Find common questions and answers
to your pest problems.

Bed bug infestations spread when an individual comes into contact with bed bugs and unknowingly brings them somewhere else. They are transported as stowaways, hiding in luggage, couches, beds, pillows, or backpacks to name a few. Bed bugs cling to moving items like briefcases and can easily fall off, allowing them to relocate and spread. It's also a common occurrence that bed bugs lay eggs on these items. As the host moves, they can fall off and hatch far away from where they originally came from. To read more about bed bug infestations, click here.

Bed bugs are not a pest that you should try to control on your own. Attempting to resolves the issue yourself as improper treatment could spread the problem throughout and increase costs to eliminate the problem. You should AVOID discarding bedding and mattresses. This is not a solution and can spread the infestation throughout the house, and any new furniture can quickly become infested. To learn more about bed bug treatments in apartment units, click here.

According to the study, the researchers created small tent-like harborages made from different colored card stock and placed them in Petri dishes. A bed bug was then placed within the dishes and had approximately 10 minutes to choose one of the colored harborages. Results of the study showed that bed bugs strongly preferred red or black colors versus colors like yellow or green. Cooper Pest Solutions staff Entomologist and bed bug expert, Dr. Richard Cooper, believes that the findings of this study may implicate that bed bugs are attracted to darker colors because of the contrast it provides against the environment. To learn more about this study, click here.

Most bed bugs can be found within a few feet of their feeding host, which includes mattresses, headboards, baseboards, and other furniture close by. Bat bugs may be seen in a few of these places as well, but are mainly found in areas that harbor bats, such as attics. They may be seen up on ceilings and on the walls, but usually stay within the vicinity of their food source. Learn more about bed bug and bat bug differences by clicking here.

The NPMA recommends the following tips for bed bug prevention when traveling: At hotels, pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. If you see anything suspect, notify management and change rooms/establishments immediately. Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs. If any pests are spotted, change rooms/ establishments immediately Consider placing your suitcase in a plastic trash bag or protective cover during the duration of your trip to ensure that bed bugs cannot take up residence there prior to departure. Read more tips about avoiding bed bugs on vacation by clicking here.

Unfortunately bed bugs can often be difficult to detect and once you do recognize they are there, they can be even more difficult to get rid of. This is one of the few pests that you definitely want to hire a professional to address because trying to treat on your own is rarely successful and may result in spreading the bugs throughout of you home. Pricing depends upon the level of infestation in your home as well as the technician's time spent treating and the materials used If you suspect a bed bug problem in your home, please do not hesitate to call Cooper or fill out our form to schedule a free* inspection. To learn more about bed bug service pricing, click here.

*Conditions apply based on bed bug activity and we reserve the right to charge $125 for inspections where bed bugs are not clearly present. May not be applicable for apartments depending on apartment type and ownership.

Since bed bugs are capable of going months at a time without eating, it can be hard to tell if you have truly eliminated the problem without confirmation from an expert. Leaving your home or sleeping somewhere other than your bed will not get rid of bed bugs and often will cause them to spread to new areas. Cooper Pest Solutions is equipped to carry out every step of the bed bug elimination process from proactive measures, to treating with pesticides and steam. Cooper′s highly skilled representatives and technicians will inspect your home for signs of a bed bug infestation and determine the severity of the infestation. Treatment will be carried out according to the needs of your particular situation. Unlike other companies, Cooper′s treatments do not require prep on your part. To learn more about our No-Prep philosophy, click here.

The most reliable way to confirm you have bed bugs is to contact Cooper Pest Solutions to identify a sample collected from your home. However, there are key warning signs that you may have an infestation:

  • Going to bed and waking with bites, welts or rashes. Bite marks may appear in a rows and clusters.
  • Dark spotting or blood droplets on mattresses or bedding. These are waste products bed bugs excrete while digesting a blood-meal.
  • Visible observation of eggs, molted insect skin, or the insect. The failure to locate an insect does not indicate they are not present. Adult bed bugs are difficult to locate, and immature bed bugs can be difficult to see due to their size.

To learn more about bed bug identification, click here.

Upon discovering an infestation, immediately contact Cooper Pest Solutions to evaluate your problem. You should AVOID discarding bedding and mattresses as this can spread the infestation throughout the house and new furniture can quickly become infested. Also, AVOID attempting to resolve the issue yourself as improper treatment could spread the problem throughout and increase costs to eliminate the problem. To learn more about our bed bug services, click here.

The common misconception by some homeowners who suspect bed bugs is that cleaning companies can get rid of active bed bugs without chemicals (or a pest control professional), and can simply clean out the bed bugs with their cleanup services. The short comings of the bed bug cleaning service include vacuuming and putting linens into the dryer on high heat. While this will get rid of visible bed bugs, it still does not address the main areas where they live and breed. Another issue with cleaning companies is that they often unknowingly mishandle linens. Shaking them or flinging them onto the floor can move the bed bugs and cause the infestation to relocate or even spread. While reducing clutter, vacuuming the room, and putting pillows and bed sheets into a dryer on high heat can help with bed bug infestations, it's not a substitute for professional bed bug pest control. Read more about bed bug cleaning services by clicking here.

Most pest control companies will require that you do significant prep work on your own time, without their help, before they even begin service. The actions they require differ based on the type of treatment as well as the type of residence. Leaving preparation in the hands of the client can lead to a myriad of problems that pest control companies are all too familiar with. Cooper's No-Prep Philosophy is how we deliver our bed bug services for our clients because we know the risks of moving bedding, clothing, and other stuff in the room can make additional treatments necessary, potentially causing you additional stress and money. To learn more about Cooper Pest Solutions' No-Prep Philosophy, click here.

Boxelder bugs are an "overwintering pest," migrating to wall voids in the early fall to keep warm and escape the harsh elements. They can be especially difficult to control once they enter the structure, making professional pest control necessary. Adult Boxelder bugs are about 1/2 inch long with 6 legs, and are black in color with red and orange markings on their abdomen. Their wings lay flat across the back and overlap. They live in boxelder trees during the Spring and Summer, feeding off of the leaves, flowers, and seeds. To learn more about boxelder bugs, click here.

Boxelder bugs spend their time thriving in nature during the warmer months. Once the weather becomes cold, they migrate in very large groups to find shelter in hopes of survival. If human made structures are nearby, they will enter through cracks and crevices to hide within wall voids for the winter. Boxelder bugs do not post a significant health threat to humans and although it's not common, they may bite if provoked. To learn more about boxelder bugs, click here.

Trying to control a boxelder bug infestation on your own may result in complications and the worsening of pest activity. If you kill boxelder bugs within the wall voids on your own, the scent of their decaying bodies can attract beetles and increase insect populations within the structure. Boxelder bugs also leave a reddish-orange stain from their disposal of feces when they are squished, which can leave marks on your carpet, clothing, and other fabric items. To learn more about boxelder bugs, click here.

