When your house is infested with bed bugs, and not only do they hide in your bed and wardrobe, but in the walls as well, how do you treat bed bugs in walls?
Here are the recommendations on how to search and destroy. You will learn how their feces look, how long they can remain in walls, and what a credit card has to do with it.
How Are Your Walls Supposed to Be Finally Bug-Free?
Bed bugs can be found far beyond their namesake furniture. Like many insects, they are natural born (or rather natural hatched) survivalists that live through various conditions, even way more severe.
That is why they can be found in the wall cracks as well as in soft mattresses or pillows. Let’s break down how they live, how you can find them, and how to extinguish them.
Can bed bugs live in walls?
As you’re reading this article and have a reason to suppose so, the truth is yes, they can. Though normally they eat once every five or ten days, they can live without eating for months.
So while you usually expect them where they can access a fresh human body and drill for blood on your skin, they can be found in different places – including walls. Especially where the wall meets the floor or the ceiling.
How to know if you have bed bugs in walls?
Let’s state that this question only makes sense if you know for sure that the insects have entered the building. You may have found them in your bed or in your clothes, but to make sure they don’t hide in your walls, you may want to check them. How does one bed find a bug nest in wall? There are several options:
Look for real bed bugs on the wall. It’s 100% evidence, but it takes a lot of luck to detect them alive. They travel from 5 to 20 feet away from their usual hiding places that, yes, can be in the walls.
Look for visible physical signs of bed bugs on walls, like feces or skins. Their eggs also do, but they are almost never seen in plain sight.
Check whether your skin has irritations when you wake up. These spots usually appear on exposed parts: face, neck, hands, and so on. They may itch but not necessarily. Because of natural anesthetics, few of us can feel the bug bite in real time.
To be the surest, you can conduct a credit card test. It is based on the fact that the body of an adult bug is about as thick as a regular credit card. Take a card and check the cracks on the wall with it, trying to put it in. If the card fits into the crack, so does a bug. If you are lucky, you may even scare one out of the crack.
Step-by-step guide on how to get rid of bed bugs in the walls
As you have made sure there are bed bugs in your walls, the question is how to get rid of bed bugs in walls – indeed, in your whole household. Don’t forget to check for these bugs in your mattresses, pillows, bed sheets, carpets, and clothes.
If you detect them in your walls, it means they are far beyond that. By the way, have you noticed these irritations on your skin?
There are various methods on how to get bed bugs out of walls. Let’s choose the simplest and the most efficient.
Locate all the places where the bugs may dwell. Along with walls, it may be your bed, your carpet, your wardrobe. Search by evidence like feces, dry skins, eggs if you see them, or blood stains in your bed.
Process ALL of these places.
Hot-wash or steam the clothes where they may dwell
Specifically for walls, use a bedbug spray or CimeXa dust. Process the cracks in the wall with a duster with a thin rubber tip that can spray the bed bug dust into the cracks. Don’t abuse it, though, and be careful while applying it to electric outlets. You better switch the power off as you do it.
Leave the room for 5 or 6 hours and close it. The time may depend on the solution you use: the manufacturer may recommend longer or shorter periods.
What else can you use against the bugs? Obviously, using boiling water that surely kills them makes no sense on your walls. Neither does using bleach, alcohol, or vinegar solutions.
But, for example, pyrethrin powder or Diatomaceous Earth to poison them. This is the case when specialized solutions work better than any of these common household liquids.
The manufacturers, though, often recommend using their products with other methods. Make sure the pesticides you use, regardless of the manufacturers, are EPA-registered, and follow the instructions carefully.
This way, you need to do it with all the rooms where you suspect these parasites to appear. In addition, it helps you to get rid of other insects that may live there.
How to prevent further infestations
Eliminating one nest is good, but it’s better to make sure there are no other colonies to appear. To make sure, you can do the following:
Check everything in your home. Mattresses and carpets, walls and animal places, wardrobes and attics. Apply necessary measures everywhere you find them.
Get protective covers for your mattresses and box springs, so bugs can neither get in nor get out of there if there remain any.
Keep your house in order. Clutter marks the spot where these insects may dwell. Let there be fewer of them.
Keep from using shared laundry services if possible. If not, look at your washed items carefully and use new bags for carrying them home.
Still, regularly wash and dry your clothes.
Get a heater chamber for treating your clothes.
A few days after the campaign, check whether there are others (use an interceptor or check for stains on your bed).
There are also methods that seem to make sense but are inefficient. They include the following:
Painting the walls. It may work for some time as bugs are deterred by the smell of fresh paint. But as soon as it dries out, the bugs return.
Freezing the room. Even if you open wide all your windows and turn off the heating in the coldest of winter nights, it may not be cold enough, as it takes 0°F (-17°C) that sustains for about two hours to kill the bugs. This can only work during the Alaskan winter, though we doubt these insects would bother you at all at that time.
If you follow these recommendations, you minimize the chance of reinfestation. And tell your neighbors to do the same if they suffer from these insects too.
Not only will you do them a favor if you instruct them, but also lower the risk of bed bugs migrating from their households to yours.
FAQ on Bed Bugs in Walls
Even after the instruction, there are questions that need to be addressed directly. Here are some of these.
How long can bed bugs live in the walls?
The short answer is: for months, without going out, and for many months if, once in a while, they treat themselves with human blood. But the best answer to “how long do bed bugs live in walls” sounds like “not until tomorrow”. And then the sound of the spray comes.
Should I drill a hole in my wall to treat for bed bugs?
No, as they don’t burrow through walls. They can only use existing cracks and holes. And you can use them for extinguishing the population as well.
Can bed bugs live in electrical outlets?
In theory, they can. Not directly in the socket where they are exposed to electricity, but just behind the plate. There is usually some gap between the plate and the wall, and bugs can get there easily. If you search for them in outlets, start with the one closest to your bed.
Can bed bugs chew through a wall?
We know why you are asking this: because other insects can, like termites or wasps. Bed bugs, though, have a completely different digestion system and mouth structure, so they are unable to burrow. They can only use already existing cracks.
Off the Walls! Conclusion
So, now you know what to do to get rid of bed bugs in the walls. The main conclusion to make is the following: don’t focus on the walls, even though they are there. Extinguish them everywhere! Only then will they leave your wall cracks.
Are there any other methods or pesticides you have used on bedbugs? Any more tips you would add to this? Share them in the comments if you please, and we’ll be grateful!
It is possible for anyone to unexpectedly hear the sound of a mosquito buzzing near them, either during the day or at night, and it can be challenging to know how to effectively eliminate them. If you aspire to be like famous vampire hunters such as Van Helsing, Buffy, or Abraham Lincoln, the initial step is to eliminate these small creatures that emit ultrasound and pose a threat to your well-being. There exist various techniques that can assist you in effortlessly eliminating mosquitoes in a room or finding and eradicating a lone mosquito.
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Install a permanent repellent that works 24/7. It may be electric or chemical, natural citronella candles, or synthetic coils – whatever that repels them and does not annoy you.
You can also use plant extracts. Lemon eucalyptus oil is considered the best for this.
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Step-by-Step Guide on Getting Mosquito Out of Your Room
Here are the instructions crafted by the experience of millions. They might have been found accidentally, then retried, checked, and found worthy.
We recommend these methods to catch a mosquito in your room or to drive them away from your house. But all of these will require some actions from you.
How to find a mosquito buzzing at night
It’s one of the most annoying sounds that don’t let you sleep at night when a mosquito buzzes in your ear. (And some people do record it and listen!) It’s too little to hit at once, so you can miss it a lot of times, and it will keep buzzing until it lands on your unprotected skin to suck some of your blood.
Sometimes I wish they were visible like, say, fireflies. But as far as they’re not, you’ll need to turn on some light in your room. The best source is your phone if it’s at your side at the moment.
Don’t hurry up to turn it on, though. Get up with your phone (or whatever light source) in your hand and walk around until you hear the buzz more clearly.
Stand still until the mosquito lands on a nearby wall close to the light source. Then hold your flashlight close up to the wall and turn it on. The mosquito will cast a disproportionately large shadow on the wall, so it will be easier for you to smash it at once. But hurry up before it sets off.
There is another way to see it: have a white blanket stretched between your knees you put up and keep your phone or tablet with its screen on while lying in the bed. As you hear the mosquito, wait until it’s attracted closer by your breath and the light. Then it will be easily seen thanks to the white blanket and easy to kill.
Well, these methods are great against a single mosquito, but they will be useless if they keep entering your room. Make sure you have a mosquito net and keep your windows closed tightly during the night.
How to lure a mosquito
On occasion, rather than searching for a mosquito that may be difficult to find and kill, it can be more practical to entice it out of hiding. There are various methods that can be employed to coax the mosquito out of its hiding spot and lure it close enough to be eliminated.
One approach is to use body heat. Mosquitoes can detect the body heat of their prey and will eventually come closer. Once the mosquito is within range, one can use the techniques mentioned above to eliminate it.
Another strategy is to use light, although it is important to note that mosquitoes are smarter than insects such as moths and will not be drawn to a flame. Instead, using a light source such as a smartphone or tablet can help to lure them out.
Finally, certain aromas can also be used to attract mosquitoes. These include the natural scent of the human body as well as the smell of yeast and beer, which mosquitoes are known to prefer.
How to get mosquitoes out of your room
The most extreme approach to avoiding anxiety at night is to prevent insects, such as mosquitoes, from entering your room or house altogether. This can be challenging if you open your windows for fresh air occasionally. Instead of wondering where mosquitoes might hide within your home, focus on covering up areas where they can enter to prevent them from being able to stay inside.
To get mosquitoes out of your house, you need to install a permanent repellent that functions 24/7. It may be electric or chemical, natural citronella candles, or synthetic coils – whatever that repels them and does not annoy you. It will be especially necessary if your house is next to a forest or a swamp area where mosquitoes are always in excess.
The types of devices you can use for that are the following:
Electronic repellents. You can select from a variety of top picks offered by independent reviewers. But even the best of them cannot grant 100% repelling.
Plant repellents. Mosquitoes for some strange reason cannot appreciate the fragrance of some flowers and plants, like lavender, basil, peppermint, geraniums, lemongrass, calendula, and others. Have them planted at your windows, so the invaders can smell them from afar and turn away.
If you regularly apply these (or just plant the plants where they are the most effective), the problem of how to get a mosquito out of your room will bother you much less. So you will not have to get up at night and hold your phone to the wall as often as before.
Now you know the ways to easily detect a mosquito in a dark room and kill it. It will take some effort, but it will pay with some good sleep you’d otherwise be deprived of. Repellents are too big a topic to discuss here, they deserve a separate exploration.
If you’re suffering from mosquito attacks, you better save yourself some blood by bookmarking this. Share it on your Facebook or Twitter, and you’ll surely be thanked by some friends who have been under the same attack. And if you know a method we missed, or have anything to add, drop a comment here.
Acoustical Society of America(Richard H. Campbell Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Worcester Polytechnic Institute ): https://acoustics.org/pressroom/httpdocs/132nd/3pab10.html
Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively (United States Environmental Protection Agency): https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively
Mosquito Repellents: Types and Recommendations (Mississippi State Department of Health): https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,957,93.html
There are multiple options of getting rid of mosquitoes without paying anything. It is up to you which homemade mosquito repellent to choose. There is no reason why you can’t try them all to deal with the problem.
Some people are like magnets for mosquitoes because of the body heat, scent, or type of blood. And while not all mosquitoes are dangerous for your life and not all of them carry malaria, it is still unpleasant to suffer from their bites.
If you are looking for how to make mosquito repellent at home, read these affordable solutions to your problem.
Guide on Top Recipes That Will Cost You Nothing
You can always protect yourself from mosquitoes with a proper repellent. It does not have to contain DEET chemicals, which may cause health problems and are generally unfriendly to the environment.
To avoid using harmful ingredients, try to make your own mosquito spray. It will be more beneficial for children and people with allergies.
How to make mosquito repellent at home
To make the repellent, you still need all the ingredients and a bottle to pour it. On average, a DIY mosquito repellent requires the next tools:
Water;
Essential oils;
Base oils;
Empty spray bottle.
If you still don’t have oils, you can always buy them online or in a drug store or beauty store. If you don’t want to pay for the spray bottles, just use those that you already have from the old sprays or perfumes.
All you need to do is to clean the bottle before you use it. There are numerous bottles offered online for a pretty affordable price.
I recommend you to avoid big bottles, as you are unlikely to need so much repellent, and they are heavy and inconvenient to carry.
The most popular recipe for any repellent is the following one:
Fill half of the bottle with water (boiled or distilled);
Add ¼-th of rubbing alcohol or vodka;
Fill the rest of the bottle with the essential oil of your choice;
Shake it carefully.
You have to make sure that all ingredients are well-mixed with each other. This is why you have to leave some space empty in the bottle. Do not use the repellent close to your eyes.
You can wear gloves to avoid skin irritation if you have an allergic reaction to some oils or other ingredients in the spray. Usually, almost any homemade insect repellent is safe for you and the environment.
Vinegar
I could not have left this popular topic on the Web without attention. So, let’s talk about vinegar and mosquitoes. Vinegar is a natural acid that not only scares mosquitoes but kills them.
It can kill the larvae in 18 hours. If you want to use it as a repellent, mix:
1 tablespoon of vinegar;
10 drops of citronella oil;
30 ml of olive or coconut oil.
If you want to use it directly on mosquitoes, you have to find the place where they live and spray the vinegar on the larvae. Don’t mix it with anything else, especially with water. You won’t get any results. If you have sensitive skin, you shouldn’t apply this method to it.
Lemon eucalyptus oil
This is a natural mosquito spray that really works. It is also incredibly easy to make even to a newbie. All you need is:
10 ml oil of lemon eucalyptus;
90 ml of the base oil of your choice. I prefer the olive oil mainly because it is cheaper than coconut oil,
but you can try both;
Distilled water;
Vodka.
Mix everything in the spray bottle. Shake all the ingredients so that they become the one solid substance. If you want to intensify the action of the repellent, don’t add water and vodka. The lemon eucalyptus is a well-known remedy against mosquitoes.
Our ancestors had been using it for centuries. There is p-menthane 3,8-diol and citronella inside the oil, which mosquitoes hate the most. If you order the oil, check out whether there are both ingredients present.
Neem oil is a helpful tool against mosquitoes in case you don’t mind feeling its strong scent in your house. I often use this repellent outdoors, but you may add the coconut oil into the mixture and spray it around the house as well.
This is the recipe suggested by Olivia Tan, the co-founder of CocoFax:
30 ml of the coconut oil;
10 drops of the oil of neem tree;
Boiled water;
Vodka.
You can apply it everywhere around the house or use this herbal repellent on your skin. Coconut oil intensifies the mosquito-repelling qualities of the neem oil.
If you are not sure whether you can inhale this scent for several hours, try it in one room at first. If you don’t have headaches and can easily wait until the aroma disappears, use it anywhere you want.
Tea tree oil and coconut oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most praised ingredients in numerous skincare products. Its relaxing abilities are known widely around the world. If you want to combine an aromatherapy session with getting rid of mosquitoes, this is your option.
This oil has antiseptic properties and can stop minor inflammatory processes in your body, according to numerous reviews. Maybe, you’ve already checked these features by healing mosquito bites. Why not add it in repellent? Here are the ingredients for the recipe:
30 ml of coconut oil. To save your money, buy this oil in a big bottle, you are likely to need it anyway in your household;
10 drops of tea tree oil;
Water;
Vodka.
Mix everything as described earlier. Shake it carefully. Apply in the places that are usually visited by mosquitoes. You can also apply it to your skin. Be careful with your eyes. If the substance gets in them, wash it with warm water.
Lavender oil for mosquitoes is like holy water for vampires. Actually, it is good for numerous small pests, including bed bugs, moths, silverfish, lice, ants, and even spiders.
While this oil smells so nice to people, soothing and reminding us of pleasant summer nights, mosquitoes can’t stand it. They find its main compounds (camphor, limonene, eucalyptol, and linalool) highly repulsive. You can make a mosquito killing mix by using the next components:
3-4 tablespoons of lemon juice;
10-12 drops of lavender;
3-4 tablespoons of an extract of vanilla;
Water.
You don’t have to add any alcohol or vodka to it. But if you want to prolong the effect, you can also add the latter as I’ve recommended before.
Shake the spray and apply it near the windows and doors. If you like the smell, you can also spray the furniture near your bed.
Lemongrass oil and rosemary oil
If you don’t like the sweet smell of lavender or vanilla, you may try the fresh aroma of lemongrass and rosemary. Lemongrass contains citronella and limonene inside. And rosemary has camphor, limonene, and eucalyptol to make sure that mosquitoes will not stay long at your house. To scare them away, combine the next components:
10 drops of rosemary essential oil;
10 drops of lemongrass oil;
60 ml of coconut or olive oil;
Vodka;
Water.
Mix all of the components together. You can pour the remedy into the aroma lamp or use it without vodka and water if you want. It works immediately.
These questions about mosquito repellents are frequently asked on the Internet. If you still have more questions for me, you may find the answers here.
How to make citronella oil?
If you have citronella grass in your yard, you can use the steaming distillation method and make the oil by yourself. Make sure you have either Java citronella or Sri Lanka citronella species.
However, I don’t think that all these hours of waiting and complicated technology are worth getting a few drops of oil. You’d better learn all the ways to use citronella as the repellent and find the oil in the nearest drugstore at an affordable price.
What is a good home remedy for mosquito repellent?
All the remedies I have recommended above are considered the best DIY mosquito repellents. It is up to you which method to use. You can decide based on the aroma of these plant-based mosquito repellents which one you prefer the most. All of them don’t contain any harmful chemicals and can be applied to your skin, except for the vinegar.
Why does vanilla repel insects?
Vanilla is considered to be one of the most hateful scents for mosquitoes. The reason lies in its intensity. In the repellents, it interferes with their overly sensitive odors. It does not allow mosquitoes to smell the food. They can’t smell anything except vanilla in the room where this oil is repelled.
Most Helpful Recipe: What’s Yours?
I recommend using all these recipes one by one until you understand which one is the most suitable for your particular situation. If you live in an area with high humidity and an enormous number of mosquitoes, you may need some chemicals or professionally-made mosquito repellents against them.
Mosquitoes may spread hazardous diseases, and you don’t want to guess which one was dangerous and which was not after they bite you. If you have tried at least one of these recipes, please share your opinion in the comments below. Was it helpful? Do you have other effective homemade recipes you are willing to share?
Mosquito Repellents (Commonwealth of Massachusetts): https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mosquito-repellents
How to Use Citronella As an Insect Repellent (WikiNow): https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent
Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059459/#:~:text=Corymbia%20citriodora%20(Myrtaceae)%2C%20also,lemon%20eucalyptus%20trees%20(Table%20%E2%80%8B&text=Many%20plant%20extracts%20and%20oils,1).
