Selma Pest Control

Selma may be one of the smaller cities in Texas, but those that live here know there is lots to see and do. Historic tours are conducted throughout the day, and the evening is a great time to place your bets at Retama Park or unwind at the iconic Blue Bonnet Palace. Unfortunately, while Selma is a great place for the people that live here, the warm weather also makes it an inviting area for pests. Sometimes, these critters are very difficult for property owners to control on their own. When that is the case, it is time to call a professional Selma pest control company. Below are some of the most common pests professionals deal with every day.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers and they travel from place to place using items such as luggage. Many people check for bed bugs in hotel rooms when they travel, and keep their suitcases up high so they do not bring any critters home with them. While these measures do help, bed bugs do not only use luggage to get around. They are also found on second-hand furniture and other items brought into a home. Once bed bugs have made their way in, they are extremely challenging to get rid of. A Selma pest control professional may recommend a pesticide or a heat treatment to entirely eliminate an infestation.

Termites

Termites are an insect that destroys more wood every year than any other insect, causing approximately $5 billion in damage annually. A termite colony can contain anywhere between 60,000 and 1 million, so an infestation can cause a great amount of damage to a home in a very short amount of time. The most common type of termite in Selma is the subterranean termite, which lives in the soil under homes and typically enters through damaged wood that is touching the ground.

Ants

Many different types of ants call Selma home. Carpenter ants are an insect that can also destroy the wood within a home, while Pharaoh ants carry and transmit many different types of bacteria to humans. Fire ants, on the other hand, are extremely aggressive and will attack in swarms, biting and stinging as they do. Regardless of the type of ant that infests a home or its yard, it is important to speak to a pest control professional that can get rid of them once and for all.

Ticks and Fleas

Ticks and fleas are annoying, and they are very prevalent in Selma. Both ticks and fleas need a host to survive, which they use to feed. When 10 to 15 fleas are visible on a dog, it is likely there are hundreds of thousands of flea eggs within the home. Fleas will also bite multiple times, leaving a person with many red and itchy spots.

Ticks, on the other hand, will usually bite only once and then burrow their head under the host’s skin. Ticks are also much more than an annoyance. Lyme disease, Stari, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are just a few of the diseases ticks transmit and so, they are very dangerous for humans and their pets. Homeowners that live in wooded and bushy areas should always speak to a professional about regular tick and flea control.

Stinging Insects

Hornets and wasps are perhaps the most annoying of the stinging insects. They are also some of the most common. Hornets and wasps are both extremely aggressive and will not only attack when they feel threatened, but they will also swarm. When a person is stung multiple times they can suffer serious injuries, particularly if they have an allergic reaction. Bees are much less aggressive and will only sting when provoked. Honeybees will also die once they sting a person, so they cannot attack multiple times.

Scorpions

Many people think scorpions are insects, but they are actually a type of arachnid, so they are closer to a spider. In Selma, the striped bark scorpion is the most common and in most cases, the sting is not very harmful to humans. Some people may feel a minor irritation but like stinging insects, unless a person has an allergy, the effects felt are not much more than that.

Flying Insects

Certain flying insects, such as the crane fly, are annoying but they do not pose a real danger, and infestations are relatively rare. Other flying insects though, such as the mosquito, pose a much bigger hazard. Mosquitoes carry and transmit diseases such as the Zika virus, malaria, and more. Mosquito infestations are quite common, and can also make it more difficult to enjoy a backyard barbecue. When many of the pests are outside, it is much easier for them to make their way inside.

Spiders

Although some people have a deep-rooted fear of spiders, most of the spiders in Selma are harmless. Still, even these critters are unsightly and can make certain areas of the home unpleasant once they nest, so it is important to get rid of them. Other spiders, such as the black widow spider and the brown recluse are very dangerous and should never be handled once they are found.

Black widow spider bites are not as fatal as people think, but their venom can still cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, chills, and muscle spasms, and cramps. The brown recluse spider can cause a great deal of damage if it bites. The venom of the brown recluse can cause necrosis, which results in the flesh around the wound rotting.

Contact Us Today for Pest Control in Selma, TX

All pests are annoying and if you have a problem, our Selma pest control experts at Stride Pest Control are here to help. We know the most common types of pests in the area and how they behave, so we understand the best ways to get rid of an infestation. We also use treatments that are safe for your family, but not the pests. When you have a pest problem, call us at (210) 940-3902 to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can get rid of it.