Ants are the #1 pest problem in America. There are more than 22,000 species of classified ants. They enter your property in search of food and water. They prefer to nest in damp areas. The Carpenter Ant is commonly referred to as the household ant and is the most common type in North America. Ants eat any type of food, but are especially attracted to sweets.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed exclusively on blood. They live in mattresses, linens, headboards, walls, flooring, and other areas where people sleep. Bed bugs are commonly found in homes, hotels, nursing homes, theaters, among other dwellings. They usually feed at night when people are sleeping. Although they are not known to transmit diseases, they have been known to cause allergic reactions. The most common locations for bed bug bites are the face, neck, hands, and arms.

Just by the simple presence of cockroaches, people become repulsed and disgusted. A major public health concern is that they contaminate food and eating utensils. Cockroaches are known to carry human pathogens, which can result in human diseases, such as food poisoning or diarrhea. They secrete a substance that can stain surfaces and produce bad odors. Cockroaches’ saliva, feces, and cast skins are a source of allergens and can irritate allergies and asthma in people, especially children

Crickets are one of the fastest reproducing species on the planet. House crickets are nocturnal or active at night and usually hide in dark warm places during the day. During warm weather they typically live outdoors, while during cold weather they seek shelter in indoors and moist warm areas. Outdoors they eat plants and insects, but indoors they are notorious for the damage they cause to fabrics, such as carpets, drapes, and upholstery. They are particularly attracted to clothing that has been soiled with perspiration. Large holes are commonly found in these garments.

In addition to the itchy painful bites, fleas can transmit diseases. They feed and live on the skin of animals all over the world. It is estimated that pet owners alone spend over $1 billion each year to control them. Adult fleas feed on blood and spend almost their entire lives on their favorite hosts, cats and dogs. Fleas cannot fly, but they have powerful legs to jump onto a passing host. Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare bubonic plague.

Flies are not only a familiar nuisance, but they are also responsible for transmitting diseases and contaminating food. They are capable of transferring more than 100 pathogens, including malaria, salmonella, and tuberculosis when coming in contact with food. Flies regurgitate on solid food, and then they eat the liquid. When they vomit, groom themselves, or land on surfaces they are capable of transmitting diseases.

Rodents have been able to survive in many different types of environments. They have also learned many ways to avoid danger. This makes them one of the most successful groups of mammals on earth. Rodents can carry a host of germs, diseases, and introduce disease carrying parasites, such as fleas and ticks, into your home or business. Bites, scratches, and urine are responsible for the transmission of many diseases, which cause human liver and kidney failure. Rodents chew and gnaw through walls, baseboards, and other material to create access tunnels throughout your home or facility. They commonly gnaw on the plastic insulation of electrical wires, thus creating a dangerous fire hazard.

There are more than 30,000 known species of spiders. Scientists have found spider fossils dating as far back as 2 million years. Most spiders are mere annoyances, however the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow pose a danger to humans. Spiders are ranked as one of the top phobias in America.