Ant infestation is the most common pest problem reported. These tiny scavenqers will enter your home or business looking for moisture and an accessibl food source. Sometimes, rotting or damp wood that has mold damage oan also attract ants. These tiny insects also feed on sugar, cheese, meats, vdgetables, grease, peanut butter, and dead insects. Ants ofte enter a home through cracks around windows or doors, but they can find numerous entrances to your home or building. Once inside, the growing ant colony cah become a problem quickly, as ants mature from juveniles to adults witin a iatter of days. There are thousands of species of ants, but only 3 are commonly found species in New Mexico. It is necessary to properly identify the ant species that you have before an effective means of extermination can be used to eradicate them.
Some animals are great to have as an occasional visitor, but that can quickly turn into a nightmare if they decide to stay - and multiply. Animal pests can prove to be a real nuisance for all parties involved.
There are many different species of animals that are often considered pests. They can include:
Any one of these creatures can become quickly unwanted if it decides to stay, or repeatedly comes back. We can provide you with timely, safe animal removal and control. We will restore your peace of mind and privacy, and bring back safety for you, your loved ones, and your pets, too.
Bed bugs have largely been thought of as being a problem of the past. The truth, however, is that bed bugs are making a strong comeback. Bed Bugs can be found in your suitcases, and in fine hotels and homes.
One of the major reasons for such a strong reappearance is because of international travel. Bed bugs get into clothes and luggage and then are brought home. You could have picked them up from your hotel room, or even from your suitcase on the plane!
A bed bug does not actually live under your skin, but will simply drink a few drops of blood while you are sleeping. You cannot feel its bite, even though it is actually piercing the skin. Although some saliva will get into the bite, bed bugs are not known to pass on any diseases to humans.
The different species of bed bugs have different feeding preferences. Some prefer human blood while others prefer bats and birds. Bed Bugs primarily reside in their target’s nests or nesting areas.
Beetles make up the largest category of insects in the world, and they account for approximately 25% of all life forms on earth. In fact, there are more than 5 million different species of beetles.
Beetles are easily identified by their hard outer shell, which covers their wings. The wings they use to fly are exposed only during flight. A beetle’s body consists of three sections; a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
Several types of beetles feed on wood. This can cause a lot of damage in wood structures primarily because while the wood is being eaten, the beetles remain unseen. This is true of Powder Post Beetles, Old House Borer Beetles, Bark Beetles, Citrus Long-Horned Beetles, Asian beetles, and other species. Powder Post Beetles, amongst others, grow from eggs that are laid in the wood. Another species of beetle, the Citrus Long-Horned Beetle, was introduced into the United States as recently as 1999, and is currently without any natural enemies. Although not known as yet, the damage they will create is expected to be extensive.
Adult beetles do not eat wood, only the beetle larvae do. When you see holes in either structural wood or in furniture, it is because the larvae have already left and you are seeing the exit holes. This means that there is in insect infestation somewhere near. Generally, they will seek the same kind of wood from which they came.
Just about everyone knows what a cockroach looks like; they are everywhere. While it is often jokingly stated that if anything could survive a nuclear war, a cockroach could- the idea is clear - they are real survivors.
Once there is a cockroach infestation, it can be very hard to get rid of them. Cockroaches multiply very quickly, and they also adapt quickly, too. This makes it imperative to work with a pest control agency quickly if you see them in your home or business.
There are over 4,000 different varieties of cockroaches, but only about thirty of them can comfortably live with humans. This number can be further reduced to include only four varieties; the main species that cause problems in homes and businesses in America.
The four main species are the American, German, Asian, and Oriental cockroaches. These vary in size from about 1/2" (German), up to 2" (American). In America, the specie that is most common in homes would most likely be the German variety.
Cockroaches increase in population at a very rapid rate. The German cockroach female lives about 200 days. Each egg case that she lays includes thirty to fifty eggs. In her lifetime, she will produce between four to six egg cases. German cockroaches are clearly able to thrive.
Once cockroaches infest a home, they often are rarely seen. Cockroaches are nocturnal and also tend to hide. They can live up to a month with little or no food, but can also survive by eating book bindings, furniture glue, soap, dead insects, shoe linings, and more.
The presence of cockroaches can lead to a definite impression of uncleanness- especially if your guests see them. The truth is that it is not necessarily uncleanliness that will produce a cockroach manifestation. However, uncleanliness will cause it to be much more difficult to get rid of them. The presence of cockroaches can also lead to health problems- including asthma in children.
If you have seen cockroaches around your home or business, you should eliminate them as quickly as possible. Remember that they increase in numbers very fast. Chances are, if you see one or two, there may be a hundred more that you have not seen yet.
Call New Mexico Pest Control today for a free estimate about removing your cockroach infestation. We know how to get rid of them - and the sooner you let us start - the sooner your problem will be gone.
Millipedes and centipedes are two creatures that are very similar, and both of them can be a pest. However, they are not a major threat to people or animals.
