Home Pest Management

As a homeowner, you need to safeguard yourself from bugs and pests. To take proper care of your home, you should be well-aware with some of the most common pests and options for home pest control.

Many people don't realize the threat bed bugs pose. They were almost completely eliminated in the United States by the end of World War II. Unfortunately, since the 1990s, they have had a resurgence. The bed bug population may have increased as much as 100 times over since 1990. Bed bugs feed purely on the blood of living mammals. Bed bugs, whose scientific name is Cimex lectularius, gained their popular name from their habit of living in beds, where their food supply is nearby (you).

Bed bug bites may be minor, or they may cause welts and other irritations. Bites from bed bugs can range from barely noticeable to irritating welts. Signs and symptoms of the bites may be more noticed at night than during the day. To prevent infestations of bed bugs, keep a clean home. Home pest control starts with keeping a tidy residence. Frequent vacuuming is advisable. Your bed should be sealed tightly for at least a year, as bed bugs can live up to an entire year without feeding. Seal up any cracks in the walls or the headboard to stop their entry.

If you already have a bed bug problem, cleanliness alone will not fix the situation. The bed bugs will need to be exterminated with pesticides, which need to be fast-acting and complete. You might consider bringing  in a bed bug expert to deal with the problem safely and effectively.

Ants are not uncommon in many homes. Ants can enter your house through the tiniest cracks. Ants are adept at finding food sources, and then calling in their friends. Ants live in colonies and are able to quickly move the colony for new food sources or to avoid threats.

Most home-based pest control treatments are not thorough enough to truly eradicate an existing ant problem. They will not kill off the many thousands of ants in the colony who are not visible. Do it yourself ant killing kits also often fail to account for the many, many different varieties of ants which require different treatments. One size fits all approaches are a gamble. Seeking professional pest control help is a wise idea.

Rodents come in many nasty species, a few of which are mice, rats and squirrels. Rodents share one identifiable trait: large, nasty front teeth. Rodents can destroy your home and cause damage. Rodents can contaminate food in your home as well as eat any exposed sources of food. Rats and mice reproduce rapidly. If rodents are in your home and left unattended, the condition can quickly escalate.
Dealing with a rodent problem will likely involve a combination of traps and poison; both of these require careful attention and proper usage.

We all have heard of termites munching on wood. Termites may also eat paper, books, living plants, insulation and swimming pool filters and liners. Spotting winged termites indoors always indicates a significant infestation. This is most likely to happen between the months of March and May, when winged termites are triggered by the warming weather to emerge and start new colonies. Similar to the other types of pest problems mentioned above, trying to deal with a termite problem on your own is not a time to try and save money. As a home seller you may be legally required to disclose termite history and treatment. Explaining to a potential buyer that you did not adequately fix a big problem could be disastrous.

Home pest control professionals have the tools at their resources to properly fix a termite problem. Termites have a tendency to sneak in through areas of the house which require advanced carpentry skills simply to gain access to. The typical equipment which may be used to eliminate termites by a pest control company includes pumps, up to hundreds of gallons of liquid pesticide, high capacity tanks to hold all that pesticide, masonry drills and soil treatment rods. Insecticide must be injected into the foundation walls and alongside the foundation. Of course, this is neither a practical nor safe project for the average property owner.