Minor Pest Issue or True Pest Infestation, Part 1

With many pest types you might see around a given property, there’s only a real concern in higher volumes. The presence of a single ant doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem, for instance – but an entire colony of ants on your property qualifies as an infestation.

At Bug Busters, we’re proud to provide both commercial and residential pest control services, with exterminators and pest control professionals who help building owners understand when a minor pest problem has become a full-on pest infestation. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over some of the telltale signs that your pest issue is a full infestation that requires some attention from our team to rectify.

Pest Droppings

Not all pests are like ants, who don’t usually mind too much when they’re seen in large numbers – many of them hide themselves in various contours of your property, and you might not see them even if they’re infesting major areas of the structure. In such cases, one of your top visual signs of their presence will actually be their droppings.

Numerous different pests, from roaches and other insects to mice, rats and rodents, leave droppings behind. In particular, many of the sneakier pests leave smaller, black pellets that look a lot like coffee grounds. If you’ve begun to see these in multiple areas, it’s time to call our pest control pros.

Wood Damage

There are also several pests that, even if you can’t see the direct signs of their infestation, will showcase it through damage they cause to wood structures in your home. The most common and well-known pest in this realm is the termite, which is known to consume large quantities of wood in colonies and can even damage or fully destroy certain structures if left unchecked.

However, it is not the only one to consider. Carpenter ants have also been known to chew through large amounts of wood over time, or to tunnel through wood sections to build homes and transportation tunnels.

Distinct Odors

As we noted above, limited pest issues won’t be that noticeable – you won’t be getting distinct odors from a few ants or the occasional wasp on your property. If you’ve begun to notice major smells like an oily or musty odor, however, this is often a clear sign of a large group of roaches or other insects that have begun to congregate.

Another common smell that may signal an infestation: Rotting food, which some pests will help themselves to if you leave it unattended.

For more on the common signs of a true pest infestation compared to a minor pest problem, or to learn about any of our pest control services, speak to the staff at Bug Busters today.