Boxelder bugs primarily feed on the seeds of boxelder trees, which are abundant on properties in our area, growing on their own in nature. Removing boxelder trees from your property will greatly reduce the likelihood of boxelder bug activity. Boxelder bugs are also known to feed on the sap of maple trees, ash trees, and the young fruit of grapes, apples, and plums that could be growing on or near your property. Come late summer/early fall, adult boxelder bugs begin their search for shelter for the duration of the winter. This leads to overwintering in your home that provides the warmth they need for survival. To learn more about residential boxelder bug infestations, click here.

Carpenter ants can cause damage to the wood that makes up your home and often will come back to the structure year after year. Carpenter ant problems can be difficult to control the first time, so you certainly do not want them to re-infest! Since carpenter ants are social insects, their colonies are organized into complex societies with a division of labor among the different castes. Carpenter ants play an important role in the environment by acting as major decomposers of dead or fallen trees within the forest. However, since they are very efficient destroyers of wood, they can become a very serious economic pest when they enter man-made structures. To learn more about carpenter ant identification, click here.

Typical signs of carpenter ant infestations may include:

  • Carpenter ant adults usually appear as large black ants. However, some species contain combinations of black, red or orange occurring on various parts of the body.
  • Carpenter ants prefer to attack wood which has been moistened and is damp or weakened by decay. The difference between carpenter ants and termites is that termites eat the wood while carpenter ants make nests within the structure.
  • Carpenter ant nests can be located in attics, underneath floor coverings, in ceilings, and cracks in walls.
  • Carpenter ants are most active during the night when they forage for food
  • Carpenter ants may bite in defense when their nest is disturbed

To learn more about carpenter ant infestations, click here.

When outdoors, carpenter ants create nests in places such as decaying trees and other rotting or damp wood. They travel out of the nest in search of food sources as well as ideal locations to create satellite nests. These satellite nests are what you usually see with infestations of manmade structures. Carpenter ants burrow through wood, creating cavities within walls, wooden door or window frames, and decks around your home, in search of food. To learn more about carpenter ant infestations, click here.

Carpenter ants cause damage as they burrow through wood at your home. Their pathways look like smooth, round tunnels and can exist anywhere they nest. Carpenter ants are typically drawn to wet wood as opposed to dry wood. This means that they can be found in places such as damp wood in decks, door frames, window frames, and occasionally insulation. Although they do not cause extensive damage like termites would, their presence can lead to greater issues if left untreated for a long period of time. To learn more about the impacts of carpenter ant activity, click here.

Carpenter ants have a very complex set of biology and behavior. Consumer products that you can find at big box retailers look like an inexpensive alternative, but they cannot solve the infestation like a professional can because they do not get to the root of the problem. Without the knowledge of carpenter ant biology and the skills to implement the proper techniques with professional materials, store-bought ant control products are essentially a waste of money and your time. Carpenter ants come back year after year if their nests are not targeted properly and destroyed. To learn more about carpenter ants, click here.

These bees look like large bumble bees, but unlike bumble bees they have a shiny black abdomen. Carpenter bees also have distinctive flight patterns and are often seen diving and darting about and "chasing" each other in flight. They are solitary bees that make nests by chewing perfectly round tunnels into the wood where they lay 6-8 eggs. Many times there will be a brownish stain on the wood directly beneath their nests. These nests are commonly found along the trim of the roof-line, but they can be found in other places around the house as well. Even though each nest is individual many females will often make their nests in the same general area, and will return every year. To learn more about carpenter bee identification, click here.

There are a number of ways a pest professional may treat for carpenter bees, but a few common ways are residual liquid treatment, dust product application and plugging of carpenter bee holes. "We use non repellent products because we don't want the bees to avoid the areas we have treated," said Dave Burgess, Branch Manager of Cooper Pest Solutions. "We feel it is best to get close to the activity so we can precisely apply the products where the bees are likely to come in contact with the pesticide." To learn more about how pest control professionals eliminate carpenter bees and what you can do on your own, click here.

Carpenter bees have a very distinct flying pattern. You can see carpenter bees darting and diving around as well as "chasing" each other. Carpenter bees are also primarily solitary bees, whereas bumble bees are social bees that nest together.

Unlike bumble bees, who are social bees that will sting to protect their nest, carpenter bees are solitary. Since they are primarily solitary bees, the female carpenter bees will only sting if seriously provoked. Read more about bumble bee and carpenter bee identification by clicking here.

Carpenter bees, which are often mistaken for bumble bees due to their similar appearance, are not typically a danger to you, but they can be to your home. They aggressively attack homes, especially along the eaves of roofs where they drill holes and chew into the wood where they build a nest to raise their young. In the fall, new carpenter bees tend to use these tunnels to survive the cold winterincreasing the number of bees and the damage they will create the next spring. Once a home gets carpenter bees the issue tends to reoccur each spring. Many of our customers are also seeing woodpecker damage associated with the carpenter bee activity. The woodpeckers create large holes at the surface of the wood to get to the immature carpenter bees developing in the tunnels. To learn more about carpenter bees, click here.

Carpenter bee removal and pest control, in general, can be difficult for consumers to understand when it comes to pricing. If you're seeing DIY carpenter bee chemicals at the store for $50, carpenter bee removal at one company for $400 and another for $150, what's going on? The pricing varies by how much each company takes the following factors into consideration: quality, guarantee, and expertise. Read more about carpenter bee pricing by clicking here.

Cicada killers may look very imposing because of their large size, but unlike other wasps they rarely sting humans unless they are provoked or threatened. Male cicada killers don't even have stingers! They are black and yellow in color and have orange-brown legs. Cicada killers are solitary wasps, so each female cicada killer will make her own burrow in either bare ground or sparse grass to lay her eggs. They eat flower nectar as adults, but the females hunt and paralyze cicadas to provide food for the immature cicada killers over the winter. Cicada killers will often return to the same places year after year because the conditions are favorable. To learn more about cicada killer identification, click here.

Cicada killers are looking for cicada populations to feed on. If you have cicadas living in the bushes around your home, cicada killers will likely follow. Cicada killers are attracted to sparse lawns and bare, dry soil, so they will make nests on your property in areas that fit these criteria. Their nests are dug into the ground in areas such as along sidewalks, on your lawn, within flower beds, and in gardens. Their tunnels serve the purpose of laying larvae and dragging cicadas down to feed on. To learn more about cicada killers, click here.

Cicada killers are beneficial insects and in most instances will not sting humans. They can cause a small bit of damage to lawns and flowerbeds where their burrows leave small mounds of dirt and holes up to 1 inch in diameter. In general, cicada killers are good insects to have around because they reduce the cicada population, which results in less plant damage. However, they look very intimidating and the males can seem aggressive despite the fact that they cannot sting. Their stinger is solely used to paralyze their prey. Due to their frightening appearance, many people do not want them on their property. To learn more about cicada killer infestations, click here.

