Pests We Control
ANTS
Argentine Ant
Argentine ants range from light to dark brown and measure less than 1/16th of an inch long. They are readily adaptable and can nest in a great variety of places. Nests are usually located in moist soil, next to or under buildings, along sidewalks, or beneath boards. Argentine ants are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat almost anything, but they prefer sweet foods
Odorous House Ant
Odorous House Ants are brown or black in color and measure between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch. Usually their nests are found under wood, debris, and landscaping and they are known to move their colony approximately every 3 months. They are attracted to moisture sources inside the home. If any landscaping is in contact with the home, this makes easy access for the ants to invade.
Pavement Ant
Pavement Ants are about 1/8 of an inch in length and range from light brown to black in color. They are often found nesting in the walls of buildings, under pavement stones, and in cracks in the foundation. They forage in trails up to 30 ft. from their nest and will enter inside structures for food.
Cockroaches
German Cockroach
German Cockroaches are the most common household cockroach. They are yellowish brown in color and have two dark strips on the head that run from front to back. They are typically between 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long. They are abundant in places where there is food & water such as kitchens and bathrooms. These insects are usually brought into a structure in grocery bags or boxes and breed easily.
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental Cockroach looks dark brown to black with a greasy sheen and is about one inch in length. They prefer dark, damp, cooler areas, such as under sinks, washing machines, spaces between soil and buildings, under stoops, and landscape mulch. This species is of much more concern because they often travel through sewer pipes and live in filth.
Spiders
All spiders have venom, but most of them cannot penetrate human skin with their bite. However, some spiders deliver poisonous bites and cause allergic reactions that require medical care. When you encounter a spider in your home, keep your distance until you or a professional have confidentially determined the species.
Black Widow
Black widows are a shiny black color and commonly identified by the red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomens. Females are larger than males and can measure up to 1 ½ inches in body length. They typically favor dark, secluded areas such as crevices, garages, sheds, and woodpiles. Their egg sac is rounded and smooth and can be a white or tan color. Their venom is poisonous.
Brown Widow
Brown widows are a lighter variety of the Black Widow. They are the same size measuring 1 ½ inches in length but are a brown color and have an orange hourglass on the underside of their abdomen. They are less aggressive than the Black widow and will typically only bite if they are poked or pried at. They are most comfortable around the underside of roof eaves, patio furniture, and swing sets. Their egg sacs are a creamy color and are round with pointed projections making them fluffy or spiky in appearance. Their venom is poisonous.
Stinging Insects
Honeybee
Honeybees are commonly found among flowers and in gardens. They grow to be about ½ inch in length and are golden yellow with dark brown stripes. These bees are the only type of bee known to have colonies that last longer than a decade. Each hive can have hundreds or even thousands of bees. After a colony has been eliminated in a building, it is best to remove the honeycombs from the wall because the honey will rot and produce an odor that will attract unwanted insects. Always maintain a safe distance from bees because all colonies have Africanized honey bee influence in the hive.
Other
Silverfish
Silverfish are white, brown-grey, or bluish-silver in color. They are teardrop-shaped insects that measure between 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. Capable of thriving in most climates, they commonly infest dark, damp areas around paper and linen sources such as basements, attics, kitchens and bathrooms. They are nocturnal and feed at night. Silverfish eat carbohydrates; particularly sugars and starches. Cellulose, shampoos, glue in books, linen, silk and dead insects may be food sources. Silverfish are known for their destructive feeding habits, oftentimes ruining papers, clothing and wallpaper.
Snails
Snails move incredibly slow, approximately 0.5-0.7 inches per second. They can survive in warm and cold climates and are most commonly found in garden or planters. Usually they are most active at night or early morning. They mostly feed on plants, but will eat other insects to be sure they have enough protein to keep their shell hard since it is essential to their survival.
Termites
Drywood Termites
Common to Southern California the Drywood Termites nest directly in wood. They are commonly found in attics, roof eaves, decks, patio covers and just about any lumber in the home. They are very destructive and cause millions of dollars in damage each year across America. Their pellets are about the same size as a grain of sand but with a wood coloration.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites live in underground colonies that can be 15-30 feet below ground and up to 100 feet away from a structure. They are typically found in crawlspaces, garages, patios, and around the foundation of homes. They tunnel through the ground by building unique mud tubes to gain access to food (your home) and to protect themselves, but they must travel back to the soil to retrieve moisture for survival.