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Killer bees have certainly worked up a reputation for themselves over the years, and it’s no surprise why people fear these swarms of aggressive bees. These Africanized honey bees look almost identical to a common honey bee except for the fact that they aren’t as nice. A European honey bee is typically more docile and produces more honey. They were introduced into the United States from European settlers as a way to make money off the production of honey. Killer bees, on the other hand, were a scientific experiment.

Killer bees were discovered when a Brazilian scientist crossbred the European honey bee with bees from Africa, which were known for being aggressive. Since the honey bees were not doing well in South America, the scientist felt that this new breed of bees would tolerate the heat better and produce more honey. This new strain of bees, the Africanized honey bees, were born into the wild and have migrated north ever since this point in 1956.

It’s still up for debate as to how far north killer bees will travel, but in California, they’re definitely a threat. The first recorded migration was in Texas, followed by the first attacks and deaths. Killer bees are aggressive and they fly in swarms. They can chase their victim as much as a quarter of a mile. For California residents, it’s important that you bring pets indoors if you suspect a hive of killer bees. Prevention is the best form of pest control in Los Angeles.

If you are to have an unfortunate run-in with killer bees, run back from where you came from as quickly as possible. Cover your face and neck, which are the most commonly attacked places. Once the bee stings, it dies, but the stinger is left in the skin and continues releasing venom for a few minutes. If possible, remove the stinger and seek shelter in a car or home. Avoid nesting areas as well. While Africanized bees are not that common in highly populated areas, if you suspect activity, contact a professional exterminator in Los Angeles immediately.

Rats are no strangers in Orange County, California. The subtropical climate that ranges from 64 to 91 degrees throughout the year makes this part of the country a prime target for insects and mammals. While humans often live cohesively with wildlife, this notion doesn’t hold true if small animals make their way into the home. Now that spring is here, pest control companies are receiving more calls from Los Angeles homeowners who find that they are sharing their home with a pest.

Springtime is mating season for animals, so you will find them out and about, finding mates and building nests. Rats are a common nuisance in Orange County, especially in urban areas. This is because these areas provide rats with everything they need to survive: shelter, food and water. There are many types of rats in Southern California, including:

• Brown Rat (Norway Rat)

• Roof Rat

• Black Rat

• Ship Rat

• Fruit Rat

• Citrus Rat

Rats are pests because they leave droppings everywhere they go and are carriers of disease. They can breed a large number of babies in a short amount of time, as most pests do, so it’s important to address rat infestations immediately. Rats can get through the smallest cracks, but they most commonly make their homes in the attics and walls of homes. They may damage insulation, sheetrock and wiring, and because they carry disease, they can be harmful to pets as well as humans.

It’s important that you don’t poison a rat because they are an important part of our ecosystem and serve as sources of food for many animals. If you poison rats, that means that whatever eats the rat will be poisoned, too. It’s best to use bait traps to trap and kill a rat, but infestations will need more than just a few rat traps. An experienced exterminator in Orange County can offer the prompt and reliable assistance you need to protect the safety and health of your home, family and pets.

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between subterranean and formosan termites? Many people confuse the two because formosan termites were actually introduced as a subterranean species, but there are clear differences between the two. For homeowners, termites are termites and they require rigorous pest control in Orange County, but for pest control companies, knowing the type of termite species we’re dealing with can help us develop a customized treatment plan.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites live in colonies underground where they build tunnels and spend their days searching for food. They are known for building the infamous mud tunnels, and moisture is necessary for these termites to survive. Subterranean termites eat cellulose wood and have a rigid worker schedule that workers, soldiers and reproductives.

When the springtime rolls around in Los Angeles, swarmers from the colonies can be seen flying about, and these swarms consist of both males and females looking to reproduce. Subterranean termites are a threat to both new construction and existing homes. Calling in a professional exterminator in Los Angeles is necessary for getting rid of these stubborn pests.

Formosan Termites

Formosan termites prefer warm climates, making California a prime place to live. These termites were introduced into the U.S. from East Asia and have made their home in the Southern states, at least for now. There have been accounts of formosan termites getting all the way up to the Canadian border.