Mosquito Repellents: Types and Recommendations (Mississippi State Department of Health): https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,957,93.html
The presence of noise or harmful chemicals in commercially available electrical and mechanical mosquito traps often discourages potential buyers. However, in this article, we will explain how to make a mosquito trap at home without these drawbacks.
If you don’t have your usual mosquito repellents or if you prefer not to use them, don’t worry, because you don’t have to spend the night chasing mosquitoes. You can create a mosquito repellent using common household items. Homemade remedies are generally less toxic and may be safer for human health.
Guide on 5 Most Effective DIY Mosquito Traps
If it is necessary to get rid of mosquitoes as soon as possible, you don’t have to purchase expensive means of combating them.
In the fight against these harmful insects, you can get by with a DIY mosquito trap. Keeping mosquitoes away from your home can be a daunting task, but you can use the tools you have at hand.
Principle of mosquito traps
In general, all mosquito traps operate on a similar principle – they lure mosquitoes into a confined space where they become trapped and eventually die from either poison or dehydration. Mosquitoes are attracted to human scent, warmth, and water, which are the key elements of any mosquito trap.
The basic principle of every mosquito trap is to incorporate one or more features that resemble a mosquito’s source of food or reproduction. For example, a light bulb that emits heat and attracts the attention of female mosquitoes.
Light traps are effective for capturing female mosquitoes, which are the ones that bite, as they are drawn to the heat from the light source and guided towards it during both daylight and darkness.
Mosquitoes also search for the human skin bare areas. They use the heat receptors, trying to get as close to the food source as possible. However, the insects are often deceived by sticking to warm objects.
1. Amish Flying Insect Trap
You can use a plastic bottle to make a trap. It works because insects flock to the carbon dioxide released by the fermentation of baker’s yeast (but there is also a yeast-free option).
Animals and humans breathe out carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes are so attracted to them. But you can create an alternative source of carbon dioxide by tricking dipterans.
Baker’s yeast is the most popular ingredient in all kinds of mosquito traps due to its effectiveness, availability, and low cost. Also, to manufacture a trap, you will need:
a plastic bottle of any color
warm water no higher than 104F (the fermentation stops at higher thermal values);
sugar baker’s yeast;
black cloth or paper (aluminum foil is also suitable)
To get rid of other pests, replace the yeast with honey, jam, or small pieces of fruit — something with a more pronounced smell.
One trap works from 4 days to a week. Wait for the moment until the entire sweet element is fermented into alcohol. Then you can leave the bottle, but you have to change the bait. If it is a trap for other insects, and there is jam or honey inside, it can be used continuously for 2 weeks.
If you want to make a yeast-free trap, you can use another ingredient as a main. A variant of the liquid that will be harmful to mosquitoes is vegetable oil. You will need 3-4 plastic bottles and four spoons of vegetable oil (the quality does not matter).
This trap is easy to create and it functions by taking advantage of mosquitoes’ attraction to carbon dioxide. The trap requires an empty plastic bottle, yeast, half a glass of brown sugar, and a cup of hot water.
To create the mixture, mix the sugar into the heated water until it dissolves, and then pour the mixture into the bottle. After that, add the yeast to the bottle, and this initiates the reaction that releases carbon dioxide.
Remove the cap from the neck of the bottle and turn the top of the bottle upside down. Then connect both parts to form a funnel. The trap can be placed or hung. The main thing is to do it away from the place where people are.
The repellents usually mask a human’s odor. It is essential because mosquitoes can smell their food and detect carbon dioxide from over 150 feet away.
However, it’s also helpful to use a CO2 mosquito trap. You don’t have to hide the scent but attract these insects with a mixture of soda and vinegar.
Things and ingredients you need:
empty 2-liter soda bottle
scissors
tape
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
To create a soda bottle mosquito trap, start by cleaning and drying an empty plastic bottle. Cut the bottle in half, and place 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bottom part. Use the upper part of the bottle to create a funnel, which can be secured with tape.
When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, it releases carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes. The insects enter the funnel and are trapped at the bottom of the bottle, unable to escape.
Dish soap mosquito traps are even easier to manufacture than the previous versions. You don’t even need an empty bottle. This recipe assumes that the mosquitoes will be attracted by light and moisture. And as I have already mentioned, they love it.
To create an effective insect trap for outdoor or indoor use, a small dish or container is needed. Water should be poured into the dish and mixed with soap to create bubbles.
Mosquitoes will be attracted to the soap bubbles and will be unable to fly away, leading to them drowning in the mixture. Additionally, using a light source, such as a small lamp or candle, can draw mosquitoes to the solution.
A candle can be more effective than a lamp because mosquitoes are attracted to the heat that the light source produces. However, if using a candle, the trap should not be left overnight as it could be dangerous for pets or children who may knock the candle over.
5. Vinegar & Dish Soap Bottle Trap
In order to make an insect trap, you literally need 10 minutes. To craft a trap, you need the following:
5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of dish soap
duct tape;
plastic bottle
Cut off the top of the bottle. Turn the top over and put it in the bottle, as a result, you should form a kind of funnel. Tie the two parts of the bottle together with duct tape. Pour a mixture of soap and vinegar into the funnel.
All you need to do now is set the trap in an area with a large concentration of insects, for example, under a lantern. The insects will fly into the bottle but will not be able to get out.
If you don’t have a bottle to make a 2 liter mosquito trap, you can replace it without any problems. Take a glass jar and fill it with a mixture that will attract mosquitoes.
In order to create a funnel, you can use a sheet of paper or a thick napkin. It is enough to roll it up and also put it in a jar. The main thing is that the paper does not get wet, so do not lower it too deep.
FAQ About How to Trap Mosquitoes
In this section, you will get answers to the most popular questions about homemade traps. They will give you even more information on how to get rid of insects and keep them out of your skin.
What attracts mosquitoes to traps?
Carbon dioxide exhaled by humans or released by fermentation attracts mosquitoes. Heat is another factor that is appealing to them.
Mosquitoes fly to heat, for these traps need light sources. Mosquitoes also prefer a humid environment, so there are often many of them near water bodies. Therefore, a water trap has a better chance of attracting insects.
Are mosquito traps effective?
Mosquito traps are an effective insect control method. The most efficient are mosquito traps by releasing carbon dioxide. If you want to achieve maximum results and not feel bites on your skin, you need to change the traps regularly. You can also combine them with using a repellent.
What is more effective against mosquitoes, traps or repellents?
These mosquito control methods work differently. Both work, but repellents can contain chemicals that can harm humans or pets as well. Besides, the repellent will not help cope with the number of mosquitoes, so it only masks a human’s smell but does not destroy insects.
Save Your Skin
With the help of home traps, you can forget about itching from mosquito bites. These traps are relatively easy to make with improvised means, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money on them.
All ingredients are natural, so these traps are more sustainable. What methods of how to make mosquitoes trap do you know? Let us know in the comments.
Mosquito heat seeking is driven by an ancestral cooling receptor (Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA American Association for the Advancement of Science): https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6478/681#:~:text=These%20insects%20use%20body%20heat,the%20malaria%20vector%20Anopheles%20gambiae.
Are You a Mosquito Magnet? (By Elizabeth Heubeck WevMD): https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/are-you-mosquito-magnet#1
How to Keep Mosquitoes Away (Joshua Bloom Pest Control Specialist WikiNow): https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Mosquitoes-Away
Mozzies are speedy breeders that tend to lay their eggs in still water. They need very little water for reproduction, the tiniest puddle will do. The fragile larvae phase is the best period to eliminate the nasty blood-suckers before they even consider munching down on your yummy blood.
The best mosquito larvae prevention method is ensuring there’s no stagnant water around your home in the first place.
When you’re through with that task, there are a few more steps you might want to take to make sure the larvae is all dead and gone. I’m here to let you in on how to kill mosquito larvae, so read on.
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Drain the standing water.
If the water source has enough space – you can have fish.
Make the Water Move.
Add the garlic juice to the water.
You can also add apple cider vinegar or cinnamon oil.
Purchase a specialized soap that contains insecticides.
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Comprehensive Guide on Mosquito Larvae Killing
We all can’t stand mosquitoes, that’s a given. These flying vampires are a non-stop nuisance with their biting and blood-sucking behavior, not to mention the fact that they spread hazardous diseases (including malaria).
However, living in a mosquito-free world is an illusion, so we have to come up with the best way to control them. Now, before covering the details of what kills mosquito larvae, I will let you in on the very basic info on the topic.
What Are Mosquito Larvae?
Most of the time, mozzies prefer hanging out in the air, that’s a well-known fact. Baby mosquitoes, however, (also known as ‘larvae’ or ‘wigglers’) start their lives beneath the water surface. Mozzie babies (‘larvae’) represent one of the four different stages of mosquito life (egg-larvae-pupae-adult).
Where to Look for Mosquito Babies?
Adult mozzies lay their eggs on the water surface. These eggs hatch into larvae. Mosquito larvae resemble tiny worms that wriggle below the water surface, breathing through a siphon and feasting on various microorganisms in the water.
With all that being said, baby mozzies need still water for survival (mostly because there’s no fish looking to feast on them there). Mosquito larvae usually live underwater for up to two weeks, then start turning into pupae, and then transform into adult flying vampires all ready to suck your blood.
There’s more than one method to control baby mozzies. Generally speaking, the solution of your choice should be determined by the kind of still water you have around your home.
Every case is unique, so just browse through the scenarios described below to find that ideal natural mosquito larvae killer for you.
1. Start With Still Water
The most obvious and logical method of killing mosquito larvae in standing water is removing the water. These aquatic creatures won’t be able to survive without their breeding sites. They will not suffocate.
But they will most likely die without the food they tend to find in the water. In case your water bodies are challenging to remove (and i.e. this solution doesn’t suit your unique situation), read on.
2. Let Mosquito-Loving Fish Do the Job
Did you know that certain types of fish love munching on mosquito larvae? Yep, that’s true. So, if the water source you’re planning to free from mosquito babies has enough room and capabilities for housing fish, that’s your excellent answer to the ‘how to get rid of mosquito larvae in a pond or lake’ question. Baby mozzies present such an economical fish food solution!
3. Make the Water Move
Not always the most feasible solution, but still a good one. Mozzie babies are capable of surviving in still water. Even the tiniest fraction of motion can affect their wellbeing.
Therefore, if you have decorative water elements around your home, adding a waterfall (or providing another source of motion) would be a wonderful idea to keep the pesky blood-sucking insects (and their kids) at bay.
Home Remedies for Mosquito Larvae
Aside from the solutions listed above, there are other natural methods for mosquito larvae elimination and i.e. preventing mosquito breeding. Find them covered below.
Garlic Juice: Brings out Buffy the Vampire Slayer in You
There’s a popular belief that garlic (whether flowers, bulbs, cloves, or juice) repels vampires. The same goes for mozzies, these nasty flying blood-suckers.
So if you want to destroy baby mozzies that are developing in any standing water near your home, just mix the freshly extracted garlic juice with water and add the mixture where the wrigglers are about to transform into the adult blood-suckers. The garlic oil present in the garlic juice will suffocate the mosquito larvae, stopping them from invading your sweet home.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps You Eradicate Mozzie Infants
This solution is all-natural and a breeze to take advantage of. Just combine 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar with about 128 oz of water and spray it where the wrigglers get ready for their metamorphosis.
This mixture gets the job done in a relatively speedy, chemical-free way. If this solution turns out to be too slow in your case, then give cinnamon oil a try.
Cinnamon Oil: Nothing but Beneficial
By coating the water surface, almost any kind of oil works great when it comes to eliminating (read as suffocating) mosquito babies. Cinnamon oil is particularly effective. Just make sure you don’t use oil where fish or other living organisms are present, for you will most likely eliminate them, too.
Overall, cinnamon oil excels in helping you ward off pesky wrigglers. It comes with certain pesticidal characteristics, yet it’s absolutely environmentally-friendly — and the scent is lovely.
Soap & Baking Soda: Eliminate & Sanitize
Did you know that soap is very toxic when used against various insects? Yep, it’s true. The tiniest amount of dish soap in standing water is capable of killing all your baby mozzies within 24 hours maximum.
If your mozzie infestation has grown out of control, I recommend purchasing specialized soaps containing insecticides. Avoid using soap when dealing with mosquito larvae in a pool, though.
When it comes to baking soda, it won’t help you deal with wrigglers under its own steam. However, using baking soda is a great solution when it comes to disinfecting the containers that have been in contact with the nasty baby mozzies before. Just use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for your disinfection purposes, then rinse with warm water.
Still have questions left about mosquitoes? Browse through the answers to my readers’ most frequently asked questions below. Perhaps, you will find the answer to the question you’re currently interested in there, too.
What do mosquito larvae look like?
Baby mozzies resemble semi-transparent worms with large heads and thoraxes. They are easy to notice because they hang just below the water surface for breathing purposes.
Their mouths have small brushes that assist them in filtering out small food particles needed for their nonstop nutrition. Each wriggler tends to shed its skin several times before reaching its pupal phase.
What kind of fish eat mosquito larvae?
The good news is that most aquarium and pond fish will find mozzie babies yummy. Mosquitofish, goldfish, guppies, koi, tilapia, minnows, and zebra danio are among them.
What are the ways to kill mosquito larvae?
Get rid of the water or keep it moving. Make the most of cinnamon oil and apple cider vinegar. Give soap a try. Alternatively, when mosquito larvae infestation is getting out of hand, you can always try solutions that contain pesticides.
What to put in standing water to kill mosquitoes?
Grab some dish soap or shampoo and add it to the standing water where baby mozzies hang. Any liquid soap will get the job done within just a few hours (up to 12). Just make sure you don’t use this stuff to get rid of wrigglers in a lake or pond.
Are these solutions eco-friendly?
Yes, most solutions described in today’s post are absolutely eco-friendly (dish soap and shampoo are exceptions). Bear in mind that anything that contains pesticides is potentially dangerous for the environment.
What happens if my pet accidentally eats wrigglers?
Nothing at all. Just consider it extra protein for your doggie (or kitty). Make sure you protect your pet from adult mozzies, though, for they carry a variety of dangerous diseases and can transmit them to your domestic animal.
Can mosquito larvae survive in cold temperatures?
Adult female mosquitoes usually have no problem surviving in cold temperatures. Some baby mozzies are capable of surviving throughout cold winter months, too. However, when it comes to enduring sudden temperature drops, mosquito larvae typically fail to make it. Great news for you, by the way!
Cutting to the Chase: Take Action & Share Results!
Now that you’re aware of a multitude of mosquito larvae control options, you’re free to stick with the one that’s just right for you. Have you ever made attempts to eradicate mosquito babies? Which solution have you opted for out of the ones I’ve mentioned above? Was it a success?
Any practical advice for the homeowners that read my posts on a regular basis? You’re welcome to share your mozzie control experience with your fellow readers in the comment section below. Your feedback is immensely appreciated.
Preventing mosquito breeding (The Department of Health): https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-enhealth-raintank-cnt-l~ohp-enhealth-raintank-cnt-l-5~ohp-enhealth-raintank-cnt-l-5.5
About Mosquitoes (by Matthew Chmielewski, Biology graduate student, Clark University): https://www2.clarku.edu/~tlivdahl/back/index.html
Mosquitoes: Practical Advice for Homeowners (By M. F. Potter, Lee Townsend, and F. W. Knapp, Entomologists University of Kentucky College of Agriculture): https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef005
Mosquitoes have a great potential for ruining your holiday or tour. Not only are these whining, buzzing pesky things annoying; they also carry a number of serious diseases. This becomes especially scary if you are planning a trip outside North America.
Yet, even within the US, an encounter with a horde of aggressive, blood-hungry mosquitoes is something that you want to avoid.
One approach is staying out of the harm’s way by limiting your activity when the critters are most active and vice versa. But what time do mosquitoes come out? Read below to learn about the pest’s rhythms.
What Is The Best Time to Avoid Mosquitoes
When asked, “When are mosquitoes most active?”, I should divide my answer into blocks dealing with different aspects of the when, namely the yearly cycle and the daily rhythms of mosquitoes.
Please note that this article is largely focused on the species found in the US. With some 174 of those in the continental part of the country alone, the diversity of habits that the pests demonstrate is nearly confusing. Still, there are patterns, by knowing which you can spare yourself a lot of nasty bites.
When is mosquito season?
Generally, mosquitoes are more afraid of cold than they are of heat. There is a magic number that’s been determined as the start of the mosquito-free season for a vast majority of species — when air temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it normally means it’s time to hibernate.
There’s a popular belief that cold kills mosquitoes. However, a lot of them deal with it by accumulating extra body fat that helps them survive through the winter and seeking warm abodes until the weather improves.
Alternatively, they supply their eggs with all they are likely to need for overwintering, so the younglings appear in spring.
Regardless of their preferred survival strategy, mosquitoes don’t normally bite during the cold season. The dates for this obviously differ based on your location. You can keep checking your local weather forecasts for the first time that the temperature becomes steady at above 50 degrees Fahrenheit after the winter, which would mean the beginning of the mosquito breeding season.
Conversely, days colder than the magic number are the most accurate answer to “When does mosquito season end?”. If you live in the south, for example, in Florida, expect high mosquito activity from early spring to late fall. In the northeast, however, it’s usually just the first weeks of fall that are marked by considerable mosquito presence.
Even in the midst of the mosquito season, the critters won’t pester you 24/7, which is surely good news. The bad news is that their daily habits differ much more than their seasonal presence. While we are generally taught to avoid mosquitoes at night rather than during the daytime, it turns out that these pests are more complex than that.
The preferred rest hours of a mosquito are determined by the species that it belongs to. The world is inhabited by some 3,200 mosquito species, many of which are united into genera that share characteristic features as well as residence. These generally fall into two categories based on their daily habits.
There is a category of mosquitoes described as nocturnal, meaning that they are more active during the night than in the daytime. This includes biting around dusk and dawn as well as all-night-long blood hunting.
For most people in North America, this kind of behavior appears typical of mosquitoes in general because it’s demonstrated by the large Culex genus encompassing a total of over a thousand species. These are the most frequent guests in human accommodations in many large cities.
Culex mosquitoes are found nearly worldwide except for the extreme part of the so-called temperate zone, and the US is no exception. That is, paying special attention to mosquito protection at night would be wise for most Americans.
Another nocturnal genus, Anopheles, is also notorious for spreading human malaria. While the dangerous disease is associated primarily with tropical areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, several species belonging to it occur in colder climates as well, including North America.
Finally, there are diurnal species that are most active during the day. These include Aedes, initially limited in habitat to subtropical and tropical areas but now also found in the New World and ill-famed for carrying Zika virus. When the sun sets, diurnal species become generally inactive and unlikely to bother people.
Presuming that you are somewhere in North America, I recommend being extra careful during the transition between day and night as well as at nighttime.
