The notion of pest control usually summons up images of swatting flies or placing traps around the house for unwelcome pests. But as a homeowner, you must think bigger, beyond the present issues, to the future. Pests damage your belongings and property and some little critters are sneaky, operating behind the scenes until the damage is beyond repair. Let’s review some of the worst pests and what you can do to protect your property from serious damage.
Pest Control: What Pests Cause the Most Damage?
Termites: Silent Destroyers
Let’s start with the big one on every homeowner’s mind: termites. These little insects cause billions in property damage every year. Often, the case that such damages aren’t apparent to the homeowner until it’s too late.
Pests like termites chew through wooden structures, silently weakening the structural integrity of your home. If left unchecked, they cause extensive damage that’s really expensive to repair.
Even worse, most homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover termite damage. This means that you are responsible for the bill. So, prevention is key.
To avoid termite infestation, look for signs such as mud tubes on your foundation, or wood that sounds hollow. It’s worth the money to have regular termite inspections carried out by professional pest control services.
If you happen to live in an area known for termites, consider having preventative treatments applied to your home.
Carpenter Ants: The Ants That Are Not Ants
Carpenter ants are another wood-destroying pest inflicting serious structural damage on American homes. While they don’t consume wood as termites do, they do bore into it, weakening the structural integrity of your home over time. Like termites, they can occur in undecayed wood, too.
It’s easy to spot carpenter ants by their size and by the small piles of wood debris that look like shavings that they leave behind. If you suspect a carpenter ant infestation, the best thing you can do is take action, before their colony gets larger.
Rodents: Gnawing through More than Just Your Wires
Mice and rats are often much more than just a nuisance. These pests chew on anything including:
- Wires
- Insulation
- Furniture
- Books
- Structural components like beams and drywall
Chewed-through wires result in electrical fires, and gnawed insulation leads to higher heating and cooling bills.
Besides causing thousands of dollars in damage to your home, these pests carry diseases like Hantavirus and salmonella. These can present a serious health risk to you and your family.
If you have any signs of rodents, such as droppings or gnawed materials, set up traps or call a professional exterminator for control services.
Powderpost Beetles: The Invisible Wood Destroyers
One pest flying under many homeowners’ radar is the powderpost beetle. These insects lay their eggs in wood, and when the larvae hatch, they tunnel through it, feeding on it. As time passes, the feeding leaves the wood brittle and riddled with tiny holes.
These types of pests are particularly threatening to hardwood; this means that your floors, furniture, and even wooden beams are at risk. If you happen to notice fine sawdust or tiny holes in your wood, it may be a sign of powderpost beetle activity.
Other less common pests that can cause structural damage in the United States include:
- Wood boring beetles
- Carpenter Bees
- Fire Ants
Professional treatments are needed to eliminate these insects and pests.
Hire a Professional – ABC Termite & Pest Control Company – Omaha & Lincoln
If you’re concerned about pest infestations, or if you want a professional to evaluate your home’s pest prevention strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to a local Nebraska pest control expert.
Find a reputable pest control company in Omaha or Lincoln that you TRUST and ask about their termite inspection and pest management services. You may think you are saving money however, a single misapplication could have significant and adverse or deadly consequences for you or your loved ones. Contact ABC Termite & Pest Control in Omaha & Lincoln, NE to talk with an exterminator today!