How to Deal With Pests Along the Gulf Coast

Pests are not just annoying, they’re also dangerous. If you live along the Gulf Coast, there’s a good chance you’ve already had an encounter with one of these:

Box Elder Bugs

Box Elder Bugs are a nuisance pest. They do not bite or sting, but they can be a nuisance when they gather indoors in large numbers. Box Elder Bugs are attracted to light, so they’re often found on windowsills and around lights.

Box Elder Bug infestations can be controlled by pesticide treatments applied by an experienced pest control professional.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are a common pest in wooded areas. These pests are attracted to moisture and can cause damage to wood structures, such as decks and porches. Carpenter ants do not bite people but may sting if stepped on or handled.

Roaches

Roaches are a common pest around coastal areas, they can invade homes, restaurants and hotels. They can be found in any structure with food sources or sources of water. Roaches are attracted to food, water and shelter — in that order. Roaches do not spread diseases directly; however, they contaminate food with their feces and saliva while eating, so people who then eat the contaminated food become sick from consuming these contaminants on the roach’s body parts.

Termites

Termites are a serious problem and can cause significant damage to your home. They are not only difficult to detect, but they also start off small, so it’s best to treat them before they become a problem. There are many different types of termites, but here we will focus on subterranean termites, dry wood or powderpost beetles.

• Subterranean Termite – Usually referred to as “white ant” because they build mud tubes with their feces that resemble white pipe cleaners in appearance. These subterranean termite nests can be found in the ground within 2 feet of the surface under an active colony; there may be thousands of workers in each nest at any given point in time.
• Drywood or Powderpost Beetle – These beetles tunnel into wood creating galleries lined with fine frass grains, leaving behind holes about 1/16 inch wide by 3/8 inch deep where damage occurs without detection until severe structural damage occurs. This destruction often leads to costly repairs for homeowners insurance companies due to chronic water intrusion from leaks caused by the infestation!

Ticks

Ticks are small, blood-sucking arachnids that can transmit diseases to humans and pets. Ticks are most active at dawn and dusk, so be sure to check your skin thoroughly if you’ve spent any time outdoors or in the woods.

If you find a tick crawling on you, remove it by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible with tweezers. Pull upwards with even pressure until you see no more of the tick’s body (usually just its mouthparts). Disinfect the spot where it was attached with rubbing alcohol or soap and water before placing it into alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.

Pests are unavoidable along the Gulf Coast, so if you’re visiting or living in these areas, you should be aware of how to deal with them. You can use a professional pest control company to help you out. A combination of prevention and treatment is best; keep your home clean and free of food, and use pesticides only as a last resort.

It’s important to know what kinds of pests you might encounter so that you know how to deal with them. We can definitely tell you that they won’t be going away anytime soon. If anything, they will only get worse as the climate changes and more people move into these areas.