As a homeowner in South Florida, you have probably gotten used to the abundance of native insect species that call the Sunshine State home. The vast majority of Floridian insects pose little threat to humans; however, when they leave their natural environment to take refuge in your home the situation quickly takes a turn for the worst. While it may be tempting first to try a home remedy to eliminate a pest from your home, there are certain types of insects that are harder to get rid of than others. This article will provide you with five pests you should leave to the professionals so you can rid your home of pests quickly and efficiently.
- Bed Bugs
Most people believe that you can only pick up bed bugs at a hotel. This is a false assumption. In reality, you can pick up bed bugs at the movie theatre, in a dressing room, at work, or even while sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office. If you experience a bed bug infestation, your first reaction may be to self-treat it due to the high costs associated with professional bed bug treatment. The problem is, a failed home remedy or ineffective store-bought product can make your bed bug problem worse and cause them to spread. The only way to ensure that you rid your home of bed bugs is to hire a professional to fumigate your house or perform a heat treatment. While these treatments will cost more than a store-bought solution, the results are well worth the price tag.
- Termites
Termites are referred to by many in the pest control industry as the silent destroyers because in most instances you will not know you have an infestation until significant damage is present. Since an abundance of damage is usually present before a homeowner notices a termite infestation, it’s best to call on a trusted pest control company to access your situation and put a treatment plan in place. Termites can cause irreversible damage to your home. You cannot afford to turn to Google for a treatment plan.
- Ants
If you do not successfully treat an ant infestation, you run the risk of them moving their entire colony into your home. Many species of ants live in Florida, and each requires a different form of treatment. Thus, it’s best to call a professional pest control company to identify the species of ant that has infiltrated your home, so you are equipping to put up a good fight against these colonizing crawlers.
- Millipedes
If you start to notice an abundance of millipedes in your home, don’t wait to enlist the services of a professional. To effectively eliminate millipedes from your home treatment will need to take place on the outside of your home first. Since millipedes like to nest in a moist environment, successful elimination of millipedes will require a professional to remove moisture from underneath your mulch. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to treat the millipedes’ environment before resorting to chemicals.
- Cockroaches
Cockroaches are extremely hard to kill and can pose a health and sanitation risk to humans and pets. To make matters worse, cockroaches are excellent hiders, making them difficult to detect unless you come into direct contact with one. Cockroaches also breed a high-rate, so if left untreated, you could quickly have a significant problem on your hands.
Final Thoughts
Home remedies can be useful for certain types of household pests; however, there are some that should be left for the professionals to handle. Before you attempt to treat bed bugs, termites, ants, millipedes, or cockroaches on your own, determine if the potential consequences of a failed treatment are worth trying to save a couple of bucks. While it may be tempting to try to treat an infestation on your own before calling a pest control professional, doing so could result in substantial damage to your home or put your family members and pets at risk.
