Pests are everywhere. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, but being aware of your area’s pests can help you avoid the most difficult ones.
So, what are the most common, challenging pests to eradicate in the Killeen, Texas area? Today, we’re going over some of the most typical pests in the Killeen area so that you can keep an eye out for and work to prevent pests from entering your home.
Why Are Some Pests More Difficult to Get Rid of Than Others?
Pests can be more challenging to get rid of for a variety of reasons.
Breeding makes a significant difference in how challenging a pest is to get rid of. Certain pests, like bed bugs and rodents, are infamous for their ability to breed rapidly. For example, rodents are estimated to give birth to up to 2,000 babies a year.
On the other hand, bed bugs lay up to 250 eggs throughout their lifetime. This makes eradication difficult because you may kill the bugs, but their eggs may hatch afterward, restarting the infestation.
Another challenging factor is the size of a pest. Tiny pests, like ants and bed bugs, may be difficult to detect, which gives them more time to breed and spread the infestation before you even notice there’s a problem going on.
Lastly, a pest’s hiding place is another serious factor in how difficult they are to eradicate. Pests that hide inside the walls, attic, or on the roof are more challenging to treat because of the hard-to-reach location.
Here are a few of the most challenging pests to get rid of in Killeen, Texas:
Rodents
Rodents breed incredibly quickly and are known for their ability to thrive in human environments. Both of these factors make them difficult to eradicate. Add to this their ability to hide in a multitude of places, including roofs, attics, walls, basements, and more, and you have a pest that is difficult to capture.
Rodents are also highly damaging to both our property and our health. Rodents carry a variety of diseases, including rabies, which are hazardous to both humans and animals alike. They can also chew through electrical wires, causing a fire hazard, and make holes in our walls.
Cockroaches
Texas is home to many types of cockroaches, which are unfortunately a very pervasive, difficult to eradicate pest.
Many people shudder looking at cockroaches due to their association with uncleanliness and their disgusting looks. In addition to this, cockroaches are known for food contamination and are associated with various health problems. Cockroaches are even known to create substances that can aggravate asthma and cause coughing.
Unfortunately, cockroaches are difficult to kill because they breed quickly and are excellent at hiding in the walls, behind appliances, and in hard-to-reach areas. They are also swift and challenging to squish.
Mosquitoes
When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they mean that everything, including the pests, is bigger in Texas.
Texas has an ideal climate for mosquitoes due to its hot, humid climate. This climate is ideal for mosquito breeding, especially when standing water is present. Mosquitoes can be persistent pests and can be present throughout much of the year in Texas due to its climate.
If you have standing water on your property, professional treatments can be beneficial in reducing mosquito breeding and killing mosquito larvae before they hatch.
Scorpions
Texas is home to many species of scorpions, and it can be challenging to avoid them entirely. Scorpions leave very few signs that they have infested your home. The only true sign of a scorpion infestation is actually spotting scorpions, which can be tricky since they are nocturnal.
Due to scorpions’ nocturnal nature, most people won’t realize that they have scorpions until they’ve been stung.
Scorpions have intensely painful stings that can require medical attention, though most cases do not lead to long-term complications or fatalities in healthy adults. Children and older adults should always be examined by a medical professional if they are stung.