Fall Pests, And How To Get Rid Of Them

We may still be in the middle of summer, but it does not mean we would finally see a respite from pests after this season. The cooler weather would not deter pests from gathering around homes. It is important to always be ready for an imminent invasion.

In our experience, there are two kinds of pests; those that are merely a nuisance, and those that are health risks to us, humans. Either way, we need to be very alert; learn how to identify these pests so that you can beat these uninvited guests. But no matter the season - winter, spring, summer, or fall - pest control services are always ready to help. As for you, you would not want just any other pest control company coming into your home. You want the best pest control management in North and South Carolina. You want none other than Go-Forth Pest Control. Below is a list of some of the pests you may encounter this fall.

Cockroaches

When it comes to filthiness, nobody beats the cockroach. Cockroaches eat just about anything; they eat rotten food, dead animals, feces, and anything that is in your garbage bin. They also love to live in places that are dirty. This behavior by the cockroaches enables them to carry various disease-carrying bacteria and viruses which they transmit to humans.

There are actually 4,600 species of cockroaches, but not all of them are pests. In fact, only four types of cockroaches are considered pests. The rest are out there in the forests, minding their own business while helping the ecosystem. 

Cockroaches are active at night and avoid getting out of their nests during the day. They are medium in size with flat bodies and long antennae attached to their heads, and a tough external exoskeleton. They have wings that are attached to their second and third thoracic segments and are clumsy fliers if they fly at all. They have three pairs of sturdy legs that are attached to their three thoracic segments. They are hardy insects, and studies have shown that cockroaches are getting resistant to insecticides nowadays. 

Cockroaches are vectors of diseases too. Some of these diseases include cholera, salmonella, pneumonia, food poisoning, and dysentery. They can also trigger asthma attacks in children. This makes cockroaches universally loathed. There are four kinds of cockroaches that are considered pests. 

American Cockroach

The American cockroach is the most common species found inside houses. They are also the largest among all common cockroaches, measuring 2 to 3 inches. They are reddish-brown in color with a yellow band behind their heads. They have well - developed wings, but are clumsy flyers. Adult female cockroaches can have as many as 150 offspring per year. They thrive in dark, wet places like sewers and pipes in homes and commercial buildings. 

German Cockroach

These are small cockroaches but are considered the most troublesome. They are only about 1 inch in length. German cockroaches are the ones usually found in restaurants and hotels. They prefer sweet, fatty, and starchy foods. Soda dispensers are among their favorite hangouts. But this does not mean they cannot get to your home. They might hitch a ride with your takeaways, so be wary.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

The brown-banded cockroach usually dwells in warm dry places, and they hide their eggs under your furniture, clothes, cracks on the floor, or wood.  They are similar to the German cockroach, only smaller. They measure about 10 to 14 mm long, tan to light brown in color, and has two light-colored bands across the wings and abdomen. Their life span is about 200 days.  

Oriental Cockroaches

Oriental cockroaches are larger and darker compared to other cockroach species, and they are the dirtiest of all cockroaches. They thrive on eating garbage and organic material while dwelling in dirty, cooler places, and create a strong smell. In order for your home to avoid getting infested, sanitation is important. Make sure you dispose of your garbage regularly. Place a cover on your trash cans to keep them out of the cockroach’s reach. Wipe off food and drink spills to avoid attracting cockroaches.  

Termites

Termites are called “silent destroyers” of houses. Fall brings out the termites because termites are attracted to decaying leaves, and leaves die and fall from trees in your garden. This is why you may find termites crawling on trees, eating away the wood. The bad news is that they will not be exclusively munching on wood outdoors, they may soon find their way inside your house.

Termites do not transmit diseases. Nor do they bite. They just work silently behind the scenes, or more appropriately, behind the walls. They are small insects measuring one-fourth to one -half inches long. They have soft bodies and straight antennae. They come in white to light brown in color. There are around 2,000 species of them, and over 40 can be found in the United States. They may be small and do not look like they can do any damage, but collectively they are very destructive. In fact, they have caused billions of dollars in structural damage each year. If you have termite infestation already, it is best to call professional exterminators. DIY’s simply do not work and may in fact cause more harm than good.  

Rats & Mice

In this colder climate, you might see more of these rodents taking shelter inside the warm comforts of your home. Rats and mice are nuisance pests, you might soon find your stuff with holes or bite marks. This is because rodents are constantly chewing due to their long incisors that actually do not stop growing all their lives. The only way to stop these incisors is, well, to chew. 

Aside from being a nuisance, rats and mice transmit deadly diseases. They are able to transmit diseases through their droppings, urine, or saliva. They transfer diseases such as salmonella, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, Lassa fever, and tularemia. Rats and mice are nocturnal creatures, so you would not see them during the day. They are known to be highly intelligent creatures, which could explain how they are able to survive despite all our efforts to eradicate them.

To prevent rats and mice from getting into your home, seal off holes and cracks around your house by caulking. Mice can fit into a hole the size of a dime, and they can use this as entry points. Remove their food sources by covering your trash bins, and putting your food inside sealed containers.  

Ants

Before ants hibernate for the winter, you might get to encounter a lot of them indoors, where it is warm and has plenty of food to steal. If you are not vigilant, you might find ants swarming over your food. Be careful too, that they do not sting you. They sting without any provocation and can be quite painful. 

To prevent ants from invading your home, wipe off food scraps, and drink spills on your table. Place your food inside sealed containers to avoid attracting ants. Take out your trash regularly.

These are some of the pests you might encounter this fall. If you have these unwanted pests on your property, be sure to contact the best pest control management in Columbia, South Carolina, Go-Forth Pest Control. 

Go-Forth Is Simply The Best

Go-Forth Pest Control is a family-owned commercial service solutions provider of modern pest control services and techniques, using the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service to you more efficient, safer, and more convenient. We have a team of expert professionals who can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments all throughout North and South Carolina.

No home or pest is the same, so there is no cookie-cutter solution. At Go-Forth Pest Control, we have professional technicians who will examine your home and your lawn to evaluate your specific needs. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We only use state of the art equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving pests. 

We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can really make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.

Go-Forth Pest Control has earned the trust of residents and businesses in South Carolina for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial 336-841-6111. Our friendly operators are standing by.