Household pests should not be a fact of life in your home if you know how to manage them with the right approach to pest control in Grovetown., Augusta, and the surrounding areas. Choose Advanced Services pest control to ensure proper management of common household pests in your home. Certain areas are especially prone to pests, but almost any household can be a target for an infestation of the following most common house pests:
· Bed bugs
Call Advanced Services pest control for management and removal of bed bugs when you first see signs of infestation. These troublesome pests are not only hard to find—they can also be very sneaky, hiding in the smallest crevices and leaving behind very hard-to-spot signs that often go unnoticed until the infestation becomes severe.
· Cockroaches
These six-legged pests can cause asthma and allergies, and have the potential to spread disease or contaminate food. They are attracted to many types of food waste, including grease and grease stains, and they are among the most stubborn household pests to get rid of without professional help.
· Termites
The presence of termites in your home can be extremely damaging to its structure. These silent destroyers can eat through your home’s walls and any other wooden elements. If you notice hollow wood or some paint bubbling or cracking, it might be time to call Advanced Services to avert further destruction.
· Ants
While a few ants may not be cause for alarm in the home, large colonies living in your yard can be extremely damaging to your property. Ants are particularly attracted to sugar and grease, so cleaning regularly and especially after meal prep is crucial to not attracting ants. In addition to cleaning up food, be sure to eliminate any excess water in kitchens and bathrooms, as ants will be searching for access to moisture and standing water.
· Rodents
Some of the most common household rodents include mice and rats, as well as squirrels and larger species that can cause damage to your property, contaminate your food, and spread diseases. Advanced Services Wildlife Exclusion will help to eliminate any rodents currently in your home, while also preventing them from returning by identifying their entry points and sealing them.
· Flies
There are thousands of fly species in North America alone. These winged pests can enter your home and transfer disease as they touch kitchen surfaces and food. Flies are often attracted to rotting food and garbage, so keep trash cans away from entry points.
· Mosquitoes
· Fleas
Your household pet can likewise be a source of pest infestation in the home. Fleas and ticks are very common in cats and dogs, making pet owners vulnerable to infestation. In addition to using Advanced Services for your pest control, make sure to use a flea and tick preventative from your vet.
· Spiders
Like ants, a few spiders here and there are not necessarily cause for alarm. However, some species are venomous and pose health risks to your household members. Spiders are often attracted to other bugs in your house that are their food source, so using a pest control company to control the other insects will help to cut down on the number of spiders entering your home.
· Silverfish
Another common household pest, silverfish can be distinguished by their shiny, silver appearance, although they are often too tiny to notice. Silverfish prefer dark, damp areas such as bathrooms or basements, and they have destructive feeding habits that can ruin important documents, books, wallpaper, and even clothing.
There are two species native to our area, the striped scorpion and the devil scorpion, and because they prey on large numbers of insects, they’re a natural pest control! Scorpions in our area like to hide under bark that is quite flat to the tree, which is why we don’t seen them often. Striped scorpions can be identified by three dotted stripes running down the back. Contrary to popular belief, the sting of most scorpions is no more poisonous than that of a bee or wasp.
LEARN MOREThere are many species of wasps in Georgia and South Carolina. The most common you will encounter in our area are yellow jackets and various paper wasps. Yellow jackets vary in their appearance, aggressiveness and habits. As a group, yellow jackets are considered very aggressive. They can deliver a painful sting and will attack in large groups if their nests are threatened. Yellow jackets are commonly seen buzzing around trash pails and dumpsters. Paper wasps are not aggressive and only attack or sting if they are threatened or provoked. Paper wasps build their nests in hollow voids in attics, roofs, hollow fence posts and wall voids. Paper wasps get their name form their practice of building nests made of paper that they manufacture from chewed wood and bodily secretions.
LEARN MOREMillipedes and centipedes are not insects. They are closely related to lobsters, crawfish and shrimp. Centipedes can typically be found in moist areas with high humidity and are most active at night. Centipedes have an elongated, flattened body, have 14 body segments and one pair of legs per body segment. They eat insects, spiders, birds and reptiles. Depending on the species, they can vary in length from 1 to 12 inches. Most species found in our area are less than 5 inches long. Centipedes also have poison glands in their jaw. Occasionally, humans may be bitten by a centipede, but the poison usually produces a reaction similar to a bee sting.
LEARN MORESilverfish are usually seen when cabinet doors or other objects are moved. They feed on a wide variety of things including glue, wallpaper paste, starch in clothing, book bindings, rayon, and dried meats. Silverfish are active at night and hide during the day.
LEARN MOREThere are 19 Georgia and South Carolina species of grasshoppers and crickets. Male crickets produce a chirping sound at nighttime. Both grasshoppers and crickets make these sounds but crickets make theirs at a higher pitch. Males are smaller in size than females. They can be found in the kitchen when they are found indoors. They feed on food waste like crumbs.
LEARN MOREAt least 61 types of mosquito species exist in our area. Mosquito means “little fly.” They are closely related to gnats and no-see-ums. The most common diseases in our area include West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, and dog/cat heart worms. To help with mosquito control, you can reduce the number of adult mosquitoes around your house by eliminating sites with standing water. Most mosquitoes bite during dawn, dusk and night.
LEARN MOREIn Georgia, there are 25 species of spiders, and there are 21 species in South Carolina. Spiders can often times be found outside of their range due to accidental or intentional misplacement from humans by cars or luggage and other belongings.
LEARN MORESquirrels, mice and rats can be a nuisance and destructive. If a squirrel population gets out of control, you will find damage to and most likely hear them running in the attic or walls of your home. Rats and mice carry diseases and parasites and can cause damage to furniture. To get rid of rodents, we will inspect the building to find where they may get in. Based on entry points, we will set traps and seal entry points. Then, if it’s possible, we will repair the damage the rodents have caused at the entry point which will help to prevent future rodents.
LEARN MOREIn Georgia and South Carolina, we share a common hatred for Palmetto bugs (cockroaches with a fancy nickname). Both smokybrown and American cockroaches are referred to as Palmetto bugs. American cockroaches are reddish brown, while smokybrowns are darker and more uniform in color. Both typically live and lay eggs in dark, moist and humid spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, crawl spaces, mulch and gardens. Palmetto bugs can carry multiple harmful pathogens. Seeing a Palmetto bug has nothing to do with cleanliness or economic conditions because they are just looking for food, and they eat anything!
LEARN MOREThere are over 12,000 ant species in the world. Only a fraction of these ant species make themselves a problem for humans. Here in South Carolina and Georgia, we only have a handful that can be considered common pests. Here is a list of the usual suspects you’ll find in your yard or in your home: Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, Sugar Ants and Pavement Ants.
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