Take It Easy

One of the ways you can help reduce the risk of roaches, rodents, and bed bugs in your residence is through basic sanitation and maintenance.

This gentleman wasn't really using his fridge (above) for much other than storage of knickknacks and chachkees.  Cockroaches were enjoying it.  I suggested that he try to straighten it up in between deliveries of takeout.

His bed was full of bedbugs, but his living room (second picture) didn't have much furniture.  Still his recliner did have some bedbugs, and it's an important reminder that bed bugs will tend to congregate anywhere people sit, such as Citi Bikes.

Mice and cockroaches were living in his kitchen.  Plastic bags kept like this tend to attract all sorts of pests.  Obviously, you never know when you're going to need a plastic bag, so I get the impetus behind collecting them.  But just be aware that there's a downside.

I decided not to include any pictures of the bedroom.

Ew York City will be back next week.

Happy Thanksgiving from Ew York City!

We wonder why our walls are covered in flies

When right under our feet

There's a whole Thanksgiving Dinner's worth of food

Remember to check your grease traps regularly and have them cleaned

Ew York City will be back on black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving

Give Thanks

With this being Thanksgiving week, I thought I would put in this picture of a sparrow eating a water bug.

The water bug has been de-legged at this point.  In the picture it's just below the bird.

Just like cats keep mice away, perhaps we can utilize sparrows to keep our cockroach problems at bay.

So the next time you think to yourself, "I hate cockroaches," just remember that there are birds somewhere who are really thankful that they have something to eat.

Ew York City wishes every one a happy and yummy thanksgiving holiday season 2014.

In Dreams, I See You

Does your bed have any folds?

Does your mattress have any creases?

Are there any zippers nearby where you sleep?

Do you ever lay down next to any cracks, crevices, or folds of any kind whatsoever?

Bed bugs.

Bed bugs.

Beating their little drums, marching toward you with their little feet, only looking for blood.  Your blood.

Why do they like folds so much?  Why are they attracted to creases?

The same reason why you and I and fifteen other people squeeze under an overhang on a rainy day: shelter.

Every now and then you should inspect your bed room and say: are there any potential bed bug shelters in here?  Am I inviting bed bugs by having a bed set that is full of cracks, crevices, folds, creases, and such?  Was it really smart to furnish my bedroom with wicker?

Mattress encasements are a good way to reduce the number of potential bed bug harborages your bed has.  Also, monitoring and periodic inspections will help reduce the likelihood of an occasional intruder turning into a mega-infestation.

Interestingly, while you're squeezing next to that person under the overhang or on the public transportation, be aware of the potential for bed bug transference.

Ew York City will be dreaming of you tomorrow.

What's the occasion?

Here's one of our "occasional invaders," in this case a centipede.  This guy was about an inch long.  If you do some research you'll see just how big some species can get. Fortunately, those species are not so common in NYC yet.

In this instance it happened to invade a women's bathroom in a restaurant, and that, of course, is unacceptable.

For the most part these guys won't bother you much.  They prefer cool, dark, damp places, and are probably content to stay in the basement or outside under some trash or clutter or decaying something or other.

If you are seeing them on the main floor a lot, it probably means there's something going on down below, so take some time and check it out.

Also, if a centipede is ever chasing you, you can slow it down by inviting it to play This Little Piggy.

Ew York City will be back on Monday.  Stampede style.

Prime Grime

Trapped.  That's what happens to all your grease in your kitchen.  But is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Well, obviously it's good, but it's bad because it's so good for pests.  Did you "catch" that?

Ok sorry.

Anyway, clean your grease trap.  Clean it more often than you do now.  Have it serviced as often as possible.  And have your pest management team treat it every single time they come in.

Otherwise you'll be trapped in a world of pest insanity.

Ew York City will be back

Somebody making soup?

Nothing wrong with soup, especially in these chilly months.

But don't leave it sit out over night.  It might end up with some extra ingredients.

Ew York City will be getting steamy tomorrow.