Your home is your haven; it’s where you eat, relax, spend time with your loved ones, and sleep. Understandably, you want it to always be clean and safe so that you and your household can have peace of mind.
Unfortunately, this can be difficult when pests keep inviting themselves into your house. It’s never pleasant to find creepy crawlies as unwanted roommates, so learning about which ones are in your area can make a world of difference.
Keep reading to see what types of pests live in Sacramento and what can be done if you find them in your home.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are never nice to find, as they have a reputation for being near immortal.
Not only will these pests give you a bad reputation since they’re associated with dirty places, but they’ll also contaminate your food since they can carry bacteria and pathogens. They can trigger asthma attacks and other allergies too. Plus, they can crawl into your ears and nose while you sleep and may try to eat your dead skin.
If you spot cockroaches in your home, then be more diligent about putting away your food. Invest in airtight containers and vacuum up any crumbs you’ve dropped while preparing food or eating. Empty the trash often, and don’t leave dishes in the sink overnight.
These actions can make your property less appealing to cockroaches. However, to get rid of them completely, you’ll need professional pest control services.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are so named because they love wood. They’re the most commonly found ant species in the US, so chances are, if you haven’t seen them in your house before, you’ve seen them elsewhere.
Going back to the wood-loving point, these pests are terrible since they’ll destroy your home’s structural integrity. They’ll create satellite nests throughout your property, which means their population’s usually persistent.
What’s worse is, they’ll bite humans. They have strong mandibles and can even break the skin. This, combined with their defensive acidic spray, can make carpenter ant bites painful.
To keep these pests away, seal your home’s cracks and holes. Prune your trees and shrubs regularly so they don’t touch your house, and if you have firewood, put it away from your house and elevate the stack. Inside, you should remove and repair any soft, moist, and/or rotting wood.
Again, to ensure you’ve eliminated all carpenter ants, have a pest control expert inspect your property (both inside and outside). They can then determine if you have an infestation and recommend the best actions to take.
Argentine Ants
The Argentine ant is found all over the world except in Antarctica. This highly invasive pest is tiny but packs a punch.
The good news? These ants don’t bite humans and tend to stay outdoors, although they’ll go inside if there’s a good food source (they’re attracted to sugar). However, they encourage plant pests to proliferate, which can quickly destroy your beautiful garden. In addition, they disrupt the local ecosystem, which can throw things out of balance as a bigger picture.
Like with carpenter ants, you’ll want to seal cracks and holes, plus prune your trees and shrubs to stop Argentine ants from getting inside. Make sure your food sources and trash containers are tightly shut. They’re attracted to standing water too, so get rid of water in things like flower pots and birdbaths.
Because these pests are so difficult to exterminate, you’ll need a pest control company to complete the job for you.
Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are one of the worst pests in Sacramento. These wasps are aggressive and have a venomous sting, which they can use multiple times. As a result, you, your family members, and even your pets can become victims of these painful and sometimes fatal stings.
Yellow jackets will build wood pulp nests underground or in trees. So you might not notice they’ve made a home on your property until it’s too late.
You can keep them at bay by eliminating standing water, sealing your house’s cracks and holes, and keeping food sources away (shutting garbage lids tightly, cleaning up immediately after eating outside, and keeping your pet’s food bowl covered). To avoid putting your household’s health and safety at risk, it’s best to have a pest control company remove the nests, set traps, and more.
Black Widows
Black widows are another pest that has a venomous bite, and in fact, they’re the most venomous spider in North America! This can be dangerous for some, especially children and the elderly.
Fortunately, they’re solitary creatures and aren’t aggressive; they’ll only multiply if the female gives birth and will only attack if you provoke them. However, it’s easy to accidentally do so, as they’ll make themselves home in quiet and dark places, such as your shoes and storage boxes.
To make your property a less habitable place for black widows, clean up your storage areas. Avoid creating tucked-away spaces where they can build webs. Vacuum regularly so if these spiders do make webs, they won’t stay up for long.
Maintaining your yard can deter black widows too. In addition, bird feeds will introduce natural predators, such as birds and bats.
If they’re still sticking around, then a licensed pest control company can exterminate black widows for you.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the worst household pests to have. Once they’re in, they’ll hide in all sorts of crevices and spread throughout your home.
When you get into bed, they’ll bite while you sleep, leaving a line pattern of marks. Some people have reactions to these bites, so they can turn red and itchy. You’ll also find tiny red spots on your sheets.
Since these pests can go weeks without eating, the best action against them is to clean your house thoroughly. Wash all your bedding and clothing on high heat to kill the bed bugs too.