Formosan termites build nests in the soil and also use mud tubes to bring their colonies much-needed moisture. What makes these termites different than their subterranean cousin is that they can also build cartons which brings moisture to the nest. This means that they don’t have to return to the soil to get their moisture. The diet of formosan termites is the same as any: wood.

The spring months also bring about reproductives that are looking to mate to expand their colony. Formosan termites are fierce, and they will cause structural damage in little time. Consider that a queen can produce more than 1,000 eggs per day!

Termites are never fun to deal with, and their efficient colonies and wood diet make them a real threat to Los Angeles homeowners. If you suspect termite activity or find swarmers near your home this spring and summer, contact a professional Los Angeles exterminator immediately.

While the spring is certainly a season that we welcome with open arms, it is the time of the year when we start seeing pests return. The warmer weather is much easier to tolerate than the cooler temperatures, so you’ll start to see pests coming out of hibernation. Also, spring is a time when many pests such as termites are looking to mate, so they make themselves seen and heard.

As the soil gets warmer, it makes many of the pests living in the ground come up. This includes ants, which are in abundance in southern California. There are approximately 270 species of ants in the state, and nearly 250 of them are native. To say that ants love our southern state would be an understatement. Fortunately, most ants are not harmful; although some are aggressive and can cause damage to the home. That’s why it’s helpful to know what you’re dealing with so that you can seek pest control in Orange County if need be.

Here are some of the most common types of ants found in southern California.

Fire Ants: Fire ants are aggressive, and they have no problem attacking an enemy who lurks past their nest. These ants prefer seeds, nectar from plants and insects. Fire ants found in California are very red in color.

Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants like damp wood, and they carve out pieces of the wood to build their nests. These ants are black, brown or red in color, and they leave behind wood dust much like a termite would. For this reason, carpenter ants are known for causing damage to structures and are considered pests.

Harvester Ants: Harvester ants can be very aggressive, and they have stingers on their bottoms. The good news is that they feast on seeds and will focus on one source of food until they are tired. Harvester ants are also easy to detect since they remove plant growth from their nests.

Velvety Tree Ants: Velvety tree ants are the most common types of ants found in Orange County, and they feast off honeydew left from other insects. They often enter homes looking for more food.

Argentine Ants: Argentine ants are not just a nuisance to humans but to other ants as well. They leave behind a strong pheromone scent that other ants follow, and they wipe out other ant colonies in the process. Argentine ants have no problem moving their nests indoors so that they have access to water and food.

If you have an ant problem, contact a professional exterminator in Los Angeles for immediate eradication.

With warm, wet weather being prime a breeding ground for ticks, it’s no surprise why Southern California residents are already starting to worry about the spring season for these blood-sucking pests. Ticks are not insects, but they do share a similarity with spiders: their eight legs. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, most notably, Lyme disease.

The ticks that transmit Lyme disease are abundant during the spring months, and the disease is often transmitted by nymphal ticks that are so small, they resemble a poppy seed. This makes it difficult to detect the ticks, so you can be fed on quite easily without realizing it.

When ticks bite, they use their mouths to bite into the skin of the victim and then they feast off their blood. Ticks lie in areas like low-lying brush, and they sense out warm-blooded creatures, waiting to bite.

Fortunately, a bit of prevention goes a long way. In fact, prevention is the best form of pest control in Orange County. Here’s what you can do to protect your Southern California home from ticks:

• Keep woodpiles and bird feeders away from the home and off the ground.

• Stick to plants and flowers that won’t attract deer or other small mammals, and use fences to keep deer out of your yard.

• Keep all wild animals away from your yard since they tend to carry ticks.

• Prune low-lying bushes.

• Mow the lawn regularly to keep grass short.

• Have the lawn treated with tick repellent, which is a pyrethrin powder that can be sprinkled on the lawn and bushes.

• Inspect your pets as they come indoors. If found, dispose of the ticks in the toilet.

• Groom pets daily using a flea comb.

• Vacuum floors and furniture regularly.

• Choose hiking trails that are more open and on main pathways.

• Use repellents on your body and clothes when going outdoors. DEET is the most effective ingredient, so make sure your repellent has it.

• Wash and dry sheets, towels and linens on hot water. Do not leave clothes out to air dry.

Since ticks do carry disease, it’s important to treat an infestation cautiously for the health of you, your family and your pets. Contact an exterminator in Orange County for the most advanced treatment of ticks this spring.

