Nothing ruins the comfort of a home faster than an infestation of pests, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro has quite a few pests to contend with. Maybe you’re a Dallas homeowner who’s fed up with the cockroaches that keep appearing in your kitchen and bathroom when you least expect it. But that doesn’t sound so bad when you find out your neighbor has a horde of rats living in her house. And then your buddy over in Fort Worth reveals that a colony of termites has caused extensive damage to the wooden structures of his house, and even the rats don’t sound so bad.

Every type of pest poses its own threat to you and your household. Some destroy structures, others carry parasites and diseases, and still others are dangerously poisonous. Many different kinds of pests plague homes throughout Texas and it’s important to know how to deal with them. Here’s some advice from Sureguard Termite & Pest Services on how to get rid of pests that are common in Dallas and Fort Worth.

The Most Common Pests in Texas

• Termites – The most destructive of all the pests in Texas, termites feed on the cellulose found inside wooden structures in your home. Given enough time, a colony of termites will hollow out all of the wood in your house, which can lead to a structural collapse. Because termites are subterranean insects, you probably won’t see them out and about as you will with most other pests like ants. This means that termites can cause catastrophic damage before you even realize that you have a problem. To get rid of termites, you should set up bait stations around the perimeter of your home. Termites will be lured in and then carry poison back to their colony, gradually killing them all. Most other treatment methods will stop an immediate termite threat but won’t eliminate the entire colony.
• Ants – Many kinds of ants live in the Dallas area and they may threaten your household in different ways. Some types of ants are merely a nuisance because they’ll steal food from your kitchen and garbage cans. Fire ants, however, are aggressive and mildly venomous, with their stings causing pain and severe itchiness. Carpenter ants, like termites, will eat away at the wood of your house. Thankfully, there are many easy ways to deter and kill ants in your home. Some natural products like peppermint, lemons and coffee grounds can be used to deter ants, while vinegar can outright kill them. For larger ant colonies, you may want to purchase insecticides and traps.
• Rats – A larger species of pests in Texas, rats are destructive and disease-ridden vermin that can cause a lot of trouble for your household. Rats will gnaw on everything they can find, chewing up wood, drywall, insulation and PVC. They have been known to start house fires by biting into live electrical wires. Rats also spread many harmful bacteria and parasites through their fur as well as their droppings, which they will leave all over your house. One rat is bad enough but they will multiply quickly and you may soon find your home overrun by these rodents. As for how to get rid of these pests, there are many products that you can buy. Bait stations will allow you to poison rats both inside and outside your home, while snap traps and glue traps can be used to eliminate them more quickly.
• Cockroaches – Among the most despised of all pests in Texas, cockroaches are filthy insects that will feast on any food they can find in your kitchen cabinets, sinks, garbage or anywhere else in your home. Roaches spread many different kinds of bacteria and allergens, which can sicken your household quickly, especially if they get into your food. If you have a cockroach infestation, you may be able to eliminate them naturally using boric acid or baking soda. For a large infestation, it might be smarter to go with store-bought traps or liquid insecticides that can be sprayed onto roaches directly to kill them on the spot.
• Scorpions – A particularly deadly pest, scorpions possess a venomous sting which can cause severe pain and health complications, including death in rare circumstances. While scorpions will not usually attack unprovoked, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened by you, your children or your pets, sometimes stinging if you unknowingly step near their hiding spot. To kill scorpions, use an insecticidal spray for immediate results or glue traps to lure out and eliminate hidden scorpions.

Professional Pest Control in Dallas & Fort Worth

While natural or store-bought treatments will fill many of your pest control needs in Texas, it’s best to rely on a trusted and licensed pest control company to eliminate major pest infestations within your house. Give Sureguard Termite & Pest Services a call today for the best pest control services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area!