Not sure which creepy-crawler is coming into your home? Summer is a great time for pests in California. Some of them are relatively harmless (merely annoying) and some bring in bacteria and other problems into your home.
Here are some of the pest/insects you may be seeing in your home this summer:
Ants – Two varieties of ants are common in California: the Argentine Ant and the Odorous House Ant. Argentine Ants are dark brown or black, about 1/8” in length, and will aggressively drive out other ants. Odorous House Ants are about the same size and black in color. These ants are known to build up a tolerance for many of the household pesticides people use for treatment. Ants are attracted to local fruit trees, such as orange and lemon trees, as well as rose bushes. These ants build nests under lumber or debris, or landscape mulch.
Cockroaches – In California, we have to fight off two types of cockroaches: the American cockroach and the Oriental cockroach. They vary slightly in appearance, the American Cockroach is reddish-brown in color, the Oriental Cockroach is all black (males have brown wings). Either variety is obnoxious to have in a home, tracking in all kinds of bacteria.
Fleas – Fleas can be hard to see because they are so small – about 1/6”. They are reddish-brown in color, and make their homes on the flesh of animals, such as cats and dogs. They survive on the blood of animals. While animals may bring fleas into the home, it usually requires more than mere treatment of the animal to get rid of fleas – you’ll probably have to treat your whole property.
Silverfish – Silverfish are small, gray or silver insects. Silverfish are especially destructive to fabrics and paper. Silverfish can ruin a good collection of books.
Spiders – Fortunately, there aren’t many varieties of spiders that are dangerous in most California homes. Simple house spiders can be annoying because of all the webs they create, but they also help control other insects around your home.
Yellow Jackets – Yellow Jackets are insects that do cause problems with their painful stings. Yellow Jackets are between ½” to 1 inch in length with distinctly black and yellow stripes. They look different from bumble bees, which appear fuzzy and brownish. Yellow Jackets are aggressive and often form colonies inside walls or in the ground.
The right detection of insects, and the right treatment, is critical to keeping your home pest free and your summer a pleasant experience. Call me if you suspect you may have some uninvited guests in your home, and I’ll help you keep them from coming back. Our Toll Free No. is 888-675-0258 and our website is www.AccuracyPlusCalifornia.com.