Cicada killers have a preference for dry, sandy soil in exposed sunlight, making suburban homes a perfect breeding ground. Common places for cicada killer holes are dry patches in your lawn where dirt may be exposed, under bushes, or within the dirt in between your lawn and sidewalk. It is difficult to completely eliminate cicada killer activity, but chemical treatments to their holes will help to reduce the activity of the females. Having a dense lawn and dense coverage in planters, in addition to letting grass grow a bit taller in July and August will help deter cicada killers. To learn more about cicada killer DIY treatments, click here.

The best way to prevent cicada killers is to have a well-maintained lawn with no areas of bare soil since it is bare soil that is attractive to cicada killers. Allowing your lawn to grow a bit longer in July and August will also help to deter cicada killers. To learn more about cicada killer prevention, click here.

Cockroaches are common pests that infest both houses and commercial buildings where there is food, warmth and moisture. There are multiple different species of cockroaches that can be found in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area including Oriental cockroaches, German cockroaches, and American cockroaches. They are mainly active at night and are often found in homes and restaurants. Unlike pests that primarily feed off of outdoors vegetation, cockroaches are drawn to things that are commonly found in homes such as store-bought food, toothpaste, and kitchen sponges. To learn more about cockroaches, click here.

German cockroaches are best identified by their small size and two dark parallel lines or "racing stripes" running from the back of the head to the wings. It is usually found in kitchens near dishwashers, stoves, and sinks, and in bathrooms of homes. They feed on a wide variety of foods, including almost anything like soap, glue, and toothpaste. American cockroaches are one of the largest cockroaches that invade homes and adult American cockroaches are reddish brown or mahogany colored. They are usually found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, sump pump rooms, and electrical rooms. Learn more about the different types of roaches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania by clicking here.

Cockroach infestations most often begin when someone unknowingly brings an infested item into a home or building. Poor sanitation such as leaving out food or dirty dishes, can encourage an infestation since this type of clutter provides a good food source for the roaches. American roaches usually originate from drains or sewers, and make their way into working or living areas via the pipes and drains. The adults are very strong flyers, allowing them to easily migrate from building to building. Cockroaches also are drawn to less frequented areas near sewers and drainage where they can live among the moisture and clutter made by boxes and papers left in your basement, electrical room, or crawl space. Without addressing a cockroach infestation, they can multiply very quickly. To learn more about cockroach infestations, click here.

Cockroaches can cause major infestations and are quite unsanitary. They are a major source of food contamination leading to food poisoning and have also been found to cause allergies in humans. Cockroaches frequently live in sewers, bringing these conditions with them as they migrate indoors. Pet food bowels are also an easy target for cockroaches, making them a health threat to your dog or cat. Cockroaches can bite humans, but it's highly unlikely. Although the odds are in your favor, there have been reported cases of cockroaches biting nails, eyelashes, and calloused skin on heels. To learn more about cockroach activity in residential homes, click here.

While it is highly unlikely that you would be able to completely eliminate a roach problem only by improving sanitation, it is an important factor in dealing with any cockroach problem. You can make your home far less inviting to cockroaches by keeping your home free of food debris, keeping trashcans and the area around them clean, keeping floors and counters clean, and not storing paper bags and cardboard. Unlike many household pests, cockroaches are prevalent year-round and require professional services in order to gain effective control. To learn more about DIY cockroach control, click here.

The single most important thing you can do to prevent a cockroach infestation is keeping your home as sanitary as possible. This means avoiding clutter (especially paper bags and cardboard), making sure that no food is left out, and keeping floors and counters clean. Ensure that gaps around drain pipes underneath places such as your kitchen and bathroom sinks are properly sealed. If you see cockroaches in your home, you should call a pest control professional immediately. The problem will not go away on its own and will escalate quickly if not addressed. To learn more about cockroach prevention, click here.

Crickets have two distinctive features: their large back legs and their chirping. While all crickets can be identified by their powerful hind legs, it is only the male crickets who chirp in order to attract females. Crickets normally find their way inside when they are seeking warmth and moisture. They tend to prefer living outside in the warmer months and will tend to be less of a problem then. There are two types of crickets that are commonly found indoors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania: house crickets and camel crickets. To learn more about camel crickets, click here.

You can find spider crickets living among other household pests in places such as garages, basements, crawl spaces, and under woodpiles. Anywhere that high levels of moisture exists can attract spider crickets. On the other hand, house crickets will attack paper, damage silk, woolens, fruits, and vegetables all kinds of foods, and even rubber. However, unless large numbers occur, such damage is usually minor. House crickets like warm places such as kitchens, fireplaces, and cracks and crevices and behind baseboards. To learn more about crickets, click here.

Because crickets will eat practically anything, they can cause damage to clothing and curtains in your home, though the damage is seldom significant unless they are present in large numbers. Like most household pests, crickets try to avoid humans. They thrive where conditions are dark where we will not be spending the majority of our time such as crawl spaces and basements. Crickets are more of a nuisance than a direct threat to humans. These jumping pests often travel alone so if you hear chirping, that doesn't necessarily mean you have a heavy infestation. To learn more about cricket infestations, click here.

Making changes to the landscaping on your property is helpful in reducing the number of crickets infesting your home. Be sure that the lawn is well maintained and there are not stacks of things such as firewood along the foundation. Sealing cracks and crevices where they can get in to the home is also very important. Pesticide applications to exterior and baiting or pesticide treatments inside can be very effective in dealing with crickets. You can try to seal up all cracks, crevices, and potential entry points where the crickets could enter your home. You can also switch to yellow (sodium vapor) lights outside since they will attract fewer crickets to them. To learn more about cricket elimination and prevention, click here.

Fleas are small biting insects that feed on dogs and cats, but may also bite humans. Fleas are only 1/8 of an inch long, but they can jump up to 8 inches vertically. They are flat on the sides and have backward facing spines on their bodies. Fleas can be spread through the house as their eggs fall off the pet as it moves through the home and the yard, but in general they spend the majority of their time on the host animal. They become an even larger issue when they begin breeding in your home. These tiny jumping pests are a true nuisance and plague homeowners that experience their activity. To learn more about flea identification, click here.

Flea infestations begin when an animal brings them into the home. This can be a result of a pet, or could be coming from a wild mammal like squirrels, raccoons, and feral cats. Flea activity in your home can also be a sign of a rodent or wildlife issue. A common hiding place for fleas is rugs and carpeting. They burrow into the fibers where they can avoid light and low levels of humidity. Once larvae become adults, they jump onto a passing host such as your dog, which is when you begin to see the infestation. To learn more about flea infestations, click here.

