Southern Texas is the perfect spot for all sorts of pests, and San Antonio is no different. But which are the worst ones?
Here, you’ll discover:
- The five most challenging pests to get rid of in San Antonio
- Why these critters are such a problem
- How to know if you have them
- Some quick tips for managing both insects and rodents
#5. Fire Ants
Red imported fire ants are a non-native species in the U.S. Scientists have been trying to eradicate them since their discovery in 1907. However, this fierce pest keeps gaining more territory in the South each year.
Fire ants are nasty creatures. They bite anyone who comes within a few feet of an active mound, and you know you’ve been bitten because they leave behind large, painful welts on your skin.
Fire ants build large mounds in the middle of yards, gardens, parks, and anywhere there’s moist soil. Also, they can either be organized or haphazard in their structure.
It’s best not to spray fire ants. Instead, use a granular bait explicitly labeled for them. Once the queen gets fed the poison, the rest of the colony will quickly die.
#4. Roof Rats
To get away from predators, roof rats climb high places. You can find them in trees, rooftops, and nesting in attics.
They become pests by chewing on electrical wiring and making a mess of insulation. They also carry diseases such as rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and hantavirus.
Take these steps to eliminate rats from your home:
- Seal entry points using steel wool, expansion foam, and silicone caulking
- Remove easy-access food sources using sealed storage containers
- Eliminate trash from your yard
- Use snap traps to remove any remaining adult rats inside
- Employ toxic baits sparingly
#3. Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants are those tiny sugar ants you see crawling around on your kitchen counter, and in Texas, they’re everywhere. Also, they’re one of the most challenging pests to get rid of in the Southwest.
To limit Pharaoh ants in your home, be sure to wipe away soda spills. Also, keep a lid on the table sugar. Finally, ensure they have limited access by caulking and sealing areas where they have previously entered.
Never spray for Pharaoh ants. Killing foragers will cause the queen to split the colony and make even more workers. Instead, use liquid sugar baits to kill existing infestations gradually.
#2. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny, reddish insects that feed off human blood. They’re carried from one location to another, and they are difficult to get rid of due to their high reproduction rates.
Bed bugs are highly adaptable. They are found on every continent, and they can survive extreme conditions.
Here’s how to identify bed bugs:
- Large itchy welts on your skin
- Black blotches that look like a leaking marker on your sheets
- Shed skin particles from molting instars
- Live adult bed bugs
- Dried fecal matter and other waste products in cracks, crevices, and around electrical outlets
Get rid of bed bugs this way:
- Kill bed bugs on contact with a pyrethrin aerosol spray
- Vacuum any remaining activity
- Portable steam cleaners above 300 degrees Fahrenheit work well to eliminate mattress infestations
- Spray cracks and crevices with a residual or non-residual insecticide
- Utilize mattress covers, bed bug traps, and monitors for long-term control
#1. Western Drywood Termites
Western drywood termites are wood-destroying insects that don’t rely on moist soil for survival like other species. So, they can infest higher up within a structure. Also, drywood varieties are larger than most other termites, making them more of a menace.
Although drywood termite colonies are comparatively small in numbers, they have a healthy appetite for wood. You can find them in the wild infesting live trees, downed logs, and stumps. However, when they attack sound-wood structures like homes or businesses, they become important economic pests.
Look for these signs of drywood termites:
- Vast galleries within wood beams and structures
- Kick-out holes where termites discard their fecal pellets
- Presence of live termites
- Winged reproductives flying around in late spring
Here are the most common techniques for treating termites:
- Whole-structure fumigation
- Liquid foam injections using EPA-approved termiticides
- Spot treatments for localized infestations
- Specialized heat applications where available
The majority of homeowners should leave termite treatments to professional exterminators. That’s because most people don’t have the proper equipment and training to tackle termite removal. In addition, some states may prohibit DIY control of drywood termites.