Pests We Treat Before & After Photos

During a summer treatment service for this Home Protection Plan customer in Plainsboro, NJ we noticed that one of outlets near the deck had an active yellow jackets nest inside it! Yellow jackets are aggressive, territorial wasps, with distinctive yellow-and-black coloration, that are known for their propensity to sting anyone and anything that they perceive as a threat, such as those who venture too close to their nests or their food.

In order to rapidly exterminate the yellow jackets, we used a knockdown aerosol application. Once the yellow jackets were eliminated, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and cleaned the area.

This customer in Plainsboro, NJ was tidying up her backyard when she found an active hornets nest on her home! Since she is a Home Protection Plan customer, she called our office and we were sent out. When we arrived, we equipped our protective bee suits and took a look at these stinging insects. Moments into our inspection, we were able to identify them as bald-faced hornets.

Bald-faced hornets are social stinging insects that are a close relative to yellow jackets. The surface of their upper midsection almost looks triangular from the side, and they have white markings on their face. They are EXTREMELY aggressive and will not hesitate to sting anything that invades their space. What makes them even scarier is they have smooth stingers, which means they can sting over and over again, can actually sense vibrations in the air, and remember their invader's face!

For treatment, we injected a knockdown aerosol application, waited a few moments, and then injected a knockdown dusting application. Both of these products will quickly eliminate the bald-faced hornets. After a few moments, we removed the nest and properly disposed of it.

As this customer in Franklin Park, NJ was relaxing on his back deck he spotted several paper wasps underneath one of the rafters! Since he's highly allergic to bee stings, he immediately ran inside, gave Cowleys a call, and we were sent out. Paper wasps received their name from the paper-like material out of which they make their nests. They are semi-social stinging insects that usually have brown bodies with yellow or reddish markings. A sting from a paper wasp can be extremely painful and can cause allergic reactions in some people.

When we arrived we spotted the baseball-sized nest and immediately started treatment. First, we applied a knockdown liquid application to the nest, which will quickly eliminate the paper wasps. Several moments later, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and treated the area with a liquid non-repellent residual. This will eliminate any paper wasps that return to this area as well as prevent them from building another nest.

With mice and other nuisance wildlife infestations, it is critical to find the potential entry points and seal them; otherwise, the infestation will never be permanently resolved. 

We carefully inspected the entire home, filling every hole we could locate with  spray foam. The before/after pictures highlight that the gaps that were once open are now closed off. During my inspection, I also noticed a large gap underneath the front door that would allow mice to enter. I installed rubber weather stripping to seal that potential route. 

I was sent to a home in Bridgewater, NJ who’s owner was walking to their car when he noticed a huge gray hornets nest in the tree adjacent to the walkway. Hornets make their own nesting material by mixing chewed-up wood pulp from tree bark mixed with their saliva, forming an enclosed nest around the comb where the queen lays her eggs. 

First I want to say, it’s a good thing he did not try to remove it himself. These hornets are extremely aggressive, and will defend its nest if threatened. They are close relatives of yellow jackets and they are just as nasty and aggressive, singing anyone or anything that comes into the “danger zone” around their nest. These wasps, unlike bees, can sting repeatedly, so a swarm of them can pose quite a dangerous situation. 

I quickly put on my bee suit. With these particular stinging insects, I wasn’t going to take any chances. With the protection of my bee suit, I was able to I walk right up to the nest, and find the entry hole.

Once found, we inject a foaming insecticide directly into the nest, quickly paralyzing all of the hornets and any stray hornets that might be returning from gathering nest building material.

Once I was sure that there was no further danger from those hornets, I removed the nest from the branch, and let the homeowners know to stay away from the area for a while because there still could be returning hornets wondering where their home went. Eventually the hornets would go elsewhere.