Pest Education for Northwest Florida

Here are some of the most common pests found in Callaway, Lynn Haven FL, and beyond that we treat for. If you think you have an infestation, or need help identifying a pest problem, call now and let us help you quickly get rid of the problem. We know how to identify, reduce, and eliminate your infestation.

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Cockroaches

Damage
Cockroaches spread human disease by depositing disease organisms on food and utensils. The American cockroach, which comes into contact with human excrement in sewers or with pet droppings, may transmit bacteria that cause Salmonella and Shigella. German cockroaches are believed to be capable of transmitting disease-causing organisms, such as Staphylococcus, hepatitis, and coliform bacteria. They also have been implicated in the spread of typhoid and dysentery.

Recent studies have found a strong association between the presence of cockroaches and increases in the severity of asthma symptoms in individuals who are sensitive to cockroach allergens, especially children.

Detection and Treatment
Cockroaches may become pests in homes, restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices, and virtually any structure that has food preparation or storage areas. These pests are common even in the cleanest of crowded urban areas and older dwellings. It's usually not difficult to discover an infestation, because they are often visible. Treatment usually involves sealing cracks and crevices to block entrance, keeping food and trash areas clean to avoid providing food, and the professional application of insecticide and bait on a regular basis.

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Rodents

Damage
Rats, mice, squirrels, and other rodents consume and contaminate food. They also gnaw on electrical wires and wooden structures, and tear insulation in walls and ceilings for nesting. Rodents can also transmit disease to humans, pets, and livestock. They have been found to transmit typhus, leptospirosis, trichinosis, and salmonellosis.

Detection and Treatment
The presence of mice and rats is usually detected by the damage they cause to food and structures, by their droppings, and by their nests. Treatment involves eliminating all entry points and population reduction by the application of rodenticides and traps. The primary strategy for preventing human exposure to rodent diseases is effective rodent control in and around the home. This is achieved by eliminating any food sources, sealing even the smallest entries into homes, and successfully trapping rodents in and around the home.

Rodent Facts

• Rodents cause more then $1 billion dollars in damage annually in the U.S. alone.
• Rats can jump 2 feet vertically.
• Rats can jump 4 feet horizontally.
• Rats can fall 50 feet without injury.
• Norway Rats can swim up to ½ mile in open water, dive through plumbing traps and travel in sewer lines.
• Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites.
• Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly, through ticks, mites, or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent.

Common Entry Points Include:

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Ants

Damage
Ants cause various types of damage, depending upon the variety. Carpenter ants set up housekeeping within our home and become an unwanted guest. Pharaoh ants may transmit serious diseases. A fire ant's sting is potentially deadly to susceptible individuals, and all ants contaminate the food they infest.

Detection and Treatment
Ants build massive colonies, so their presence is generally detected when you see their nests, or the ants themselves. Treatments involve baiting, insecticide, and sealing off entry to buildings.

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Spiders

Damage
Except for poisonous spiders, such as the black widow and the brown recluse, spiders are not harmful to humans.

Detection and Treatment
When it's important to control spiders, chemical pest control is used, along with destruction of webs and eggs. Since they feed on insects, measures that control unwanted insects will also reduce spider populations.

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Biting & Stinging Pests

Damage
Yellow jackets, wasps, and scorpions are dangerous because of their painful and potentially harmful stings.

Detection and Treatment
Yellow jacket and wasp nests can be removed by professionals with protective gear. Insecticides are also used. Scorpion problems are usually treated chemically.

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Termites

Subterranean termites are extremely destructive. First, they build tunnels to wooden structures, and then they burrow into those structures to obtain food. Any wood or cellulose-containing material constitutes termite food, and given time to do so, they'll eat until nothing is left but a shell. Termites avoid light and air, so they build their colonies where you're not likely to stumble upon them. A typical homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover destruction caused by termites, even though they cause over 1 billion dollars in damage to homes throughout the United States each year. Our termite inspection and treatment program can help you understand the threat of termites, and we will take the necessary steps to protect your home.

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Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are considered warm blood suckers. They are reddish-brown in color and appear oval, somewhat flattened and approximately 0.2 inches long by their shape. Bed bug is the common term for these annoying critters, but their scientific name is Cimex Lectularius, or Cimex Hemipterus.

Bed bugs are one of the great travelers of the world and are readily transported via luggage, clothing, bedding, and furniture. Bed bugs have largely been thought of as being a problem of the past. The truth, however, is that bed bugs are making a strong comeback. One of the major reasons for such a strong reappearance is because of international travel. Bed bugs go into clothes and luggage and then are brought home. You could have picked them up from your hotel room or a traveling guest.

A bed bug does not actually live under your skin, but will simply drink a few drops of blood while you are sleeping. You cannot feel its bite, even though it is actually piercing the skin. Although some saliva will get into the bite, bed bugs are not known to pass on any diseases to humans. Bed bug bites often cause redness and some swelling. Approximately half of bed bug victims do not show any evidence of bites.

The different species of bed bugs have different feeding preferences. Some prefer human blood while others prefer bats and birds. Bed bugs primarily reside in their target's nests or nesting areas. This means your bed! While many bed bugs hide in mattresses, some may also hide in a sofa or chair, or behind wallpaper or pictures. Thoroughness is the only real way to get rid of bed bugs. The eggs of the bed bugs are not visible to the naked eye and are clear in color. Every corner and crevice needs to be searched. As you might guess, this means that simply getting rid of an infected mattress will not totally solve the problem.

These little blood suckers are about 3/8" long and are visible to the naked eye. Amazingly, though, they are able to go a long time without any food if necessary; sometimes, as long as a year. When they are gorged with blood, the females will lay eggs - up to two hundred at a time.

Since their reappearance, researchers have found that the new bed bugs are much more resistant to chemicals that have previously been in use. Insecticides that are often used for roaches and similar insects do not work on bed bugs, which is another reason they are at large again.