Most Common Bakersfield Pests
In any pest situation the best way for us to design a treatment plan for you, is to know exactly what pest we are up against!
Ants are most closely related to bees and wasps, which all have a narrow waist that segments their body. The body is separated into three parts - the head, thorax, and faster (the part of the abdomen behind the waist). There are more than 12,400 species of ants around the world, most of which are black, brown, or red in color but only a few of these species are common household pests.
Ants have keen senses in which they use to communicate with other colony members. They produce chemicals called pheromones, which are sensed by other ants using their antennae. They also use different body parts and/or their antennae to send messages through touch. Touch messages are transmitted through stridulations, which are sounds and vibrations generated by one ant rubbing its body parts together. These forms of communication can relay different messages, such as when danger is present or where food is located.
Most ants usually form colonies with one nest and one queen. However, some species have formed huge groups called supercolonies, which can have multiple nests and multiple queens. A supercolony may contain billions of ants that together span thousands of miles.
Cockroaches are a very diverse species of insect that has learned to stand the test of time. These insects adapt quickly and can make any house, business, or outside area into their home. Keeping cockroaches out of your house is extremely important, not only because they invade in large numbers and are difficult to eliminate, but also because of the dangers and damages they can cause. Cockroaches spread disease, bacteria, and parasites to food and surfaces; they emit unpleasant odors and will chew on and stain upholstered furniture, clothing, walls, etc.
The most common species of cockroaches in our area are the American cockroaches, German cockroaches, and Oriental cockroaches. American cockroaches are one of the biggest house invading species of cockroaches living in the United States. German cockroaches are a small species but have adapted to an indoor lifestyle and are major pests inside of homes and restaurants. Oriental cockroaches are often referred to as “water bugs” because they like to live in very wet areas. Cockroaches, no matter the species, can enter into homes while out searching for food or by hitchhiking inside of boxes, bags, furniture, potted plants, appliances, or electronics. Once inside, they hide in dark areas near food and water sources (kitchens, bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces) and they will emerge at night to feed.
Spiders live in large numbers all around us and are a common pest that most homeowners have to deal with at one time or another. Spiders become known as “‘pests” when they take over our yards or homes in large numbers. Spiders are predators that will commonly feed on other spiders and insects. If you are dealing with a large number of spiders on your property there is most likely an underlying pest problem that you need to address. Properties with lots of flowering vegetation, gardens, tall grass, woodpiles, leaf piles, or excess moisture are most attractive to both spiders and the insects they hunt.
Spiders are arachnids. Adults are identified by having eight legs, many eyes, the ability to produce silk (though not all spiders create webs), and two body segments. Spiders live worldwide with the exception of Antarctica. Here in our area of California, the most common species of spiders that we have to deal with include: wolf spiders, black widow spiders, ground spiders, jumping spiders, and common house spiders. All are harmless except for the black widow spider. Black widow spiders have a venom that is strong enough to cause health issues in people if a bite does occur. You should always take great care around black widow spiders, but let's be honest, nobody really wants to live where they have to worry about coming eye-to-eye with any species of spider!
Fleas and ticks are common outdoor pests that all too often find their way onto our properties on wild animals or our pets. Unlike other pests that generally find their way onto our properties on their own, fleas and ticks will find their way to new locations on their animal hosts. Blood is the food source for both fleas and ticks and is needed for them to complete their life cycle. Fleas and ticks are “ectoparasites” which means they feed on blood from the outside of their host’s body. Both will spend most of their lives on the backs of their host and when not on a host, they will wait in tall grass, under leaf piles, in wooded areas, or under wood piles waiting for a host to come by.
Fleas are considered a type of insect, they are tiny in size “around the size of a speck of dirt”, and have a very impressive jumping ability. They can breed either indoors or outdoors. Ticks however, are actually a type of arachnid. They do have eight legs and cannot fly or jump. In order to move onto a host, they must wait for one to brush by them so that they can crawl onto it. Unlike fleas, most species of ticks are unable to breed indoors, so this makes them primarily an outdoor pest. Since these pests feed on blood, they are known to cause many problems, including spreading diseases, allergic reactions, and can spread parasites. These pests should not be allowed to live on your property in large numbers for any period of time. If you see an abundant amount of either pest in your yard, in or around your home, on you, or your pets, do not hesitate to call Monroe Pest Solutions for professional help to get these pests out!
Rodents make up the largest group of mammals worldwide. There are more than 1,500 highly diverse species of rodents living throughout the world. Rodents come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors and they feed on a variety of things. In our area, there are three most common species of rodents that frequently invade our homes or businesses: these are roof rats, Norway rats, and mice. All are capable of damaging our property, spreading disease, and contaminating food. Rodents commonly live outdoors but sometimes invade structures while they forage for food or to escape harsh weather conditions.
If rodents have found a way into your home, they will generally leave behind some very apparent signs that will alert you of their presence. Rodents are nocturnal and can be very noisy. A typical rodent infestation you likely hear scratching or running sounds behind walls or above ceilings. Gnaw marks or holes chewed through food packaging, and storage boxes are another common sign of a rodent infestation. Discovering gnaw marks on such things as wood trim, furniture, or rugs is another. One more serious sign that you have a rodent problem is the possibility of having to deal with sudden electrical shorts because rodents have chewed through wires in your home. However, the most common sign of a rodent infestation is finding their dark, rice-like droppings throughout your home in places like on the floor, in drawers, cabinets, and in or on storage boxes. Rodents are dangerous and very destructive pests.
Bed bugs are extremely good at two things, hiding and hitching rides from place to place. These two things have allowed bed bugs to become both troublesome and successful pests that can and will infest homes and businesses across the country. Bed bugs feed primarily on the blood of people. However, if their preferred host (people) is not readily available they have been known to feed on animals. Coming into contact with bed bugs can occur in many places, with public areas being the most common due to the higher concentration of people coming and going. Bed bugs move from location to location on people and/or our belongings (bags, coats, luggage, suitcases, furniture, etc.).
Bed bugs enter homes without notice and immediately take cover in dark, tight hiding spots out of view and only emerging at night to feed while we are sleeping. Their ability to live with us unnoticed allows them to build their populations in just a short few months. While bed bugs are good at hiding, there are some signs they leave behind that can alert homeowners to their presence. You may find live or dead insects that resemble apple seeds in your home: on the floor, under mattresses, or in the seams of upholstered furniture, or you can sometimes find small dots of blood or rusty streaks of excrement on bedding, pillows, mattresses, floors, or walls. You may also smell an unpleasant musty, sweet odor developing within your home and you or your family members may wake with clusters or lines of unexplained bites.
Earwigs are generally nocturnal, and will typically hide in small, dark, and often moist areas during the daytime. They are very active at night, feeding on a wide variety of insects and plants. They can usually be found clinging on household walls or ceilings. Interactions with earwigs during this time will normally result in a defensive free-fall to the ground followed by them scrambling to find a nearby cleft or crevice for cover. Common harborage areas for earwigs are picnic tables, compost and waste bins, patios, lawn furniture, window frames, or behind the bark on trees. Damage to foliage, flowers, and various crops have also been blamed on earwigs, especially the common earwig.