Warning Signs You Should Call Pest Control

Whether you live in a lovely, remote cabin in the woods or a bustling city, at some point, pest control may become a battle that you will need to win. 

Before they fully take over your territory, pests will often show their hand with a few warning signs. There may be surreptitious bites on your arm, damage to valuable furniture, and suspicious bite marks on your favorite boxes of pasta. 

First, we’d like to educate you on the look of various pests and rodents. Then, we’ll uncover some of their telltale signs and help you draw up battle plans. 

Continual Presence

Before you can evict any unwanted critters, it’s important to know who they are and what they look like. Whenever you begin to notice their continual presence, trouble is on the horizon.

Here’s a list of some of those most common bugs and pests that can be found in and around Elk Grove, California.  

• Ants – These are the most common invaders, ranging in color from black, to brown, to red, and yellow. Worst of all, the reproductive members of this species have wings. 
• Aphids – Aphids are tiny insects with soft, pear-shaped bodies that range in color from green, to yellow, to red, to brown, to black.
• Bed bugs – These parasites are reddish-brown in color, but immature bed bugs giving off a yellowish color until they latch onto their first human host.
• Cockroaches – Roaches range in shades of black and brown. These insects with flattened-shaped bodies that can grow up to two inches in size, with some species sporting wings.
• Fleas – Fleas are no larger than a speck of dirt. These reddish-brown parasites possess powerful legs that allow them to escape danger faster than most humans can catch them.
• Mice – Mice are one of many rodents that can overtake a house. Others include rats, squirrels, and chipmunks. While some might find these critters cute, most people don’t condone the damage their front incisors can do to a house.
• Spiders – Spiders come in a range of colors, but you’ll be able to recognize them by their 8 legs, dual body parts, and lack of wings. 
• Termites – Termites come in shades of brown and work together in large colonies. They feed on the cellulose found in wood and, unfortunately, work all year round.
• Wasps – Wasps vary by species, but they do have a few commonalities: six legs, two wings, and a pinched waist.
• Weevils – Weevils belong to a species we like to call pantry pests. Their comrades include moths and beetles. They feed on dry goods, i.e., pasta and rice, and lay eggs that go on to further contaminate kitchen cabinets. 

Noticeable Damage

The list here is long. Of course, some pests and rodents are far more fearful than others. But, let’s review some of the most harrowing dangers. 

Rodents

We must begin with rodents. Rodents can carry more than 35 diseases and they have many different ways of spreading harm. Imagine if you took a bit of food that a rat had previously dined on?

All rodents can spread disease through their saliva, urine, excrement, and shedding fur. Equally alarming is the fact that they, themselves, can be covered in parasites which introduce a whole new level of harm to a household. 

Aside from the serious health risks they pose, their front incisors can cause extensive structural damage, bring in water damage, and damage any number of furniture items. 

Bed Bugs & Fleas

Bed bugs and fleas are the vampires of the pest family. They feed on the blood of mammals, but love humans in particular. 

Given their speed, they’re hard to catch and often quick to reproduce, creating an army of peril. Bed bugs travel on people and their belongings, making it a difficult task to completely stop the spread before it gets out of control.

Fleas, however, are much tinier and actually live on the outside of a host’s body while they feed off its blood. That means these pests, too, are quick travelers and difficult to get under control once they really take hold. 

Cockroaches

Out of all the insects we’ve mentioned, cockroaches are, perhaps, the worst. Termites are “up there,” due to the structural damage they can cause, but cockroaches can spread disease like rodents. 

Cockroaches spread bacteria, parasites, and pathogens while contaminating the surfaces they scurry across, as well as any food they come in contact with. Worst of all, it’s not just the cretins themselves that can spread disease. Even their shedding skins can leave behind transmittable disease. 

How to Win the Battle

Being able to spot your enemy is only phase one of the battle. Let’s discuss how to combat them with your own wits and when to start Googling “pest control near me” to call in the troops. 

Rodents

You may be able to successfully lay out an array of traps to corner and catch mice, rats, and other rodents. But, how will you know if you’ve gotten them all? Will there be any remaining in the walls or attic? 

If you call a pest control company, you’re bringing in a veritable army with all the right weaponry to push out pests and leave your home free from damage and a wide array of health risks. 

Bed Bugs & Fleas

To combat bed bugs, you might be able to bomb the areas in which they seem to dwell the most. However, there’s no telling how many might escape through closet entryways, linen closets, and other soft surfaces. 

Here, again, the best course of action is to call in your trusted local pest control service.

Cockroaches

Have you ever tried to stomp out a cockroach? Unfortunately, these pests tend to quickly resurrect themselves post-crush. Their bodies are meant to squash down and fit into small spaces. So, not even a swift stomp to the shell will be enough. 

For a true cockroach infestation, there are no better conquerors than pest control companies that specialize in cockroach control.

Call in the Pest Control Experts

Why battle these four to eight-legged creatures alone? Is it really your desire to catch a rat in a trap and have to dispose of it yourself? Or how about the undertaking of a full termite army? 

No, this is not a war you want to wage alone. And, certainly, it’s no way to spend a Saturday afternoon. If you live in or around Elk Grove, we encourage you to call in the guard. 

Come on over and schedule a free inspection in less than 20 seconds! Leave us to do the identifying, battle planning, and extermination. We look forward to bringing in the artillery!