Viable solutions include using mosquito repellents, preferably formulated as spray (but bracelets for kids too), and wearing less revealing clothes when you have to go out. For picnics and other outings where you sit a lot, candles can be a valuable addition. Just be sure to pick a formula that’s safe for anyone present, such as kids and/or pets.
Remember that there is nothing to guarantee you a completely mosquito-free experience in broad daylight either.
FAQ on Mosquito Activity
In this section, I provide brief answers to a selection of curious questions I’ve been asked about mosquitoes’ circadian rhythms and sleeping habits.
Why do mosquitoes come out at dusk?
The statement that mosquitoes come out at dusk is only true when it comes to specific, although wide-spread, species, such as representatives of the Culex genus that is associated with the so-called West Nile virus. These are very unlikely to appear when the sun is high and hot because exposure to burning sunlight dehydrates them.
However, there are species in the Aedes genus, potential spreaders of Zika virus, mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas but now also present in North America, that tend to bite mostly during the daytime.
They do. Mosquitoes rest a lot like humans, that is, they stay still for some time without either flying or biting or showing any activity at all. This can happen during the day or at night depending on the species (see above). Occasional siestas are possible, too.
Are mosquitoes nocturnal?
Some are, and some are not. There are species known to be nocturnal, that is, active in the night, while others tend to bite in the daytime. However, most mosquitoes that you can come across in the United States are probably nocturnal.
Please note that the term “nocturnal” might appear somewhat vague when it comes to biting habits because there are nighttime mosquitoes that will bite you throughout the night, while others are mostly active at dusk.
Reducing Mosquito Exposure to a Minimum
Mosquito habits differ considerably depending on where you are and which species you are dealing with. Across the world and even in North America, there are mosquitoes that bite at night as well as day-time biters. The latter is a much smaller category, though, especially in the US.
It is in the dark hours throughout the spring and summer that Americans are most likely to need repellents and other anti-mosquito strategies to avoid itchy swollen bites.
When do you feel mosquitoes are most active in your area? Share in the comments, and don’t forget to mention where you are from!
Mosquito-Borne Diseases (Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology Baylor College of Medicine): https://www.bcm.edu/departments/molecular-virology-and-microbiology/emerging-infections-and-biodefense/mosquitoes
Mosquitoes (Entomology Department at Purdue University): https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/mosquito.html
New study reveals how day- and night-biting mosquitoes respond differently to colors of light and time of day (University of California): https://som.uci.edu/news_releases/Mosquitoes-respond-differently-to-colors-of-light-time-of-day.asp
It’s safe to say that mosquitoes would top the chart if one were to rate the most-hated insects, and for a good reason. Just thinking about that whiny buzz could drive one crazy.
Much worse than this, they are capable of spreading infectious diseases, so it turns out that a bunch of nasty itchy swollen bite spots is far from the worst-case scenario.
There are multiple methods of dealing with the pest that can and should be mixed and matched. One approach is to find out what eats mosquitoes and employ the critter’s natural enemy to keep its population in check.
Predators That Prey on Mosquitoes
Luckily for us, the Earth is home to many species that like to include a generous serving of mosquitoes in their diet. Let’s explore the diversity and find out which has the biggest appetite.
Common Guesses on Mosquito Predators
As an entomologist, I get asked all kinds of questions about possible mosquito eaters and how effective they can be in dealing with the nearly ubiquitous critters. In this section, I’ll briefly answer the most common of those.
Do ladybugs eat mosquitoes?
No, they don’t. Ladybugs are much prized by horticulturalists for eating the sap-sucking aphids, although it’s not universally true across the many ladybug species.
Those of them who are carnivorous tend to prefer scaled insects. There are ladybugs that have a diet based on plant matter and/or mildew, too. Unfortunately, they tend to avoid bloodsuckers in general, and mosquitoes are no exception.
Do mayflies eat mosquitoes?
Another negative answer. Mayflies don’t feed on mosquitoes because they are largely herbivorous, although nymphs of certain species do consume insects such as chironomids.
Do bees eat mosquitoes?
They don’t. This is no wonder given the fact that bees aren’t generally attracted to meat. Their diet consists of plant-based matter such as nectar and pollen.
Do wasps eat mosquitoes?
No, or at least not commonly. Wasps have a reputation for controlling spider and caterpillar populations, and it’s true that they will kill smaller insects to nourish their larvae, but mosquitoes don’t generally seem to be on the menu.
Do bats eat mosquitoes?
They do, but not as much as they are rumored to. Bats stuffing themselves on the tiny bloodsuckers is not exactly a hoax but rather a rare occurrence, since the Chiroptera mammals generally prefer other insects such as beetles, flies, and moths.
Bats live on a diverse diet of smaller bugs as well as creatures similar to grasshoppers in size. Indeed, they can afford to be picky.
Do frogs eat mosquitoes?
Yes, they do, and so do toads. Probably the most frequently named candidate for the world’s biggest mosquito eater, the frog can at best prevent the critter population from growing out of control. Neither adult frogs and toads nor their tadpoles appear to rely on mosquitoes as their staple.
Do spiders eat mosquitoes?
Yes but, again, not enough. Spiders are best known for making sticky webs that catch flying insects indiscriminately. However, there’s no evidence at present to prove that by keeping spiders, you can put an end to the mosquito problem.
Not all of them, but some do. More specifically, fish tends to prey on mosquito larvae rather than adult individuals. Carps, minnows, killifish, and tilapia are just some of the fishes known to feed on mosquito larvae. These are sometimes used as part of biological part control.
Yet, the Best Appetite for Mosquitoes award surely goes to the appropriately named western mosquitofish, known scientifically as Gambusia — a freshwater species that has a history of tipping the eco-balance once introduced to new water bodies but now used extensively in combination with aquaponic measures.
Meet the Less-Familiar Mosquito Eaters
Some animals are often falsely accused of (or should I say praised for?) feeding on mosquitoes. Conversely, there are living beings that enjoy less attention but still have potential in bloodsucker management.
Insects that eat mosquitoes
If you feel strangely assured that there must be mosquito-eating insects on the planet, you are right.
Quite surprisingly, the answer to what bugs eat mosquitoes includes… well, mosquitoes. Indeed, there are cannibalistic species that kill their likes for food. The Toxorhynchites genus is one of the best-known examples of predacious mosquitoes. Given the fact that representatives of the group are not known to carry any human diseases, it seems to be a beneficial genus.
The dragonfly is another likely candidate for natural mosquito control. Naiads prey on the critter’s larvae, effectively causing the population to dwindle over time. It was with dragonflies that the history of mosquito biocontrol began.
Finally, there are other members of the Odonata order to which dragonflies belong, the similar-looking damselflies. The aquatic larvae of these bright-colored insects also prey on mosquitoes every once in a while, although on a limited scale.
Turning your garden into a bird sanctuary that will guarantee you a critter-free life sounds appealing, but how effective is this approach?
There are many bird species whose diet includes bloodsucking insects. Common as they are across the Northern Hemisphere, barn swallows are known for feasting on adult insects that they catch in flight. Mosquitoes are no exception to this rule.
Given that barn swallows gravitate towards a migratory lifestyle, though, this is not the mosquito predator to rely on all year round. Other potentially useful birds found in North America include purple martins. Ducks and geese occasionally eat mosquitoes as well.
Birds can enhance your natural critter barrier that prevents the population from overgrowing but are unlikely to quickly smother a massive infestation.
Reptiles that prey on mosquitoes
With their iconic long tongues, it’s no wonder that lizards and geckos don’t mind catching a couple of mosquitoes every once in a while.
Both are diurnal, meaning that their activity hours do not coincide with those of most mosquito species (please note that not all mosquitoes are creatures of the night), hence the consumption rate is limited.
Finally, there are turtle species that feed on mosquito larvae. The red-eared slider is probably the most well-known of these.
Tilapias, the so-called mosquitofish, carps, killifish, and minnows are best known for their appetite when it comes to mosquitoes (mostly larvae).
Do wasps kill mosquitoes?
They might kill a mosquito in a dispute over territory or otherwise, but it’s not part of wasps’ feeding habits.
Natural Predators as a Pest Control Strategy
It turns out that our planet is full of little and not so little things that eat mosquitoes, but what does this imply? Biocontrol, that is, using the species’ natural enemies such as parasites and predators to reduce its population or at least prevent its spreading, has a long history in mosquito management.
Certain fish species have been proven effective. There’s anecdotal evidence of other species being used to the same end with success as well, such as lizards and bats.
Do you feel like you could use a living being to keep the bloodsuckers away? Share in the comments!
Mosquito Bites: Everyone is at Risk! (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services): https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/index.html
ladybirds, lady beetles, ladybugs (J. Howard Frank (retired) and Russell F. Mizell, III (retired), University of Florida): http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/lady_beetles.htm
Program Options on time of implementation: Proactive vs. Reactive Measures (Boston University): https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/PH/West_Nile_Virus_EEE/West_Nile_Virus_EEE_NEW5.html
About Mosquitoes (by Matthew Chmielewski, Biology graduate student, Clark University): https://www2.clarku.edu/~tlivdahl/back/index.html#:~:text=Mosquito%20larvae%20are%20usually%20filter,to%20eat%20other%20mosquito%20larvae.
While there may not be many insects that resemble ants, several can cause significant problems around your home. Even small ants can become problematic when infestations become large and invade your home through cracks in walls or floors.
Some of the insects mentioned in the following sections can bite and cause damage to your home. If you’re reading this, you’re probably concerned about ant-like bugs, so it’s essential to read carefully and choose the appropriate pest control methods before the insects take over your home.
The Guide On Insects That Look Like Ants
Here are the descriptions of the most common ant-looking bug species that you can meet in North America.
Termite vs ant
Reproductive termites are easily misidentified as they have wings, just like reproductive ants. However, the worker termites that actually damage your house are simpler to recognize as they have rectangular bodies and lack the thin waist that ants and carpenter ants have.
In addition, they are a pale, transparent color and tend to hide from light unless they are disturbed. Soldier termites are brown or reddish and possess strong teeth for fighting off their adversaries.
The best way to identify these monsters is to inspect your attic or basement for holes in the wood. Termites dig rough tunnels in the wood to build nests and transfer roots. This leads to serious damage if you don’t prevent the infestation in time.
Flying ant vs termite
Unlike flying reproductive termites, average winged ants have pinched waists, elbowed antennae, and 2 pairs of wings of unequal length. Termites have thick waists and 4 wings of the same length. Both insects’ bodies are of the same length, but termite wings are almost 2 times longer. Now you will easily identify termites of any type, but I recommend you to undertake preventive measures against termites in advance.
Furry ants vs ants
Furry ants are a type of wasps that are not commonly found. The female species of these insects are wingless and have a pinched waist similar to ants, making them easily misidentified. These insects are solitary and do not form colonies or nests, making them immune to pest control. Additionally, they do not pose any danger to humans or homes, so there is no need for pest control measures against them.
These insects are harmless and will not cause any harm to your home or property. If you notice an abundance of furry ants in your yard, it may indicate that the area is too dry, and additional watering may be needed for your lawn.
Carpenter ant vs ant
Carpenter ants are so easy to misidentify as they can be almost identical to average black ants. All because they can be of any shape and size! Despite the similarity, you can easily tell them from average ants when you see major working species that are quite thick.
Similar to termites, they carve galleries in the wood, but their tunnels are always straight and neat. They can also throw the leftovers out of the tunnels which helps you to identify them faster. If you found them, immediate management measures are necessary!
Thief ant vs ant
The tiny black bugs that look like ants are most probably thief ants. They are usually confused with baby ants but are actually adult species. They usually have dark or reddish-brown bodies and 4 wings. If you see them, start baiting right away as they can be carriers of numerous diseases as they feed on dead rodents and other insects.
Stonefly vs ant
Stoneflies are insects that emerge from their eggs in the water and typically live near bodies of water to feed frogs and fish. They possess 4 long and 2 short legs, which are jointed, and long antennae, as well as 2 more antennae located under their wings.
Although they can accidentally find their way into your home, they will likely leave on their own, as they have no purpose there.
Insects that look like ants will never pass by your keen eye anymore. Of course, there’s no need to inspect the whole household with a flashlight if you haven’t seen at least a single bug. If you have, hurry up to find the nest and get rid of it, and take all the preventive measures against a re-infestation.
Could you, please, share your infestation story in the comments if you have one? I can also help you with advice or a link to one of my “how to get rid of…” guides. Keep on being savvy!
References:
Protecting your Home Against Termites (by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture): https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef605
Carpenter Ant Management (Nebraska Extension): https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1738.pdf
Thief Ant (Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California):http://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/thfbait.html
Most people think that fleas are the only insects that are so tiny, bouncy, and bitey. And it’s absolutely normal as it’s really hard to tell them from any other minute insect kinds only because of their size.
The truth is that there are quite a lot of bugs that look like fleas, which can cause problems around your household. In this brief guide, I will help you to learn how to tell one super small bug from another.
Why is this important? Well, it’s the only way to select the right remedy against a flea-like bug infestation.
The Guide Into Bugs That Look Like Fleas
Below are details about each flea-like insect and simple descriptions of the major differences and hazards.
Fleas vs gnats
Unlike fleas, gnats are winged insects that eat plants and fungi. At the same time, they can feed on blood too, if there’s no other food source around. That’s why they can get into your house if they find it easier to find fungi or blood inside. An infestation can be a signal of leakages and fungi in the basement or wall cavities.
Their size can be the same as that of fleas or up to 5 times larger. They also have complex eyes, which makes them totally different from fleas. Gnat bites are quite big, red, and itchy. You can easily confuse them with flea bites. Infected bites swell and may have a tiny yellowish core.
Flea vs bed bug
Bed bugs are small brownish insects with flattened bodies. Similar to fleas, they can bite you and your pets and cause awful itchiness. It’s very easy to confuse this one with a flea as the size and body type is very similar.
Moreover, they feed only on blood and have wings! The most reliable way to tell one bug from another is to watch how they behave.
Unlike fleas, bed bugs don’t jump or fly. Next, take a look at their eggs in the place of an infestation. Flea eggs are pearl white, while bed bug eggs are almost black.
These are the two most effective ways to find bed bugs and identify them. You can also check out the bites. Bed bug bites look like flat red welts in clusters or random places, while flea bites are more like clustered mosquito bites. They can look totally the same too, though.
Flea vs tick
Unlike fleas, ticks are arachnids and can have up to 8 legs, but they’re also tiny, brown (dark-brown or grey), and feed exclusively on blood. You should remember that ticks are not likely to infest your house, but can spread around your garden and lawn during warm months.
This doesn’t mean that they are not dangerous, though. Ticks spread serious diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
Similar to fleas, they can suck on your skin, but they also “dig into” your skin with their heads and stay long until they suck enough blood. When a tick gets large, it’s impossible to confuse it with any other insect.
Its body gets big like a small grain and gets easy to find on a human body. If you find one or more ticks on your pets or family members, remember about proper tick removal technique to avoid any leftovers under the skin.
Flea vs lice
Both fleas and lice are very small insects without wings that feed on animal and human skin. Similar to fleas, lice can chew skin and cause terrible itchiness, but they don’t suck blood. Everything they need is skin debris.
Nevertheless, they can infect carriers with tapeworms, various bacteria, and cause significant hair loss. That’s why they are confused with fleas so often.
The main difference that helps identify lice is that they cannot jump to travel from animal to animal. They need animals to contact directly to travel.
That’s why lice infestations are very rare amongst pets that don’t contact random animals outside and very common for stray animals (especially young and old ones). You should check your pet as soon as possible when you notice that it suffers from itching and apply the continuous preventive treatment.
Flea vs fruit fly
Drosophila Melanogasters (fruit flies) can be confused with fleas because of their small size (⅛-inch) and 3 pairs of legs. The main visual clue is that flies have wings. Due to this they can fly around your property and swarm in the air near contaminated places.
In most cases, you can see them on and around rotten fruits and vegetables. However, sometimes, they also start breeding in dirty bathrooms and other heavily contaminated sites where temperature varies from 53°F to 95°F.
Fruit flies don’t bite people and animals and spread diseases very rarely, so they are not considered very dangerous. However, the contaminated sites where they appear may be a real health hazard and a hotbed for salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Flies can spread these germs all around the house and poison your food if it’s within reach.
Springtails vs fleas
Unlike fleas, springtails are non-aggressive nuisance insects that can’t bite anyone and anything. However, it’s a type of insect that jumps like fleas. Every springtail has a furcula, which is a spring-loaded tale that lets them jump high in the air.
This aspect is simultaneously a reason to confuse them with fleas and a distinctive trait. If you manage to catch one, you will quickly notice the furcula and start looking for the right remedy.
Fleas always get inside households on a human or animal carrier. Springtails usually appear in moist places, such as basements, spots under leaking pipes, where they eat fungi and mold. As you can see, these tiny bugs that jump are quite safe for anyone but can be a signal for you to inspect your house for leakages and mold. It can be quite dangerous, depending on the size and type, so don’t let it grow!
Carpet beetle vs flea
Young carpet beetles are quite small, but adults can be almost as big as ladybugs. They are usually covered in black, yellow, and white or black, blue, and white camouflage-type patterns, so it’s very easy to tell them from fleas.
If you can’t see a bug yet, you can guess it by specific trace-like irritations over your body. These insects cannot bite us but can reach our bedding in search of food. As a result, they may accidentally crawl over you during the night and irritate your skin with tiny filaments. The rashes will usually look like paths and itch a bit.
Unfortunately, if this happens, you can be sure that your home is already heavily infested. Carpet beetle dermatitis appears only when allergens build up on your skin. It means that a bug must crawl at you multiple times until the effect becomes tangible.
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Here is a couple of brief replies on some of the most common questions about flea-like bugs that I receive from other readers.
Can bed bugs jump like fleas?
Fortunately, bed bugs don’t fly or jump. However, they can crawl quite fast on any surfaces, including walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, cloth, etc. This makes it quite difficult to spray the insecticide directly onto the bugs and helps them survive longer.
Do flea beetles bite?
Actually, flea beetles have nothing in common with fleas. It’s an agricultural pest that won’t harm your pets or your family members. These pests affect a variety of fruit and vegetable plants, including broccoli, kale, strawberry, potato, eggplant, and a dozen more.
Knowledge is Power
Fortunately, telling one bug from another is much simpler than it may seem. Now you know about all the differences in their appearance and behavior, so picking up the right treatment won’t be a problem. By the way, there are quite a lot of guides on how to get rid of fleas and tiny flea-like bugs on my blog, so keep reading.
Do you have any more questions on the topic? You’re welcome to ask me in the comments. If you know any other flea-like bugs, you’re welcome to tell about them below as well. Stay tuned for more useful pest-control information!
