Pest Control in Southeast Pennsylvania

 If you discover any of these bugs, resist the urge to sleep on a couch or different bed. Bed bugs will just follow you to the new location and spread out their numbers into the next room. Contact a professional for bed bug control as soon as possible.

Some red flags that might indicate bed bugs are the following:

• Pungent musky odors released by bed bugs’ glands.
• Small red blood stains on your sheets or pillows.
• Rust-colored spots of excrement on your linens.
• Multiple itchy red bite marks along your body that are in alignment.
• Shed bed bug skins.

DIY and store-bought solutions for pest control can be a Band-Aid solution, but they will rarely stop the problem at its source. Not to mention, most homeowners lack the experience needed to use these products properly and might put themselves and their loved ones at risk by using pest control products incorrectly. When you work with professionals, you have the benefit of satisfaction guarantees, industry training, and recurring service. Going the professional route is the smartest choice for your health and wallet.

In the late summer and fall, the spotted lanternfly prefers feeding on Ailanthus altissima, commonly known as the "Tree of Heaven." They can be found feeding on other plants and maple and stone fruit trees. The Tree of Heaven is also an invasive species that is found along the road right of ways and in strips of woods and weeds.

Professional exterminators in Southeast Pennsylvania will not only be trained in how to safely and effectively utilize pest control products, but they will also have the added expertise necessary to identify the source of infestations, entry points, and other important factors to consider when trying to eliminate pests. Recurring treatment plans are often necessary for long-term solutions, and a professional will be able to establish a reliable service plan for consistent results. In the long run, you’ll save money and headache by working with the experts.

These insects threaten some agricultural products such as grapevines and even maple trees.  SLF attaches to the branch of the plant they choose to feed upon and begin to drain the nutritional sap from the tree.  Some trees will have over 1 thousand SLF feeding at one time.  With this level of feeding, the plant or tree becomes weakened or just dies outright from lack of nourishment.

Here at PCT, we prioritize using EPA-approved products and methods that are safe for you, children, and pets, and the environment. 

SLF can cause numerous problems for homeowners as well besides weakening or killing desirable plants.  Egg masses are sometimes laid on the sides of buildings and can be difficult to remove.  If a car is parked under a tree where SLF are feeding, fecal residue from the SLF drops down from the tree and gets on the car, boat, or other finishes, and is very difficult to remove.  SLF can also congregate in large numbers on homes but also on high-rise buildings.

It is rare that you’ll need to leave your home for a treatment. Typically, only severe infestations require a home or business to be evacuated. Your technicians will communicate with you throughout your treatment process, keeping you up-to-date on what you can expect with your service. 

PCT was one of the first companies in the area to identify SLF and develop effective treatment techniques for these invasive pests.  If you see SLF congregating on or near your home call PCT at 610-601-3117 for effective treatments before they lay egg masses or damage outdoor items.

You’ll likely see results within a two-week period. However, some factors, such as the type and number of pests you’re dealing with, can speed up or slow down the process. 

Preventative and recurring treatments are an important part of keeping pests from returning.

Even the cleanest homes fall victim to pests. Often, insects and wildlife are simply searching for shelter, food, and water—things that they can easily find in your home. 

The easiest way to tell the difference between ants and termites is to look at their anatomy:

• Ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist, and four wings, and front wings that are longer than the rear wings.
• Termites are straight-bodied, have no waist, and have four translucent wings of equal length.​

Bed bugs can originate from nearly anywhere, but they are common in areas that see a lot of contact with the public. More often than not, your infestation came from contact with infested furniture in hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments. Furniture and clothing from second-hand venues could also transfer these bugs into your home.

Bed bugs are part of the Cimicidae family. They are small insects, with adults growing no larger than an apple seed. They are brown, oval-shaped and flat, becoming bloated and red-tinted after feeding. They are nocturnal insects and feed when they are active. They feast on warm-blooded hosts, with human blood being their primary choice. They adapt easily to their surroundings and environment.

The bed is the most likely place you’ll find bed bugs. You should begin your search at the mattress itself, inspecting the corners of bed seams along with the bed frames, headboards, bedding, and your box spring. They will even hide in surrounding areas like furniture, behind peeling paint, wooden floorboards, alarm clocks, picture frames, and so on. In most cases, these pests have been documented hiding in crevices approximately 10-20 feet from where you sleep.

 Bed bugs have two hollow tubes in their mouth that they inject into the skin during the initial bite. The first tube injects an anticoagulant anesthetic fluid that bed bugs use to keep the blood flowing, and the other tube is used to suck the blood of their host. A bed bug typically consumes blood for approximately five minutes before it returns to its sanctuary. Additionally, bed bugs will emerge at dusk to get their sustenance.

A: When the bed bug first bites down, it is not even noticeable, but minutes or hours later you might experience discomfort. The bite mark is either a flat welt or a raised red bump. Depending on individual sensitivity, it may be severely itchy or barely noticeable. Unless you have a bed bug allergy that causes rash or irritation, their bites are usually just an itchy nuisance.

 Anti-itch cream can help ease the irritation caused by their bites.