What’s Bugging You? : The 5 Most Difficult Pests to Eliminate

What’s Bugging You? : The 5 Most Difficult Pests to Eliminate

Every pest poses its own set of problems, as the different species come with their own habits, personalities, and diets. But there are definitely some insects and rodents that are more difficult to eradicate than some of the other frequent fliers. These stubborn pests are difficult because of their massive number of colony members and amount of expensive damage they can inflict on a home. No pest is a good pest, but there are certain kinds that are inherently more frustrating to deal with just because of their sheer existence, and these are the ones we will be focusing on today.

Ants

Ants are tiny but mighty in terms of the amount of exasperation they bring to the unfortunate homes they invade. Considering the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of worker ants in a colony, an ant invasion is no small experience. If you happen to see some lone ants roaming around like they’re searching for hidden treasure, those are scout ants. They’re the ones that find food for the colony and use pheromones to leave a trail for their fellow scouts to follow. This is also why it’s important to not just squish any random ant you see during an invasion. They will continue to release pheromones after death that their colony can pick up and find their location, which means more ants in the area.

Carpenter ants are the most difficult to eliminate and the most frustrating ants to get, not because they are known to bite a lot, but because they cause so much damage wherever they go. They are very similar to termites in that they also burrow into wood, but carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood they force their way through. They make paths in the wood or insulation that they live in, which means that they can go very deep into the heart of the home’s structure. Carpenter ants favor damp wood, so it’s crucial to make sure you don’t have any wood damage (especially after a storm) that could lead to an ant invasion. 

Treatments: The most common treatments for an ant invasion are ant traps and insecticide. Pest control technicians will often seal any entry points they find on the outside of the house, as ants can fit through the tiniest of openings. This is why you will see them inspecting the perimeter of the house even though the invasion is happening inside. You can’t fix an inside problem without tackling the outside as well. Ants are drawn to any kind of food or water source, as well as shelter from adverse weather, so an ant invasion doesn’t necessarily mean that your home is dirty. It does help, however, to clean up any crumbs or spills immediately after they happen.  

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are not only next-to-impossible to eliminate, they are also extremely practiced at hitchhiking on a variety of materials to move from place to place. They can hide within the folds of clothing, suitcases, bags, secondhand furniture, and blankets. They will only infest areas that have a lot of consistent warm-blooded traffic, aka humans, so they will go where they think the food is the best. Bed bugs are also often the result of international travel, making them quite the world travelers by the time they come to the U.S.! They also reproduce consistently yet slowly, averaging about one to seven eggs per day, so there is never a case where a single bed bug lives alone within the fabric. 

The most trustworthy way to see if you have bed bugs is if you or your family members wake up with new red, itchy bites all over. Bed bugs are extremely small and nocturnal, meaning they only come out at night and are expert hiders during the day. If you do go searching for these bed-ridden bugs, they are discernible from other insects since they’re flat, oval-shaped, and do not have wings. This is why they have to cling to our bags and clothes in order to get around; they don’t have the luxury of flying wherever they want like other pests. Also, a bed bug infestation does not mean that your bed or home is dirty. They likely came from another place and just liked you so much that they wanted to stick with you, for better or worse. 

Treatments: The hard truth is that bed bugs need to be treated by a pest control professional. There isn’t a known DIY method effective enough against these stubborn critters, especially if there are a lot of them. Every single bed bug has to be eliminated in order for the infestation to be over, which takes some time and effort. Technicians have to inspect the areas to find all of the bed bugs and eggs so they know where to concentrate the treatments. Insecticides that are safe for humans are often used against bed bugs, as well as heat treatments on occasion. If you think you have a bed bug problem, it’s better to call in the pros sooner rather than later.

Mice

We’re going from discussing the tiniest pests to ones about the size of a sticky note. Mice may seem small and cute with their big ears, but they can be a major problem if they find their way into your home. They are some of the fastest reproducing pests, birthing about 10 litters a year with 5 to 8 pups in each one. This is why they are so tough to get rid of; they really take advantage of the saying, “there’s strength in numbers.” Mice are nocturnal and like to live in dark areas that are completely separated from any other living creatures, which means that they can go unnoticed for a long time if they choose a hidden spot in the attic or the back of a stuffed closet. Mice can survive just about anywhere, and will steal scraps of paper and other fabric-like materials to make nests for their babies. If you see random shreds of paper lying around, it’s worth investigating whether they’re leftovers from a mouse invasion.

Like any other pest, mice are drawn to food, water, and shelter. This is why they tend to mainly invade in the winter, when the frigid temperatures outside are too much for their tiny bodies. In addition to chewing through the house to make their own little burrows, mice can also contaminate your food if they get into it. Their droppings carry bacteria and diseases just like their feet do, so this pest problem becomes a health problem if they come into contact with humans. In fact, there is an estimated over 35 diseases that mice could be carrying with them. That’s a lot of germs! 