Fleas can spread quickly since each female flea can between 400 and 800 eggs in her lifetime. Fleas feed on the blood of their host which could easily be your pet or even your leg. Flea bites on humans tend to be around the feet, ankles, and lower legs, manifesting as red bumps surrounded by a halo shape. The bites can become very itchy and uncomfortable for both humans and pets. To learn more about fleas, click here.

If you find evidence of fleas on your pet, call your veterinarian. They may suggest a flea dip as well as specialized shampoos to eliminate the current fleas. If you have fleas in your house, you can also lessen the problem by vacuuming. Target your pet's favorite spots to lay or spend time. Vacuuming is a significant part of reducing flea populations indoors, but it will not completely solve the problem. Professional pest control is your best defense against flea infestations. There is little that you can do with store bought sprays and foggers to eliminate all of the fleas in your home once they have infested areas such as carpeting. To learn more about flea elimination, click here.

There is very little that you can do on your own to get rid of a flea infestation once it is established in your home because of the complexity of these infestations. The best "DIY" option is to use flea treatments for pets so that they don′t get fleas in the first place. Address rodent and wildlife infestations once you discover them or suspect they are in your home as quickly as possible to avoid the possible spread of fleas. To learn more about DIY flea control, click here.

The typical House Mouse (Mus musculus) is anywhere from two to four inches in length, as opposed to the common, and much larger, Norway Rat which measures seven to nine inches in length. Of course, it may be easy to distinguish between the two if both are at adult size, but a juvenile Norway Rat that has not reached full size can look similar to an adult House Mouse. When it comes to nesting, mice are skillful climbers and have no problem inhabiting the attic in your home. Due to their small size, mice can also fit into the smallest of holes, allowing them to access parts of your home you didn't think anything could fit in. Rats, on the other hand, can climb but prefer to inhabit lower levels of a structure, such as a basement or a crawlspace. To learn more about the differences between mice and rats, click here.

Mice make their nests in houses where there human activity is the lowest. They seek out places where they are least likely to be disturbed to create their nest. A single mouse will create a nest to live and raise pups. Once pups are old enough to live on their own, they leave the nest and create their own individual nests. Nests can be found pretty much anywhere within a home or on the property. The most common hiding places for mice nests are: insulation, attics, under refrigerators, under stoves, and under dishwashers. To learn more about mouse infestations, click here.

The best way to tell if you are being charged too much or too little is to do your research. Local pest control companies will have pricing that greatly varies based on their specific business and tools. To find a pest control company whose pricing meets your needs, you must first determine what is most important to you, focusing on the following topics: reliability, service guarantee, reputation, tactics, price. To learn more about mouse control pricing, click here.

Mice only need a ¼ inch gap to enter your home," according to Dr. Richard Cooper, staff entomologist for Cooper Pest Solutions. "So homeowners need to seal up any obvious gaps around entry doors, garage doors and utility penetration points that are a ¼ of an inch or larger." Mouse activity can be present year round, but typically becomes more of a problem when the warmer months are coming to a close when they are seeking shelter from the cold. Mice are attracted to your home because they have found a food source and are not being disturbed, allowing them to multiply quickly. To learn more about DIY mouse control, click here.

Are you hearing animals scratching during the day or at night? Unfortunately, you are most likely experiencing mouse or squirrel activity within your home. It's not very hard for them to take advantage of cracks, crevices, and openings within your foundation and on your roof to wreak havoc to your valuables. Not only is their presence a nuisance, but it can be a health risk because of their excessive urine and droppings that easily spread. Differentiating squirrel and mouse activity is often hard to do, but is necessary for taking your first step towards elimination. Consider looking for droppings, entry points, tampered food, and listen for scratching. To learn more about mouse and squirrel identification, click here.

What many homeowners don't realize is that mice can squeeze through holes much smaller than their body size, making it possible for them to into your home through even the smallest of holes on the exterior of your home. Mice can actually fit into holes as small as a dime and can quickly slip into your home unnoticed. "There may also be gaps that aren't visibly accessible which are covered by siding or moldings, that can allow rodents to get in," said Dr. Cooper. "Rodents can find entry points that you might not even be aware of." Learn more about signs of mouse activity in your home by clicking here.

There is nothing in steel wool that repels mice. However, it will keep them from getting into cracks and crevices in your home. Simply go to your local hardware, grocery, or wholesale store and buy some steel wool. Walk around your house and look for any holes or cracks that a mouse might squeeze into and stuff the openings with the steel wool. Unlike drywall or other materials, mice have a very hard time chewing through the steel wool making it the perfect filler. Common areas, which should be filled in with steel wool include corners of unfinished basements, the perimeter of crawl spaces, and utility entry points such as plumbing pipes.

The millipedes found in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area are small, black and brown in color, and have segmented, worm-like bodies, although they aren't worms at all. Millipedes are actually arthropods. The name "millipede" comes from Latin origin, meaning "thousand feet." It's a common misconception that millipedes have 1,000 legs, because there have never been any recorded cases of millipedes reaching that amount. Millipedes have between 40-400 pairs of legs depending on the species, of which there about 10,000. Millipedes are slow moving and tend to curl up into a spiral when disturbed, releasing an unpleasant scent. To learn more about millipedes, click here.

Millipedes feed on decaying plant matter and prefer to live where they can find high levels of moisture and protection. Ideal living spaces include under rocks, mulch beds, flowerbeds, and gardens. You may see them in your home when it's too dry or hot outside and your basement provides significant moisture. To learn more about millipede infestations, click here.

This is one of the most common questions that people ask about millipedes. Millipedes and centipedes are both arthropods that have segmented bodies and a large amount of legs. Both insects are commonly found in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, although you're much more likely to see a centipede in your home than a millipede. The main differentiators are the number of legs, size, color, diet, and movement. To learn more about the differences between centipedes and millipedes, click here.

No, millipedes do not bite or sting. As a defense mechanism, millipedes will curl up and release an unpleasant smell. They are not dangerous, wood-destroying, poisonous, or a threat to your pets, food or possessions. If you see millipedes in your home, don't be alarmed. To learn more about millipede biology, click here.

Millipedes can be controlled by sealing cracks and crevices that serve as entry points and keeping vegetation and moisture of any sort away from the foundation of your home. After heavy rains, it's especially likely that millipedes will be pushed into your home if an entry point exists. Especially dry or hot weather creates an uncomfortable environment for millipedes, so they may be drawn into your home if you have water damage or humidity in your basement or garage. Simply vacuum them up as you see them because they will die in 24-48 hours indoors. To learn more about millipede elimination and prevention, click here.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness found in Aedes aegypti, commonly referred to as the Yellow Fever mosquito. It is primarily transmitted by mosquito bites, but it may also be transmitted through sex and blood transfusions, although blood transfusions haven't been confirmed yet. Many people infected with Zika may not have any symptoms of the virus, or they may be mild. Common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle pan, and headaches. To learn more about Zika virus, click here.

The CDC has evaluated information published in peer-reviewed scientific literature and data available from EPA to identify several types of EPA-registered products that provide repellent activity sufficient to help people reduce the bites of disease-carrying mosquitoes. In addition to repellents, there are several steps you can take on your own such as eliminating standing water around your home. Learn more about summer pest prevention by clicking here.

If you'd like to take a stab at tackling the mosquitoes in your yard yourself, here are a few options you can try: mosquito repellent candles, natural plants, outdoor bug foggers, and outdoor bug sprays. Each option has their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to ease of us and effectiveness when compared to professional mosquito control. To learn more about DIY mosquito control, click here.

There are some factors that can contribute to varying prices among pest control companies including frequency, equipment used, education of technicians and materials used. The main things you want to take a closer look at are service frequency, equipment, technician training, and materials used. To learn more about mosquito pricing, click here.

Chikungunya is a dangerous virus that is being spread by mosquitoes, specifically the Asian Tiger mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization, it was first reported during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952. The virus has traditionally affected Europe, Asia, and Africa, but was reported in the Americas in late 2013. Symptoms include but are not limited to joint pain, fever, rash, and headache. To learn more about Chikungunya virus, click here.

It's important to note that the EPA does not require botanically based repellents to be registered. This leaves a lot of "natural" or "organic" products on the market with limited data to confirm their "green" claims. However, lemon eucalyptus oil has undergone careful examination for effectiveness and remains approved by the EPA as highly effective and of minimal risk. To learn more about natural mosquito repellents, click here.

Mosquitoes are a type of fly that belong to the insect family Culex. The females have the piercing and sucking mouthparts that are necessary to allow them to feed on human and animal blood, which allows them to nourish their eggs. The male of the species does not bite and can even be beneficial in helping to pollinate some flowers. Mosquito bodies and wings are covered in tiny scales. Adult sizes may range from 3 to 9 mm. Read more mosquito fast facts by clicking here.

You may experience increased mosquito activity if you live in an area near water sources that serve as breeding grounds. All species rely on a water source for their larval and pupal stages and cannot otherwise mature to an adult stage, where reproduction and blood meals begin. Mosquitoes of different species lay their eggs in water sources ranging from small containers to vast marshlands. To learn more about why mosquitoes are attracted to your property, click here.

It's important to know that DEET does not kill mosquitoes and ticks. DEET repels these pests that approach you by creating an invisible barrier around the areas where the product has been applied, making you undetectable to mosquitoes and ticks. Products that contain DEET display the amount of the ingredient by percentage. It's important to note that higher percentages do not indicate a higher strength of DEET. The amount of DEET within a product dictates how long it will last once applied. For example, a product with 25% DEET will last several hours. However a product containing 4% DEET will last a much shorter length of time. When applying DEET, it's important that you follow the instructions to remain safe. To learn more about the impacts of DEET, click here.

When gutters are left open, debris from falling leaves and other vegetation clog up the water flow. Without anywhere to go, rainfall sits and continues to collect in the gutters. In general, mosquitoes are attracted to stagnant water in large or small quantities such as ponds, rain water collected in buckets around your home, in bird baths, and on plastic play sets in your back yard. Clogged gutters offer that same environment which is potentially more dangerous if your gutters aren't cleaned regularly. To learn more about how clogged gutters can cause pest problems, click here.

There are several different species of ants that are commonly found throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even though most of the ant species are considered nuisance ants, there are species that can actually cause structural damage to your home. If you can correctly identify what type of ant is invading your home, you'll be able to better understand the treatment options for that species. Nuisance ants typically include odorous house ants and pavement ants. To learn more about the different types of nuisance ants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, click here.

There are four key differences between flying ants and termites. Flying ants have a pinched waist and elbowed antennae, which often has them being mistaken for termites. They also have two sets of wings, which one set is larger than the second. Termites, however, have a straight antennae and their wing sets are of equal length. They also have more of a tubular, thick waist. Another major difference is that termites lose their wings readily, shedding them onto the ground, whereas the wings on ants typically remain attached to the insect's body. Learn more about flying ant and termite identification by clicking here.

Are you sick and tired of trying everything to get rid of those stubborn ants that are invading your home? What exactly are you doing wrong that you can't seem to get rid of them? There's actually several reasons why your DIY ant remedies may be failing. Do the ants in your home seem to be avoiding the bait you put down? If so, it may because you're using the wrong bait. Learn DIY tips for successful ant control by clicking here.

Bait placement is critical when trying to remove ants from a dwelling. Where you place the bait can determine if it will be a success or not. Just like spraying repellents, bait placement along ant trails (that include lines and edges) would be the first place to start. Follow the edges along baseboards and place your bait in a corner along that baseboard. You may also find ants crawling along the edges of your backsplash, if this is the case, place bait near those edges. If you already know the ant trail, start there. For instance, if you know you're seeing ants in your kitchen near your dishwasher, perhaps start by spraying along the baseboards leading to that location. If there are any cracks or crevices, be sure to include those because they might be entry points for the ants. To learn more DIY tactics to get rid of the ants in your home, click here.

The definition of repellent is as follows: "a substance that deters insects or other pests from approaching or settling." Basically, an ant repellent does as its title implies: it repels ants. This means creating a barrier that the ants no longer want to cross and instead search for somewhere else to go. Some repellents can work, however, in the end you'll just be redirecting the ants, and they may find another entryway into your home. Repellents don't kill the colony, and if that's what you want to do, then you may want to use a bait instead. To learn more about ant repellent and ant bait, click here.

There are several ways that you can help get rid of ants once they have made their way into your home including DIY practices and store-bought items. Homemade ant repellents and sprays can be effective if used in the correct dosage and in the right locations. Without proper usage, you are unlikely to control any ants in your home. In terms of store bought products, diatomaceous earth, Terro liquid bait stations, and Amdro liquid ant baits are the mostly likely to produce results. To learn more about ant sprays, click here.

Controlling the flying ant population at your home can be challenging to do on your own. Once a swarm begins, flying ants will emerge in as many as hundreds of thousands. Fortunately, this typically only lasts for a few hours to a few days and then ceases. The goal of flying ants is to use their wings to leave the colony and reproduce. Swarming does not happen frequently, so pest control companies will focus on preventative rather than reactive services. You can vacuum up flying ants and dispose of them as they are visible. To learn more about flying ants, click here.

