Spotting a pest or two in your home can be quite jarring. But after you get over the initial shock, you may ask yourself: are there any more where those came from? Do I have an infestation on my hands? Fortunately, there are ways to prevent those critters from getting inside in the first place. Today we will discuss why some pests are more difficult to eradicate than others, as well as the top three worst pests to see inside your home.
Difficulty of Control
Some pests, such as cockroaches, will stick around forever it seems. These nasty bugs will lay thousands of eggs at once. Worst part is, the mother carries her babies around with her to minimize human contact – which is why they’re near impossible to eradicate without professional help from a pest control tech in Chandler serving Gilbert, Mesa and the Phoenix, AZ area.
Think you’ll just stomp on them to get rid of the ones you can see? Think again. They’re surprisingly versatile, as their exoskeletons are constructed in such a way that they can withstand weights up to 900x their body weight.
Other pests such as rodents and insects are great hiders, and will seek refuge under floorboards, in walls, behind electrical switch plates, and even within wallpaper. Other pests like mice can squeeze into a space the size of a quarter. This allows them to go undetected for months at a time, provided they get the food and water they need to survive. They usually do that at night when everyone’s sleeping and won’t disturb them.
Most Difficult Pests to Get Rid Of
- Termites
- Bed Bugs
- Cockroaches
1. Termites
There are two main types of termites that infest homes: workers and swarmers. Workers measure 3-4 mm in length and swarmers measure 4 mm long. They are dark brown or black in color and rarely have wings.
Not sure if you have a termite problem? Put your thumb on any wooden area in your home; if it crumbles or feels spongy, you may have a termite infestation. They like to conceal themselves in wood paneling, but they can also move quickly with light exposure. They can start to do some serious structural damage once their colony matures to 100,000 insects.
Treatment
Because moisture is a top cause of all wood-destroying insect infestations, make sure you have no overly moist areas in your home or standing water. You should also repair gaps and add vapor barriers to your basement or crawlspace. If that doesn’t work and you already have an infestation, you will need the help of a termite professional. Here at Simply Green, we use the Sentricon for termites to inspect and treat for termites at the same time.
2. Bed Bugs
Top signs of bed bug infestation include red, itchy skin; small bites that form a line across your skin; or rust-colored spots on your mattress or sheets. Thanks to their speedy reproduction rates, bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Also, their small, flat bodies allow them to squeeze through small spaces.
Treatment
To prevent an infestation from happening, buy a mattress encasement. In the event of an outbreak, your best bet is to call a bed bug professional because it’s nearly impossible to get rid of them on your own.
3. Cockroaches
The top sign of cockroach infestation is spotting one during the day. They are nocturnal and tend to hide out behind walls, refrigerators, and wood paneling, but sometimes you may catch one darting to and fro during the day if you get in their way. Another sign of an infestation is if you see droppings or egg casings, which are brown, long and round.
As we said before, some cockroaches carry their eggs with them. Cockroaches are able to compress their bodies to between 40 and 60 percent to get through tiny cracks.
Treatment
Once cockroaches establish themselves, they will breed and produce several thousand offspring every year. You can’t treat them on your own, so call a professional cockroach exterminator at the first sign.
Contact Simply Green Pest Control in Chandler, AZ
If you have an infestation of any of these critters in your home, get in touch with our Chandler & Gilbert pest control technicians at 480-550-9220 for a free pest control quote and inspection.