References:
How to Find Bed Bugs (Stanford University Libraries): https://swap.stanford.edu/20151016075101/https://www2.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
Tick Removal (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Department of Health & Human Services): https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html
Mold and Health (United States Environmental Protection Agency Stanford University Libraries): https://swap.stanford.edu/20151013093120/http://www2.epa.gov/mold/mold-and-health
There are many insects and bugs that look like mosquitoes. If you find them in your home, do not try to exterminate them immediately. Some species do not carry diseases or infections.
Generally, they are safe, though may cause only a little discomfort. I have prepared an overview of the most common insects that look like mosquitoes. You may have already encountered some of these bugs inside or around your home.
Guide on Insects That Look Like Mosquitoes
People don’t like mosquitoes because they bite painfully, carry infections, and leave painful red bite spots. If there are pets in your house, some mosquitoes can be dangerous to them as well.
However, there are many mosquito-like insects in nature, which often causes people to confuse them. These insects can resemble mosquitoes without being dangerous. Some bugs are even beneficial, so you shouldn’t destroy them.
Midges vs mosquitoes
As outside temperatures rise, many flying insects appear. People start thinking about the ways to cope with them, either with the help of the disinfection service or by themselves. Comparing midges vs mosquito, I should note they are very similar to each other.
However, midges are 1.5 to 2 times smaller than mosquitoes, though their bodies are thicker. Also, their body color is dark brown in contrast to the lighter shade of mosquitoes.
Midges inhabit the same regions as mosquitoes. However, having no trunk with a needle, they can not bite people or animals. Accordingly, they do not carry any diseases and are harmless to us.
You can identify midges by another distinctive feature. These insects fly in large flocks, while mosquitoes can fly one at a time.
If you see many insects in one swarm, these are harmless gnats. These creatures can be really annoying because they get in your mouth, ears, and eyes, but they are not dangerous.
Crane flies vs mosquitoes
Crane flies are other insects that resemble mosquitoes in appearance. They have an elongated dark-colored body with a proboscis.
There is a common misconception that crane flies belong to the mosquito species or even feed on them, but this is not true. In fact, crane flies resemble mosquitoes only outwardly, but they are not dangerous to humans and animals.
Comparing crane flies vs mosquitoes, there are only two major similarities:
These insects are outwardly similar to each other.
They live in humid regions and are active with the onset of heat.
Crane flies do not sting or attack humans. They do not eat at all during the adult stage. They consume only plant food during the larval stage, after which they live a few days without food and die.
You don’t need to spend money on destroying them, as crane flies live very little and will soon become extinct on their own.
Gnats vs mosquitoes
Many people tend to confuse a gnat vs mosquito as these two species are very similar to each other from a distance. However, they have significant differences that you need to know about.
The main difference lies in their food behavior. Gnats feed mainly on plant nectar. They do not consume human or animal blood. Gnats also can stay on any surface and do not raise their tail.
Their body is always parallel to the surface. Accordingly, they neither sting a person nor leave painful marks in the form of pimples and redness.
You can also distinguish gnats by their shrunken body. These insects are smaller than adult mosquitoes. They look more like bed bugs if you have encountered them.
Mayflies vs mosquitoes
Another insect, which you may confuse with a mosquito, is a mayfly. Though many mosquitoes look like mayflies, there are some peculiarities in their appearance and behavior.
You can always differentiate between the appearance of mayfly vs mosquito. Mayflies have a body similar to a dragonfly. It is elongated and thickened, with wings and legs.
This species becomes more active when the air temperature rises, and the air becomes more moist. Most often, mayflies can be found near freshwater sources, such as ponds and lakes.
Their peculiarity is that they live only 1-2 days. As they have no need to eat as adults, they don’t attack humans or animals, nor do they consume blood. Mayflies fly in swarms, which makes them look like gnats rather than mosquitoes.
Before feeling irritated when you see a swarm of mayflies nearby, you should know that these insects play an important role in the natural ecosystem. Therefore, it is better to leave them on their own and not to destroy them.
Have you ever encountered a situation when you saw a mosquito-looking bug and didn’t know what to do about it? These answers to the common questions about mosquitoes and mosquito-looking insects can help you not to be confused in these situations.
Indeed, some insects resemble mosquitoes, but they belong to different species. Thus they differ in appearance, behavior, and diet. Many mosquito-like insects do not bite people and animals, as they do not have a stinger. To spot the differences, you need to look closely at their body color, size, and behavior.
Note that all of the insects above do not belong to the mosquito species, although they are similar in appearance.
What does a baby mosquito look like?
Everyone knows what adult flying mosquitoes look like. But knowing the appearance of baby mosquitoes can help you recognize the threat of mosquito larvae on your property on time.
Mosquito larvae look like tiny light-colored worms without wings and stings. They hatch in water sources, so mosquitoes are most often found in wet areas near lakes, swamps, rivers, reservoirs, or after heavy rainfall.
Mosquito larvae grow only in standing water. After some time, adult mosquitoes hatch from the larvae as we see them with their wings and a sting.
Mosquitoes have only two wings. If you see a mosquito-like insect with four wings, this is not a mosquito. In addition to two wings, mosquitoes have two pairs of legs at the back and one pair of legs at the front. They are oriented in space by means of two antennae located near the sting.
The tendrils of insects are very sensitive to their environment, and they use them to fly, maneuver around obstacles, and determine where to land. If you tear off one or both wings of a mosquito, it will not be able to fly and will die.
Mosquito-Looking Bugs: No More Confusion
Many species of insects look similar to mosquitoes, but you will immediately notice the difference from a close distance. You need to learn to distinguish between mosquitoes and other bugs to know whether there is any danger to you, your family, and pets.
If you come across the insects described in the guide above, it is better not to try to kill them with expensive methods and substances.
Many insects that are similar to mosquitoes do not live more than 1-2 days, and they will eventually die on their own. In addition, some insects are very important for the ecosystem and the growth of some plants.
Have you already confused gnats, crane flies, or mayflies with mosquitoes? How have you dealt with them? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Controlling Mosquitoes (by Emily Zobel and Jon Traunfeld, University of Maryland Extension): https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/controlling-mosquitoes
Beneficial Insects (Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency): http://npic.orst.edu/envir/beneficial/index.html
Ephemeroptera (UC Museum of Paleontology): https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniramia/ephemeroptera.html
Do you know that there are several bugs that look like ticks? When you don’t know what makes them different, it’s easy to confuse them.
Ticks can carry serious infections, including Lyme disease, which is why being able to spot them is so important. If you wondered what bugs look like ticks and want to know what you are dealing with, this article will help you.
Tick vs Bedbug
Ticks and bedbugs look alike, but their similarity is obvious when both are unfed. They are brown, flat, oval in shape, and don’t have wings.
If you look closely at both of them, you can notice that bedbugs have six legs and ticks have eight. It’s easy to tell a tick from a bedbug after feeding – ticks get much bigger after they feed on blood, and bedbugs don’t swell up as much.
When it comes to the usual habitat for these parasites, there is a definite difference. Ticks are usually found in natural environments – forests, grass, nests, etc. They can feed on both pets and humans if they come in contact with them while being outside.
When we talk about bedbugs, they can obviously be found in the bed but also in other places, such as a car, wallpaper, boxes, etc. Generally, bedbugs feed on humans, which is why they are often in locations where they can be close to them.
Tick vs Spider
Visually, the first thing that helps to tell the difference between a spider that looks like a tick and an actual tick is its body shape.
Ticks don’t have any segments in their bodies while spiders have two – the abdomen and the cephalothorax. Both of these insects have eight legs.
Besides the visual aspect, it’s important to understand the difference in their bites. A lot of people don’t even notice tick bites, and if they do, this is usually due to the symptoms that may develop days later.
When it comes to spiders, the bites can be painful depending on the type of spider. The severity of the mark left by a spider can be different but there is often some swelling and redness. Tick bites are often small and difficult to see.
Tick vs Weevil
When we talk about weevil vs tick, the difference between these two is quite clear when you know what to look for. A weevil is a beetle that is active in spring and summer, so the rest of the time these insects are in hibernation.
Compared to a tick, weevils can fly, are dark in color, and some types can even have yellow legs. In terms of body shape, they are round, have a pronounced snout, and only six legs as opposed to eight in ticks.
What is also great about these bugs that look like ticks is that they don’t tend to bite humans, as their main sources of food are plants.
Mite vs Tick
In the case of the visual difference of mite vs tick, the situation is more complicated because you cannot see a mite without a microscope.
There are several kinds of mites living on this plant and they are typically less than a millimeter in size. Some of the common types of mites include dust mites, nest mites, itch mites, and varroa mites.
Mites can be found in different habitats depending on their type. Some of them can be found on plants, in soil, and in other natural environments while there are also others that live as parasites on the skin of animals and humans. Generally, mites do not bite humans, but if this happens, a person can develop an itchy skin rash.
Tick vs Head Louse
Other insects that look like ticks but aren’t them include lice. Both of these parasites cause problems for humans because they survive from consuming the blood of a certain host.
Appearance-wise, lice are tiny, they don’t have wings and are also known to lay nits on the body of the host.
While ticks can bite anywhere on the body, it is common for lice to live in hair or on fur if we talk about animals. While there exist types of lice that can even affect the body, their usual location on humans is hair.
The most common symptom that is noticed by people affected by lice is head itching while bite marks are not left by this parasite. Also, the obvious sign of dealing with lice is noticing their nits on hair shafts.
Tick vs Flea
If we take tick vs flea and compare these two, the difference is quite easy to spot. A flea has six legs and is a wingless parasite that can live on a single host for its entire life.
They are tiny, dark brown or black, and their distinctive feature is the ability to jump. As opposed to ticks, fleas multiply extremely fast and can cause an infestation in a certain location or on the body of an animal.
While fleas usually live on animals and in places close to them, they can also bite humans. A flea bite can cause irritation and usually looks like a small red dot. The most common places where people can notice flea bites are ankles, lower legs, and feet.
Chiggers vs Ticks
Chiggers should also be included in this list as not a lot of people know about them. They are often referred to as mites but are extremely tiny in size so many of us don’t even notice them.
One of the things that makes them easy to separate from other tick-like bugs is their color – they can be orange, yellow, beige, and red. You can come in contact with chiggers in the woods, near rivers, and in the grass.
Their bite can cause irritation on the skin of people and leave an itchy rash. They are not carriers of dangerous infections, so their bites don’t pose a serious risk for health.
FAQ
Find answers to all the tick-related questions that bug you.
How many legs does a tick have?
At the adult and nymphal stages, ticks have eight legs. However, tick larvae have six legs and they acquire two more at later stages.
Do ticks fly?
No, ticks cannot fly or jump.
Do ticks and bedbugs look alike?
Yes, both of these parasites are similar in their appearance, which is what confuses a lot of people. When we look at tick vs bedbug, they are similar in their shapes, color, and the fact that they don’t have wings.
There are parasites and insects out there that don’t cause any problems for humans, but there are also others that may not only provide uncomfortable sensations but also get you infected. Ticks can be dangerous in some situations, so you should know what they look like and what to expect.
If you come in contact with a tick-looking bug, you can determine whether it is actually a tick or another insect using the information presented here.
Have you ever had to get rid of any of these insects? If so, share your experience in the comments.
References:
Lyme Disease (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services): https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
Head lice (Mayo Clinic Staff): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/symptoms-causes/syc-20356180
Termites are a nightmare for any homeowner, but unfortunately, they are not the only threat posed to your home by tiny creations with wings. In fact, certain types of bugs that look like termites are often responsible for doing just as much (if not more) damage to your property.
If you suspect that you and your family may no longer be the sole inhabitants of your home, it is crucial that you identify the intruding bugs before taking any measures.
Let’s take a closer look at some termite look-alikes and find out how to tell these species apart.
Flying Ants vs Termites
Unlike termites, flying ants do not eat wood. This means that a flying ants infestation is most likely not going to cause serious damage to the structural elements of your home.
Still, seeing tiny bugs with wings in your house is definitely not something you want to experience, especially since flying ants are drawn to food debris.
If the wooden objects in and around your home seem intact, but you’re not yet ready to conclude that the intruders are in fact flying ants and not termites, your best bet is observing the bugs from a close distance.
Both flying ants and termites live in colonies, but their appearance differs in a number of ways, which can help with ant vs termite identification.
Flying ants have rather pronounced waists, so the bottom part of their bodies is noticeably wider than the top one. Termites’ bodies have straight waists with two pairs of clear wings of equal length.
Flying ants sport brownish wings, and the front pair is longer than the back one. Finally, flying ants have bent antennae, as opposed to straight ones found in termites.
Termites vs Carpenter Ants
Termites and carpenter ants may be extremely difficult to tell apart, as they display similar traits and even look quite alike. Still, you can rely on several sure signs to help you identify a carpenter ant infestation as opposed to a termite one.
First of all, there are some differences when it comes to carpenter ant frass vs termite frass comparison. Carpenter ants dispose of their waste during the process of digging the tunnels, while termites have dedicated “kick-out holes” that are repeatedly used to remove dry fecal pellets from their colony. If you see piles of these pellets, your house is most likely infested by termites.
Another telltale sign of a termite infestation are mud tubes. Built by the termites to separate their living quarters (soil) and food (wood), they are not to be found in carpenter ants colonies.
You can also inspect the tunnels in the affected wooden surfaces, as the carpenter ants tunnels tend to be a lot cleaner and smoother than those left by termites.
Finally, there are some visual differences between carpenter ants and termites. The former have a 3-segment body with a distinct waist. Carpenter ants’ wings are about as long as their bodies, while termites have much longer wings.
Termites vs Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are pretty easy to tell apart from termites, both due to their differing exteriors and behaviors. Carpenter bees are independent insects that don’t form colonies, even if a number of them choose to live in the same wooden object.
Every carpenter bee makes itself a nest by “drilling” into the chosen wood habitat and eventually creating a rather large funneling hole.
These holes are commonly mistaken for termite “kick-out holes”, but the holes created by termites are usually smaller than 0.1in in diameter. Anything larger than that is highly unlikely to be associated with termite “kick-out holes”.
While termites are usually not very picky when it comes to wood, carpenter bees do have some strong preferences. If your property has any unpainted and otherwise chemically untreated wooden structures, it is definitely a target for carpenter bees. Softwoods such as oak or cypress are particularly attractive to these insects.
Since carpenter bees don’t form colonies, it is not very likely that these insects are going to cause any significant damage to your home.
However, these bright yellow “wood bugs with wings” produce a characteristic buzzing sound when they fly, which often terrifies children and even some adults.
Because of that, many homeowners want to take care of a carpenter bee infestation as soon as possible. Still, it is worth knowing that male carpenter bees don’t have a stinger at all, and female ones are very unlikely to attack humans unless threatened directly.
Termites vs Powderpost Beetles
Powderpost beetles may not be the most termite-looking bugs out there, but they are definitely very similar to termites when it comes to the amount of damage caused. Powderpost beetles love damp wood, so their infestations are most commonly discovered in spring and summer.
They are a lot more destructive than most wood bugs that fly, so it is important to take care of a powderpost beetle infestation as soon as you find it.
Powderpost beetles chew through wood as they build their nests and create tunnels to exit them once they’re done. The larvae found in the nests can produce rather loud clicking sounds, so professional exterminators often use a stethoscope to check for potential powderpost beetle infestations and locate them if any are found.
The tunnels leading to powderpost beetle nests usually contain noticeable amounts of powder that is left behind by the beetles as they process the wood.
It is not uncommon for a homeowner to find their property infested by powderpost beetles after acquiring a piece of wooden furniture or basically any other wooden object containing larvae.
Thus, it is important to be very careful when bringing new wooden items into your home, as powderpost beetles can be a lot more difficult to locate and get rid of than winged bugs that look like termites (such as carpenter ants).
FAQ
Let’s figure out some more termite basic features.
How small are termites?
Termites are quite small insects, similar in size to common ant varieties (which is the primary hurdle to reliably telling these species apart).
Most termites you can encounter in America are in the 0.2-0.6 inch range, although the queens of these species are known to be a lot larger, measuring at up to 4 inches in length.
What color are termites?
Depending on the species, termites can be yellowish, brown, red, or black. Flying termites, also referred to as swarmers, are the most common termite variety encountered by homeowners, and they are highly likely to be either yellow or black.
Do carpenter ants have 2 sets of wings?
Similar to termites, carpenter ants also have 2 sets of wings. However, the ants’ wing pairs differ in size, with the front one being noticeably longer than the back one.
Once You’ve Identified Bugs That Look like Termites in Your Home
Knowing the type of insect infesting your property allows you to identify the measures required to get rid of unwanted visitors. Most insects that look like termites can be eliminated with certain chemical products, most of which are freely available for purchase.
Going DIY on a small, recent infestation might be enough, but if you’re dealing with a more serious bug problem, professional exterminators are the way to go.
Did you already have to deal with bugs that look like termites? Do you have any tips you’d like to share or questions you’d like to ask? If so, don’t hesitate to do that in the comments section below.
References:
Powderpost Beetles (by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture): https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef616
Carpenter Bees (C.E. Mall, T.A Horner, N.L. Breisch (retired) and B.L. Thorne (retired), Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD): https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/carpenter-bees
Carpenter ants (University of Minnesota Extension): https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/carpenter-ants
Flying Ants (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee): https://uwm.edu/field-station/flying-ants/
You may think that all bugs are quite similar, and you need the same repellents to get rid of them. Actually, it’s not that simple.
First of all, various insects prefer diverse places in your house and appear in different seasons. Also, some of them are more dangerous.
That’s why you should be able to define the bugs that look like stink bugs and then decide how to manage them. In this article, you will find some tips to determine the bug type correctly.
How to Define the Bug Type
It would be much easier if you knew some of their features. So, you will find the comparison below.
Stink bug vs shield bug
To see the difference between stink and shield bugs, you need to look at their coloring. These insects are from the same family, so they both have six legs and long antennae.
However, a shield bug is darker than a stink bug if we talk about autumn. In the summer, the bugs change their color to bright green. Also, the stink species is a little smaller than the shield one ( ¾ inches to 1-2 or even more).
Stink bug vs kissing bug
A kissing bug has a different body shape. Most stink bugs are triangular or shield – that means that their width is almost the same as their length. The vampire insects have an oval and long body with a small head. Also, they are dark-brown or black.
They have got such a name because of the habit of biting people’s faces. You won’t probably know if the bug has bitten you or not. They are nocturnal creatures. These insects carry diseases (while stink bugs are not dangerous to people), that’s why you should know for sure when kissing bugs enter your house.
Stink bug vs assassin bug
There are thousands of assassin bugs’ types. But some of their features are similar and make it easy to discern them. They have a more colorful body than stink bugs. The patterns can be brown, red, orange, yellow, or black.
Also, their legs are more similar to the cricket type than to bug’s one. The body length is the same as stink bugs have – about ¾ inches. However, some types can be bigger. You should also be careful because assassin bugs can bite people at night too.
