received a call from a new homeowner who had found both carpenter ant and mouse activity in his newly purchased home. He was planning on extensively renovating the home, but in the interim, he wanted the property completely serviced for pest activity. He wanted his new home to start out completely pest-free and who could blame him!  These infestations were a prime example of how neglected home maintenance can often lead to pest problems. While treating the exterior perimeter of the home, I found several window sills that were water-rotted from years of exposure to the outdoor elements that were never repaired. Carpenter ants seek out soft, moist, water-damaged wood because it is easy for them to build their galleries and lay their eggs. Also, the holes from the carpenter ants further weaken the wood by allowing in more seepage. And with carpenter ants, it just gets worse year after year. As their colonies grow, they expand their galleries, eating and regurgitating more wood. Although carpenter ants do not actually consume the wood like termites, their nesting activities can still cause plenty of property damage. The homeowner was well aware of the carpenter any activity from the inspection report and was planning on replacing the sills as part of the renovation, but still wanted the ant activity resolved before starting.  While examining the windowsills, I actually saw a peanut stuck in a crevice along the sill! Apparently, either a mouse or squirrel lodged the peanut in their for safekeeping. Finding a hidden stash of food or food “magically” relocated to an area of the home is a good indicator of rodent or wildlife activity. Here, all of the basement windows were in poor condition and their were plenty of openings that would give mice or even rats easy access into the home. It was a good thing all of this was going to be fixed. I advised the homeowner that I would be setting up rodent bait stations along the home’s exterior perimeter. These stations attract the mice with their bait and eliminate them before gaining access to the home. Once the bait is eaten, it doesn’t take long for the mice to meet their demise.   The new homeowner was extremely grateful that this ant and rodent activity was resolved. He was anxious to begin the process of renovating this property into his dream home and did not want any ants or mice hampering the project. We were happy to help him start his renovations with a “blank slate” as far as pests are concerned. Also, this homeowner will be using Cowleys for preventative servicing through a homeowner protection plan to keep his home pest-free for years to come.         
Delayed home maintenance in Red Bank, NJ leads to pests.
Recently, a two-person bed bug treatment crew was sent to a senior apartment complex in Highland Park, NJ. Although bed bug infestations are common in any high density housing, they are especially frequent in senior housing. Unfortunately, tenants in these buildings are often unaware of these infestations in their early stages for many reasons from poor visual acuity and not noticing the bugs or signs of an infestation like bed bug fecal stains to taking various medications that happen to suppress the itch of bed bug bites. As a result, often, we are not notified until the infestation is severe.  With this bed bug treatment, as we usually do, we start by inspecting for activity in the bedroom, focusing on the mattress, box spring, and surrounding areas. Bed bugs do not venture far from the hosts between blood meals and they usually hide in cracks and crevices nearby. Also, they want the host to be stationary while feeding. That’s why those with bed bug infestations usually wake up in the morning with a new set of bites. Here, to our surprise, we did not find any activity in the bedroom.  With bed bug inspections, it is essential to be as thorough as possible and never assume that bed bugs can’t be hiding somewhere because often they are! We not only inspect and flip mattresses and box springs to insect very square inch, but we also inspect all upholstered furniture like sofas and chairs, and we even inspect the drapes and take pictures off the wall. If there is a potential bed bug hiding spot, we’ll check it out. Here, since we came up empty in the bedroom, we moved to the living room. Sure enough, it did not take us long to find where the bed bugs were hiding. Apparently, this resident napped and frequently slept on the living room couch, and the bed bugs patiently waited for her to come. Here, we found a “treasure trove” of bed bug activity — live bed bugs, nymphs, eggs, and fecal/blood stains in almost every seam and fold of the couch.   We vacuumed every nook and cranny of the couch and then applied a residual product to those same areas. We are confident that, with the infestation localized to the couch, this will resolve the problem. However, bed bugs are resilient insects, and we always return for a two-week follow-up to re-inspect for activity and apply additional treatments as necessary. We won’t stop treating until the bed bugs are gone and the residents are free of bites.   
