Pest Control Info
Fort Washington, PA

Aedes mosquitoes are black in color with white accents predominantly on the legs. Commonly known as “ankle biters”, the females will bite human ankles in order to get the blood needed for reproduction. Aedes mosquitoes also consume plant nectar and do not fly long distances. Living in or around homes can provide the mosquitoes with food, shelter, and the ability to lay eggs. Even the slightest amount of water can be used to lay mosquito eggs. The lifespan of an Aedes mosquito can be around two weeks, with the female laying eggs around three times.

Subterranean termites are a diverse group of insects with specialized body shapes based on their roles in the colony. The swarmers, also known as alates, have wings and are responsible for reproduction. Workers, which are the most numerous caste, have smaller jaws and are responsible for foraging, feeding, and caring for the young. Soldiers, with large heads and long mandibles, are responsible for defending the colony against predators. Subterranean termites are known to build colonies underground and invade Fort Washington, PA homes by tunneling through soil. They construct mud tubes to provide a protective and controlled environment for themselves as they access wood for food.

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.

Camponotus pennsylvanicus, or carpenter ant, are black in color with butter yellow colored hair on their abdomen. They range in size from 6 to 14 millimeters. This carpenter ant is extremely destructive and will nest and burrow in wooden structures such as fence posts or buildings. While they do eat fruit and nectar, they are also fierce predators who will eat many other pests. When the opportunity presents itself, they will also scavenge for human food and trash.

Rice rats in Fort Washington, PA are smaller in stature only reaching about 5.5 inches in length. Their fur can be primarily brown or gray. The sides of their body are light gray and their bellies are a pure gray color. Rice rats can also be distinguished by their tails, which are brown on top and white on the bottom. They live outdoors and thrive in wet environments with dense vegetation. They’re omnivores and eat insects, fish, and grasses.

Ghost Spiders are tan in color with dark brown spots and short, dense hair covering their body. They can grow to 8 millimeters in size. Ghost spiders do not spin webs for the purpose of hunting. Instead, they are active ground hunters and only spin webs for their own personal comfort and to lay egg sacs. They can be very secretive spiders rarely caught by humans.

Forest Yellowjackets have the traditional black and yellow wasp coloring and can grow up to 15 millimeters in length. They predominantly nest high up in trees. Due to their reclusive nature, Forest Yellowjackets will aggressively swarm and attack potential threats. Their nests are smaller in size and usually contain about 500 wasps inside. They feed off of nectar and will seek out 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 Fort Washington, PA, 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 Fort Washington home, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, minimizing clutter in the home, and exercising caution while traveling are recommended.