Of all the ants that are native to our area, only carpenter ants and acrobat ants can cause structural damage to your home. Of the two, carpenter ants are more serious than acrobat ants because they will destroy sound wood in addition to wood that has been weakened by moisture damage. Acrobat ants tend to cause less damage and are usually associated in areas of the structure where moisture is a problem. To learn more about ant infestations, click here.

Generally carpenter ants are most active at night while they search for food. During the warm months they feed on other insects or substances obtained from other insects, such as a sugary secretion known as "honeydew," produced from aphids. However, during the colder months the ants remain largely dormant and only become active when temperatures become warm or if their colony is located near a heat source, such as a heating duct in the wall. To learn more about ants do in the winter, click here.

The biggest concern with ant infestations within your home is the potential for disease. Ants are constantly moving back and forth, indoors and back out, picking up germs along the way. This means that bacteria living on the ground or in your pipes can surface and spread if ants cross your food. Sugar ants are the most likely to cause infection because of their specific attraction to sugary and greasy foods such as cookies and chips. To learn more about the dangers of ant infestations, click here.

Your kitchen is the most common place to find nuisance ants. They are attracted to resources such as food and water to keep the colony alive and growing. Inevitably, your family will end up dropping small crumbs after snacks and meals without knowing it. Pet food bowls are a perfect way for small ants and other pests to thrive in your kitchen. Throw away uneaten pet food or lift it away from the floor into a sealed container at the end of each day to avoid this scenario. Ants and other pests can easily find pet food in poorly sealed containers such as the large paper bags that they come in. To learn more about why ants are attracted to kitchens, click here.

Silverfish, also called "bristletails," are shaped like a flattened carrot and are silver or gray in color. They grow to be between ½-¾ of an inch long and have three tail-like appendages at the tip of the abdomen. Silverfish are very active at night and can run very quickly. They are usually found in areas with relatively high levels of humidity and moisture, and their flat bodies allow them to live in very tight spaces. This means bathrooms, attics, garages, crawl spaces, and basements are especially vulnerable to silverfish activity. To learn more about silverfish identification, click here.

Silverfish find their way in doors while searching for warmth, moisture and food. Easy entry points exist around your home such as windows, door frames, utility pipes, and shake roofs. They can also be brought in as stowaways in boxes or packages. Although silverfish don't cause structural damage or pass on diseases to humans, they do cause damage to books, wallpaper, paper goods, and sometimes clothing. To learn more about silverfish infestations, click here.

Silverfish aren't known to bite or attack humans and pets or spread diseases. Valuables such as photo albums, important documents, receipts, and treasured books can be targets for silverfish feeding. Their presence can be uncomfortable for those who have a low tolerance for pest activity in their home, which is when professional pest control becomes an option. Because they eat mold, persistent silverfish activity can be indicative of mold problems, water damage, or broken/leaking utility pipes. To learn more about silverfish, click here.

Since silverfish are nocturnal, spending their days hiding in small spaces, it is hard to get rid of an existing population without professional pest control. The best way to reduce the silverfish populations in your home is to create an environment that is not desirable for breeding. To learn more about silverfish infestations, click here.

To prevent silverfish you should make sure that you do all that you can to prevent build up of moisture, humidity, and mold in you home. This can be achieved by keeping up with regular maintenance and sanitation. Reducing the storage of clutter and cardboard boxes (which can lead to mold problems) is also helpful. However, it is difficult to eliminate their food sources because they are so disposed to eat paper and glue that holds wallpaper together. To learn more about silverfish prevention, click here.

If you are ready to purchase pest control for spiders in your home, you should be prepared to select the type of company and their program features to meet your exact needs. Any pest control company should be able to answer the following questions, which will guide you to make an informed decision. The main areas you want to focus on are treatment method, types of spiders treated, coverage period, and guarantee. To learn more about spider removal pricing, click here.

Wolf spiders are large spiders that can be found in and around homes in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. They are often mistaken for tarantulas because of their alarming appearance, speed, and size. If you have Wolf spiders living on your property, they could wander into your home in search of small insects to eat. Female wolf spiders are 3/8 – 1 3/8" and males are 1/4 – 3/4" and they can be a combination of varying shades of brown and black to help them camouflage. Wolf spiders, called lycosids, have 8 legs and 8 eyes separated into two rows. Their multitude of eyes provides them with keen night vision for nocturnal activity. To learn more about wolf spiders, click here.

There are several types of spiders that are commonly found in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which include the wolf spider, brown recluse spider, and cellar spider. Spiders are drawn to basements due to the dark, damp conditions that exist. They are actually beneficial because they eat almost every other tiny bug in your basement. To learn more about spiders and other pests that lurk in your basement, click here.

There are several different species of spiders that can be found in many New Jersey and Pennsylvania homes. However, most are harmless and are only seen as a nuisance rather than a threat. Common household spiders that aren't dangerous include cellar spiders, American house spiders, jumping spiders, and wolf spiders. The only dangerous spiders is the black widow. To learn more about the types of spiders in your home, click here.

Daddy longleg is not an established name for any specific insect, but is a nickname originating in the United States due to their unique appearance. When someone says that they see a "daddy longleg," they are unknowingly referring to Opilionids arachnids, which is not a spider at all, and more closely related to scorpions. They are also called "harvestmen" because some say that their legs resemble scythes used by farmers to harvest their crops. To learn more about daddy longlegs, click here.

The Eastern gray squirrel is the most common squirrel in our area. They are a mixture of gray and brown with a white underbelly. The diet of an Eastern gray squirrel mainly consists of nuts, primarily hickory nuts, walnuts, acorns, beechnuts, and bird seed when available. Eastern gray squirrels measure 8-10 inches in length with a large, bushy tail that's 7.5-10 inches long. To learn more about squirrels, click here.

Take a look around your roof and above the highest story of your home. Are there torn screens, broken gable vents, aged gutters, or other openings? Repairing all of these areas will block off easy access points for squirrel nesting. Keeping trees cut back 6-8 feet away from the home will remove natural bridges they can climb to access your gutters and attic. Do not hang bird feeders from trees. Squirrels can easily break in and steal any food, leaving the bird feeder broken in the process. To learn more about squirrel prevention, click here.

You can identify squirrel damage on the exterior of your home by looking for holes like you can see below. The holes are large enough for a big squirrel to fit through, and are along edges where material can be more easily separated. Signs of squirrel nesting in your attic include scratching noises, droppings, damaged fascia boards and damaged shingles. To learn more about squirrel damage, click here.

In the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, the most common species of squirrel is the Eastern Gray Squirrel. They can find their way into your attic by entering through fascia boards, shingles, and eaves on your home. They take shelter and create their nests, typically housing 2-7 squirrels at a time. On the other hand, mice live in hidden areas such as garages, attics, lofts, and wall interiors, making them nearly impossible to remove on your own. Read more about mice and squirrels by clicking here.