Bed bugs found in senior center in Highland Park, NJ
Some very worried homeowners residing in Perth Amboy, NJ contacted Cowleys to request a bed bug inspection and to schedule a treatment if necessary. The couple became quite concerned when they both started waking up in the morning with a substantial number of bites that weren’t there previously. Often, unexplained bites (sometimes accompanied by itchy welts) are the earliest sign of possible bed bug activity. Their initial thought was bed bugs, and they did the right thing by having it checked out even if they weren’t sure. It’s far better to have a couple of bed bug specialists conduct an inspection and find out what’s going on than to wait until you actually see the bugs or determine what’s causing the bites. Bed bugs stay out of sight, and in an early infestation finding a live bed bug or other signs of an infestation can be challenging for the untrained eye.  During the inspection, I asked the homeowners if they had been anywhere recently since bed bugs hitchhike their way inside, usually in the personal belongings of their new hosts. These bugs don’t arrive on their own. Sure enough, they had just returned from a vacation only to find out that the hotel they were staying at had bed bugs. They were not alerted to the problem until after they had already left. As the saying goes, a day late and a dollar short. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. With hotels and motels (even five-star ones), you don’t know who was staying in the room before you, and more importantly, what unwanted surprises they may be bringing with them. Over the course of a year, hotel and motel mattresses are used by many occupants. You may not be sleeping with them, but you may well be sleeping with bugs they have brought with them!  As I began inspecting the top of the mattress, I did not detect any signs of bed bug activity. From my experience with these infestations, and I’ve handled many of them, bed bugs do not stay in plain view on the top of the mattress. Instead, they seek out-of-the-way locations like the underside of the mattress or the box spring below. Sure enough, as I stood the king-sized mattress up on its side, I found a pocket of bed bugs. Needless to say, the homeowners were horrified! All this time there were biting bugs hiding nearby waiting for their next blood meal.  They wanted the infestation handled immediately and I explained to them the treatment process. They gave me the go-ahead to start then and there. I plugged in my HEPA vacuum and went to work removing all live bed bug activity and any lingering casings (skins) and eggs. Vacuuming is a very effective tool for starting treatment once bed bugs are identified. Once the mattress and box spring were methodically vacuumed, I encased them in highly durable rip-resistant encasement that seals any hiding bed bugs inside and prevents other bed bugs from accessing the bedding. I then began a liquid application to all of the cracks and crevices in the bedroom. I scheduled a two-week follow-up to re-inspect and apply additional treatment as needed. I informed the homeowners that they should still be prepared for residual bed bug activity. Knocking their population down to zero is not immediate. Any live activity needs to come into contact with the application, and there is a winding down time. The homeowners understood and were thankful that the problem was identified and that we could treat the infestation so quickly.   
These bed bugs easy to find in Perth Amboy, NJ bedroom.
Recently, a visibly relieved homeowner in  South Toms River, NJ, greeted me and by bed bug specialist partner. Because of the detailed nature of bed bug inspections, Cowleys generally send out a two-person bed bug team. When we arrived for treatment at her home, the homeowner was physically and mentally exhausted. She said that she had been up for 48 hours straight, afraid to sleep in her bed and suffer through another round of bits. There is a psychological component of a bed bug infestation that is often not addressed. Unlike other pests, bed bugs can get into your psyche and cause extreme anxiety. It’s bad enough having a pest infestation, but having one in which the insects feed off your blood takes it to a whole new level. I reassured her that after we were done with our treatment she would be getting a good night’s sleep.  We began be inspecting the bedroom. Between their blood meals, bed bugs prefer to hide in areas nearby their hosts, so it is common to find them in and around bedding. A standard bed bug inspection always involves checking every square inch of the mattress and box spring as well as nite stands and any bedside furnishings. We carefully turn over items so as to not dislodge the bugs and then begin vacuuming all of the cracks and crevices where bed bugs can potentially hide — and they can be hiding anywhere, even in the stitching holes of a mattress. Our HEPA vacuums are one of the most valuable tools during a bed bug treatment, sucking up the nymphs and adults, the sticky bed bug eggs, and their skins (casings) that are left behind during their growth stages.  During this treatment, we found a healthy bed bug on the bottom of the box spring. It was a big and “juicy” one, engorged with blood from the previous few nights of feeding. After vacuuming up the bug, we installed a box spring and mattress encasements to ensure that no other bed bugs can get into the bedding, and none can leave. WE then vacuumed all of the surrounding areas of the bedroom and treated the area with a light liquid application to ensure that we had a good residual barrier. Especially with bed bug treatments, I feel it is important to explain in detail what was done so the homeowner is assured that the problem is resolved and can finally take a deep breathe, relax, and get some much needed sleep. She was relived that we located the offending pest, protected her bedding, and treated her bedroom. We will return for a follow-up but since this infestation was localized and treated in its early stages, I’m confident that the problem has been resolved.    