Flying termites look similar to flying ants and are common during the fall and spring months. Flying termites are not a type of termite; instead, they are swarmers from the drywood or subterranean species. Drywood and subterranean termites generally do their damage quietly without the homeowners knowing. Yet once a year, during the spring, both species will send out alates, which are winged termites that are specifically created to expand the colony.

Winged termites are always females, and they lose their wings once they mate with a male termite. These termites are drawn to light, and they can easily get through cracks and gaps in the home. If you find a swarm of flying termites, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an infestation, but there may be an infestation nearby.

It’s important to contact a Los Angeles exterminator if you find these flying insects since they can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. For instance, the queen can lay up to 2,000 eggs in a day. Since termites are small and live underground, it’s easy for them to mate, reproduce and continue using your home’s wood as a food source. Fortunately, there are natural forms of termite control in Orange County to protect your home this spring.

First, remove sources of water outdoors, such as standing water in flower pots or basins. Also clean up around the home, including piles of leaves and wood. All screens, cracks and gaps should be sealed, especially in the attic. You may also spray the perimeter of the home, although this won’t get down into the ground to be as effective as you need it to be. This is where a professional exterminator in Los Angeles comes in handy since you need the right chemicals penetrated into the ground.

There are also indoor fumigants that can be used to kill off flying termites, but you need to kill the queen for these pesticides to be truly effective. If you do see a winged termite flying around your home, it’s important to call in an exterminator immediately, as chances are you have a mature colony near or in your home. An exterminator in Orange County can help identify where the colony is and the best measures to take to eradicate it.

Just saying the word ‘cockroach’ can make anyone shudder. These pests are a real concern because they carry disease that can be harmful to humans, and they leave behind offensive odors. Cockroaches can also create allergic reactions in some people, and they are of particular concern in places like hospitals where patients may be more susceptible to disease and bacteria. With this information in mind, one can see why cockroaches have a dirty reputation. So, if you happen to see a roach in your home, admitting there may be a problem is a tough pill to swallow.

Roaches are Hearty, Stubborn Pests

The truth is that cockroaches can be found in the cleanest places; they are not just limited to dirty surroundings. Part of the reason why cockroaches can be found just about anywhere is because of their hearty life cycle. They can survive on food, water and shelter, and many roaches use human or pet food to keep themselves alive once they’ve made it into a home.

The fact that your home is warm, comfortable and lacks natural predators only makes it easier for roaches to survive and multiply. Additionally, roaches are like bed bugs in the fact that they can easily hitch a ride on any backpack, stuffed animal or second hand item.

Getting Rid of Cockroaches

There are four types of roaches that are regarded as pests, including the American Cockroach, the German Cockroach, the Oriental Cockroach and the Brownbanded Cockroach. If you find cockroaches in the home, it’s important to get moving fast with pest control in Los Angeles. The following steps will provide immediate relief:

• Clean the home, especially the kitchen and bathroom
• Remove clutter, such as piled newspapers and bags
• Store all food in airtight containers
• Seal cracks and gaps
• Remove sources of water, such as in tubs and sinks
• Apply boric acid powder where you found roach activity

Some infestations can be taken care of with these simple steps, but many others will require the help of a professional exterminator in Orange County. Since roaches do carry and transfer disease, it’s important to get the assistance you need when it comes to cockroach infestations.

Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in mattresses, under baseboards and in luggage. They are most commonly found in places where people sleep, such as dormitories, hotels and campsites. In recent years, however, bed bugs have become more widespread. Hospitals have had embarrassing run-ins with bed bugs, as well as homeowners who unknowingly brought in these blood sucking pests when buying a piece of used furniture. Now, there have been reports of bed bugs showing up in schools, theaters, nursing homes and office buildings.

Exterminators in Los Angeles say that there is no limit to where bed bugs can be found. These exterminators have been called into office buildings, banks, medical clinics and movie theaters, places where we’ve not seen bed bug activity before. With more cautious use of pest control in San Bernardino, the bed bug population has been able to evolve, and these pests have become a regular part of life. For people that believe that bed bugs are only found in places like hotels and homeless centers, think again. It’s important that we’re on the watch for these pests and that we use caution when traveling or visiting public places, even if it’s just the library.