Centipedes in the south tend to be the largest. They can grow up to six inches in length, but most are considerably shorter. A centipede can be easily distinguished from a millipede because it has fewer legs; specifically, one set for every segment of its body. Millipedes have two sets of legs for every segment, and when they move their legs appear to be moving in a wave-like motion. A millipede’s legs are also shorter and, in general, a millipede cannot move very fast. A centipede, on the other hand, is able to move considerably faster.
Both centipedes and millipedes are mostly hatched from eggs, but some varieties are born live. Some centipedes may live as long as six years.
Centipedes actually have the ability to bite, and are poisonous. The poison from their fangs, which are behind their head, acts like that of a bee sting, and can bother some people more than others, especially if there is an allergic reaction to it. The poison is used to kill insects, which is their primary food. Children will be more sensitive to a centipede’s bite, and a larger centipede's bite will be more painful.
Millipedes do not have poison, or fangs, but they can emit an obnoxious fluid to defend itself. Some varieties can squirt this fluid several inches and it will take some scrubbing to get rid of the odor. The fluid can cause irritation on the skin in some people, and it should be removed right away. Millipedes feed on decaying plant matter, and sometimes living plant roots.
Millipedes can damage plant roots when there are too many in the soil. Some varieties are known to be especially bothersome to green house plants. If this occurs, New Mexico Pest Control to remove your millipede infestation.
House centipedes are the only variety that can live inside a house. This variety can move rather quickly and do not require the moisture that the other varieties need. Centipedes are beneficial to the control of other insects and this may be a good reason to keep them around. The most likely time of year to see centipedes in your home is in the spring or fall.
When you need to get rid of centipedes and millipedes, especially when they are in your home, call New Mexico Pest Control. We know which indoor pest control agents to use to keep you safe, and we will provide you with effective, long-term results.
While the sting itself from these insects is not usually terribly painful, a serious problem can arise if you have an allergic reaction to the sting. For that reason, stinging insects can prove to be a dangerous pest.
Many stinging insects will rarely bother people, unless you bother them or their nest, first. Other species, it seems, love to bother people without being provoked. Hornets, and sometimes wasps, are actually known to have a temper. This particular class of insects, called Hymenoptera, has venom in their sting which, unless treated very quickly, can result in death in some people, in less than an hour. Also, some stinging insects can sting multiple times, making their sting much more dangerous. Wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets do not leave their stinger behind in your skin, but the bumblebee does.
Yellowjackets are thin with black and yellow markings. They make their nests in the ground or inside logs that are near to the ground. They will sometimes build their nests inside of the walls of houses, too, and these can become quite large. Yellow jacket nests are made of a paper maché-like material, and because they are often at ground level, it is rather easy to disturb their nest, even accidentally.
Wasps have slender bodies and look similar to yellow jackets. They can have black, brown or red bodies that have yellow markings. Their nests are also paper maché-like, circular, and usually hang down from eaves, or piles of wood.
We become especially aware of mosquitoes every summer while outdoors in the warmer months. Sometimes we see full swarms or just a single mosquito and know that they are ready to drink some blood and cause itches and irritations to our skin.
Other than being a major nuisance, mosquitoes can be a real threat to your health. Mosquitoes can carry a number of illnesses that are a serious threat to both humans and animals. Over a short period of time, for instance, the West Nile Fever has been brought to the United States and has now infected people in every state. A single mosquito bite can also cause malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis. Because they drink the blood of animals and humans, they can easily get infected and then pass that infection on to another creature.
Only the female mosquito will drink your blood, as the male mosquito does not require blood. Mosquitoes, in general, do not need blood to live, as they actually feed on nectar. The female needs blood to help in the process of laying her eggs. Once the eggs are laid, a female mosquito will seek out more blood in order to lay more eggs. She will do this throughout her short life span, which lasts about two weeks.
Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other insect. This means that mosquito control is a must for human health and well-being. There are several varieties of mosquitoes, and some are capable of carrying more deadly diseases than others.
Mosquito insecticide is often used on a wide-scale basis to kill mosquitoes and is usually very effective. A new variety of mosquito - a heartier one that is not bothered by direct sunlight - has come to US shores and has brought West Nile Fever with them. In recent years, especially when West Nile Fever first came to the US, major cities were sprayed day and night to prevent the spread of the disease.
Call New Mexico Pest Control if you have land features that are prone to breed mosquitoes, such as swamps, heavy rainfall, or even old tires. We can help you eradicate the mosquito population down on your property.
Female mosquitos lay eggs in standing water ponds, rain barrels, old car tires filled with water, wheel barrels with water, bird water feeders. Standing water should be eliminated from the property to control the population.
Flies, generally considered a nuisance, exist in all regions of the United States. There are more than 240,000 different species of flies in the world. Approximately one third of them, including mosquitoes and gnats, can be found in the United States.