Bed bug found on box spring in South Toms River, NJ bed.
Recently, a very concerned homeowner in Asbury Park, NJ contacted Cowleys because of a likely roach infestation in her kitchen. Observing a roach in your home is a very alarming and unsettling experience. These insects are associated with disease and contamination (and rightly so!), and there is no such thing as just a few roaches. If you happen see a roach, there are many more hidden ones, and these insects breed at astonishing rates. There is no such thing as a “little” roach problem. Needless to say, the homeowner was very concerned and wanted this infestation to be eradicated as soon as possible. When Cowleys received this call, we were in the midst of the holiday season and many guests were invited to the home. She needed this roach problem to be taken care of NOW.  Upon arrival, I started my inspection in the kitchen where the roaches were first spotted. She was unable to determine where the roaches were hiding, which was causing her even more added stress. From my experience in pest control, there are certain areas in the kitchen where roaches often seek harborage,, including ovens and refrigerator motors. Roaches (and many other insects and rodents for that matter) are attracted to the warmth provided by a refrigerator’s motor housing. I used the refrigerator away from the wall, and just as I suspected, there was heavy roach activity on the back of the fridge. Finding roaches is unpleasant but knowing you have them and not being able to locate them is even worse! The most efficient way to handle this infestation was to apply a light liquid application followed by light fogging of the motor that would seep into all of their inaccessible hiding spots and flush them out. Once the roaches are on the run, they will come into contact with the liquid treatment that will be absorbed through their ouster shell, and soon thereafter, it’s lights out for these filthy insects. This two-part process yields excellent results and homeowners will see a decline in roaches almost instantly. After completing treatment, I vacuumed up all the dead insects and applied a long-lasting gel bait under and behind the kitchen cabinets and appliances. The homeowner was very happy to know that I located the source of the problem and eliminated this infestation with a one-stop visit. She knew enough that buying some other-the-counter roach spray and arbitrarily applying it would not work. Now, with family on the way to visit for the holidays, she won’t be nervous about roaches ruining the festivities.     
Cockroaches under fridge in Asbury Park, NJ
Some very concerned tenants who was renting an apartment in Oceanport, NJ contacted their landlord because they believed that they were getting bed bug bites. Usually, mysterious, unexplained bites are the first sign of a bed bug infestation, especially in their early stages. If bed bug activity is suspected, you should not wait until you have definitive proof. It is best to have a professional service perform a bed bug inspection so that, if there is a problem, the infestation can be resolved early while it is still localized and has not become entrenched. Here, the landlord did the right thing and contacted Cowleys for bed bug specialists to perform a thorough inspection of the apartment. And a bed bu inspection has to be just that — thorough. This bed bugs hide in the tightest cracks and crevices they can find, and a superficial inspection just doesn’t cut it. Upon arrival, the tenants told us that they were especially concerned about the couches in their living room. So, we began our search there. We methodically inspected the cushions as we carefully removed them from the couch one by one. It is important to handle furnishings delicately so that the bugs aren’t dislodged. The cushions were clean. Next, we looked into the couch seams with our flashlights to see if any pests were hiding. Still, nothing. We tipped the couches forward and inspected the bottom. Once again, nothing. During a bed bug inspection, it is just as important to determine where there is not bed bug activity as where there is in order to rule out areas where treatment is not necessary.  We then asked the tenants if we could inspect their bedrooms. They were happy to oblige. We went upstairs to the master bedroom, and slowly began to remove the linens from the mattress. There were no fecal stains on the sheets or pillows. Next, we lifted the mattress of the boxspring and inspected all of the mattress seams. Still nothing. We then lifted the box spring. Our persistence paid off. We found the evidence. There were blood spots as well as a live bed bug on the old encasement.   These particular tenants has a bed bug issue several years prior, so they knew the drill. Bed bug treatment is a cooperative effort and the effectiveness of the treatment depends on how well the areas are prepared prior to treatment. It is important to reduce as much clutter from the rooms as possible because clutter means more potential harborage areas. Fortunately, these tenants kept their place quite neat and orderly so there wasn’t much prep work to be done. We awere able to schedule treatment for the following day, and they were completely ready to go.    
