READING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ehrlich Pest Control, one of the Rentokil family of companies, reports it has received a 217 percent increase in calls from last year at this time for help in eradicating infestations of boxelder bugs. The insect is very common in the Eastern United States and Midwest, according to a report from Penn State University's Entomology Department.
“The surge in boxelder bugs this year is being linked to longer than usual warm temperatures that have extended well into the fall season, allowing more time for boxelder bugs to develop into adults, and keeping the bugs active and more visible for much longer,” said Nancy Troyano, PhD, BCE, director of education and training/entomologist for Ehrlich.
In late summer and fall, boxelder bugs leave the trees (primarily boxelder trees but also maple and ash) where they were feeding and set out to find protected areas in which to winter. Homes and buildings are especially attractive places for these pests and they will flock to them by the hundreds or even thousands to southern and western walls and foundations because these are the sides with the highest amount of sun exposure and therefore the warmest. Once there, they will crawl into any exposed crack or crevice to wait out the winter. While these pests are a nuisance around homes and buildings and can enter in large numbers, they don’t bite and once indoors they cannot reproduce and eventually will die.
“Due to the extended summer weather we have experienced in the northeast, we are answering a significant increase in calls over last year for help with infestations of boxelder bugs. If you have an infestation of boxelder bugs, it is best to get help from a pest control professional for solutions on the safest way to eradicate them before they enter indoors,” advises Troyano.
About Ehrlich
Julius C. Ehrlich founded Ehrlich Pest Control in 1928 in Reading, PA. Ehrlich established his new service company using the principles that still guide Ehrlich today: initiative, ingenuity and exceeding customer expectations. From these humble beginnings, Ehrlich has grown to 45 local offices serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and the District of Columbia. In addition to Home Pest Control and Commercial Pest Control, the company offers Termite Control, Bird Control Service, Vegetation Management, and Bioremediation in commercial kitchens. For more information, visit (www.jcehrlich.com).
About Rentokil North America
Rentokil North America is part of Rentokil Initial plc, one of the world’s largest and most diverse business service companies, operating in more than 60 countries worldwide. J.C. Ehrlich Pest Control (www.jcehrlich.com), Western Exterminator (www.westernexterminator.com), and Presto-X Pest Control (www.prestox.com) are all part of the Rentokil family of pest control companies in North America. They provide commercial and residential pest control, bioremediation, bird control, vegetation management, deer repellent services, wild-animal trapping and termite control from 165 local offices in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.rentokil.com.