Stink bug vs bed bug
The bed bugs are challenging to see because they are about ⅕ inches in length. Another reason why you won’t see them is that they like to hide in the wall or floor cracks or attack your bed. Bed bugs can bite people at night.
However, they are not as dangerous as assassin or kissing bugs. It’s not so easy to get rid of bed bugs because they are small and can leave without feeding for 70 days. They have light brown coloring and shorter antennae than stink bugs.
Stink bug vs soldier bug
Soldier bugs are of stink bug look alike type in many characteristics, so it will be really complicated to identify them. But there are two essential features that make them special.
First of all, soldier bugs have a solid brown spot at the back tip at the center. Also, the shoulder’s lines are more pronounced than stink bugs have. If you look closer, the antennae are also more straight.
Stink bug vs squash bug
Some people think that those bugs are the same. However, they have some differences in appearance and behavior. Squash bugs are longer than stink bugs.
Also, they have a darker coloring, and their back legs are bigger. Most squash bugs prefer your garden to your house, but you should be careful because they have the same foul odor when they’re squashed.
Common Questions About the Bugs
Here are some other tips on coping with diverse bug types.
Why is the stink bug named stink bug?
The reason is when you squash them, they release an unpleasant odor. That’s why you should stop and think for a second before you do something when you see a bug.
Are squash bugs and stink bugs the same?
They are not the same insects. I have provided their comparison above, so you will be able to see the difference when you meet them.
Is it difficult to get rid of bugs?
It all depends on the bug type. If they’re smaller and faster, it will be a little more complicated to cope with them. However, pesticides and devices are quite effective nowadays.
Be Aware of the Bug Types You Meet
Bugs similar to stink bugs are not a challenge for you now. Take a look at today’s comparison if you doubt whether it’s a stink bug, a kissing bug, or something else. Remember that if a bug looks like a stink bug, it doesn’t mean that they need the same prevention or repellent.
Have you ever faced stink bugs or other similar-looking bug types? How did you get rid of them? What stink bug sprays did you use? Please, share your comments in the section below.
References:
Stink Bug (NC State University and N.C. A&T State University): https://soybeans.ces.ncsu.edu/stink-bug/
Assassin Bug (The Pennsylvania State University): https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/assassin_bug.html
Bed Bugs (Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate): https://extension.psu.edu/bed-bugs
Spined Soldier Bug (Dr. David Orr Extension Specialist and Associate Professor Entomology & Plant Pathology NC State Extension, NC State University): https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-predators/spined-soldier-bug/
Squash Bug (College of Agricultural Sciences The Pennsylvania State University): https://extension.psu.edu/squash-bug
The average cost of an ant exterminator’s work is $550. The price in your area may vary between $330 and $815. The first thing you need to learn before calling for professional help is the average ant exterminator cost. If there are too many ants to deal with on your own, it is better to call exterminators and ask for their help.
There are numerous companies that provide such services. Some of them have lower prices; others are more expensive. This is why it is important to know how much does an ant exterminator cost. Check out the numbers before deciding which company to call and how much it will cost.
Guide to Ant Exterminator Costs
National Average Cost:
$550
Minimum Cost:
$200
Maximum Cost:
$1,280
Average Range:
$330 to $815
The average cost of standard extermination is $550. Some companies offer $200 as minimal cost and $1280 as maximal. Thus, the average range is $330 to $815. The ant exterminator prices vary depending on numerous factors.
It also depends on the simplicity of actions. If you have a severe case of infestation, the price will change for sure. Check professional ant control prices of the company you are calling for help and calculate your particular case.
Main Factors of Ant Removal Cost
Whether you will pay $200 or $815 depends on the problem you want to fix. Exterminators have price lists with the services they provide. Each company informs its clients of what does an exterminator do for ants. Normally, the price ranges based on those peculiarities:
Time spent on the treatment: whether it is one session or multiple;
The area that requires the treatment.
Based on the size of the place that must be treated, exterminators calculate the amount of work, hours that will be spent, and the tools that will be used.
If you are aware of how do exterminators get rid of ants, you may know that they can pick different sprays or powders to kill ants. It will be calculated, as well.
Ant Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
A simple, one-time treatment costs $200 – $250. Multiple treatments for severe infestation may cost up to $1280. It is only natural that the cost of extermination depends on the amount of work.
The level of infestation rises with each day you don’t call the pest control. With the rise of the number of ants, the price rises as well.
The basic methods may not work in hard cases, and exterminators will need to repeat their actions. Don’t waste your time by delaying the call. The prices vary between:
Small infestation – the minimal cost of $200;
Medium infestation;
Large infestation;
Severe infestation – the maximum cost of up to $1280.
Serious ant infestation cost
It varies from $800 up to $1280 and more. Serious infestation means that an exterminator has to work on a big infestation area or deal with multiple ants for several days or weeks. These cases do not happen so often. But when the ant’s colony is big, the ants live around the house, and exterminators need to use versatile weapons against them.
Ant prevention cost
Preventive measures may cost you $200 or even less, depending on the price list of the pest control in your area. To make sure that all the ants are destroyed, and new ones will not come back, many homeowners ask for fumigation.
The average ant fumigation cost is close to $800 and more, which includes the total fumigation that leads to extermination and later to the prevention of new ants’ appearance.
Ant Treatment Cost by Location
Based on the location of the infestation, the prices range from $200 to $1300. Hard-to-get places cost more. The most popular areas that are infested are the kitchen due to the food and smells that attract insects, the lawn, and even cars. Ants need food and water to drink. A bathroom with leaking taps can become an epicenter of the problem.
Kitchen
Solo kitchen extermination may cause up to $500 in the most severe cases. On average, the price is $200 – $400. However, the kitchen with numerous sofas and cupboards that can’t be removed costs more than the one without the furniture.
Provide availability to the professional worker, and the price may be decreased. Ants love the kitchen because of the food it provides. If you can cut the access to this food, you may save your money.
The size of the room is also important. Exterminators take the minimal price for trapping and baiting kitchen ants, as they are easy to trap.
Outdoors
Outdoor extermination price ranges from $200 to $400. Ants are looking for shelter in the grass or leaves and food. They may feed on pears and apples, plums, and any fruits or vegetables they find on the ground. Sometimes ants can help with pollination, but in big numbers, they cause the problem.
They bring aphids to your garden and make mounds. Depending on the accessibility of ants for extermination, pest control service may change prices. You may lose more money replanting all the plants that were damaged during the extermination.
Car
The ants in car treatment price may vary from $200 to $700, on average, depending on the accessibility of ants. If you notice the ants in the car for the first time, call pest control.
They would charge you less than if they had to remove all the seats, floor, roof, and search everywhere for the ants. These insects can hide incredibly well in the car, where almost all places are hard to reach.
Ant Treatment Cost by Treatment Type
Based on the treatment an exterminator suggests, you may pay either a minimal $200 or a maximum of $1300. The professionals usually offer the plan of extermination depending on the level of infestation.
This way, ant control cost changes significantly. You may agree with the suggested methods or propose the most suitable option for you.
Baits
Poisoned baits cause up to $300. This is one of the cheapest options. Exterminator simply leaves poisoned baits in the places that are visited by ants. Ants bring the bait to share with another family in the nest, and they are all dead.
This method is not complicated, but it may take the whole week to see the results, depending on the poison, amount of nests, frequency of ants’ visits, and the number of alternative foods. You may need to repeat the procedure as a preventive measure.
Fogging
Using a fumigator varies somewhere between $200-400, depending on the quality of the product and the difficulty of work. Supposedly, all your ants will be killed in 6-8 weeks after the procedure, so it is a long shot.
When the fogger is used, you also have to take your family out of the house for several hours, so it is very likely that you need to add the price of the hotel stay for one night.
Spraying
A work with repellents may cost you $300-500 plus the hotel, in case you have a severe infestation. Exterminators will spray pesticides that need to work for some time until you will be able to re-enter your house. During this time, ants will die or leave your house for good.
Pest control may suggest repeating the procedure depending on your specific case. Besides, if you want an organic, eco-friendly remedy, you have to agree upon it with exterminators in advance.
Ant Extermination Cost by Ant Type
Depending on the species of ants, their extermination may cost either $200 or $1280. The most popular species are the easiest to deal with, as there are numerous treatments against them. The rare insects typically are the most expensive. People in the USA usually meet only several species of ants. Some of them are less harmless.
Carpenter ant exterminator cost
The carpenter ant treatment cost is one of the most expensive and varies from $400 up to $600. They are not rare but usually come back to the same territory. But carpenter ant removal cost can be lessened if the insects live in a limited area.
Once you notice that your household is infested with carpenter ants, you have to call a professional as soon as possible. These ants are easy to recognize; they are usually black, dwell in rural and wooded areas across the US. Don’t worry; they don’t sting.
Fire ant removal cost
Fire ant extermination cost varies from $300 to $400 based on the number of insects and the accessibility of their nest. They also live around the USA but prefer southern parts. These ants are red with a darker shade on the abdomen. Sometimes they can be brown. Don’t touch them with your hands as they can sting.
Other types of ants
Other types of ants have their different price range as well, from $150 to $800 and more in less severe cases and up to $1300 in the most problematic ones. The most popular ants around the States:
Sugar ant control prices range not only depending on their quantity but on the season they appear. The most popular time to find these ants in your home is in the middle and the end of the summer. They are black and usually 1/16 inches in size;
Rover ants are more common to the south of the USA. They are equally small as sugar ants, but their colors vary from yellow to black;
Field ants are larger than black ones. They feed on caterpillars and other ants. Their extermination is one of the cheapest;
Acrobat ants live in soil and love well-moisturized places. They feed on sugar and all the products that contain it. They are more expensive than field ants to get rid of and may cost up to $250-300;
Citronella ants are big and yellow. They are simple to recognize. They cost as much as acrobat ants on average;
Argentine ants usually dwell in the southern states. They are black or brown in color and 1/3 inch in length. They have a strong odor if you crush them. The exterminator may ask for $300-500, depending on the case.
Ant Damage Repair Cost
The damage repair cost may reach thousands of dollars, while the most expensive price from any pest control around the US is $1300. Ants easily damage the wood, food, trees, and harvest. Carpenter ants can make tunnels in wooden frames. The longer you delay hiring exterminators, the bigger are numbers of the total sum in the end.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Many victims of ant intrusion consider the call to pest control as a sign of weakness. They postpone the request for help as much as possible. In some cases, especially if the infestation is mild, DIY actions work well, although not as fast as with the help of an exterminator.
You can check DIY methods on how to kill ants once you notice them in your house. However, there is no weakness in asking for professional help, and you need to keep in mind that pest control will deal with any amount of ants. The price may vary, though.
How to Hire a Professional
The average cost to hire a professional is $250. It depends on the work they have to do. There are numerous ads you may find online with professionals from your area.
Search for pest control at your location. You may also ask your friends and family whether they can recommend someone. Make sure that this company has a license from the national pest control organization.
How to pick a pro
There are detailed recommendations on the EPA website that share their tips for selecting a pest control service. One of the primeval things they recommend is to ask for their documents, check out the reviews left by previous clients.
It is also important to know how many years they have been working in this business. Pay attention to the tools and pesticides they use.
Things to discuss with ant exterminator
Don’t forget to check the list of questions you have to discuss with the exterminator. If you have a poor memory, I advise you to make the notes:
Certificates for their qualification;
The area they plan to clear from ants;
Methods they want to use;
Chemicals that will be used, if any;
Inability to stay outside from home, for example;
Warn exterminators about the pets that live at home;
Discuss the price and possible side expenses.
How to Prepare for Treatment
The more furniture you remove from the area of work, the more effective the treatment will be. I also recommend covering everything you can with the fabric or polyethylene film. Put all your clothes in the bag.
Your Actions After Extermination
Follow these steps after extermination is over:
Clean everything with soap and other cleaning tools;
Open the windows to ventilate the entire house. Do the same with your car if you had ants there;
Pack all the food in containers. Do not leave any crumbs;
Make sure there are no leakages in the house.
Most Common Questions on Ants Extermination
Here is the list of questions I meet most often online. You may find the answers helpful.
Is it worth getting an exterminator for ants?
Not all types of ants can be treated with DIY methods. Most stores do not sell treatments from carpenter ants or fire ants. They can be used only by professionals.
What does an exterminator do for ants?
Exterminators tell you which type of ants you are dealing with, enlighten about the level of infestation, and offer the possible treatment. They may tell you about the cause of the problem. The pest control also suggests the treatment and uses it on your permission.
How much is pest control for ants?
The national average price for ants’ extermination is $550. The price varies depending on the severity of the infestation and the number of works. The minimum cost is $200.
How long does it take for an exterminator to get rid of ants?
It depends on the specific case. Sometimes, the process does not require more than one visit, and in 4-7 days, you receive the house free from ants. Sometimes, you need to repeat the procedure to double the effect and as a preventive measure.
With a Little Help from Your Exterminator
Let’s not underestimate the service you receive, paying a pretty affordable price. Spending $500 on average, you get crucial help from a professional. A good exterminator gives you a guarantee for the work, which you can’t receive trying to get rid of ants on your own.
I believe that a medium or severe level of infestation requires an immediate call to pest control. And even the slightest infestation by carpenter and fire ants needs immediate attention of exterminators.
If you have ever used these services, share your opinion in the comments below. Was the one helpful? How long have you been waiting to see the results? Which type of ants did you have in your household?
These insects not only cause noticeable discomfort but also directly threaten human health. To get rid of fleas quickly and effectively, it is better not to buy treatments for their destruction on your own but to hire a specialist.
It is extremely difficult to do flea extermination yourself because they multiply quickly. Even if you bathe your pet, these insects can also live in floor coverings, bedding, upholstered furniture, baseboards, basements, etc.
Comprehensive and effective treatment can be provided by a professional. So, let’s see how much a flea exterminator cost is in [year].
Flea Exterminator Costs
National Average Cost
$550
Minimum Cost
$200
Maximum Cost
$1,280
Average Range
$330 to $815
The prices for flea extermination services can vary from $200 to $815, depending on different factors.
When Should You Call for a Flea Exterminator?
Before calling a flea extermination specialist, you need to ask yourself: do I need an exterminator for fleas? Calling flea cleaning service is worth it in cases of a severe flea infestation.
However, you can’t really estimate the level of infestation without hiring a professional. So, if you have spotted these insects on your pet or anywhere else, it is better to do everything and prevent the problem than to fight it later.
Main Factors of Flea Exterminator Cost
Usually, the exact flea control cost is determined depending on several factors:
The level of a flea infestation;
Type of fleas;
Location of treatment;
The method and products for processing;
Number of procedures;
Additional services.
Flea Exterminator Price By Location
Most flea control procedures are aimed at pets or houses, but your yard can be infested as well, and this also affects the price of the treatment.
1. Yard – from $75
Depends on the size of the yard;
2. Outdoors – from $100
This price works for standard outdoor territories;
3. Bedroom – from $150
Rooms are usually considered as a more complex area to treat, and the professionals charge for one bedroom starting from $150;
4. Kitchen – from $175
Treating fleas in the kitchen costs about $175 because pest control professionals must take additional steps before treating a room;
5. Carpet – $50
The price, in this case, depends on the product chosen for the procedure and the size of your carpet;
6. Pet – $80
The cost for pet flea treatment also depends on the product for treatment;
7. Whole house – from $400
Here, you pay for the time and the amount of work. This price usually works for a one-story house with two bedrooms.
Flea Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
Flea exterminator prices depend on how many insects are in the house. If you find a flea problem early, you may only need one treatment to kill the pests. Medium to severe flea infestations may require a certain number of specialist visits. Below, I have provided the average cost of flea extermination options in different situations.
Low level
Before the treatment, a professional will inspect the home to make sure the fleas have not spread. Flea removal cost for a low level of infestation is between $100 and $175. Low flea infestation level is easy to deal with, even on your own, but only if you have enough time to do it. Mostly, the low level of infestation is concentrated in one spot, so it requires a one-time treatment and cleaning procedure.
Medium level
A medium flea infestation level can be determined by cases when you find fleas on several locations, but still not the whole house. In this case, you will pay mostly for the area that has to be treated.
Usually, the average cost of flea extermination is from $175 to $300. But in cases when you arrange a number of visits, the flea control cost of the first visit is not less than $100; for follow-up visits, it costs $75 or more.
Serious infestation treatment cost
If fleas infested a large open area, you would probably face a severe flea infestation problem. If you need to deal with more than an acre of open space, the price will increase respectively. Flea removal cost starts at $325 and is up to $550 in serious infestation cases.
Flea prevention cost
In fact, flea prevention can be free if you follow some common rules. If you have pets, you have to treat them regularly and make sure that your dog or cat doesn’t suffer from flea infestation on its skin. Another thing is that fleas like to settle in clean and neat grass, so if you have a lawn or a backyard, you should take care of it using special pesticides.
However, most agencies also provide professional flea cleaning service to prevent infestation. You can call a pro one time or get regular visits monthly. This option costs from $135.
Flea Treatment Cost by Treatment Type
The cost of infestation treatment, in most cases, depends on the method used by the professionals. How much does it cost to flea bomb a house, or how much will you spend on spraying it? Below, you will find the most common home flea control methods and flea exterminator prices.
Flea bombs cost
Flea bombs or flea foggers provide the best effect when dealing with low infestation levels. This method includes an aerosol that releases the pesticide into the area. You will see the effect within a few hours.
On average, flea bombs last from two to four hours, depending on the size of the area of treatment. The cost of eliminating flea pests with bombs ranges from $100 to $200 for application and cleaning.
Fumigation cost
Flea fumigation services mean using special dust or bombs in multiple rooms throughout your home. Sometimes, specialists mix several methods like bombs and spraying, to ensure the best effect. After fumigation, the dead insects should be cleaned out. Professional flea fumigation cost and flea cleaning are between $175 and $350.
Spraying cost
Usually, flea spraying price is between $150 and $300 for a pesticide treatment at home. However, this method is also very effective, and it takes up to six hours to get rid of insects completely.
Natural Alternatives
Herbs. The most popular and effective herb for repelling fleas is eucalyptus.
Apple vinegar;
Essential oils. Fleas are afraid of any pungent odors, especially esters of citrus, conifers, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
One time treatment cost and follow-up cost
To keep fleas out of the house permanently, homeowners can ask for a pest control agreement on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, if you don’t want to sign the contract for annual or monthly service, you can discuss whether you need a follow-up visit of a specialist. Usually, any visit after the main treatment costs $75. One-time treatment procedure can cost up to $500 depending on many factors.
Pet Flea Treatment
Doing your pet’s flea control is important. Here are the steps you should take:
1. Wash your pet’s bedding at high temperatures;
Hot water will help remove any remaining eggs or larvae. Wash the bedding at least once a week for three to eight weeks. Dry them outdoors in direct sunlight. If your pet likes to sleep somewhere else, for example, in your bed, then it must also be washed.