Bed Bugs are Stubborn Pests

Once bed bugs come into contact with a person, they can easily hitch a ride on a coat, a purse, a diaper bag or a backpack. Although bed bugs don’t have wings or long legs to crawl fast, they are very good at hitching rides discreetly. It’s not until they have reproduced and started an infestation that they are identified by the homeowner. By this time, the pests are difficult to get rid of. Bed bugs are resilient; they hatch eggs within seven to 10 days, and they can live for up to a 1 year without food or water.

When an infestation is confirmed, contact a professional exterminator in Orange County immediately. These pests are stubborn in nature, and their ability to live without food and water can make an infestation seem to disappear, when really, it hasn’t. The only good point is that bed bugs are not known to transfer disease. They bite, and the bites can leave behind itchy spots, but other than that, they don’t pose any other threats.

Wasps are a nuisance to have near the home as they pose a direct threat to humans and pets. There are two types of wasps: solitary and social. Solitary wasps do not share a nest with other wasps and instead travel and live on their own. Social wasps are those that live together in one nest.

If you locate a hive outside of your home, you should be able to take care of it on your own, unless you are allergic, and in this case, you should call in a Los Angeles exterminator. You may also need an exterminator if you have recurring problems with wasps. Otherwise, one nest can be taken care of effectively by following these simple tips.

First, purchase a can of wasp/hornet remover from your local hardware or home improvement store. Make sure to read the instructions that are printed on the can, which generally tell users to wear protective clothing and eyewear and to use the product at night when the wasps are in their nest.

When approaching the nest, stand near it but not under it. Also have some type of escape route planned if the wasps were to come swarming out. Make sure that pets and small children are away from the area as well. Spray the pesticide onto the hive, and when the can is finished, be sure to leave the area immediately. Most pesticides instruct users to wait overnight, which is best for your own protection. If the nest was near a door, choose another way out of the home.

After waiting the recommended period of time for the Los Angeles pest control, you may check on the nest and see if there is any activity. If you detect humming or buzzing, repeat the pesticide again. Otherwise, knock down the nest and throw it away in a sealed garbage bag. Make sure that you wear protective clothing and eyewear during this process as well.

Although this is the most effective way to remove wasps from the home, there are other types of pest control in Orange County that can be used. For instance, if the nest is not near the home, you may light the grill or a small fire underneath the hive and let the rising smoke suffocate the wasps. You may also take the hose of a shop-vac and vacuum out the wasps. There are also other products that are less hazardous than traditional pesticides, including mint-based sprays and adhesives. Whichever method you choose, make sure you put your safety first by dressing properly and following instructions.

Life can be expensive, especially if you’re remodeling a home or moving into a new place. When money is tight, we tend to skip over the things that we can without penalty, even though these decisions can have dire consequences in the future.

For instance, say you’re moving into a new home and have incurred a lot of expenses from a higher mortgage, listing your previous home and moving costs. You know you should have your home inspected by an exterminator in Los Angeles, but you decide to cut corners, save the money and hope for the best. Several months later, you notice signs of termite damage in the home: wood shavings near the baseboards, holes in your firewood pile and mysterious odors. When you call in an exterminator, you find that you have a termite infestation on your hands that will cost you thousands, not to mention leave you with a major headache.

Having regular inspections is an important part of maintaining your home, and the best form of proactive pest control in Orange County. The cost of these inspections are significantly less than a fumigation would be, and they save you the hassle from having a home that is infested with pests, which is both dangerous for family members and pets. And, if the exterminator discovers a problem, you can catch it early on when it’s less expensive to treat. Ideally, inspections should be done annually, especially if you have had experiences with termites or other pests in the past.

Furthermore, it’s essential that all new homes are inspected. There’s nothing worse than buying the home of your dreams only to find that there are pests lurking behind the walls. This is not uncommon living in California where many pests are native to the warm desert climate. A simple inspection can avoid you from buying a home with underlying problems or give you the peace of mind that your investment is safe to proceed with. Remodeling is also a good time to check for problems since you may be ripping up tile or knocking down walls.

Let a professional Los Angeles exterminator inspect your home for signs of termite damage or potential infestations. These inspections are the best way to protect your investment and live in confidence.