In the world of pest control, some issues are harder to get rid of than others. Depending on a few different factors, certain pests can survive for much longer and are more resilient. When this is the case, different strategies need to be used to make sure they are completely removed. Some of the things that determine how difficult a pest is to remove are:
- Rate of breeding
- Hiding ability
- Physical strength
- Ability to go without food
Some of the most common pests in Houston are also some of the most difficult ones to remove. Understanding which pests are hard to get rid of can help you determine when to call a professional.
Ants
Ants are the most common pest in the Houston area. One of the reasons for this is that there are so many of them and they work together. Some ant colonies can have up to 400,000 individuals in one space. These numbers alone make them very difficult to completely remove from your home.
Ants can also relocate very easily if their colony is disturbed. Simply breaking up an anthill won’t be enough to remove them from your home. In fact, it just makes it more likely that they will rebuild in a less obvious place.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are famous for being incredibly resilient. Some cockroaches can withstand up to 900 times their body weight in pressure. Because of this, they can even be hard to kill individually by stepping on them.
The biggest reason cockroaches are so hard to eliminate, though, is their ability to hide. Roaches live in your pipes and behind your walls, so finding them can be difficult in the first place. They can also reduce their physical size by up to 60 percent so they can squeeze into hard-to-reach places.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to completely remove and are, unfortunately, a big problem in Houston. One of the reasons they are so difficult to remove is their high rate of reproduction. Female bed bugs can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in their lifetime and can lay many in one day.
Bed bugs are very small and difficult to locate. On top of that, they move very quickly and can crawl at a high rate of speed. Since an effective extermination requires killing each bug, this makes them very hard to completely remove.
Termites
Termite colonies are usually found in areas that are moist and warm. This makes Houston a perfect place for these pests to live and breed. They eat through wood and can cause significant damage to the structural integrity of your home.
Termites are most commonly found after they have started eating away at a house’s walls or subfloor. However, they don’t start feeding until they have a mature colony, which is usually at least 100,000 individual insects. There are usually so many by the time you notice them that they can be difficult to get rid of.
Remove Difficult Pests Professionally
Many of the most common pests are hard to remove because they are so good at hiding. Knowing what to look for and where to keep an eye out for habitats can help you prevent them. Precautions like regular cleaning and clearing out damp areas can also be effective.
The best way to deal with pests that are difficult to get rid of is to call in a professional. There are many professional pest control companies in the Houston area that can help. A pest technician will know the best methods to remove them permanently and make sure they don’t come back.