IF WE CAN'T KILL IT, WE'LL EAT IT!
PEST LIBRARY
Learn how to identify common pests, understand their biology, diet and habits and contact us at any time when you need to take care of your property or business.
Termites
Termites all belong to the phylum Arthropoda, the class Insecta, and the order Isoptera. There are over 2,000 different species of termites with over 40 species in the United States alone. Although they have distinct characteristics, most look similar. They typically measure between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch long and have soft bodies with straight antennae. The queens and kings are larger, capable of reaching over one inch long. Colors range from white to light brown where worker termites often appear lighter, while swarming termites darker. Flying termites, also called reproductives, have two pairs of prominent wings.
Based on the layout of your home and the degree of termite infestation, Aardvark Pest Control will create a customized treatment plan tailored for your home. This can include a variety of treatments such as Termidor Liquid and Dry Foam.
Ants
Adult ants species come in a variety of shapes and sizes but each will be one of three different colony castes; queens, workers or males. Queens are fertile females that lay all the eggs in a colony. Workers are wingless females that gather food, feed larvae, maintain the nest, defend the colony, and do not reproduce. Male ants are winged and their only job is to mate with the queens during the swarming process.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators are trained to help manage ants and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your exterminator will design a unique program for your situation. Keeping ants out of homes and buildings is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment.
Ticks
Ticks Color varies by species. Adults can be smaller than a sunflower seed (over 1cm long if engorged with blood), while tick larvae can be less than1mm. Ticks have only six legs during their larval stage and eight legs during their nymphal and adult stages. Ticks do not fly or jump, but they can latch onto fur, clothing, or skin. These pests often hitchhike indoors on pets or household pests like rats and mice. Tick infestation may also indicate a stray animal (opossum, raccoon, etc.) is living near a home.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators identifies locations where tick control products can be used effectively in accordance with approved instructions on the product label. Areas the exterminator will focus on include ground cover vegetation, areas where the lawn meets the woods, ornamental plantings, etc.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches can measure over 50 mm (2 in) length, with tropical species tending to be larger than those found in other climates. Cockroaches have six legs, two antennae and some have wings. However, most winged cockroaches are not particularly adept at flying.These pests can hitch a ride on infested items brought inside, get indoors via cracks and gaps in the home’s exterior, enter through drains or sewer pipes and a few species of cockroaches can fly inside when attracted to lights.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators are trained to help manage cockroaches. Since every building or home is different, your exterminator will design a unique program for your situation. Keeping cockroaches out of homes and buildings is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are troublesome household pests. They’re sneaky, hard to find, and can pose potential health risks for you and your family. If you miss just one pregnant female bed bug you can be reinfested with over 300 adults and 1000 new eggs in three months. To the untrained eye, rooting out a bed bug infestation can prove difficult, and even if discovered, home remedies and over-the-counter deterrents are often ineffective. Bed bugs multiply quickly, and in just six months, a few can turn into a full-on infestation of 13,000 or more.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators use state-of-the-art tools and products and are well-equipped to assess your bed bug problem and mount a strategic response to rid your home of the pest and provide maximum protection.
Spiders
Loose screens and cracks under doors, windows, and other openings are all possible entryways for a spider. These pests may move indoors while searching for food, mates, warmth, or moisture. The presence of insects and other prey in homes is a common reason for spiders to come inside. Spiders are also accidentally introduced inside homes when they are unknowingly introduced to the home’s interior via infested items such as plants, firewood, clothing and other items stored in attics, basements or other storage areas.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators are trained to help manage spiders infestations. Since every building or home is different, your exterminator will design a unique program for your situation. Keeping spiders out of homes and buildings is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment.
Fleas
Fleas are small, wingless and about 2.5 mm long. Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color, covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances. Flea infestations often come from a pet dog or cat. The pests attach to the animal when it's outside, and then infest its fur and the places it sleeps indoors. Flea prevention for both the home and yard can be difficult. Without a proactive approach, any pet owner is vulnerable to an infestation.
Since the immature stages of fleas are very cryptic by nature, the first thing the homeowner should do is contact us for assistance. Most of the time simply using over-the-counter products for controlling fleas will not resolve the root causes of the infestation. Aardvark Pest Control technician will conduct a thorough inspection and locate areas where the immature stages of the flea population are residing. After completing the inspection, the next step is preparing the flea management plan to match the locations and type of infestation your property has.
Flies
There are more than 16,000 species of flies in North America. But they all belong to the order Diptera, meaning two wings. Because they only have two wings, flies land often and therefore can deposit thousands of bacteria each time they land. There are many different ways homeowners may get a fly in their living space. The insects can enter houses on food products (fruit flies) or drift in through open windows and doors. They may also be attracted to and develop in decaying organic matter in drains.
Aardvark Pest Control exterminators are trained to help manage flies and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your exterminator will design a unique program for your situation. Keeping flies out of homes and buildings is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment.
Beetles
Beetles come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Some, like the click beetles, are long and slender. Some beetles like lady beetles and June beetles (also known as June bugs) have an oval or rounded shape. There are even beetles that resemble spiders. Beetles have shell-like front wings known as elytra. These front wings are often very hard and appear more like a shell than wings. The beetle folds the front wings so they cover the back wings. They are durable and waterproof, serving as protection against damage and dehydration
Some beetles can simply be removed by using a vacuum or other means of physical removal. Your Aardvark Pest Control exterminator can provide advice on which of the beetles can be effectively controlled in this manner and which might need a different approach to be removed from the property.
Stinging Pests
Stinging pests come in a range of shapes an sizes that span multiple insect species. While the common factor is a stinger, body types, colors, and legs vary widely between pest such as bees, hornets, wasps, and even scorpions. These pests can all present problems for you or your home and controlling them begins with accurate identification. For more information, contact us for an accurate identification of the pest problem you are experiencing.
If you find a nest on your property, removing it safely and completely can be difficult. Aardvark Pest Control can come out and perform an inspection of your yard and home. Once our technician locates their nest, they can treat the pests as well as remove the source. Your technician will look for conditions that invite stinging insects, tackle current infestations, and remove any nests to help prevent future stingers from showing up.
Rodents
Rodents are warm-blooded mammals that, like humans, can be found throughout the world. They have oversized front teeth for gnawing and check teeth, which are adapted for chewing. Rodents chew on a variety of items available to them and cause great damage in and around homes. In addition to being tough to control, rodents may carry diseases and taint food with waste, fur, and saliva. In fact, mice can contaminate about 10 times the amount of food they eat. The CDC links some rodents to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease fatal in about 36 percent of all reported U.S. cases.
Aardvark Pest Control professionals are trained not only to address current infestations but also to prevent future infestations. Scheduling a home inspection may help you get rid of rodents. Problems with DIY – Homeowners may seek homemade solutions to their rodent problems. They may try a variety of repellents such as mothballs or even essential oils. These homemade methods are not capable of addressing full-blown rodent infestations.It is recommended that anyone experiencing a rodent infestation contact us to arrange for a consultation.