Twelve common
pests.

Signs of infestation

Lines of small workers along countertops, near pet bowls, or behind dishwashers. Scout ants exploring at dusk. Sweet-bait carcasses near windowsills, faint sweet smell when crushed.

Recommended treatment

Six-week non-toxic gel-bait protocol at colony nodes plus exterior pet-safe pyrethroid perimeter spray. Most homes clear 90% of activity by day five. No interior fogging required.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Coffee-grind droppings inside cabinets, oily sweet musk near appliances, egg cases (oothecae) wedged behind refrigerators. Daytime sightings indicate severe pressure — they prefer dark hours.

Recommended treatment

Insect-growth-regulator gel bait at harborage points, dust treatment in voids, and a follow-up at 14 days to break the egg-cycle. Sanitation review of food access — roaches return where crumbs return.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Rice-grain-sized droppings along baseboards, gnaw marks on cardboard or drywall, scratching sounds from attics or wall voids at dusk, greasy "smudge" trails along travel paths.

Recommended treatment

Multi-catch snap-trap deployment at runway intersections, exterior bait stations, and entry-point sealing — copper mesh plus expanding foam at every gap larger than a dime. Re-inspection at 10 days.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Pencil-thin mud tubes climbing foundation walls, hollow-sounding wood when tapped, discarded wings near windowsills after spring swarms. Sagging or buckled flooring above untreated crawlspaces.

Recommended treatment

In-ground bait monitoring stations every 10 feet around the foundation, plus targeted termiticide injection at active mud-tube colonies. Five-year transferable warranty included on contracts.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Daytime biting in shaded yard zones, larvae wriggling in standing-water containers (saucers, gutters, tarps), high-pitched whine indoors at dusk, welts that itch hours after the bite.

Recommended treatment

Backpack-mist treatment of foliage and harborage every 21 days April–October, larvicide briquettes in water-holding features, and a yard walkthrough to eliminate breeding cups before each visit.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Irregular cobwebs in corners of basements, attics, and undisturbed closets. Shed skins on floor near baseboards. Bites that develop a small dark center within 24 hours of contact.

Recommended treatment

Crack-and-crevice dust application at sill plates and joist bays, glue-monitor stations every 8 feet along basement perimeters, and a clutter audit to remove cardboard storage harborage.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Linear bite clusters on exposed skin overnight, rust-colored blood specks on sheets near seams, dark fecal pinpricks on box-spring fabric, and a sweet-musty smell in heavily infested rooms.

Recommended treatment

Whole-room thermal heat remediation reaching 122°F core temperature, residual silica-dust application in voids, mattress encasement, and a follow-up inspection at 21 days to confirm zero activity.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Open paper-comb nests under eaves, deck rails, and shed corners. Aggressive flight patterns near doorways during late summer, multiple workers patrolling a 15-foot defense radius around active nests.

Recommended treatment

Dusk knockdown with a residual aerosol from a 12-foot pole, nest removal once activity stops, and preventative treatment of common eave attachment points to discourage spring re-nesting.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Pets scratching neck, base of tail, or hindquarters more than usual. "Flea dirt" — small dark specks that turn red on a wet paper towel — in pet bedding. Bites in clusters around human ankles.

Recommended treatment

Insect-growth-regulator carpet treatment paired with vacuum-and-disposal protocol, yard treatment of shaded harborage, and a 14-day follow-up to interrupt the egg-to-adult life cycle.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Ticks attaching after walks through tall grass, leaf litter, or wooded yard edges. Pets scratching at ears or neck, bullseye rash within 30 days of an unnoticed bite (consult a physician immediately).

Recommended treatment

Yard-perimeter granular treatment focused on the tick interface — the 3-foot zone where lawn meets woods or leaf litter. Optional tick tubes deployed quarterly to interrupt the rodent vector.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Yellowish stains on books, wallpaper, or stored fabric. Tiny pepper-like droppings in basement boxes. Scaling shed exoskeletons. Fast, fish-like darting movement when a light is suddenly switched on.

Recommended treatment

Targeted dust treatment in attic and crawlspace voids, dehumidification advice (silverfish need 75%+ humidity), and a perimeter residual to prevent re-entry from sheathing and soffit voids.

Season of activity

Signs of infestation

Capsule-shaped droppings half an inch long, 2-inch entry holes in foundation or yard burrows, gnawed plastic pipes or low-voltage wiring, and heavy nighttime scuttling overhead in attic spaces.

Recommended treatment

Tamper-resistant exterior bait stations at 30-foot intervals, snap-trapping inside the structure (no rodenticide indoors near pets), full entry-point exclusion with hardware cloth and concrete patch.

Season of activity