April 18th, 2018 | Updated on April 13th, 2023
You may know for a fact you have a pest problem but are unsure exactly what pest you have. You can always contact an experienced technician to conduct an inspection and perform the subsequent treatment.
However, you can help the pest control professional immensely by identifying the specific pest residing in your house.
1. Mouse or Rat
You may actually see a mouse or rat scurry around your home because they do need to venture out to acquire food. You can tell the difference because mice only end up at about eight inches in length while rats can get up to 18 inches in length.
A mouse’s nose will be triangular while a rat’s nose is rounded. Finally, mice have hairy tails while a rat’s tail will be hairless and thicker.
2. Different Types of Cockroaches
Although there are 69 species of cockroaches throughout the United States, there are only a few you really need to worry about. The German cockroach is the most common variety, and they have a light-brown appearance with two dark lines running down the pronotum.
The American cockroach is also common. They are the biggest roaches around and have a more reddish-brown appearance. Lastly, watch out for brown-banded cockroaches, which only get up to 0.5 inches in length and have darker brown bodies.
3. Different Types of Ants
Common “house” ants are seen all over the U.S., and you know you have these because when stepped on, they emit a strong, rancid odor. Carpenter ants are the largest ant you can see. Pavement ants will battle to the death, and they are most often found in the basement.
You really need to watch out for fire ants, which are generally only found in the Southern United States, and they are most distinguishable from their bright red bodies.
When you start thinking, “I need experienced exterminators near me,” there are professionals all over the country who can keep your home protected.