A true fly has only one set of wings. All flies are known disease carriers, many of which can be transmitted to humans. Flies typically breed in garbage, decaying flesh, excrement of animals and humans, sewers, compost piles, and any other place where matter is decaying. This enables them to pick up various kinds of diseases which can be transmitted to people by biting or by landing on food, where they can add bacteria and viruses to the food. Since flies are able to transmit disease so easily, it is necessary to seek insect control quickly. The diseases that they can carry include malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, dengue fever, and more.
All flies have a rapid rate of growth and go from egg to adult in about seven days. Maggots are just one stage in the early development of a fly. Maggots of some fly varieties, such as the Carrot Rust fly, can be a problem because they eat the roots of some vegetables. The most common flies are the Fruit fly, the House fly (which have four stripes on their abdomen), the Cluster fly (which is dark gray in color), and the Garbage fly (which has a metallic color that is either green or blue). Another kind of fly, the Stable fly, typically exists around livestock. The Horse fly and a few other varieties of flies actually have mouth parts and can bite humans. Most other flies have a sponge-like mouth and can only drink up their food.
One benefit of flies is that they do help keep down the population of other pests. They also help to break down carcasses and other decaying matter faster by preparing it to reenter the ground. Properly controlling flies includes not only killing the adults, but also destroying their eggs and larvae.
By the time you see moths in your home, it usually means that they have already found something they like to eat. Fortunately, their feeding choices are rather limited and you can usually find where they are feeding rather quickly.
Moths that are found in a home are generally one of two basic kinds; either a food eating moth or a fabric eating moth. A food eating moth, which is the most common, will most likely be found in your pantry. A fabric eating moth will most likely be found in your closet.
Food eating moths come in a variety of types, but all of them can generally be found be in a pantry, kitchen cabinets, near pet food, or near a garbage can. They especially like to eat various grains, cereals, flour, pastas, powdered milk, bird seed, and other similar foods. These foods are much more likely to attract moths if they are not stored in air-tight containers.
Moth eggs are laid in or near these foods. The eggs will develop into larvae which will start eating the food. In their immature stages, you are unlikely to see them because they will be close to the same color as the food they are in.
The most common type of food moth is the Indian Meal Moth, which is also sometimes referred to as the North American High-Flyer. It is also the most destructive. The larvae are often referred to as “waxworms”, and these moths are also sometimes called flour moths or pantry moths. A female Indian Meal Moth can lay up to 300 eggs at one time. As adults, they grow to be about half an inch long.
Fabric moths include species like the Webbing Moth and the Casemaking Moth. These moths are most popular in New Mexico. Both of these moths are only about one fourth of an inch long, and do not like to be seen, and rarely are. Generally, the only way you will know that these moths are present is when you see holes in your fabric.
Rodents can also damage your home or business, too. They can chew through some types of siding and other building materials, and are well known to chew on electrical lines; thus, increasing the possibility of a fire. They damage other places as well, and create holes and gnaw on numerous objects - especially on food or food containers.
Several spiders pose a serious threat to humans. The two spiders that are the deadliest to humans in New Mexico are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. Since a few people die each year from the bite of either of these two spiders, it’s extremely important for any person that is bitten by one of these spiders to seek treatment immediately. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
There are plenty of other spiders in New Mexico, such as the Grass Spider, Wolf Spider, Hobo Spider, Rock Spiderjust to name a few. These spiders do not have the same strong venom in their bite, but it is very painful and treatment may be required.
Ticks go from egg to adult in different stages depending on what kind of tick it is. Some ticks only have a couple of stages, while others go through as many as eight stages. The length of time it takes to go through the stages varies as well, and that partly depends on factors such as temperature, humidity, availability of food, etc. A young tick (of any kind) will have six legs, but an adult tick will have eight, and in general, there are two main kinds of ticks; the hard and soft varieties.
It is necessary for a female tick to have a blood meal before she can lay eggs. After feeding, she will usually drop off of the host to lay her eggs. The number of eggs will vary, but some ticks can lay up to ten thousand eggs at one time.
Ticks can carry a number of diseases that can be transferred to humans. Because they suck blood from both animals and humans, they can easily pick up diseases from one host and pass it on to the next. Some diseases humans can get from ticks include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, Q Fever, Tularemia, Tick Paralysis and Meningoencephalitis.
Ticks often have a certain host that they prefer to latch onto. For this reason, they are often given names like Deer Tick, Cat Tick, American Dog Tick, Bat Tick, Bird Tick, etc. However, it is important to understand that once a tick loses a particular host, it will try to find another before long. Even though they may prefer one type of host, they will feed on anything with blood in it.
Animals that live in your home, like dogs and cats, can easily bring ticks into your house. After feeding for a couple of days, the ticks will drop off of the host and lay eggs. They look for tiny crevices to store their eggs, which means that you could soon have a large infestation of ticks in your home. Getting rid of a tick infestation takes time because eggs can hatch months later, long after you think you have the situation under control.