Squirrels, similarly to mice, will find any opening to enter your home to nest, especially during the winter. That means if you have an opening through an attic vent or soffit, that's a potential point-of-entry for the squirrels. In other cases, they will chew a hole which they will then use to enter your home. It doesn't take much for the squirrels to enter, but once they make it into your home, the damage they cause can be substantial. Sealing and reinforcing vulnerabilities around the exterior of your home prevent squirrels from entering. Repair broken screens and vents to further ensure they're not able to enter your attic. To learn more about squirrel nesting in attics, click here.

Any reputable pest control company should be able to answer the following questions and provide comprehensive responses.

Questions to ask a pest control company

  • How long have you been performing pest control?
  • What training do your technicians receive? Are they DEP and state certified?
  • What pesticides and materials are used to perform the service?
  • How are you going to perform the service? Why do you believe this is the best option?
  • What type of wasp do I have? How did you come to this conclusion?
  • How quickly can I expect them to be gone? What happens if they come back?

To learn more about wasp nest removal pricing, click here.

You may be seeing stinging insects such as wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets flying around and nesting at your home this summer. Although they are not likely to sting unless provoked, it's still advised that you get the quickest, highest quality nest removal to ensure the safety of your family and pets. Why take chances when you don't have to? Ordering stinging insect nest removal online is ideal because of quick response time, quality of service, ease of ordering, and simple pricing. To learn more about what to look for when you buy stinging insect nest removal online, click here.

Paper wasps are one of the first insects to become active in the early spring months (April/May) and will continue to be active throughout the entire summer. As they emerge, they will begin to build their nests on various structures, including homes, decks, swing sets, storage sheds and much more. They will collect wood from wooden playsets, deck railings, fences or barks of trees to help construct their nests. Since many people are afraid of wasps, seeing a nest could cause alarm. Although wasps are only moderately aggressive, they will readily sting if they feel their nest is being threatened. Their sting can be painful and can cause an anaphylactic reaction in those who are allergic. To learn about wasp nest prevention, click here.

During the early fall, yellow jackets tend to become more aggressive as their natural food source declines. Since they are attracted to sweets and proteins, you may happen to notice them more around trash receptacles, barbecues and at tailgating events near the beer or sugary drinks. The combination of yellow jacket numbers being at their peak coupled with an increased level of aggression, the fall months are the most dangerous time for being stung without provocation. Those who are allergic to bee stings should exercise caution around the wasps because they are capable of stinging multiple times. DO NOT taunt or provoke the yellow jackets otherwise; they will easily sting you, especially in the fall. To learn more about yellow jacket activity in the fall, click here.

Most of the DIY remedies suggest that homeowners get in close contact with the yellow jacket nests to spray or dump the solution into the nest, however, this can be extremely dangerous. You should never get near a yellow jacket nest without the proper safety gear on otherwise you're subjecting yourself to the possibility of getting stung multiple times. "Most pesticides available to the public are repellents," said Dave Burgess, Branch Manager. "The aerosols that spray from afar are often the most repellent and the ones most likely pushed for stinging insects, that way the homeowner avoids the stings. The side effect of that is when you treat an entrance hole, the bees may try to find another way out. If they are nesting in a wall void or soffit area, the other way is often inside the house!" To learn more about yellow jacket nest removal, click here.

To avoid stinging insects, never swat them if they fly around you or land on you. Gently brush them aside so they're not tempted to sting. Garbage cans stored outside should be covered with tight-fitting lids. Yellow jackets in particular are attracted to sweets that could be in your trash can, not to mention open soda cans and uncovered food at your family barbecue. For more tips on how to avoid stinging insects, click here.

If you are tempted to take down a wasp nest on your own, you've probably heard of the following strategies: fire/burning, dish soap, and using a bat. All of these dangerous acts can very easily cause the wasps to swarm and sting you severely. Professional pest control services differ from any DIY treatments because they have access to different tools. For example, wearing bee gear allows technicians to get very close to the nest without the risk of getting stung. To learn more about wasp nest removal, click here.

Stink bugs do not bite. They do not have fangs or a stinger but instead have a sucking mouth part. They are attracted to plant matter and fruits, including the fruit from trees that drop long bean pods, rather than seeking human flesh. Stink bugs do not pose any significant health risk to humans because they avoid areas of high traffic, taking shelter in wall voids away from predators. To learn more about the impact of stink bugs on residential homes, click here.

Stink bugs make their ways indoors beginning in the late summer to overwinter in homes. Once they enter a structure, they will stay active all winter long. As the weather warms up and spring arrives, stink bugs will emerge throughout your home as they try to make their way outdoors once again. Although they pose no harm to humans, they can be troublesome for homeowners if they invade a home in large numbers, which can be frustrating when they become active. To learn more about stink bug activity in the spring, click here.

The brown marmorated stink bug is the most abundant in our area and is what you will see in your bathroom. They are about the size of a penny so they don't need a giant hole to enter homes. They are not destructive so they aren't an immediate threat to your home. However, many clients call in about stink bug treatments because they simply don't like seeing pests in their home To learn more about why stink bugs show up in your bathroom, click here.

Stink bugs are one of the most difficult pests to eliminate. Don't panic! There are some precautionary measures you can take to prevent stink bug infestations on your own. While these tips will not prevent stink bugs with 100% success, but they will offer some relief if taken care of before stink bug season begins. To prevent stink bugs, seal cracks around the most common stink bug entry points which include windows, siding, utility pipes, and behind chimneys. To learn more tips for DIY stink bug prevention, click here.

To escape the winter, certain types of bugs seek the comfort of your home in insulated areas. Overwintering bugs will traditionally seek south-facing walls since they offer the greatest warmth due to sun radiation during the winter and will seek to "shut down" in order to survive the coldest months. The bugs will also not eat, grow, or reproduce, which is why they are generally not considered an infestation. To learn more about stink bug activity in the winter, click here.

Termites are a common occurrence in nature, and are constantly in search of additional food sources. Worker termites travel underground looking for fallen trees, decaying wood, plant debris, and other cellulose materials to consume and bring back to the colony. It is not uncommon to find termites in mulch or a nearby wood pile around your home. Improper moisture control, leaf litter, and direct wood-to-soil contact are all prime conditions that can promote termite activity on your property, often times within close proximity to your home. To learn more about termites, click here.

Cooper designed the TermAware™ Program to be the most comprehensive termite service that the industry has to offer. Our program addressed the limitations that are posed when either a liquid treatment or a baiting only system are used as the only means of control. TermAware™ incorporates the latest technology in termite detection with proven treatment products and methods to provide you an unparalleled level of control and peace of mind. The combination of liquid treatment and preventative monitoring will eliminate the threats that exist today and identify the threats of tomorrow. To learn more about TermAware™, click here.