2. Clean floors, carpets, walkways, and sofas regularly and thoroughly;
Remember to clean the vacuum cleaner and throw away the trash after each use to prevent eggs from hatching inside, which could lead to re-infestation of fleas in the future. Continue vacuuming regularly, at least every two days for three to eight weeks, and this will help in getting rid of fleas in your home quickly.
3. Use a veterinarian-approved flea spray or flea spray throughout your home;
Be sure to follow the directions and treat your pet carefully. Read the instructions to keep your animals safe from any potentially harmful chemicals while you handle your home.
4. Remember to treat the most common flea hideouts;
Remember to vacuum any fabric surfaces inside your car, and choose bedding for your pet that can be changed and washed regularly. Vacuum and treat the area behind and under the furniture with a flea repellent.
5. Wash all your dog’s or cat’s plush toys.
Even your dog’s favorite plush toy or your cat’s toy mouse can hide flea eggs and larvae within it.
Health Risks and Types of Fleas
There are over 2000 species of fleas in the world. They all differ in size, body structure, and other features. But one thing is invariable: fleas are blood-sucking insects that have learned to parasitize on different types of animals and even on humans.
Therefore, several species of these insects live in our neighborhood. Let’s figure out what types of fleas can live in an apartment or house.
Cat fleas
Fleas of this species are able to feed on the blood of various animals: cats, dogs, people. But they got their name for the fact that they lay eggs only in feline fur. They are black and do not exceed 2 mm in length on average. A small number of fleas does not give a cat almost any discomfort.
But this species is very fertile, and in a short time, the population can grow to serious sizes. The bites of these insects cause itching and irritation in the cat, resulting in an allergic reaction and leading to the development of infection.
Dog fleas
This flea species parasitizes exclusively on dogs. They are not able to live on the human body and feed on their blood. These are small brown insects capable of settling on a dog that is not in contact with other members of its species.
They are able to move independently or on people’s clothes. The dog on which fleas have settled loses appetite and behaves restlessly. Also, fleas can cause the appearance of worms and provoke infection with various diseases.
Rat fleas
Outwardly, they resemble feline or dog species but prefer to live on rats, mice, and other rodents. These rodents can be carriers of dangerous infections that get into fleas with the blood. Thus, the main danger of rat fleas is the transfer of infectious diseases.
Human fleas
No species is capable of permanently living on humans. But many species of fleas that parasitize domestic animals have adapted to feed on human blood. Most often, the legs of a person are attacked by such parasites.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Doing DIY flea control can save you money. However, there are times when going the DIY route can backfire and end up costing you more money. Pest control is one of those home projects that can be risky to do on your own.
If you are trying to decide whether you should hire a cheap flea exterminator or go to the store and buy a treatment product, think about the type of treatment, the effectiveness of the application, and the protection against future problems to help you make a decision.
How to Hire a Professional
Here’s a checklist to hire a good specialist:
Get recommendations from neighbors, friends, or family about the pest control services they’ve used. Call at least three companies and review their methods as well as their customer service policies;
Ask for the inspection of your site (it’s free in most cases);
Discuss solutions;
Ask for the contract.
Don’t forget to ask for the proper certification and the license of an agency or a professional you hire.
How to Pick a Pro
Professional flea treatment cost also depends on the knowledge and experience of a person providing the services. Here’s a guide to find and hire a specialist who will guarantee a good quality of service:
Hire a local pest control specialist
The local exterminator will be familiar with the pests common in your area and know how and when to treat them.
Look for a well-experienced professional
Chemicals used for pest control can be hazardous and should only be used by an expert who knows how to handle and apply them properly. A professional exterminator can identify the source of your infestation to ensure that all the pests are gone and will not return.
Ask for a guarantee
This means that if you hire a pest control officer to rid your home of fleas, and after a month, you see these insects again, they will come and serve your home until the fleas are gone forever. Hiring someone who guarantees their results will give you the added peace of mind and confidence that you will get what you pay for.
Hire the recommended fighter
Online reviews can also be a good source of information about other customers’ experiences.
Things to Discuss with Flea Exterminator
Examine the checklist of issues to discuss with the person who offers flea cleaning service to know what are you paying for:
Discuss whether the exterminator has enough experience in dealing with fleas and reviews from customers;
Ask which treatment methods the specialist offers in your particular situation;
Discuss the number of treatments needed and whether you have to sign a contract;
Ask for a flea prevention routine guide.
How to Prepare for Treatment
To get the best effect from treatments and ease the job of an exterminator for a little, you have to do the following procedures before the visit of the specialist:
Clean the room that will be processed;
Wipe the dust and do the vacuum cleaning;
Store the food in the containers and put them into the fridge;
Make sure that you and your household will be outside until the disinfection ends;
Don’t forget to give your pet a bath.
Your Actions After Extermination
Spring-cleaning of the apartment after the chemical process is a mandatory procedure. Start by cleaning the floors with a vacuum cleaner. After that, you have to do the wet cleaning of:
Floors in all rooms, after getting rid of dead insects;
Window sills, kitchen tables, shelves;
Trash bin storage box.
A thorough cleaning should include the following processes:
Washing all dishes;
Changing and washing bed linen;
Processing of all handles indoors.
A good solution is to call the specialists of the cleaning company to clean the apartment after the disinfestation in compliance with all sanitary rules and regulations.
Are you still wondering whether you need to hire a professional exterminator? Here are some popular questions answered to help you make the final decision.
Can exterminators get rid of fleas?
Yes, a trained exterminator will get rid of fleas. Discuss the method and the area that should be processed and let them do their job.
How long does it take to get rid of fleas after the exterminator?
The average time to get rid of fleas completely can take up to three months, depending on the situation.
How do I get rid of fleas in my house fast?
Arrange a quality pest control service and follow the prevention methods. This will help to get rid of fleas quickly and effectively.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Fleas: Short Summary
You already know when to call an exterminator for fleas and what to discuss with them. So, let’s recollect what makes up the flea exterminator cost:
Treatment method;
Infestation level;
Location & type of fleas.
Don’t forget about the flea infestation prevention methods and ways to avoid the repeated flea appearance in your dwelling or on your pet. Always think about the possibility of doing pest control by yourself since there are many effective products on the market today.
Also, do you prefer dealing with pests using natural products or chemicals? How do you choose what’s best for your case? Share your experience with other readers in the comments section to help!
Sometimes, using store roach exterminators doesn’t work the way you expect them to. The reasons are quite different: a low concentration of the active ingredient, a detrimental effect on insects, etc.
That’s why more and more people manage to call professional exterminators who have enough experience to solve the problem. And therefore, it is important to understand what roach exterminator cost is made of.
Exterminator prices for roaches are different due to many reasons. However, let’s take a closer look at how much does it cost to fumigate a house for roaches.
Roach Exterminator Costs
National Average Cost
$550
Minimum Cost
$200
Maximum Cost
$1,280
Average Range
$330 – $815
The average cost of an exterminator for roaches is usually calculated based on the total area of the premises, the number, and the complexity of the infestation in an office or private house.
But before you go on Google to find a local extermination agency, let’s see if you really need to spend money on professional extermination.
When Should You Call for a Roach Exterminator?
Once a cockroach gets into your apartment, the pest can destroy anything that can be found on its way. Most often, its diet consists of different food leftovers and bread, but it can also feast on fabrics, leather goods, books, soap, leather shoes, and toilet paper.
With all the richness of species diversity, all representatives of cockroaches are characterized by several features, the most striking of which is the need for water. Therefore, it is not difficult to find the traces of pests in the apartment:
The check-in takes place first from the kitchen and the bathroom. These are the places that you should inspect first;
The signs of the presence of cockroaches are traces of their vital activity: accumulations of black dots (excrement) in places where insects often stay, fragments of wings and shell discarded during molting;
When the light is suddenly turned on, insects scatter. Although all varieties of cockroaches are not afraid of lighting, they feel uncomfortable in the light;
If you have a severe infestation level, there’s a specific smell.
So, if you have already tried to deal with one-two roaches and it didn’t work, it’s time to call the professional cockroach treatment crew.
The disinfection and extermination service offers effective means for pest control and also guarantees a complete disappearance of insects. To eliminate pests, professionals use different ways of extermination. Most often, it’s a fumigation procedure containing glycerin used for disinfection.
Main Factors of Roach Exterminator Cost
There are three things that influence how much is pest control for roaches:
Insect extermination method;
The number of pests;
Room area that should be processed;
Number of treatments needed;
Additional services.
Removal Cost by Types of Cockroaches
There are different types of roaches, and this factor can also affect the exterminator prices for roaches.
1. German cockroach
This type of cockroach is most often found in city apartments. The body length of an adult (imago) is 10-17 mm; the color is from light red to dark brown. Individuals live 5-6 months, experiencing 6 molts before.
One German roach female is capable of laying 200-300 eggs per life cycle, and for this, it needs to mate only once. They’re probably harmless for your health, but you won’t be pleased when spotting them in your kitchen.
2. Brown banded cockroach
These cockroaches get into the room with things and furniture brought home. Once inside, one finds dry, warm places (bookcases, sideboards, closets, electrical appliances) and settles down there. Brown-banded cockroaches tend to avoid water sources and are more common in the area of ceilings.
These roaches carry and spread harmful bacteria and protozoa that cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Indoors, these insects sometimes cause asthma and allergies.
3. Smoky brown cockroach
The smoky brown cockroach is omnivorous and can feed on a wide range of organic (including decaying) substances. Like most cockroaches, it is a scavenger. It generally loses more moisture than its relatives and, therefore, requires water every 2-3 days.
The smoky cockroach can enter the premises in search of food and even live there, but in general, however, in warm weather, it prefers to settle in the fresh air.
4. American cockroach
If we consider all types of cockroaches living next to humans, American roaches have the largest sizes (up to 50 mm) and the color from brownish red to chocolate brown. The main difference is that they can fly. These pests feed on organic residues, as well as paper, shoes, soap, book bindings, etc.
5. Oriental cockroach
Orientals are more adapted to life in a natural environment. As a rule, orientals are mostly found in private houses: under the floor, on the porch, in the voids of the walls. If these insects settle in cities, they live in storm drains, sewers, and basements, and when cold weather sets in, the pests hide in human dwellings.
Roach Exterminator Price Depending on the Size of the House
The owner of an apartment can pay from $200 to $1000 for professional cockroach treatment, depending on the size of the home to be treated. Usually, a one-time inspection and treatment will cost $150-200 for a one-two rooms house.
One visit of a professional exterminator can also cost $500-700 if you want the whole house to be processed. So, if you’re trying to answer how much does pest control for roaches cost, you have to consider whether you want the whole residence to be processed at once or you need several visits from an exterminator. The roach treatment prices are quite different for every case.
Roach Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
Exterminator prices for roaches infestations can run up to $1200, but you will be 100% sure that you won’t see any insect in your kitchen after. How to define the level of the infestation you’re dealing with?
You can try to do it yourself, but you have to remember that if you spotted one or two individuals, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have other roaches hiding in cracks and crevices.
Let the professionals inspect and estimate the proper level of the infestation severeness. Usually, this procedure is done during the first visit of the exterminator, so they can calculate the roach exterminator cost specifically for your case, the number of visits and treatments, and choose the method for roach extermination that will work quickly and provide the best effect.
Serious infestation cost
Severe or serious infestation removal can cost you from $350 to $1500. It also depends on the type of cockroach and the area that should be processed.
Roach prevention cost
It’s easier to take time and do everything for roach prevention than to remove cockroaches and fight them for a long time. Preventive disinfection can be performed once or periodically, and it should include a complex of procedures to reach the best effect possible. That’s why the cost of roach prevention can also be different. Usually, it starts at $50.
Roach Treatment Cost by Treatment Type
As I have said before, different types of cockroaches also require different types of disposal. In addition, the size of your home and the number of cockroaches also affects the treatment you choose.
Many pest controllers tend to use a combination of different treatments in your home for the best effect, and others can offer you a treatment price of roach bomb cost.
The cost of treatment usually also includes the cost of labor or application service. Learn about how much does it cost to tent a house for roaches and how much does it cost to spray for roaches extermination below.
Glue trap
Glue roach traps are usually used for determining how many cockroaches you have in your house. It should be considered as a pre-treatment because a glue trap isn’t really a way to get rid of a cockroach infestation. Glue traps are often included in the inspection service, which can be $50-100.
Gel bait
Gel baits (like Advion) are the most common and effective method against almost all cockroach species. The only downside to this method is that it takes time to give the effect and the fact that pets and children should not be near where the bait is used, as it is toxic.
Such baits are used to lure cockroaches and poison them. Also, gel baits have a time bomb effect. One individual can transmit poison to ten other parasites, thereby killing the whole infestation. The cost of this method ranges from $100 to $600.
Spraying
A spray is a faster method of extermination, and it’s safer for pets and children than other options. Spraying can be done monthly or quarterly as a preventative method. The cost of spraying cockroaches ranges from $40 to $100 per month. Also, spraying is usually used to treat open or hard-to-reach areas.
Dust
Professionals can also use cockroach dust. This method involves scattering the dust around the house. Cockroaches can transfer dust on their shell to the nest and thus poison others as well. However, this method is not recommended for the most part since the dust contains boric acid, and it should not enter the body of people or pets. The cost is $100-600.
Tenting
The cockroach tent is a more extreme extermination method, also called fumigating cockroaches. The entire house is covered with a tent-like cloth, and the house is filled with gas to kill insects. This method is not used except in emergencies as the cost of a cockroach lodge tent is between $1,200 and $7,500, depending on the size of the house.
Health Risks Associated with Infestation of Roaches
Cockroaches are dangerous because these pests are carriers of many diseases: dysentery, gastroenteritis, a number of urogenital infections, salmonella infection, meningitis, pneumonia. Roaches tend to hide in different places, from the sewer, garbage chute, basement to the bedroom.
In these places, insects collect a huge amount of various bacteria and viruses, which are practically harmless to the cockroaches themselves but are serious threats to people living in the house.
Roaches collect pathogenic bacteria on their bodies, as well as spores of fungi and helminth eggs. Therefore, it can bring a lot of bacteria to your dwelling and cause serious health problems.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Let’s take a look at the tables of the pros and cons of both professional pest extermination and doing a DIY procedure.
DIY Extermination
Pros:
Cons:
Costs less;
Takes less time;
You know exactly which areas to treat.
It doesn’t have a long-time effect;
Health risks because of chemical usage.
Professional Extermination
Pros:
Cons:
Provides 100% effect;
You don’t have to spend your time;
Long-term investment.
A bit pricey.
Yes, DIY pest control can be as efficient as professional, but it takes time and effort to deal with. However, there are cases when you can really do everything without calling a professional. Yet, if the level of infestation is severe, you probably won’t get the result you want quickly.
How to Hire a Professional
Hiring a specialist for professional cockroach treatment is easy. You can simply Google a nearby pest extermination agency or choose one by considering the feedback.
You also have to describe your problem in all details so the professional can understand better how to help you in the best way. If you don’t really know where to start, here’s a checklist to hire a professional exterminator:
Make sure that the agency is a member of a national or local pest association;
Ask your neighbors or friends whether they have experience and if they could advise you of an agency they worked with;
Check the certifications and licenses of the agency;
Ask for a guarantee;
Determine if the agency can give you service on time.
And also don’t rush to make a decision.
How to Pick a Pro
There are many things to consider when choosing a specialist, but the main factors are:
Certification & license;
Contract;
Knowledge & feedback;
References;
Price.
Always make sure that the agency you’re hiring has a current license and certification of the local or national level. Don’t forget to discuss possible options for service and the contract. Knowledge of the professional can only be verified by appropriate licensing and references given by people who already worked with the agency.
And of course, you should know the prices for services and determine whether your needs can be satisfied. Calling a cheap exterminator for roaches doesn’t always mean that the effect of the procedure will be poor.
Things to Discuss with Roach Exterminator
Many people don’t even consider things to discuss with the exterminator. However, it’s an important part of the process.
Discuss whether the exterminator has positive reviews and references; It’s worth knowing how much experience the exterminator has.
Which treatments are needed in my specific situation, and how did you decide this? Check if the agent can give you an explanation of their decision;
Talk about whether you’ll need several visits from the professional;
Discuss the options for the prevention of roach infestation.
How to Prepare for Treatment
Before the actual process of extermination, you have to remove small objects and move the cabinets away from the walls. This will help the specialist to do their work without hindrance and more thoroughly, and will increase the interaction zone of treatments for the entire space;
Do the cleanings. In addition to visible dirt and debris, it is necessary to wipe the dust on horizontal surfaces, floors, window sills, baseboards. It will help the professional to process the surface in the best way and, thanks to its prolonged action, will destroy individuals moving in the most unexpected places and narrow cracks;
Place the food in a hermetically sealed container and put it in the refrigerator;
Make sure that the house is empty on the date of the extermination process.
Your Actions After Extermination
First, do not enter the apartment for three hours after the procedure. Plan your family’s leisure time in advance so that they do not have to return to the apartment before the agreed time.
After the roach treatment, you must ventilate the room, wipe tables, chairs, and thoroughly wash the dishes. It is also better not to wash the floors for 2-3 days. After that, you can vacuum the apartment to remove dead insects and their eggs to speed up the process of extermination.
Roach Exterminator Cost FAQ
If you still have questions about roach extermination or prices, I think this section might help.
What will an exterminator do for roaches?
Professional roach exterminators usually apply various types of pesticides to kill the insects quickly and efficiently. These pesticides include baits (pellets, liquid, gel), aerosol cans, and dust-containing chemicals that are dangerous for insects and human health.
Should I hire an exterminator for roaches?
Consider the situation you’re in. If you determine that you don’t have a severe pest infestation, you can deal with the roaches by yourself.
How do I get rid of roaches permanently?
You can do it only by following the advice of the professional. Do the prevention cures regularly to make sure that the roaches don’t come back to your apartment.
How do you get rid of a roach infestation?
It depends on the level of infestation. You can use DIY methods or call a professional for better effect and a long-term guarantee of the treatment.
How long does it take for an exterminator to get rid of roaches?
A pest control exterminator can deal with the infestation in a week or two. More severe cases can take months to get rid of.
Roach Treatment Prices: Final Thoughts
So, how much does an exterminator for roaches cost? As you can see, it depends on many factors, including:
The level of infestation;
Treatments used by the specialist;
Number of visits;
Processed area.
Roach fumigation costs can also be different because of the agency license level and whether you need several professionals to give you the service.
So, before you call an agency, decide whether you need it or you can deal with the infestation yourself. Take time to do research if you want to call a professional. You have to make sure that the agency is valid to offer you services.
Have you already experienced calling a professional pest exterminator? How did you choose the agency? Share your tips with others in the comments section!
