Margate, FL Pest Control
Margate shares in the humid subtropical climate of almost every other city in Florida, making it attractive to pests like termites and bed bugs. Many of these pests can dwell in a home for a long time without being detected, which is why regular pest control is recommended. If you want to perform a DIY inspection first, consider the signs that the three following pests leave behind.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs only look for two things: a warm, cozy place to hide and breed in, and a source of mammalian blood. They gather around the bed because they prefer their food source to be still and their feeding to be in the dark. Look for these signs around the box spring and bed frame:
- Tiny bloodstains (smashed bed bugs)
- Stains that have bled into the sheets (excrement)
- Clear shells with a bed bug’s shape (shed skin)
You can tell if the bites on your body are from bed bugs by asking yourself: Are they only on skin that was exposed through the night? Are they in clusters? Answer yes to both, and you probably have yourself a bed bug infestation. However, bed bugs can go for weeks or even months without feeding, so don’t rely on bite marks alone when determining their presence.
Rodents
Rats and mice will enter through holes in your roof, living off of insects like ticks and chewing off cardboard, attic insulation, and other materials to build nests. They can also, of course, enter through the basement. These are just a few signs of rodent infestation:
- Pellet-like droppings
- Gnaw marks in wood
- Urine stains
If you find the droppings in your pantry or under the sink, then the rodents have already infiltrated your home. Regarding their urine, it gives off a recognizable ammonia smell. You won’t want to wait to get rodent control since these furry animals can carry viruses like hantavirus. If you’re bitten, you can get anything from salmonella to leptospirosis.
Termites
Drywood termites only want wood to eat and breed in. They particularly like eaves, cornices, furniture, picture frames, and walls: any place that has dry wood. Subterranean termites have their colony underground, but they’ll attack any moist or decayed wood in your basement or crawl space. They also like beams and walls that directly touch the soil. It’s especially important to get subterranean termites under control since they’ll quickly migrate even up to the attic and hollow out your wood structures. Signs include:
- Alate wings (for subterranean termites)
- Mud tubes (for subterranean termites)
- Frass (for Drywood termites)
If there’s a termite invasion, you won’t want to shell out money for hundreds of gallons of termiticides, which most pest control companies can only apply after drilling into your foundation. There are easy ways to keep them under control, such as baiting systems.
Florida Pest Control Center invites you to give us a call. Rather than the usual fumigation methods, we can use a heat treatment on both bed bugs and termites. We can also trap rats and decontaminate the infested areas afterwards. First, we’ll give you a thorough inspection to see if there’s anything you missed.