Pest Control Info
Thousand Oaks, CA

Anopheles mosquitoes are identified by their brownish-yellow hue and scaly wings, and are characterized by their resting posture at a slight upward angle. Female Anopheles mosquitoes require blood meals for egg production, and will bite animals such as cattle or humans for this purpose. These mosquitoes are known to seek out dim, sheltered areas to rest during the day, while they remain active during the night. In natural settings, Anopheles mosquitoes have a lifespan of up to two weeks and are frequently found near water sources, regardless of size.

Drywood termites are a termite that lives and eats dry wood. They are found in many parts of the world, including California, and can cause a lot of damage to structures made of wood if they are not stopped. They are noticeably larger than some other types of termites, with the winged reproductives being about the size of a quarter inch. Drywood termites can eat and live in many different types of dry wood, including buildings, furniture, and utility poles. They leave behind small piles of poop, called fecal pellets, which can be a sign that they are present.

Oriental cockroaches have a shiny black exterior. Males grow to 25 millimeters in length and have short wings. Females reach 32 millimeters and do not have wings. Oriental cockroaches are commonly found in dark and damp areas such as drain pipes, sewers, basements, and crawl spaces. They prefer to feed off of trash and decaying organic matter. While their bites are not dangerous, they can spread many diseases by simply walking around. Take care of any leaks, regularly clean garbage cans, and seal off potential points of entry to prevent them from entering a home.

Linepithema humile, also known as Argentine ants, have smooth, shiny, light reddish-brown bodies that only reach 0.3 millimeters in size. Argentine ants typically build shallow nests underground in moist soil, by sidewalks, or underneath rocks. They are drawn to open food containers, kitchen grease, sugar, and other dead insects.

Roof rats have long bodies covered in soft brown fur. They have light colored bellies and long skinny tails. A mature roof rat’s body can reach up to 8 inches in length with their tail measuring up to an additional 10 inches. They prefer to nest in areas of such as attics, ceilings, and behind walls. Roof rats are food hoarders by nature and seek out fruit, nuts, and seeds to transport back to their nest. Seal any cracks in foundations or siding, repair gaps in doorways, and screen windows to prevent them from coming inside your Thousand Oaks, CA home.

Ground Crab Spiders are shaped like the crab you might see at the beach with wide flat bodies and legs extending from their sides. They are often gray, brown, or tan and grow to about 1/2 of an inch in size. Their 8 eyes are located on a raised bump to give them a 360 view. Their diet primarily consists of mites and other small pests. They are truly ground spiders and do not spin webs, but hide in tree bark and other dark locations.

European Paper Wasps, also known as Polistes dominula, share a striking similarity with Yellowjackets in their slim, black and yellow bodies that can reach up to 1 inch in length. These wasps build paper-like nests in cavities like attics, vents, eaves, and satellite dishes. They primarily feed on hornworms, caterpillars, nectar, and other sugary substances.

Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as Deer Ticks, are a species of tick that exhibit a reddish-brown coloration with a hard, black exoskeleton, and can grow up to 3 millimeters in length. These ticks are notorious for their ability to transmit Lyme disease, a debilitating bacterial infection. Deer Ticks are known to lurk in tall grass and brushy areas of Thousand Oaks, CA, waiting for a suitable host to walk by, at which point they attach themselves and begin feeding until fully engorged.

Bed bugs are small, brown insects, about the size of an apple seed, that feed on blood by biting their host, causing itchy and irritating skin lesions. They are known to inhabit furniture, mattresses, headboards, and other small, tight spaces, making them difficult to detect and eliminate. To prevent infestations in your Thousand Oaks home, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, minimizing clutter in the home, and exercising caution while traveling are recommended.