What’s the most hated animal in the world? Rats have a granted Top 5 position, and for a reason. The average rat extermination cost is between $200 and $500, reaching $1.200 at its heaviest.
And the history tells us it’s much less than the damage they can cause, up to the Black Death whose beer any other pandemic still holds. A rat in your yard is always a bit of disorder and dirt. One in your house is more of that and closer to you. Rat teeth in your food are dangerous and disgusting (though not as much as these in your finger).
So, if there’s something scratching in your household, who are you gonna call?
Guide on Rat Exterminator Costs
We’re not here to rat around, are we? So let’s address the most crucial question right away.
RAT EXTERMINATION COSTS
National Average Cost
$350
Minimum Cost
$100
Maximum Cost
$1,200
Average Range
$200 to $500
As you see, costs differ seriously, so any particular case requires examination – by a pro, again.
When Should You Call for a Rat Exterminator?
If you see one rat in your yard, it may mean nothing at all. Just pay double attention to your waste the next week, and go out in the dark once in a while to spot one venturing outside.
If there are no more rats to be seen and no more traces they leave (holes in your walls or under your fence, chewed edges of anything nearly edible, pawprints in the dirt, scratching sound, or specific smell you recognize), you may relax. If any of the listed above is present, it’s time to call for an exterminator.
Only after the specialist arrives they can estimate the infestation level, explore the environment, and calculate the rat removal cost for your situation. It takes professional skill and professional equipment to detect the rats. And even after you’re sure the pests are there, there are many unknowns to learn and consider.
Main Factors of Rat Exterminator Cost
As you have seen, professional rat exterminator prices lie in a very wide range. What is causing these differences? The factors include:
The number of rats in your house. Stealthy as they are, rats are rarely seen “in person”. Usually, one first notices the holes they made, the droppings they don’t bother to remove, or human or animal food obviously bitten by small sharp teeth. The pros use their techniques to detect if there are rats in your house at all and, if yes, about how many.
The damage they make. Not that there are “good” and “bad” rats: all of them are equally destructive (even your cute pet one if you’re not careful). If the population is large, it may cause damage that you can’t even see with a naked eye (like destroying your walls from within). The more of them are there, the more work it takes to remove them.
The place the rats have chosen for their nest. If they live somewhere outside your home (in an old doghouse or garage), it’s simpler. If their home is under your floor or inside a wall, it will take more effort to get to it. The same would be if they chose your basement or attic.
Your location and local laws. They affect both the availability of rat exterminators and the rules they should follow. For example, in the District of Columbia, the exterminators are obliged to relocate rodents instead of exterminating unless these rodents are living right in your house. Most other states take it less seriously, giving the exterminators more freedom to choose their methods.
Rat Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
It’s obvious that the more rats are around, the more work it takes to get rid of them. If there are only one or two rats viewing their future hunting grounds you call home, it may take just a visit or two. If so, the price to pay will be $300 or less.
Mostly, though, it’s not the case: if you had seen one rat, there should have been others around. So, let’s assume your house is seriously infested.
Serious infestation cost
What do you call a serious infestation? It’s not a single rat who found the roof over its head in your dwelling. No, these rodents are sure this land is given to them to be fruitful and increase in number. Stopping this blasphemy will take some job.
If the rats are that multiple, they can live in your basement, outside the house at all, but the likeliest place for them to choose is inside walls. It can be said by the holes they make in them, as well as by where they leave the most droppings and cause the most damage.
Depending on all this, the number of traps to set, poison to use, and holes to fix may grow. Probably you will also have to pay for partly destroying and then rebuilding the wall to reach the nest. The price then starts at $450 and up to infinity.
Still, paying for this is a better option than wait until one of the rats dies inside the wall and then suffer from its smell, so one day, you will still pay a larger amount. Let alone your life quality with a pleasant rat pack having no Sinatra among them but still doing it their way.
Rat prevention cost
That’s a reasonable way of thinking, sure. If you have seen one rat not far away from your household, you may conclude it’s better to keep them away now than to get busy fighting them after that.
Rat treatment cost by treatment type
What types of treatment does it take to drive the rats away from your home? The most popular ways are baits and traps: they let you hunt these rodents without having to get to their wall. Among all, these methods assure you there are rats at all (if successful).
Usually, baits and traps are already included in the rat removal cost (if not, the company has to emphasize it before you sign a deal). The pros take their own equipment and expendables, so you do not have to.
Baits
The easiest bait types are made of what rats like to eat. That is, you can use meat, cereals, vegetables, or fruits. There are no specific preferences, as rats are omnivorous.
If you have an idea that rodents should like cheese above all, there’ll be some disappointment. Not that they ignore cheese, but a piece of bread or potato will attract them just as much, and peanut butter is the real-life champion.
Of course, all these tasty things should turn out lethal for rats. It can be achieved in two ways. First: you can add poison to it, so a rat consumes it and dies. Companies like Terminix use this way, but very carefully, with a lot of precautions.
Second – and here is another section – is to put the bait into a trap.
Traps
Rat traps (as well as mouse traps) have been around for centuries. Given that all of them are meant to extinguish the rodents, it’s hard to expect humanity from its inventors.
Still, there are different sorts. Mechanical traps left the rodent to suffer from a broken backbone or just caught to die of hunger and pain. Cages did not harm the animal; still, it was doomed as soon as the owner found it.
Modern rat traps are lethal as well. But, being electrical, they are designed for instant kills, not leaving the animal to suffer. In addition, there are no chances the rat gets away (unlike mechanical ones that leave a slight possibility).
A professional way to use traps considers rat psychology. It takes time for a rat to accept something new in its environment. So for the first days, the trap should stay unset. Let the rats get used to it. When it gets familiar, the rat is more likely to approach it. Especially when there’s something tasty inside.
Rodenticides
In fact, they are poisons developed particularly to kill rodents. Not only rats and mice, though, but rabbits, squirrels, hamsters as well. So if you have any of these as pets, you better keep them away while your home is processed with them.
Fogging
Fogging someone out is a long time tradition, used to smoke out both humans and animals. It’s highly efficient but very dangerous and sophisticated. Unlike trap and bait politics that can be conducted by yourself (at least, in theory), fogging requires a pro approach.
So, the fumigation cost for rats may be higher, but it will be more efficient. After the procedure, the room should be ventilated, and only after that it will become livable again.
It’s hard to tell the price of any of these methods beforehand. And it should not worry you, in fact. The companies charge you for the result, not for the methods to use. If some methods are unacceptable to you (because of little kids, pets, allergic persons, or whatever), the pros can select another that may take more time and money but save the bigger harm.
Cost of Extermination of Rats by Location
Well, if you happily have the rats indoors (happily, I said?), you will get rid of them for the smallest cost at all. The average cost of rat removal within the house is $200-350 if they live in your kitchen, corridors, or near the doors.
Outdoor rats are harder to extinguish. As mentioned before, in some states, they simply cannot be extinguished: the exterminators, despite their name, have to relocate them elsewhere.
But even if not, there is still more work to do, harder to attract, catch, and find them at all. So outdoor rat removal is about to be $200-450, depending on your yard area, infestation level, and some other factors to be seen right there.
As for rats in attic removal cost, it will be slightly higher than that in your living area. The attic has to be reached, and operating there is harder. In addition, rats can get down to your kitchen from there, and this has to be prevented. So, Operation Attic will cost you $300-500. The roof rat extermination cost, logically, is going to be still higher.
As for exterminating rats within walls, it’s the most expensive sort of operation. Its average cost is about $450-600. You already know that this operation includes partly destroying the wall and restoring it after that.
Of course, these prices may vary, depending on the company you choose, the population of rats, the location of your home, and many other factors. So stay with us, and we will keep you updated on all the news about rat removal.
Pets and Kids-Friendly Rat Control Cost
As mentioned above, rat poisons, efficient as they are, may cause extra problems if someone unintendedly consumes them. It can be your pets or kids unaware of the dangers a tasty bit conceals.
Rat Damage Repair Cost
It’s hard to predict how insatiable your guests appear. The average damage they can cause by making holes in your walls, gnawing wires and fabric, spoiling your food, etc., is between $700 and $2000. If you neglect the threat for long, the damage can exceed that.
Pay the most attention to your garage: if they get to your car, it may cost you thousands. Cases are reported when rats cost the car owner up to $11.5K ($15K Canadian).
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Unless you really enjoy killing rats and feeling like an exterminator, you’d rather call one than be one. The reason is simple: it takes special skills and special equipment to chase rats away from your house.
Mastering these skills will probably take too much time, and getting all the traps, baits, and other equipment (including poisons) will take too much money – way more than the average cost for rat extermination.
If it all turns out fine, in the end, you will have your skill (that fades without practice) and traps (with no more rats to set them for). So, unless you want to become a rat exterminator, you better call a pro.
How to Hire a Professional
As the problem is frequent, there are companies specializing in removing pests, including rodents, insects, and so on. If you want your result guaranteed, you better select a helping service.
How to pick a pro
There are factors you need to consider while selecting a pro or a company among available offers.
Is the company well reputed? Reputation takes time to shape. The pros may be nice and look competent, use the most advanced equipment, and show you many rats taken dead or alive. But it takes weeks or even months to really estimate the work quality (unless it’s an emergency case). If rats don’t appear for some considerable time, the job is done properly.
How much does a rat exterminator cost in your case? Some companies may offer overpriced services. Some may insist on more expensive measures than the situation really takes. Estimations always require some expertise, but you can just contact multiple pros and compare.
Are its services comfortable for you? Of course, rats are a discomforting factor by themselves, but there are other factors. When can they arrive? What methods will they use? Will it require you to leave? Does it fit your plans?
Will they do the checking for free? Of course, it will affect the overall price if you agree, but it’s nice to have this option.
With all this in mind, contact several companies and choose the one whose offers you like the most. If you prefer to call an independent professional rather than a big company, you must make sure they have all the required licenses and certificates.
Things to discuss with rat exterminator
When you make your choice, there are things you must discuss with the manager (or with the exterminator themselves) about the procedure and more.
Guarantees. Do they guarantee there will be no more pests after the treatment?
Costs. The entire sum should be confirmed before the treatment, with no extras appearing after.
Safety. Will you have to evacuate your family and pets during the treatment? If not, what is to be avoided?
Insurance. If something goes wrong, you are the side to get recompensed for this. If there is no insurance, there is no actual responsibility for the results.
Extras. Will the exterminator also take care of mice or insects, if any detected? If yes, what’s the price?
When it’s all spoken and put down, you can sign.
How to Prepare for Treatment
If you want your house to be deratized properly, with no harmful consequences, you should make some preparations. They include the following:
Hide everything edible in the fridge or in hermetic containers. Plastic bags, alas, are not rodent-proof.
Repair all the holes in the walls you detect.
Remove everything from underneath your sink or from the top of your fridge.
Take some time for general cleaning. Provide access to all the walls – first of all, in the kitchen.
If you decided on calling the pro, do not use any pesticides prior to that.
If your family and pets can go elsewhere during the procedure, it’s better (and often necessary) to do so.
Your Actions After Extermination
Preventing rat infestation is easy if you follow some simple rules. And if you unluckily experienced this disaster, it would keep you motivated not to let it happen again. So, what should you do to make sure rats don’t return?
Keep the floors and the ground clean. It’s the waste that attracts the rats the most. If there’s no waste to taste, they will just ignore your area.
Keep the lid closed on your trash cans. Thus it will not prevent rats, as well as raccoons, stray dogs, and other animals you don’t welcome.
Feed your pets indoors. Not only will it make your cats and dogs more disciplined. This way, you will make it harder for rats to detect there’s something edible near.
Ventilate the house frequently. If the air is fresh, rats will recognize this place as not friendly for them.
Inspect your walls and doors on a regular basis to check if there are holes in them. These holes don’t have to be made by rats and mice, but they can be used by these rodents. If there are any, fix them as soon as possible.
Brush the grass in your yard, so it doesn’t get high enough for rodents to hide.
Install a special door sweep that prevents trespassing through.
The basic information is usually provided by manufacturers of pesticides and traps. If you are not very experienced, the best thing you can do is follow the instructions thoroughly. You better not take risks if not sure exactly what they are.
There are even methods like Integrated Pest Management for those ready to invest their own time and effort, knowledge, and inventiveness. It will take more time than calling pros, so you better explore it only if you are genuinely interested, and the process is sort of fun for you.
You can also trust professionals with rat prevention. The yearly rat control cost is still lower than calls for urgent rat removal. So finally, it pays.
Rat Extermination FAQ
Some questions arise so frequently that they deserve a special section to be answered.
How much does Terminix charge to get rid of rats?
The rates we mentioned throughout this article are mostly based on Terminix rates. Other companies may offer something similar. The difference will not be dramatic.
Do you need an exterminator for rats?
If you want the job done, you better either have enough expertise in rat exterminating or call the pros. Not necessarily Terminix: there are other companies as well. Terminix, though, is one of the most famous and reliable companies to provide rat removal. It can help you fight mice, termites, and other pests as well.
What to do if a rat died in your wall?
The wall has to be decomposed, so the remains can be extracted. To detect the location of the dead rat, you can trust your nose or, again, call the professionals.
For them, it’s quite a typical procedure, so they know how to decompose and then restore your wall as quickly as possible, with minimum waste and maximum result. We would recommend this, especially if time is money for you, and the dead rat removal cost is less than your losses otherwise.
What method of rat removal is the safest?
The safest for humans and pets, or for the rats themselves? We know what you mean. Traps (especially electronic) and non-poisonous baits are the safest for you. For other methods, including fumigation and using poisonous baits, you may have to remove your family from the house temporarily.
So, Rat-Man to the Rescue!
So, unless you are very experienced, calling an exterminator for rats and mice is a cheaper and more reasonable option. We wish you never suffer this in your house, but if it happens – you know what to do. It’s not the rats you should care about in this situation; it’s finding the right protection.
If you have something to add from your experience, feel free to drop a comment. Maybe I have missed something, or you have a recommendation based on your own experience. Good stories are also welcomed; let’s have a talk! Drop a comment to share it; share the article, not to drop it.
If you suddenly see this little rodent in your backyard (or worse – in your house), one of the first things on your mind may be the mouse exterminator cost. The average price is between $170 and $500, while the hardest cases will cost you over $1K.
You may adore mice depicted in stories from Disney to Spiegelman, but these anthropomorphic creatures have nothing in common with those little invaders biting bread on your table and leaving droppings insultingly on the floor.
It’s time to call an exterminator. Let’s dig into how it’s done – at least, in order not to overpay.
Guide on Mouse Exterminator Costs
It’s the numbers you’re here for. So the average cost is between $170 and $500 (unless your case is indeed heavy). An average infestation is way cheaper to fix than to let go of and then deal with consequences.
Mice Exterminator Cost Summary
National Average Cost:
$335
Minimum Cost:
$150
Maximum Cost:
$1,200
Average Range:
$170-500
When Should You Call for a Mouse Exterminator?
You might think that one mouse in your house isn’t much of a problem. It’s only correct, though, if it’s a toy or a computer mouse. If you see one rodent running in your kitchen or at your garbage box, it must mean there are more of them. And they are hungry enough to venture out where they can be noticed.
So, one spotted mouse is already a sign that you host too many of them unwillingly. All the diseases they spread and the harm they do to the environment are included.
There are other signs that indicate mouse infestation. You can see little holes in the walls or the floor, droppings in your kitchen or other room, your food eaten by small teeth, bags bitten through, and other traces of their presence. You may be unsure whether these are mice or other rodents, but it’s yet another reason to call an exterminator.
Main Factors of Mouse Exterminator Cost
As you have noticed, the average cost of an exterminator for mice is given as a range, not as a precise sum. Prices may go well beyond that range; in serious situations, rodent removal may cost way more. Here are the factors that impact the final cost for you:
The size of your property. The larger the area, the more it will cost to exterminate the rodents there.
Infestation severity. The more these little critters are in here already, the more work (and your money) it takes to extinguish them.
Location of the infestation. The methods will regard the place where they nest. It makes a difference whether they dwell in your kitchen, in the attic, in the basement, or outdoors.
Methods selected. They require different sorts of equipment and expendables (like baits and fog), so the price will also differ.
To bring any certainty on the latter three factors, though, an exterminator should visit and explore your place. The first visit may be free or paid – so both companies and freelance contractors say. But the visit is usually not charged, only if it results in a signed deal.
Mouse Exterminator Price by Infestation Level
While the size of your property is an already known value (and it does not have to be fully infested), the infestation level is probably the most important thing that defines the work to do, the volume, and the methods of it.
If the infestation is defined as “not serious”, it means that there is no mouse population around. There might be one or two mice that started nesting somewhere on your property, but they have not grown in numbers yet. Removing these settlers is the only work to do. Maybe it will take two visits.
Serious mouse infestation cost
To know that the infestation is serious, you must watch for the following symptoms:
Mouse droppings along the walls, under the sink or the bath, and especially in the kitchen. They are a rice grain size, usually brown. Even if you see a few of these, it’s a reason to take care.
Holes detected in your walls. It might be outer walls or those of your kitchen. Living rooms and corridors are too noisy for mice, and they offer no food. But if you see a mouse hole in one of these, it means the infestation is even more serious.
Urine and defecation smell. They are very recognizable – and unpleasant enough to get you wondering. How much is an exterminator for mice? More affordable than tolerating this.
Damaged food. These rodents can chew and gnaw the food you leave unhidden or uncovered, eating surprisingly much. They cannot be stopped with plastic bags, chewing them through. Of course, what they leave is inedible at all.
Direct presence. You may see them (it’s more probable at night, but if you see one in the daylight, it means these nocturnal creatures are not afraid of you at all). You may hear the noises they make – again, mostly at night.
If you detect any of these, you need to realize that rodent infestation cleanup cost is still much less than the damage a mouse population can do.
Mouse prevention cost
It’s always cheaper to prevent a problem than to deal with its consequences. Mouse prevention (in the perfect world) consists of two major components:
Your own actions to prevent the infestation. You need to make your place the most livable for humans and pets yet the least livable for mice. It includes regular ventilation, keeping the property in order (both the house and the yard), leaving no food exposed to pests – it deserves a separate instruction, though.
Inspections by a professional pest exterminator. They may notice and detect the clues you do not notice and report you about been-there-done-that rodents.
Mouse treatment cost by treatment type
One of the most influential factors that shape the overall price for mouse exterminator service is the type of treatment they use. Some of them are quite exotic; others are typical, but way more efficient when applied by a professional.
When the crime scene is explored, you will decide together on the method; but you must be prepared that prices also will depend on it.
Baits
Baits are the most common and one of the most efficient methods. It implies that mice are treated with delicious bits (not necessarily cheese or what they like in cartoons), spiced up with special rodent poison. A mouse that eats this bit is doomed.
If you prefer non-violent methods, you can use baits along with cage traps. They let you take your mouse as a prisoner and then relocate it elsewhere. But how do you know it will not return?