Cooper's strategy for active termite elimination combines monitoring and treatment. Sentricon® Always Active works through monitoring systems in the ground around your home; however these monitoring stations always contain a small amount of bait to kill any termite colonies that may find their way onto your property. Sentricon® Always Active stations are monitored using a scanner which connects to a computer and provides accurate results in less time. The service consists of two inspections a year for at least a two year period to make sure that termites have not been active on your property. Sentricon® will kill termites before they can reach your home and do any damage, leaving you worry-free about the cost of additional services or repairs. To learn more about termite elimination, click here.

Some of the top termite misconceptions are based around effectiveness of service. For example, many believe that liquid termite treatments will break down over time regardless of who does the treatment and what material is used. Others say that baiting programs are dependent upon termites finding the bait stations and then consuming the bait. Our specialists debunk common myths in this blog post.

Protecting your home from termites depends where you are in the process of decision making. Not sure if you have termites? Proactive monitoring can help you detect termites on your property before they become a problem. Already have a termite problem? Baiting and liquid treatments applied by pest professionals are your best bet. Learn more about how termite prevention and treatments work by clicking here.

There are four key differences between flying ants and termites. Flying Ants have a pinched waist and elbowed antennae, which often has them being mistaken for termites. They also have two sets of wings, which one set is larger than the second. Termites, however, have a straight antennae and their wing sets are of equal length. They also have more of a tubular, thick waist. Another major difference is that termites lose their wings readily, shedding them onto the ground, whereas the wings on ants typically remain attached to the insect's body. To learn more about termite identification, click here.

If your property is backed up to a wood line or you don't regularly mow your lawn, it greatly increases your chances for tick activity. If your property has these elements, any host (dogs or humans) can fall prey to ticks, in turn bringing them indoors. Deer and other wild animals are even more susceptible to ticks simply because they live outdoors and venture back and forth between your yard and the woods or other natural habitats. Even homes without wood lines can fall victim to tick activity through visits from these critters. To learn more about tick treatments and who needs them, click here.

Ticks live in places such as unmanicured lawns, brush, along wood lines, tall grasses, fields, and parks. Areas with an abundance of tall foliage are conducive to tick activity, giving them a perfect place to latch onto while waiting for a host. When humans or animals such as pets walk through these areas of dense growth, ticks cling onto exposed skin to feed off of their new host. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are no exceptions, having one of the highest tick populations this season than ever before. Continue reading about tick activity in New Jersey and Pennsylvania by clicking here.

Fatalities from the disease occur in approximately 10% of the time, however among survivors nearly 50% suffer some type of permanent neurological effects, ranging from headaches, muscle deterioration, and memory loss. What makes this disease so scary is the speed of transmission by ticks. Diseases like Lyme disease can be prevented simply by removing ticks with the first 24-36 hours after their mouthparts have been embedded into their host's skin. In contrast, Powassan can be transmitted by ticks in less than 3 hours, and it is believed to be as short as 15-30 minutes after the tick's mouthparts have been embedded. To learn more about Powassan virus, click here.

Cooper's Tick Prevention Program is priced by the square footage of the area that is going to be treated. This means that pricing will vary between property size and amount of breeding and harborage areas that need to be serviced. After determining the square footage of your property and all of the areas that need to be treated, our customized pricing is developed for your home. Depending on the month that service starts, you can have between 2 and 4 preventative treatments. We begin providing service for clients as early as April and as late as October with an average price of $75 per treatment. To learn more about tick treatment pricing, click here.

It's important to know that DEET does not kill mosquitoes and ticks. DEET repels these pests that approach you by creating an invisible barrier around the areas where the product has been applied, making you undetectable to mosquitoes and ticks. Products that contain DEET display the amount of the ingredient by percentage. It's important to note that higher percentages do not indicate a higher strength of DEET. The amount of DEET within a product dictates how long it will last once applied. For example, a product with 25% DEET will last several hours. However a product containing 4% DEET will last a much shorter length of time. When applying DEET, it's important that you follow the instructions to remain safe. To learn more about DEET, click here.

Yes

To schedule an appointment please call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-949-2667 or fill out the form on our website.

Yes. Just ask us for quick service when you call and there is no additional charge for expedited service. If you call too late for same day service in most cases, we will be able to come to your home or office the next day. You will never have to wait a week for service.

No. For most services, you do not even need to be home. If you would like to be home when service is performed and require a scheduled two hour time frame, you will need to call us ahead of time so that we can provide this for you.

Because we offer a variety of pest control solutions and residential homes vary in size, please call Cooper for an accurate pest evaluation.

Our technicians are trained in a rigorous 8 week program; while many of our competitors training is typically 1-2 weeks. For example, Orkin touts that their technicians receive 160 hours of training in the first year*, while all Cooper technicians receive double the amount of training in just their first two months on the job to better serve our clients!

Each Cooper technician is individually licensed in the states they provide service in and they are required by law to take continuing education hours to maintain their licenses. Additionally, our team of entomologists are nationally recognized experts and provide training programs for our technicians.

*Source http://www.orkin.com/about/commercial-training-program/

Entomologist Theodore H. Cooper founded Cooper Pest Solutions in 1955.

You may pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Payments plans are also available.

At Cooper, our entomologists have determined how to use the least amount of chemicals necessary to eradicate pests from your home. Cooper Pest Solutions has always put an emphasis on minimizing the use of pesticides, relying on non-chemical treatments first. By carefully studying the biology and behavior of pests, our technicians do not treat each home the same. Programs are customized to reduce pesticide usage and successfully treat your home for pests.

All the materials we use at Cooper Pest Solutions are carefully regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. All of our technicians are state licensed and trained application of all materials we use. At Cooper we always practice environmentally conscious pest control. We apply all pesticides according to label instructions.

Quality Pro MemberQualityPro is 3rd party certification awarded by the National Pest Management Association to pest control companies that go above and beyond the minimum requirements for state licensing. The requirements for earning QualityPro credentials include demonstrable environmental stewardship and implementation of industry "best practices." The honor is considered the highest mark of excellence in the industry since only 400 or so pest management companies out of 12,000 have achieved this certification nationwide. Cooper Pest Solutions is proud to be a Qualitypro member.

If you want year round protection from pests, or if you have multiple pest issues, Cooper's Home Traditional or Home Intensive service is a better fit. Although your pest problem was recently solved, long-term prevention requires seasonal protection to ensure the problem does not return. You can learn more about our residential service plans here.

Depending on the service performed, we will let you know how long we recommend giving the materials to work before calling to request an additional service. However, if you have additional concerns, please contact us.

While other pest management companies may also offer a service guarantee, the difference is that Cooper will follow up immediately if you have a recurring problem. At Cooper we believe a guarantee is only as good as the service behind it and Cooper will allocate all of our entomology resources if necessary to solve difficult pest problems to your satisfaction.