Of all the pests that Washington State residents have to deal with, few are more intrusive and problematic than bed bugs and carpenter ants, according to Bug Busters owner Steve Rogers. A pest control expert who specializes in the extermination of bed bugs in Puget Sound, Washington, Rogers says that both bed bugs and carpenter ants can wreak havoc on homeowners.
The bed bug population is growing tenfold in the state of Washington every year, according to Rogers. In fact, he says that bed bugs have become the biggest pest issue in Puget Sound that he has ever seen in his 24 years of doing business. Even worse: The problem isn’t decreasing, despite all of the technology and chemicals available to eradicate these pests.
Unlike cockroaches and other pests that are attracted to clutter or unkempt home conditions, bed bugs really can become a problem even in the cleanest of residences. As long as a home is comfortable, which most are, bed bugs can theoretically survive. As Rogers explains, bed bugs have the perfect climate and environment set up for them by homeowners, since the very environment that people find to be warm and comfortable is where bed bugs in Puget Sound thrive.
Another major pest problem that people in Washington are dealing with is carpenter ant infestations. Carpenter ants are known as the termites of the Northwest, since these are pests that can cause actual structural damage in homes. Carpenter ants do the same damage as termites, with the main difference being that they chew up the wood, spit it out, and nest in it rather than consume it and survive off of the cellulose. Carpenter ants are also carnivorous; they eat other insects, but they also live inside wood.
If a carpenter ant colony goes unchecked, it can cause major damage to a home. The degradation of the wood can create structural issues and make the home itself more prone to mold and mildew infestations. A rotting home is not one that a person is likely to want to live in, which lowers the property value for homes with these types of infestations. Rogers explains that the structural issues brought on by a carpenter ant infestation are the main reason why people are so scared of these common pests.
The best way to prevent against a carpenter ant infestation or catch one before it becomes too large is to regularly inspect the outside of your home. In Puget Sound, carpenter ants are most common in February and April. Rogers says that his company will get calls from clients during that time saying they see big, black ants walking around their kitchens and other structures. This, he says, is a clear sign of an infestation.
Unfortunately, carpenter ants are something that cannot be destroyed with one simple flick of the wand. Rogers says that homeowners need to have patience and call a professional in to handle their infestation problems as quickly as possible to make sure that things do not get out of hand. For residents of Washington State in general, pest infestation concerns are common and valid, as the cool weather and moist ground soil in the Northwest make places like Puget Sound a breeding ground for bed bugs and carpenter ants.
When Rogers’ company enters a house for an extermination treatment, a technician will go around any heavy furniture with his tools and equipment. After having a look and determining the size of the pest population, Rogers will then determine the best way to break the life cycle of the pest in question. He commonly uses quick kill agents made from chrysanthemum flowers, although the specific chemical used will depend on the type of pest that has been found. Unlike in the past, pest control technicians no longer use tents to get rid of pests, and they do not usually need to remove all of the furniture from a home to get started either. The time it takes to get rid of a pest colony altogether in a home can range from three to 90 days.
Despite the number of treatment options available for various types of pests, Rogers says that there is nothing better than visually inspecting your home on a regular basis to look for signs of an infestation problem. A homeowner’s best tool to determine whether he has a problem with pests are his very own eyes.