Fogging
Fogging (also known as fumigation) is no doubt the most efficient and the most expensive way of getting rid of mice. It may cost fantastically more than the average cost of rodent removal – from $1000 to the incredible $6000 and even more.
The price includes more than just using the fog. Applying it requires special expertise. Not only does it deliver granted extinction upon the mice, but it also kills other pests (rats, termites, whatever hasn’t been evacuated).
During the fogging, the human inhabitants of the property should be away from it, and so should their pets. On returning, they must be especially careful, as it takes time to ventilate all the fog away.
This method is efficient in a limited number of situations and completely useless against outdoor pests. But if they have multiplied indoors, and you cannot detect their exact location, fogging is the way.
Traps
It’s also one of the most popular ways to extinguish mice. Traps are installed in their ways; it takes time for the mouse to get used to the trap and to approach it when attracted by a tasty smell. Then it depends on the type of the trap.
Electronic ones kill mice instantly with electricity. Old type options (so-called jaw mouse traps) either catch it alive or kill it mechanically; these ones, though, are almost out of use now.
This method can be among the cheapest if your infestation case is a minor one. Live mouse trap treatment starts with $250-300. On the other hand, electronic traps are far from cheap thrills (despite they’re thrilling): treatment with these will cost you about $550-750.
Rodenticides
This is quite an expensive way to get rid of mice as well, though not as sophisticated and dangerous as fogging them down. Rodenticides are a special sort of pesticides that are most dangerous to rodents – hence the name.
But don’t be fooled by it: rodents are mammals, and so are you (and most of your pets, probably). So, being efficient against mice and rats, rodenticides can be dangerous to the family, including pets. If you decide on rodenticides, you better move away for the extermination time.
The professional mice extermination cost may include special rodenticides. They are, in fact, baits adjusted to rodents’ preferences. This special treatment is rather costly too: the treatment will cost from $750 up to $1000 and maybe more.
Cost of Extermination of Mice by Location
In fact, mice do not care where to dwell as long as there are food and darkness. That’s not to be said about humans solving the problem.
So, calling an exterminator for mice in the walls of your kitchen or bedroom means that the wall will have to be destroyed and then restored. That’s the only way to get to the nest. It can reach $600 while exterminating the mice that live somewhere else in the living area is just under $400.
It’s easier (and cheaper) if they nest in your basement without damaging the walls, say, in a pile of old laundry.
As for mice in attic removal cost, it’s a bit more expensive and can reach up to $500 and above. The attic procedures imply sealing the attic so the mice cannot escape down from there and then applying the same measures while keeping the living area as safe as possible. On the other hand, it doesn’t take the safety measures necessary for acting in the living area.
It’s the most expensive to exterminate mice in buildings away from the house. While removing mice from your house is up to $500 and from the walls is up to $600, cleaning your garage or barn can be up to $1000.
It’s harder because these objects are more mice-friendly. Rarely visited, rarely seen, not protected so well, they store many edible things humans do not consider as such (like wire coating).
Pets and Kids-Friendly Mouse Control Cost
If you cannot or do not want to remove your family and pets during the deratization process, you must insist on pets- and kids-friendly methods, utilizing only ingredients non-toxic for humans and pets.
Mouse Damage Repair Cost
Despite seemingly less harmful than rats or termites, mice can do enormous harm. The diseases they spread may be terrible. And even if your health doesn’t get affected, your house certainly will. Mice can get to your walls and your food, your car and your wires, your computer hardware (and it will not be the mouse you use for navigation), and your clothes.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Doing it yourself is the way our ancestors did, and this way still has some pros. First of all, you know your property as no hired pro does. Second, the experience you achieve can be helpful in case of reinfestation.
Third, even if you have been a stranger to this profession, you will upgrade your mouse exterminator skill. Fourth (last but not least), it may be way cheaper. Given that we live in the YouTube era, instructions on rodent extermination are in excess.
On the other hand, if you are suffering from the mice attack, you probably don’t care at all about all these benefits. All you want is to get rid of them as soon as possible.
That’s when the pro comes in. Professional mice exterminator cost may be higher (but not so much, given that the DIY approach also requires investments), but the result is granted and insured.
How to Hire a Professional
There are large companies on the market, as well as freelance contractors. Their offers may differ in everything – pricing, methods, urgency, and stuff.
How to pick a pro
There are two most popular ways to hire a pro. You can either contact some major company (Terminix, Orkin, Aptive) or search for an independent contractor on Craigslist, Yahoo! Groups, Nextdoor, other social networks.
Both ways have their pros and cons. Come on, ask them: how much does a mouse exterminator cost? The answer will probably be given after the quote in both situations, but the price of indie will probably be more affordable than that of a big company.
On the other hand, reputation is easier to maintain for a corporation than for a freelancer. So if you opt for the latter, listen to recommendations from the friends or neighbors you trust.
Things to discuss with mouse exterminator
Licenses. This sort of business is subject to licensing according to your state’s laws. You better check the licenses even before you request a quote to plan further activity. It should be legit in your area and not expired.
Estimations. How many mice are probably there in your house? Where do they nest? What methods will be the most efficient?
How quickly can an exterminator get rid of mice? How many visits are necessary?
Do you have to remove humans and pets during the procedures?
What safety measures should you take after the extermination, and how long should you continue?
How to prevent the infestation in the future? To answer this, you should learn about the measures to take to prevent further infestations, safety recommendations, as well as monthly or yearly mice control cost.
All these factors define the mice exterminator prices, but not only. If you follow the recommendations, the chances of reinfestation are reducing significantly.
How to Prepare for Treatment
In fact, preparations for treatment are similar to measures to take for preventing the infestation. But it makes sense to emphasize.
Clean your house as perfectly as possible. There should be no places mice can hide in. All the old droppings and damaged items should also be removed.
Hide all the food, including animal food. It should be either in the fridge or in sealed boxes. It concerns anything, including flour, grains, and all the things humans consider half-stuff, but mice see as edible.
Keep the doors to all potentially infested areas open or provide the keys.
Find somewhere to keep the pets during the treatment. If there are baits accessible to your pets, they may be attracted and eat it – with no good consequences.
There may be other instructions, depending on the method the exterminator selects. You should take it as seriously as possible. Remember: mice are mammals just like we are. What is dangerous for them may be dangerous for us as well.
Your Actions After Extermination
We have already mentioned that you can take some simple actions to prevent mice from appearing again. Even if your property is mouse-free so far, keep up this work to never learn the rodent removal cost at all.
Ventilate your house frequently. It should smell well and tasty, so any unpleasant smell will feel alien. It will keep the mice away as there will be no familiar smells. And if some of them are brave enough to settle there, they will be easier to detect.
Sweep and wash the floors daily. The less waste remains on the floor – the fewer mice will like it here. Keep track of your clothes and stuff: piles of garbage are perfect places for mice to nest in. Old-time philosophers even considered that mice could be spontaneously generated in piles of dirty laundry. Luckily or not, in fact, they cannot – but they like to live there.
Keep your garbage bins and trash cans closed most of the time. The reasons are obvious. Install a smart home system with cameras, lights, and motion sensors. If a mouse is detected, a camera can record it or show it in real-time. A night-vision camera will be even more useful, as mice are nocturnal creatures. Your home security will anyway benefit from it.
Fix all the holes mice can get in through. Go around your home and look for holes and cracks.
A cat can deter mice by its presence alone. Scientists say it’s the smell of the cat that mice are genetically avoiding. Still, you will need to keep your cat and its place clean.
Mouse Extermination FAQ
Both large companies and independent contractors tell a lot about their job on their pages. Still, many questions are left to answer.
What does an exterminator do to get rid of mice?
If you mean whether the mice are killed or just removed, the answer will not be too green or humane. Rodent extermination methods are usually lethal (except for trap cages that, in theory, allow for letting the mouse out somewhere else).
So the methods include poisonous baits, electronic and mechanical traps, and even fogging. That’s why humans and pets are often asked to leave the property during the procedure.
Should I get an exterminator for mice?
If there are signs of infestation, you should either call an exterminator or handle the job yourself. The former is usually more affordable and more efficient.
How much does the average exterminator cost?
As we have said, the prices are shaped by various factors. The exact price for you can be calculated after a quote. Still, the average price range is between $170-500. The fewer mice there are, the simpler and the cheaper the treatment is. That’s why you should not wait too long before calling an exterminator.
What if my neighbors don’t follow the recommendations and attract rodents?
Make sure it’s they who let the situation out of control, not you (or your landlord if you live in an apartment). You are an interested party, so don’t feel shy to step up first. Check the reasons why they cannot exterminate the mice.
If they cannot afford the exterminator, maybe they should try DIY methods of prevention and extermination. Apartment dwellers may contact the landlord to intervene.
A suburban property owners association can play the same role if the pests are coming from your neighbor’s yard. There are many methods to affect them before using them (though it may come to this).
Your House Is Not a Mouse Shelter!
Unless you are a Disney top manager, your house should not be a mouse house. So as soon as you see one, consider calling an exterminator. Opting for DIY methods makes sense only if it fits your plans and inclinations. Professionals cost some money, sometimes considerable, but will save you from greater losses.
Have you ever had a rodent infestation on your property? How did you fight it? Any funny or not-funny-at-all situations? Any stories or notes will be welcomed, and every experience matters. So feel free to drop comments or share this post with someone interested.
Raccoons are pretty cute creatures. However, they are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance. And their feces are especially dangerous. Since wild animals do not receive vaccinations and vitamins, they carry numerous diseases (like Leptospirosis).
Their feces and urine are simply teeming with dangerous parasites (for example, Baylisascaris procyonis or Giardia). They can infect both pets and humans, so direct contact with raccoon poop is highly undesirable.
In this article, you will find detailed information on how to detect these animal excrements, why it is dangerous, and how to get rid of it.
Raccoon Scat Identification & Cleanup Guide
Although raccoons are omnivores and can find enough food in the wild, they prefer to settle near humans, as it gives them easier access to a food source. Their excrements are dangerous for farm animals, pets, and humans.
Raccoon scat identification
A distinctive feature of these animals’ behavior is that they prefer to go to the toilet in one place. If a whole family has settled next to you, they will all poop in one corner. So, what does raccoon poop look like?
In general, I can say that their scat is similar to dog excrement. It is dark in color, usually no more than 3 inches long, has an elongated cylindrical form, and a strong smell. Their feces are just as easy to identify by pieces of berries and fruits in them.
If you find products excreted on your site that fit this description, look for pictures of raccoon feces on the Internet to make sure that a raccoon has settled near you.
Copyright: Randall & Schietzelt & Harper College
Raccoon excrement dangers
You can get some serious and sometimes deadly diseases through raccoon feces.
Leptospirosis is a bacteria found in raccoon urine. If it gets on an open wound, you can easily become infected. In most cases, Leptospirosis is treatable. But it can cause kidney problems and meningitis with fatal consequences for the human body.
Salmonella is another bacterium that lives in raccoon waste and causes salmonellosis. The infection enters the body through the ingestion of food.
Giardiasis is another intestinal infection that can be contracted after contact with feces. Its treatment should take place under the supervision of specialists and in several stages since the death of microorganisms in medicine has a strong toxic effect on humans.
Roundworms (particularly Baylisascaris procyonis) are the most dangerous parasite that can be contracted from these animals. To get sick with ascariasis, you just need to inhale a pair of Ascaris eggs (you can see them on the images of raccoon poop). Roundworms affect the brain, eyes, spinal cord, causing irreversible damage to the vital systems or even death.
Raccoon poop removal
I think from the previous section, it is quite clear that getting rid of raccoon poops is a must. These animals often make latrines near large trees, fallen trunks, patios, attics, or garages.
Safety measures
Before cleaning, wear old clothes that cover your arms and legs, which will be ok to throw away. Put on thick disposable gloves on your hands and rubber boots or heavy overshoes on your feet, which you can later get rid of.
Be sure to use a respirator even if you plan to work outdoors, and even more so when cleaning indoors. I also recommend wearing glasses to protect your eyes’ mucous membrane from the accidental ingestion of bacteria.
When all the preparations are in place, follow these steps to remove poop:
Use an inverted plastic bag or shovel to pick up feces.
Place excrement in a tightly sealed bag or container. You can landfill or incinerate the packaging.
Remember that chemicals cannot completely kill bacteria.
Outdoors: treat all surfaces (including a shovel) with a propane torch or boiling water.
Indoors: Wipe all surfaces several times with a damp, soapy sponge. The water will need to be poured into the toilet, the bucket should be disinfected, and the sponge will need to be hermetically packed and sent to the trash.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap water and use a disinfectant.
Wash clothes at high temperatures with detergent.
Infestation
In addition to poop, raccoons leave quite a lot of other traces, by which it is easy to calculate infestation. First, you will encounter a lot of damage: wiring, patios, walls, shingles, etc. Secondly, raccoons love to feast on human food, often climb into trash cans, and scatter the remains of food around.
Thirdly, they can cause significant damage to crops and even destroy chicken nests. All this, combined with excrement smell, paw prints, and loud fiddling in the attic or between the walls, indicates that raccoons have settled on your site.
As you can see, not only animals themselves are dangerous, but also their scat. Do not leave food or water in accessible areas and close trash cans carefully to avoid managing raccoon damage. If they have already settled on your site, before the arrival of specialists, wash your hands thoroughly in soapy water after working outdoors. It is not recommended to try to get rid of raccoons on your own, as they are very cunning, intelligent, and vindictive creatures.
Please tell me about your experience with these pests. What signs of them did you find on your site?
Baylisascariasis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/baylisascariasis/index.html
Raccoon Latrines: Identification and Clean-up (Center for Global Health): https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascaris/resources/raccoonlatrines.pdf
Raccoons: Damage Management (Iowa State University of Science and Technology): https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/raccoons-damage-management
Bed bugs are the smooth criminals of the insect world. They will hide in your bedding and bite you in your sleep, waking you to no evidence to prove you’ve suffered a pest attack and leaving you in doubt as to how to proceed.
Luckily, they do leave droppings in the scene. If you know what bed bug poop looks like and where to look for it, you’ll be able to tell whether it’s the bed bug that’s bothering you. Stick around to find out what the tiny pest’s feces look like and what to do if you’ve found some.
Identifying Bed Bug Feces
Here’s a quick guide on how to spot and identify bed bug droppings on your own.
Where to Go Looking for It
Since our bedrooms are generally the preferred retreat of bed bugs, it’s there that you should start looking for the buggers’ poop. Use a fleshlight to examine the mattress and inside the box spring, the area in and around the nightstand, any cracks and crevices, wallpaper that’s come loose, near and behind baseboards, and the like.
“What does bed bugs poop look like?” is one question you need to answer before you can be positive whatever you have found in your bedroom signifies bed bug presence.
Source: osu.edu
Some people state that the critters actually poop blood. This is partly true because bed bugs’ diet consists of blood that they get from their hosts, but it has to be digested before it leaves the body. That is, if you see something that looks like a bloodstain, it’s unlikely to be bed bug poop. Chances are it’s what remains of a crushed freshly fed bug, though.
Instead, actual droppings appear a very dark rusty to almost black depending on the light. Since blood has large water content, they are semi-liquid. They also don’t have the shape that most people associate with poop because the bugs tend to release what they have digested on the go, so the feces get smeared.
Source: sciencenewsforstudents.org
Since they contain a lot of liquid, they can also soak into fabric, such as on mattresses or pillowcases, which ends up looking very much like a stain that a ballpoint pen would leave. The average size is similar, as well.
Looking at some bed bug poop pictures is a good way of understanding what to look for, especially if you expect fecal matter left by other insects to be present.
The most likely misidentification options are cockroaches, rodents, and bats. However, rats, mice, bats, and squirrels all leave oblong, hard droppings. Cockroach poop resembles ground pepper; it is hard and, unlike bed bugs’, notoriously sticks to walls.
Bed Bug Excrement Dangers
In case you’ve found bed bug droppings in your house, you may be alarmed because of possible associated risks. The good news is bed bugs don’t spread disease, though. Yet, the nasty-looking stains and smears left by these critters contain histamine, which can also cause allergy-like reactions in us humans.
The reason for this is that our bodies produce histamine naturally when confronted by a substance that provokes allergy. This means you’ll have to get rid of bed bug poop, or you might experience symptoms such as itchiness and/or asthma over time.
Removing Bed Bug Fecal Stains
The cleaning procedure largely depends on what kind of material the poop is on.
Fabrics
Once you’ve spotted bed bug poop on sheets, don’t hesitate to blot it with cold water. High temperatures will cause the stains to set.
Enzyme-based fabric stain removers can also prove effective when used according to the label, or you can use hydrogen peroxide for 10 to 15 minutes if the specks appear particularly stubborn. Please mind that the latter treatment can lighten the fabric!
Since bed bugs might be hiding in the sheets, it’s advisable to launder these at 122 °F to kill the pests, although this will only work as part of a larger bed bug control program.
If you have found bed bug poop on painted walls, wallpaper, or wood, try using cold water and wiping it with a dry clean rag. A commercial wood stain remover can solve the problem if the stain won’t go after washing.
Photo credit: Mike Waldvogel and Jung W. Kim
Does Bed Bug Fecal Matter in My House Mean I Have an Infestation?
Simply speaking, bed bug feces means bed bug presence. Look for other warning signs if you’ve found some:
bed bug parts/shed cuticles;
bloodstains from crushed insects;
a “dirty wet rag” musty smell;
small itchy bites that appear during the night.
Bed Bug Feces FAQ
Here are brief answers to common questions about bed bug poop in our homes.
Do bed bug feces wipe off?
They do when fresh, but they also tend to smudge on contact with water, so be careful if you’re dealing with fabrics. It’s best to launder the sheets anyway.
What is the first sign of bed bugs?
Itchy bites during the night are an important sign that you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation. Raised red bumps are common.
Where do bed bugs poop?
Bed bugs leave their droppings on any soft furnishings and fabrics as well as in and around cracks and crevices, baseboards, power outlets, etc.
Bed Bug Poop: Act on the Evidence
Knowing how to identify bed bug feces is a big step towards detecting and fighting off an infestation. If you have a reason to suspect that you have bed bugs or just want to be proactive, look for these inkspot-like droppings on the sheets and around crevices and be sure to take action in case you find some. Remember that living with a lot of bed bug poop in your home is associated with health risks!
Have you ever dealt with bed bugs? If yes, how did you spot them? Tell us in the Comments section!
References:
Bed Bug Fact Sheet (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Consumer and Environmental Health Services Public Health, Sanitation and Safety Program): https://www.capemaycountynj.gov/DocumentCenter/View/265/New-Jersey-Department-of-Health-and-Senior-Services-Bed-Bug-Fact-Sheet-PDF
How to Identify a Bed Bug Infestation (Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech): https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-identify1.pdf
Bed Bugs FAQs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html
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