Bed bugs on mattress in Oceanport, NJ
For the apartment buildings served by Cowleys, we recommend bed bug inspections at least twice a year, especially for complexes with units that have had bed bug issues in the past. Many property managers request proactive bed bug inspections. Often, tenants fail to timely report these infestations  and what could have been a localized infestation in one unit has morphed into a major multi-unit infestation. Bed bugs easily hitchhike from one host to the next and, although these infestations can happen anywhere, they are especially problematic in high-density housing.  We service many senior apartment buildings, and bed bug infestations are quite common and often are more entrenched. Why? The elderly, for a variety reasons, do not notice the signs of bed bugs in their early stages because of vision issues and limited mobility. Many are physically unable to lift up their mattress an box spring to check for bed bugs or the tiny fecal stain spots they leave behind. Also, many are unaware that they are even being bitten. Not everyone experiences welts and itching from their bites. It has ben reported that up to 30% of the population does not show signs of bed bug bites. Also, seniors on corticosteroid medications often have no reaction to the bites as well. Bed bugs are parasites that feed exclusively on blood, and prefer human blood to other animals. When not feeding, they prefer to hide near their host in dark cracks an crevices that they can wedge themselves into. To determine if there is a bed bug problem, an inspection requires lifting and moving mattresses, chests of drawers, sofas, and other heavy pieces of furniture since the bugs will hide in out-of-the-way places. They are hardly ever out in the open in plain view.  Recently, I found a bed bug issue in a senior housing building that we service in Oceanport, NJ. At first glance, the apartment was clean and orderly, showing no signs of bed bug activity. Bed bug infestations have nothing to do with sanitation issues, but if there is clutter, there are more potential hiding spots for these pests, and make it makes the infestation more difficult to treat. Here, we found bed bugs after lifting up the mattress and box spring.  Once we find a bid bug issues, we immediately perform a knock-down treatment to hold the tenant over until we can schedule a full initial servicing.We do everything we can to treat any affected apartments in question as soon as possible after the inspection in oder to contain the infestation. These periodic bed bug inspections have become important monitoring tools for us and the apartment managers to stay on top of this troublesome infestation.