It’s almost impossible to get rid of all bed bugs on your own, especially since they reproduce rapidly, so definitely get the help of a pest control company. They can treat your property to kill both bed bugs and their eggs.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are the types of bugs you wish to never have. They feast on the wood that makes up your home, and their large colonies can do major damage before you realize it. So while they don’t harm you directly through bites or stings, termites can compromise your house’s structural integrity, which will cost a big sum of money to fix.
You’ll know you have drywood termites if you find frass. These are small piles of what appears to be sawdust, but are actually termite droppings. Keep an eye out for it, as being proactive is key to saving your house.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent or deter termites. You can reduce soil-to-wood contact and also keep plants away from your home. You can keep the foundation dry and remove food sources too, such as dead trees, stumps, and newspapers.
The above probably won’t be enough to stop drywood termites from moving in. So get termite control services at the first sign of trouble.
Earwigs
Earwigs may look threatening due to their pincers, but thankfully, they’re usually harmless to humans. At the most, they can become a pesky nuisance, especially since they live together in large numbers.
You can prevent an earwig infestation from happening in your home by maintaining your yard. Get rid of mulch and leaf piles, as well as other vegetation; moving your firewood pile farther from your house can help too. Also, make sure to trim your trees and shrubs regularly.
Check your house for cracks and seal them with caulk. Because earwigs are attracted to moisture, ensure your house is properly ventilated and that its gutters and downspouts point in outward directions.
Getting the assistance of a pest control professional can help with future earwig population control.
Fleas
If you have pets, and you’re not actively protecting them against fleas, then it’s possible for them to bring these pests in. Fleas bite and suck blood from their victims, which means that they can spread diseases. Not to mention, flea bites can be very irritating too.
To get a handle on this problem, get your pets the proper flea treatments. You should also vacuum all flooring and furniture, and wash all fabrics, such as your clothes and bedding.
Fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day though, so no matter what you do, it’ll be challenging to kill every pest. Getting treatment from a pest control company is an effective solution.
Silverfish
Silverfish are another pest that’s relatively harmless. They’re wingless, so they can’t fly, nor can they jump. They don’t bite, although they shed their skin, which can lower your home’s air quality and worsen asthma and allergies.
Silverfish love moisture, as well as warmth. They’ll also snack on your books, photos, and clothing. While they’re nocturnal, you’ll spot enough of them in the daytime to know you’ve got some unwelcome visitors.
By dusting and cleaning your home often, you can make it less attractive to silverfish (and other pests too). Ventilate your rooms and use dehumidifiers if needed. If you’ve got clothes you’re not wearing for a while, store them in a dry container that’s nice and tight.
You won’t usually need external help to eliminate silverfish. But if you’re finding them to be a huge nuisance, pest control professionals can help.
Rodents
Some people might find rodents cute, but when they’re pests in your home, you definitely want to shoo them out. Not only do they carry diseases and spread them through their waste or just by touching your food, but they can also bite and scratch you in some cases. In addition, they can ruin your house by making nests inside the walls and tearing up your wood and furniture.
You can make your property less hospitable to rodents by following the above tips for other pests. For example, eliminate food sources, get rid of clutter (both inside and outside), and seal up holes.
Don’t try to handle an infestation on your own though. Not only do pest control companies have more effective treatment plans, but they can also prevent injury and harm to your household.
Pigeons
People don’t usually think of pigeons as pests, but in reality, they’re quite a nuisance. Although they don’t bite or even attack humans, they can cause some serious problems. They carry diseases, plus their droppings get everywhere, which isn’t sanitary; the droppings are also very corrosive and destructive.
Some ways to deter pigeons are to use live pigeon traps, exclusion devices, and deterrents. For instance, try bird netting, pigeon spikes, mechanical speakers, and sticky gels.
Otherwise, you can get pigeon control services from pest experts.
Keep These Types of Pests Away
Pest Control Throughout the Sacramento & Fresno Areas
Official Pest Prevention is a family-owned, licensed pest control company celebrating 20 years serving over 100,000 satisfied customers in five area codes throughout Northern and Central California. Starting with a few contacts, and only four full-time employees, our small company has grown into an organization that today employs over 100 people, maintains a fleet of 75 vehicles, and has serviced over 100,000 Northern California households. This tremendous growth has come from loyal customers, who have recommended our work to their friends, family, and neighbors.
We are a full-service pest control company. Whatever your pest problem, we have a solution. Our goal is to make your property pest-free. Guaranteed. Contact us online or by phone (877) 711 2847 – for immediate assistance. Same-day bookings and flexible payment plans available – because pest invasions wait for no one.
