What You Need To Know About Pests In Birmingham, AL
Birmingham and the surrounding locations experience pest problems all year long. We’ve developed our Pest Library to introduce you to the most common pests in our area. This way, if you encounter an infestation, you have basic knowledge about the pests, the problems they cause, and what you should do if you find them in your home or business.
Ants
Experts estimate that several thousand ant varieties are present in North America. Of these many species, three, in particular, are prevalent in our local area, including Argentine ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants. Argentine ants are small, black, and difficult to spot when crawling on the ground. Carpenter ants measure anywhere from three-eighths to a half-inch long and infest wooden items or objects. Fire ants are a faded red color and build nests approximately three inches above ground that can descend down and out underground to about two feet in many cases.
While not all ant species are dangerous, the three listed here may cause significant dangers to people, pets, and properties. Food contamination or consumption is common with large infestations of Argentine ants. Carpenter ants may chew through and destroy wooden structural supports. Finally, fire ant stings may result in hospitalization for certain victims.
Use the following prevention tips to keep ants away:
Keep your lawn well maintained, and clear out any excess vegetation that may be giving ants a place to hide.
Do not allow food items to stay on your counter for very long.
Whenever possible, mop, sweep, and vacuum floors to prevent food buildup
Bed Bugs
The most common and rapidly reemerging pests causing infestations in our area are bed bugs. Bed bugs are parasitic pests that require human blood to survive. The bed bugs is about the same size and color as an apple seed, and you'll commonly find them in pillowcases, mattresses, bedding materials, and other upholstery. They are oval-shaped and have three life stages: eggs, nymphs, and adults.
Bed bugs are not currently known to spread any diseases. Their ability to bite and transfer fluids from one host to another can be extremely concerning, though. Individuals with allergies may find themselves affected by the sweet and musky odors that accompany severe infestations. Bed bugs also cause itchy rashes and insomnia in long-term cases. At-risk individuals may experience anemia if infestations continue for long enough.
Use the following prevention tips to help keep bed bugs away:
Carefully inspect secondhand appliances and furniture before bringing them inside the house. Ensure that the location from which you shop is clean and safe.
Wash all clothing on the highest heat setting possible upon returning from a trip, whether worn or not.
When you are in a public place, keep your luggage and all personal items off the ground.
Request bed bug control services to eliminate existing infestations and prevent future ones from occurring.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are common household pests that take a particular interest in kitchens, bathrooms, pantries, and other food prep areas. Two specific species, the American cockroach and the German cockroach are very common in our local area. American cockroaches have large bodies that exceed one and a half inches in size. German cockroaches have light brown exoskeletons and long antennae. Both species have wings, although they prefer to crawl along the ground.
Cockroaches gain access to structures via small cracks in walls or foundations. Once inside, they may cause a large amount of damage and become a health threat. They can spread diseases, contaminate food items, and consume cardboard or other cellulose-based objects. Exposure to cockroach activity may also lead to asthmatic symptoms.
Try the following prevention tips to keep cockroaches out:
Mitigate the amount of moisture buildup inside your home. The use of desiccant bags and dehumidifiers may reduce humidity significantly.
Seal off cracks or gaps around your house with waterproof caulking.
Keep all food items stored in plastic bins or airtight containers.
Mosquitoes
While they may be a common part of life for many local homeowners, mosquitoes are anything but safe additions to your property. There are many types of mosquito species active in the United States today. They all have six long legs, make whining flight noises, and leave us with itchy bites. The most common ones in our area appear black, dark yellow, or black and white striped.
Mosquitoes are fully capable of spreading serious diseases. The absorption and spread of various blood types often lead to complications that result in hospitalization. Even certain rarer illnesses, such as the West Nile virus and malaria, appear in isolated breakouts from time to time. While not all mosquito bites will result in a mosquito-borne disease, it is far better to protect yourself and others before the situation becomes serious.
Protect your lawn and those you love using the following prevention tips:
Trim grass, prune trees, and cut back shrubbery to reduce shady harborage locations for mosquitoes.
Remove all standing water sources from your yard, and be sure to treat any you don't want to remove, such as fountains or birdbaths, with a mosquito larvicide.
Remove certain flowering plants from your property. Fewer flowering plants will reduce the presence of mosquitoes, especially male mosquitoes.
Spiders
Brown recluse spiders, black widow spiders, and wolf spiders are some of the most common arachnids found in our local area. The brown recluse has a light brown body and gray fiddle shape. The black widow is jet black and has a bright red hourglass shape on the underside of its abdomen. Finally, the wolf spider is large and covered in thick bristles that look like brown hair.
While not all spider species are inherently dangerous, all possess fangs and venom. Most species, such as the wolf spider, cannot pierce human flesh. However, a bite from the brown recluse or black widow can cause a severe reaction and necessitate immediate medical attention.
Use the following prevention tips to keep spiders away:
Clear or sweep out any spider webs around windows or the corners in your house.
Have a professional inspect your home regularly for insects. These pests could be leading spiders to your house.
Check children's playground equipment, garden tools, or other outdoor items for spider activity.
Termites
Eastern subterranean termites are arguably some of the most dangerous pest species encountered in the home. These wood-eating insects have long, oblong bodies, off-white exoskeletons, and large mandibles. Worker termites are much smaller than soldier termites, which defend the colony using enlarged mandibles. Swarmer termites, also known as alates, appear once or twice every year during periods of high humidity (usually during the spring or fall). These reproductive pests will fly into homes or other habitats in order to breed new colonies.
Subterranean termites use their large colonies and quiet behavior to cause over five billion dollars in damage every year, largely due to their patterns of weakening structural supports, walls, ceilings, and floorboards. To make matters worse, subterranean termites do not need to sleep, leaving them to consume wood 24 hours a day, all year long. Also, most homeowners' insurance doesn't cover termite damage.
In order to prevent a termite colony from becoming an infestation, it is advisable to prevent their arrival in the first place. Follow these prevention steps to ensure your safety:
Have your home regularly inspected for termite activity; this should be a regular, once yearly occurrence.
Have your home pretreated for termites by contacting Superior Pest Management as soon as possible.
Remove moisture from your house by running a dehumidifier in damp areas.
Effectively eliminate termites and prevent future infestations with our termite control and prevention services.