Bed bug Inspections in Oceanport, NJ
Homeowners in Hazlet, NJ started to notice mouse droppings being deposited in their garage. These homeowners, as many of us do, turned their garage into a storage unit for their belongings instead of a place to keep their cars away from the outdoor elements. Sometimes I think we acquire too much stuff and don’t know where to put it all! Our garages and basements get stuffed to the gills with all sorts of seasonal items and other things we’ve long forgotten about. When storing items in there areas, it is important to use pallets or something to maintain to keep your belongings off the ground. Moisture and condensation can easily develop. Also, for air circulation, keep a gap between the wall and the items. Doing so, not only provides easier access to your belongings, it also protects your belongings from rodent infestations. Mice have no problems boring into cardboard boxes to nest. Also, rodents have poor vision. They will travel in a line along walls while foraging where their bodies touch the sides. If you look closely enough along their pathways, you’ll often see rub or grease marks from the dirt and oils on their fur.They will only ever off the pathway when locking a food source or a good private harborage site.  With rodent inspections, finding their actual or potential entry points and sealing them is critical to get these infestations under control. Otherwise, there is always the risk of a re-infestation with a new crop of rodents looking to escape the hard outdoor elements. One off the main culprits allowing mice inside homes are the gaps around utility pipe chase. Over time, the sealant around the pipe deteriorates and falls off leaving gaps that are more than enough for these tiny rodents to squeeze their way inside. It only takes an opening around the size of a dime. Here, there were multiple entry points around the pipes coming into the garage. It was an open invitation for the mice. I treated the area around the openings with a tracking powder that attaches to their fur, which is then ingested while grooming. Any rodent that travels through the powder will soon meets its demise. I then sealed the openings with a chew-proof copper mesh. The homeowners would later finish the exclusion with a heavy-duty caulk. With the entry points blocked, the mice in the garage will be eliminated. it was important that the homeowners took care of this issue because I have no doubt that some of the mice would have found their way inside the home.   
Keeping the mice out of Hazlet, NJ home
Recently, I was called out to service a home in South Toms River, NJ to help a homeowner having an issue with mice entering a home, an all-too-common problem this time of year when temperatures drop and mice are looking to escape the harsh weather. The homeowner was particularly concerned because she was at a loss as to how the mice could possibly be entering the home. I explained to her that mice only need the tiniest of gaps and cracks to gain entry because of heir diminutive size. People are surprised to learn that a mouse weight less than an ounce! The homeowner found out that she had mice in the most unpleasant way. She observed droppings in her basement while she was getting her Christmas decorations assembled for the holiday season. Finding mice droppings is the quickest way to stop any holiday cheer.  With a mouse infestation, I am always focused on finding their entry points into the home. I’ve found that one effective inspection technique that works well for me is to work in the dark! I will turn off all the basement lights and look for areas where light may be shining through. If I can see daylight, it means that there is usually plenty of space for mice to squeeze inside. Obviously, this works best on bright, sunny days. Here, with the lights off, I saw light coming in the house around wires and pipes. This is a common rodent entry point because the sealing around pipes and wires starts to disintegrate over time. Upon closer inspection, I observed a few droppings in the areas around these gaps. These weren’t potential entry points; they were actual ones.   My preference is to set the bait traps before sealing the holes. I want to give the mice a way out of the house after ingesting the bait so they die outside and the homeowner does not have to deal with mouse carcasses in the home. Holes that are closed too soon may trap the dying mice inside. I placed several traps along the interior perimeter of the basement. Finally, I advised the homeowner that I would return for a two-week follow-up where I would seal all of the entry points. She was relieved that I was able to locate the openings and had a plan in place to rid her home of these pesky mice.
Finding Mouse Problems and Solutions in South Toms River, NJ
Today, I had the pleasure of having one of our newer techs riding with me to help show him “the ropes.” Hands-on training presents great teaching moments through out the day, and the experience technicians enjoy sharing their knowledge and approach.Our office received a call from the property manager of one of our commercial accounts, a residential community in Manalapan, NJ. A hornets nest had formed in a potentially dangerous location — on a fire hydrant right near a school bus stop. Although with dropping fall temperatures, hornets nests naturally die out, with the workers dying and the mated queen hibernating over the winter, this was still an active nest and needed to be treated and removed. We happened to not be far from this community when the call came in, so we immediately took care of it.   This technician had not yet removed a hornets nest before, so I knew we were in for a good time! Every technician remembers their first hornet nest removal, and this was an active one. I talked through the treatment, and since the nest was still very active so I had him put on the protective bee-wasp suit. The new tech fearlessly treated the nest and removed it from the hydrant to bag it and take it off the property. There may always be wasps still in the nest, so we take all of the nest debris with us. He worked safely and efficiently, and will soon be ready to go out on his own. 
