Types of Pests – How to Spot and Eliminate them

By arya

Pests can be such a nuisance. Whether its bed bugs, ticks, cockroaches or ants, these pests can cause great discomfort in your house. If you encounter such pests or more in your home, Pest control Powhatan VA is at your service with a simple call.

The professionals at Powhatan, VA Pest Control guarantee control and elimination of such pests from your residence. Some of the pests you’ll find at your home include: 

Bed Bugs

Bedbugs have been around for over 10,000 years, but it was only in 1939 that a lasting solution was found. DDT was the pesticide that eliminated these pests from developed countries until 1980. In 1972, DDT was scrapped from the shelves due to its environmental hazards and impact in human health. In fact, it was claimed that it caused cancer in humans.

These pests hide in a number of areas including clothes, furniture, airplane seats, theater seats and hotels. This represents almost everywhere not forgetting the difficulty involved in exterminating them. It’s advisable for you to call pest control services as soon as you experience signs.

Some of the signs to look out for include bug bites that appear as red spots, yellow eggs on bed sheets and mattresses, the yellow nymphs and the adult which is reddish-brown in color.

Extermination Techniques

Pest control Powhatan VA will use a combination of methods including chemical treatment and heat to get rid of bedbugs. With heat, temperatures are raised to about 135 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. The treatment will take about 6-8 hours to completion. Keep in mind this job is best done by professionals since the extreme temperatures can burn down your house if not controlled.

Chemical treatment involves spraying the house with chemicals to kill any bugs. However, a combination of both is preferred for effectiveness.

Termites

Termites are common on wood, but they can also manifest themselves on walls through pencil-like tubes running on the walls. These creatures live in these tubes to stay cool as they search for food. Big tubes mean they are huge in number.

The first signs of infestation include the tubes on walls, termite droppings on windowsills, dead termites and dropped wings.

Extermination Techniques

Extermination starts with inspection of the house. Termites live in colonies in foundation walls, in the basement and crawlspace as well as wood. These creatures can be destructive since they eat away wood which can cause collapse if not dealt with at the earliest sign.

Ants

Ants are common in the hot dry seasons between July and September as they seek for water and food. There are different species, some eat meat, sweets and others look for grease. This difference in species often cause problems and frustrations since not all pesticides will eliminate them.

This is where Powhatan, VA Pest Control comes in. By understanding the different species, you’ll be better placed to deal with them.

Mice and Rats

The first indication of rat presence is their droppings. The more the droppings, the higher the number of the pests. Did you know that their teeth don’t stop growing? This means they’ll eat away almost anything causing massive damage.

To prevent entry, you need to install galvanized steel, steel reinforced caulks and strong wire mesh since they can’t chew through them. As much as they are destructive, these rodents are easy to catch. You only need to identify what they are after and place a trap in their path with food as bait.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are deadly if not controlled. The most common mosquito-borne disease is malaria which is a fatal disease if not treated soon. Mosquitoes breed in water and the females can lay as much as 300 eggs 3 times before they die.

Get rid of Stagnant water in buckets, wheelbarrows, old tires and the like to eliminate breeding grounds. In addition, you can use chemicals with low toxicity for application on your yard to kill the adults. If you need professionals to take care of the situation, you can call in Powhatan, VA Pest Control.

Summary

At this point, you know of different pests, their habitats and the dangers they pose to human health. In addition, you know what to do once you spot signs of their existence. If you feel like you are not up to the task, you can call Pest control Powhatan VA for quick extermination.