Common Pests That Require Pest Control Services

Pest management is the process of preventing and controlling pests from invading people’s homes or businesses. This includes removing infestations of rodents, insects, and other nuisance species.

Termites can cause structural damage, and mice can chew through drywall and wiring, resulting in fire hazards. Rats can also gnaw through wires and can transmit diseases like hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella. You can call Pest Control Tulsa if you need any help with your pest control needs.

Termites

Termites are a destructive wood-eating insect that infests homes and other structures, often leading to costly structural damage. These eusocial insects, which recycle the cellulose found in plant matter to support their colonies, can be found throughout the country and are typically classified into three species: Eastern subterranean termites, Pacific dampwood termites, and southeastern drywood termites. All termite species use a caste system in which immature members fill roles of workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Soldiers look similar to workers but have well-developed mandibles that they use to fend off predators. Workers have no wings and are blind. Reproductives, known as alates, swarm during warm weather and pair up to form new colonies.

To avoid infestations, have a professional inspect your property regularly and make treatment recommendations as needed. In addition, removing or covering food and cooking utensils from the area to be treated and keeping wood piles away from the foundation of your home can help prevent a termite infestation.

All termite species require moisture to survive, which makes them attracted to wood that contains cellulose. To prevent moisture issues around your house, make sure air conditioning condensation pans are properly maintained and keep rain gutters clear to direct water runoff away from the foundation of your home.

Mice

Mice are one of the most common pests that homeowners must deal with. These rodents can quickly overrun homes, causing a wide range of problems from gnawing damage to spreading diseases and disrupting insulation.

Rodents can enter homes through small gaps and cracks and find shelter in areas that are dark, and quiet and have easy access to food. These include the attic, basements, and garages. They are opportunistic and will take advantage of any available spaces, including stacks of boxes, clothing, paper, and unused furniture.

Because mice reproduce quickly, a single mouse infestation can become a serious problem that requires prompt action. Mice can also cause significant damage to homes, chewing through electrical wires and destroying the structure of the property.

It is also important to store food properly to prevent bugs from infiltrating living spaces. This means storing foods in sealed plastic or glass containers to keep out ants, cockroaches, and other unwanted insects.

Rats

Rats are one of the most common pests that require pest control services. These rodents can wreak havoc on homes, gardens, and vehicles, spreading diseases that can make people very sick. They also cause damage to structures by chewing and gnawing. Rats are very difficult to eliminate once they take up residence, but there are ways to prevent them from entering a property.

Rat populations usually grow very quickly, with female rats producing 3-6 liters of babies each year. This is why it is important to clean up pet feces and garbage regularly. It is also important to keep shrubbery and trees trimmed back so that they are not growing up against buildings or overhanging roofs.

In addition, rats are attracted to places that have easy access to food and water. This includes dumpsters, uncovered trash containers, bird feeders, and unsecured fruit and nut trees and crops. Rats have flexible skeletons, which allows them to squeeze through even the smallest gaps or crevices. They are notorious for creating soft nests in attics, basements, and beneath piles of clothing and paper.

Some people are also prone to rat bites, which can be dangerous or even deadly if not treated immediately. It is therefore important to wear protective gloves when handling rat droppings and to wash any bitten areas right away. In some cases, a rat bite can lead to a serious illness called rat-bite fever.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are some of the most adaptable creatures on the planet, which makes them extremely difficult to eliminate without pest control services. These scavenging insects enter homes and buildings looking for food, moisture, and warmth. Their presence can cause diseases, aggravate allergies and asthma, and contaminate food. They are also known to spread odors, especially in kitchens.

The German cockroach (Blatta germanica) is the most common of all household cockroaches. They are small, with a flat body and wings that cover their abdomens. Adult males have short fully developed wings, while females have vestigial wings. The brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) is slightly larger than the German cockroach and more colorful. Its males have dark, broad bands on their abdomens, while its females have golden orange bodies.

Cockroaches thrive in moist environments, and they can survive without food for weeks. Therefore, a key to prevention is to remove moisture, food, and water sources. This can be accomplished by sealing cracks, crevices, and gaps in the home. Additionally, all garbage should be disposed of daily and stored in tightly closed containers. Regular cleaning and vacuuming of the home can eliminate crumbs, food scraps, and other potential attractants.

In addition, granular products for treating around foundations and boric acid dust for treatment in crawl spaces can help prevent cockroaches from entering homes. These methods, when combined with sanitation and exclusion, can make a significant impact on the cockroach population.

Mosquitoes

The itchy bites of mosquitoes are more than just an annoyance; they can spread dangerous diseases like Zika. Mosquitoes are most abundant in the Southeast and thrive in humid climates. They breed in any kind of standing water, such as puddles and discarded tires, where they can lay their eggs until they mature into adults. This is why mosquito infestations often occur after summer rainstorms when the puddles and drained yard decor become prime breeding sites for these pesky insects.

Like all insects, mosquitoes have slender bodies segmented into three parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen. They have long, fragile-looking legs and piercing mouthparts that look like upside-down funnels. The females use the mouth to pierce the skin and sip blood for the proteins needed to develop their eggs. Males, on the other hand, feed solely on plant juices and nectar.

Mosquitoes’ slender, elongated wings beat about 1,000 times per second to create the insect’s characteristic buzzing sound. Their compound eyes contain thousands of six-sided lenses that point in different directions, allowing them to see quickly and move around their environment. The antennae are long and feathery; the males have bushier antennae than the females to help them detect host odors and breeding sites.

Some mosquito species, such as the tree hole mosquito (Ochlerotatus triseriatus) that carries the virus that causes LaCrosse encephalitis, breed in small containers where water will pool, including tree holes, discarded tires, and barrels. These insects also may nest in crawlspaces and basements, where they can survive until a hard frost in autumn.

Spiders

Despite being among the least common pests in the country, spiders can still pose a threat to your home. Their presence in your home can be a nuisance, but their bites can cause serious health problems if they’re not treated right away.

Like scorpions and mites, spiders are invertebrates and belong to a class called the Arachnida, which also includes harvestmen and ticks. These creatures are air-breathers with eight legs, chelicerae (biting mouth parts) that usually inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. Their body parts are segmented, and some species have wings for flight.

There are about 45,000 known spiders, ranging from the tiny Samoan moss spider to a massive tarantula with legs as long as a foot. They live in habitats around the world, from deserts to glaciers. Some species are herbivorous, but most are predators that prey on insects and other arthropods. Some are very good mimics, and hunters of the genus Portia use their palps to imitate ants or other large prey.

Some of the most common pests in the city are carpenter ants, termites, rodents, and squirrels. These pests can cause structural damage to homes and businesses, and they carry disease-causing bacteria and parasites. Some of these pests require the help of a professional pest control company to eliminate them from homes and businesses. However, there are steps that you can take to discourage pests in your home between pest control services.