Dangerous hornets near Manalapan, NJ fire hydrant
The property managers for an elderly housing building in Asbury Park, NJ have contacted with Cowleys to perform a building-wide bed bug inspection twice yearly. It’s a tremendous undertaking, but one that’s well worth it, especially for those apartment complexes that have had bed bug issues in the past. Periodic bed bug inspections in senior housing is critical for a variety of reasons. Tenants in these buildings can have poor mobility, poor eyesight, and sometimes even diminished mental capacity to relax that there is an infestation in their unit. Because many are on anti-inflammatory medications for medical issues, they may not even be aware that they are being bitten. Also, there apartment units can have clutter issues, so there are more potential bed bug harborage areas. With these inspections, we left mattresses, boxsprings, couches, and other furniture. Bed bugs will hide in seams and on the bottom of furniture. Rarely do they stay in plain view. During these inspections, we often find bed bug problems that the tenant was unaware of, especially when the infestation is in its early stages and the insect populations are low.  When inspecting these units, we always inspect the bed and the areas around the bed such as nightstands and beside furniture. Bed bugs feed exclusively off human blood, and they prefer to stay near their food source between their blood meals. As such, we concentrate on those areas of the apartment where the tenants either sleep or nap. Our objective is to identify problems and get things under control before an isolated bed bug problem becomes a major building-wide nightmare for the tenants and property management.  Should we find a bed bug issue, we immediately set up a treatment plan for the resident. Any plan starts by instructing the resident as to how to properly prepare their unit for treatment. Clutter removal and other pre-treatment tasks are essential for our treatment to be effective. If the tenant is unable to do the preparatory work, the property manager must locate family members or other resources to help. Cowleys has extensive experience with bed bug infestations, especially in high density living arrangements like apartment buildings and nursing homes. We have a five-week treatment plan protocol. We perform an initial servicing followed by two follow-up visits, one after two weeks and a second after another three weeks. During these follow-ups, we re-inspect and perform additional treatments as necessary.  With these periodic bed bug checks during the year, we are able to keep problems under control before they become a serious issue.
Bed bug inspection in Asbury Park, NJ senior housing
Recently, I was sent to Manalapan, NJ to remove a large, active hornets nest. The nest happened to be built between two homes, both with children. Both families had a strong mutual interest in having this nest removed for safety reasons. Even with dropping fall temperatures, the nest was quite active and there was a large number of hardy hornets that were not yet done for the season. These aggressive, territorial wasps had plenty of life in them to protect their nest to the bitter end. Bald-faced hornets are large wasps, about three-quarters of an inch long. They are easily identified by ivory markings on their faces and abdomens. These wasps are close relatives of yellow jackets, and they are just as mean and ornery, often stinging without much provocation. While yellow jackets are typically ground-nesters that build their nests inside rodent burrows or other cavities, bald faced hornets typically build distinctive grey aerial nests a few feet off the ground. A mature bald faced hornet nest is a sight to behold. These nests, made of a mixture of chewed wood and saliva, can grow to basketball-sized proportions. Bald faced hornets are physically strong insects that can pierce through a layer of thick clothing to deliver a painful sting. Also, because a single wasp can sting multiple times, a swarm of these insects poses a serious medical threat, especially for children.  Any loud noises or sudden movements around a nest can trigger a swarm of attacking wasps. Suffice it to say, children at play around a hornets nests is trouble waiting to happen. These homeowners did the right thing by contacting Cowleys before anyone was stung. A mature nest can house hundreds of stinging insects! Please consider having an experienced pest control technician handle a hornet nest removal. DIY removal can easily turn into a DIY trip to the nearest emergency room. To resolve this infestation, I first used a foaming-action residual solution that I sprayed directly into the nest opening and around the surrounding area. As a residual application, it stays active to kill any foraging wasps that later return to the nest area and stops them from attempting to rebuild. I also applied a dust to eliminate any returning wasps. After waiting until the wasp activity slowed down,  I removed the nest and bagged it so I could take it with me off the property. With the wasp nest gone, the colony eliminated, and the area cleaned up of any nesting debris, these homeowner will not have to worry about their kids having an unwanted encounter with a small army of angry wasps. I was glad to help out and make this area safe again for outdoor play.      
Hornets scare Manalapan, NJ family
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