Pest Info

Carpenter Bees: Are large bees that look very similar to bumble bees; the difference is carpenter bees fly in a confused flight pattern and drill perfectly round holes in wood. Carpenter bees can be found to cause structural damage and will have many adjacent holes that help to expand their nest. If you have a carpenter bee infestation you will notice perfectly round holes that they have created and are inhabiting. 

Carpet Beetles: Carpet beetles are scavengers and will feed on wide variety of materials depending on the species of carpet beetle.  The larval stages of the Carpet beetles is what typically causes the most amount of damage to various materials such as woolen rugs, clothing, taxidermy, feathers and hides. They can deposit as many as 100 eggs and will be typically found in crack and crevices on a floor. The larvae will tend to wander causing an infestation throughout the home. The larval stages of the carpet beetle may often trigger an allergic reaction causing some people to misidentify them for bed bugs. 

Bald Faced Hornets: These hornets will be found in North America. On average a colony of bald faced hornets will contain around 550 workers. These workers are very aggressive and have a painful sting you will often find them flying in and out of the small hole that is formed in every nest. Nests appear circular to oval shaped and are made of a substance similar to paper. Nests will be often found to be high up in trees or in shrubs. The queens are the only members to be able to survive the winter. Once winter has passed the queens look for new areas to start another colony and unfortunately they may choose an area on your property.

Fleas: Fleas are wingless but can jump as high as 7 inches onto its prey to harvest a blood meal. They are typically dark brown and have small tube-like mouth parts for feeding. Fleas can survive for over a year with ideal conditions and the female flea will lay as many as 5000 eggs during a lifetime.  Their bodies are compressed horizontally permitting them to easily move through the hairs of a host. Fleas will deposit the eggs in the hairs of a host and may often roll off resulting in an increased activity where the host spends most of the the time. Fleas will feed on humans and animals but usually prefer to feed off of animals. Fleas will usually move into a home when an animal from outside has moved near or inside a home or attic and from your pets engaging with other animals. Having a pet in the home will cause fleas to reproduce quickly. For treatment, all people and pets must be out of the home. Commercial insecticides will be applied to kill off the adults that will jump and come in contact with the pesticide on the floor and will also kill off the eggs. 

Bed Bugs: Bed Bugs can make their way into your home in many different ways. Bed bugs can easily infest multi unit buildings by moving through, cracks, wall voids, electrical and plumbing. However there are many different ways to bring them into a home. The higher risk activity that may cause infestation is to have guests over that have a current bed bug infestation at home, resting on a couch or bed that is infested with Bed Bugs, leaving clothes and other belongings on the floor in an area infested with Bed Bugs.  Bed Bugs sense and are attracted to the CO2 we breathe, our movement, our temperature and of course our blood. For more info on how to avoid bed bugs visit our FAQ page, for more info on our treatment visit our bed bug treatments page.   

Powder Post Beetles: These beetles can damage hardwood or softwood they can spend months inside wood during their larval stages. The structural damage they cause is normally minimal unless an infestation goes unnoticed for a long time. Yet, it isn't until they emerge that they become noticed as they will leave behind circular pin holes in the wood. The female aims to deposit the eggs in cracks and crevices of the wood or in the holes formed from the larvae. Powder post beetles will not infest varnished or stained wood or wood with insecticides.

Earwigs: There are more than 25 species of Earwigs in North America. They are all nocturnal and active at night, during the day it is likely to find them under rocks, mulch, soil and other outdoor areas where moisture is found. Females lay eggs during the spring on average between 30 - 50 depending on the species. Earwigs undergo incomplete metamorphosis and will have 5 molts to become an adult. It is important to do proper maintenance around your home to eliminate areas where moisture may occur, doing so will reduce a risk of an infestation. Make sure that rain water drains away from the home, ensure gutters and downspouts are cleaned and check for any water leaks around the home. You may also choose to have a professional run an inspection and treatment as this will ensure control and prevention of earwigs. A professional has the knowledge, tools and products to control earwigs effectively. 

​Mice and Rats visit rodent control page