Pests can contaminate food, cause health problems, and even damage property. They can also cause allergies and worsen existing medical conditions.
Proper pest control includes monitoring, using natural enemies, habitat manipulation, and cultural practices. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed and are applied with the goal of removing only the target organism. Contact St Charles Pest Control now!
Termites are wood-eating insects that cause significant damage to homes and other structures in California. They infest fallen trees, stumps and other dead wood in contact with soil, as well as structural lumber in our houses. Subterranean termite species of concern in California include Reticulitermes, Heterotermes and Coptotermes. Drywood termites include Nevada dampwood, California drywood and Southeastern drywood species.
During spring and fall, winged reproductive termites (alates or swarmers) break from the colony to mate and start new colonies. If the weather is warm and sunny, these swarmers may be seen emerging from underground nests on tree trunks or other wood debris. When a home is infested by termites, swarmers may also appear in attics and other areas of the house.
Worker termites, which are the dominant form of the insect in a termite colony, can be found year-round foraging in the soil for cellulose material to build and repair their nests and tunnels. Unlike other insects, termites do not need to sleep and will forage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When a home is infested with termites, a complete inspection by a professional is needed to determine the extent of the infestation and appropriate treatment methods. This will often include removal of infested material and soil treatment around the structure. Liquid insecticides, such as chlorantraniliprole, fipronil and imidacloprid, are used to provide effective barriers against subterranean termites. They are applied in a trench around the foundation of the house or, if covered with concrete or wood, are injected into holes drilled in the structure and walls as directed on the label.
The best way to prevent a termite problem is to eliminate wood in contact with the ground and keep stumps, rotted logs and other woodpiles away from buildings. Also, inspect decks, sheds and other outbuildings for termite activity.
Ants
Ants are insects with a number of beneficial roles in our home lawns and gardens. Their scavenging tendencies help to clean up waste, including rotting fruit and dead animals. Their tunnels aerate the soil and help to distribute nutrients. They also help to reduce populations of pests that damage plants.
However, ants sometimes invade homes and are nuisance pests. When ants enter structures, they usually are looking for food, moisture or nesting sites. Ants have a strong sting that can be used to subdue prey or to defend the colony from intruders. Some species, such as the introduced Australian ant Orectognathus antennatus and Strumigenys perplexa, have a’spray nozzle’ through which they squirt formic acid, which can cause severe pain and swelling in humans.
Several ant species are threatened or endangered because of habitat loss or environmental change. Many are also being accidentally transported to new areas and disrupting ecosystems. Some, like the fire ant (Iridopteryx granulatus) in the United States, are considered invasive and pose serious threats to the environment, agriculture and human health.
Regularly inspecting the interior of homes for ant infestations is important. Look for ant trails, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. If a nest can be found, it should be drenched with a liquid pesticide or treated with a dust formulation. Dusts can be applied to wall voids, voids within window and door frames, under sinks, around electrical switch plates and sockets, behind baseboards, and in cabinets. However, dusts should not be used in food storage and preparation areas, and they should never be applied above drop ceilings or where children and pets are likely to come into contact with them.
Fleas
Fleas are a serious pest that cause discomfort for both people and pets. These flightless parasites feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals and can transmit diseases. Although most often associated with pet owners, fleas can be brought onto a property by wild animals such as raccoons and skunks and make their way into homes via pets or people who spend time in wooded areas or tuck their clothing into rugs and carpets. Once inside, they can also jump a distance of 150 times their body length and spread to other parts of the house.
The life cycle of a flea involves four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Eggs are laid in the fur of a host animal, and each female flea produces up to 40 eggs a day. The eggs hatch within 2 to 14 days into larvae that look like clear maggots. Flea larvae are omnivorous and feed on dandruff, skin flakes, feces, and undigested blood. This diet causes a flea to turn its abdomen from a light color to almost purple as it grows and develops into the pupal stage. The pupal stage can last for up to a year or longer depending on the environment.
When pupae mature into adult fleas, they revert back to the egg-laying stage. A common mistake people make is to spray flea products directly on a dog or cat, but this can actually be dangerous for the animal. Instead, our pest control specialists will treat the pet’s environment and apply oral or topical medication to prevent fleas from reproducing.
Regular use of flea prevention medications and removing pet shedding hair on a daily basis can help keep the flea population down. In addition, it is important to remove debris and cut back tall grass that provide hiding places for wild animals and pets.
Ticks
Ticks are a serious pest that can cause a variety of diseases in humans and pets. The symptoms for many of these diseases vary and typically begin as a red and irritated spot on the skin which then grows swollen and darker as it feeds. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is important to check children and pets for ticks after playing outside, especially if in wooded areas.
The life cycle of a tick begins in the fall with eggs being fertilized by deer or rodents. Once they hatch, larvae crawl on the forest floor and low-lying vegetation in search of their first host. They wait for a mammal or bird to walk by and then attach themselves, embedding their mouth parts into the host and sucking blood for several days. After becoming engorged, the tick will drop off of its host and molt into a nymph, waiting for a new host.
There are a number of different methods to control ticks including the use of chemical acaricides. However, these methods have certain implicit drawbacks such as chemical residues in food and the development of chemical resistant tick strains.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques can reduce the need for chemical acaricides. These techniques include deer management, keeping grass and shrubs trimmed, and removing brush piles, woodpiles, and trash near your house to minimize the likelihood that mice, deer and ticks will live there. Repellents also help, and it is a good idea to wear light colored long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks when hiking or working outdoors. It is also a good idea to carry a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, and when you find a tick on your body, grasp it as close to the skin as possible with the tweezers and pull it straight out. NEVER try to suffocate the tick by covering it with glue, nail polish, perfume or alcohol, as these are dangerous and may increase your risk of infection.
Rodents
Rodents are extremely diverse and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat. Most are predatory, but some, such as prairie dogs, hamsters and guinea pigs, are herbivorous or semi-aquatic. The order Rodentiformes contains more than 70 genera and includes animals with gnawing front teeth that continuously grow, including mice, rats, squirrels and beavers. These creatures are often considered pests, but they also serve important ecological functions.
Rodents feed on seeds, fruits, grain-based foods and meat. They can cause extensive damage to structures by gnawing on electrical wiring, insulation and wooden beams. Their droppings can spread disease and contaminate food supplies and water. Their urine can stain and corrode building materials. Rodents may also chew through or rip up plastic, paper and fabric items. Rats can squeeze through openings the size of a dime, and their gnawing front teeth can damage and dislodge insulation, wear away at furniture and tear through boxes and bags.
Rats and mice are prolific breeders. They produce many offspring throughout their lifespan, which means that even a single rodent can quickly become a problem in any type of environment. To reduce the risk of rodent infestation, store food in rodent-proof containers, keep garbage areas and storage spaces clean of food debris and trash and ensure that door sweeps are installed and properly maintained. In addition, correct moisture problems indoors by repairing leaking faucets and gutters, preventing water from standing around air-conditioning units and fixing faulty drainage to prevent puddles and flooding near foundations and exterior walls.
A comprehensive pest control program that combines sanitation, exclusion and lethal control methods is the best way to prevent rodent infestations. Inspect buildings regularly for signs of rodents, such as grimy rub marks along the base of walls and rodent droppings. Listen for scratching and scampering noises.