Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos

Recently, I was dispatched to a home in Holmdel, NJ that was having a problem with some “large wasps” that had taken up residence, of all places, behind the slats of a hot tub. Upon, arrival, I immediately determined that these homeowners were dealing with a European hornet infestation. These are one of the larger stinging insects that we regularly encounter. They can grow to about one inch long, making them one intimidating stinging insect! Because these insects have some yellow in their markings, they can be easily  confused with yellow jackets. However, they are much larger, thicker insects than the slender yellow jacket. Also, unlike yellow jackets, European hornets usually has some orange in their coloration. Like all social wasps and hornets, European hornets are aggressive and territorial if they perceive that they are being threatened. As far as stinging insects go, both yellow jackets and European hornets are similar in that they both have nasty temperaments and won’t hesitate to use their stingers. 

Unlike baldfaced hornets, paper wasps, and other stinging insects, European hornets rarely build suspended nests attached to tree limbs, roof eaves, and other locations in plain view. Instead, just like they did here, these insects usually build their nests inside a hole or cavity. The location of their nests can make them difficult to reach and treat. Sometimes, these hornets will enter homes for shelter, finding entry point through eaves and vents where they then form nests, commonly in wall voids and in attics.  

Here, I promptly located where these hornets were nesting inside the hot tub. First, I treated the nest with a dust that quickly knocks down the population. After waiting until I observed no more active insect activity, I successfully removed the nest. As shown in the photo, the nest was broken into numerous pieces because I had to pull the nest out piecemeal from inside the hot tub. Since the nest was cracked open, you can clearly see the hundreds of combs inside the nest that housed the hornet larvae. I collected all of the nest pieces, bagged them, and took everything with me so there was no remaining nest debris. Now, these homeowners can resume the use of their hot tub without feeling threatened by these large stinging insects.

We were sent out on a service call to a business in Toms River, NJ to treat for wasps that were attacking the shoppers as they made their way into the store! Once we arrived, we inspected the area more closely and discovered a baseball sized yellow jackets nest right above the entrance!

As we all know, yellow jackets are one of the most aggressive and territorial stinging insects out there! So extreme care is needed when treating them. So we equipped our protective bee suit, grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and began liberally treating the nest. A few moments later, we treated the nest with a knockdown aerosol product. Both of these treatments quickly exterminate the yellow jackets.

After a few moments went by, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a residual liquid application to the area. This product will eliminate any yellow jackets that return to this area as well as prevent them, and all other stinging insects, from building another nest.

This crawl space is located extremely close to the Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ and was constantly having water and moisture issue. Now they have a clean and energy efficient crawl space that can even be used as additional storage space!

This Toms River, NJ home had a dirt floor crawl space that was poorly insulated, was likely to attract pests and insects, and (in its current state) allowed for the spread of mold and mildew due to the high humidity levels. 

First, we removed all the contaminated insulation and debris, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed a drainage matting and a vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. It cannot tear and is extremely durable. Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture and once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold problems.

To correct this, we installed Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier to control the humidity levels in the crawl space and a Smart Drain. The Smart Drain prevents any moisture from sitting on top of the vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is also treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold and is installed over the foundation walls and floor to create a continuous air and moisture barrier. Now the homeowner has a transformed crawl space that is clean and dry.

A homeowner in Toms River, NJ had a mouse infestation in his attic. One of our pest control technicians quickly & efficiently resolved the infestation, and all potential entry points were properly sealed. However, mice were not the only problem. The insulation was not only torn and shredded but was saturated with urine and droppings. When the pellets dry, microscopic spores are then released into the air, which is a health hazard for the home’s occupants. The urine odors are often so strong that they permeate through the entire house. 

First, we carefully removed all the contaminated insulation and then vacuumed and disinfected the attic. Next, we added TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation, which will fill the attic to its recommended insulation levels. TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, is resistant to mold and pests, and is eco-friendly!