Treatments: Just like the other stubborn pests on this list, major mice infestations are often best handled by a professional. A couple of mouse traps may not be enough to solve the problem, especially if the mice have started reproducing their massive family. The most common ways that this problem is solved is through the combined use of traps, bait, sanitation, and exclusion work. Sanitation involves all of the typical cleaning you likely already do – vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, disinfecting mouse-touched surfaces – to prevent the mice from spreading any germs. Exclusion work is basically finding and sealing all entry points, which will ensure that the mice can’t find their way inside again. 

Roaches

Roaches are one of the most dreaded pests ever, and for good reason. They are impervious to many kinds of traditional insecticides, rapid reproducers, and carriers of multiple diseases. Roaches are also nocturnal and hide within walls and wall panels, so it is already difficult to get to them. But it gets worse when we bring up the fact that they have an impressively-strong immune system, so they aren’t impacted by the very diseases and bacteria that they carry. Also, their babies are born with immunity to the same pesticide and bacteria, which means that every future generation has the immune system to carry on the nightmare fuel that is their existence. Female roaches can reproduce without males if they have to, making them prolific, so they can further their species for as long as they live. 

Out of the tens of thousands of roach species, only a small percentage will actually be found around humans. The four main species we encounter in the U.S. are brown-banded, oriental, American, and German cockroaches. Roaches can eat basically everything in sight, so they have plenty of sustenance to survive on. Basically, every fact we learn about roaches is further proof that they are the worst and should not ever come close to our homes if we have any say in the matter.

Treatments: Since roaches have evolved to resist all kinds of pesticides, pest control has also evolved to actually treat today’s roaches. There are special insecticides that are typically powdered and are effective. Exclusion work is also very important against roaches since they can survive and thrive just about anywhere in the home. Roaches don’t only infest dirty homes, so the presence of roaches doesn’t mean anything about the state of your home’s cleanliness. 

Termites

Termites are even more harmful than carpenter ants, if you can believe that. They actually eat the wood that they burrow into, so a large colony can go through an impressive amount of wood in a short amount of time. The damage is often very expensive and can be permanent, since it is all in the house’s framework. Termites avoid light at all costs, making the inner workings of a house their perfect environment. Although termites are so small that they seem like they won’t do much, the damage begins right when the infestation does due to the fact that the full colony infests in the first place. They are eusocial insects, like ants and wasps, since they are divided into classes and work for the good of the colony. The two main classes of termites are workers and swarmers. The workers gather food and care for their queen and home, and the winged swarmers fly away to reproduce and make a new colony. Some of the most common signs of a termite infestation are finding wings on the ground, peeling paint, small holes, and hollow wood. If you see these signs and others in your home, contact pest control as soon as possible. 

Treatments: Termites, like carpenter ants, are major issues due to their preferred habitat of deep inside wood. They require professional treatment in every circumstance because of this, so it’s best to call the professionals as soon as you think you have termites. Baits and specialized insecticides are effective for termite treatment. Heat treatments are also used for larger infestations, but those are only used when absolutely necessary because no one can be in the house and certain possessions have to be moved. But comparing the cost and time of treatment to the extensive damage termites can cause, it’s almost always worth it.

No Pest Problem is Too Big for Pest Control

These pests are some of the most frustrating creatures that we all have the possibility of dealing with on a regular basis. Pests can cause more than annoyance when they invade our homes, as they can inflict damage on our homes and bring diseases around. Luckily, pest control services, including ours, have adapted to treat these determined pests with products and treatments that actually solve the problem without the use of harmful chemicals. Our experienced technicians are always here to solve your pest problems! Contact our team to learn more about how we can prevent the most persistent of pests from making your home their own. 

Citations

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Jonaitis, J. (2022, Janurary 20). 7 pests most likely to invade your home, and how to get rid of them. Angi. Available at https://www.angi.com/articles/5-pests-most-likely-invade-your-home-and-how-get-rid-them.htm (Accessed on June 10, 2022).

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Stanley, J. (2022, May 13). The 16 most disgusting house bugs and how to get rid of them. Family Handyman. Available at https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/the-10-most-disgusting-house-bugs-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/ (Accessed on June 10, 2022). 

This Old House Reviews Team. (n.d.). How do you get rid of termites?. This Old House. Available at https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pest-control/21238211/how-to-get-rid-of-termites (Accessed on June 10, 2022). 

Why is it so hard to get rid of cockroaches?. (2020, July 30). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved on June 10, 2022, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/hard-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches