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J. Chan
Common Pests
Click on a picture to jump to that section, or use the scroll bar to read about the kinds of common pests we encounter.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are a structurally wood-boring insect found in and around homes where there might be an abundance of trees and/or foliage, stored firewood, old trees and/or stumps, or wet wood. Carpenter ants are 1/4" to 3/4" in length, and are usually black in colour. "Big and black" are the two common terms homeowners use to describe these ants. In the home, people may notice signs of damage by seeing actual holes (known as galleries) in wood, especially structural posts or beams or by seeing a sawdust-like material. Call CARE to inspect your carpenter ant problem and provide you with a free estimate.
Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are usually found in concrete cracks, either along driveways, patios, sidewalks or the foundation of the home. These ants are about 1/8" to 1/4" inch in length, and are dark brown to black in colour. They tend to get inside your home or office, and a tell-tale sign (other than the actual ants of course) is when you find sand, or dirt, along the baseboards of the room (usually on the ground floor or basement level of the structure). Call CARE for a free quotation today to treat your pavement ant problem.
Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants are very tiny (about 1/16" in length) and yellowish to light brown in colour. They are found in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, on counters and on the floors. They will go after any exposed foods available to them (like pet food, spilt food in cupboards or any food that collects behind major appliances). Pharaoh ants are among the most difficult pests to control. It is extremely important not to spray any chemicals or cleaners in the areas where they are travelling. It is more important to make sure there are no food sources available to them, and then use ant bait as the method of treatment (there are several different types available). Call CARE for more information on dealing with your pharaoh ant problem.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches The "German" cockroach is the roach most prevalent in the Lower Mainland, and they're found in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, as well as pantry closets and kitchen appliances in most residential homes. They're also found in some restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, deli's, food courts and even non-food establishments! The technology for treating roaches has significantly improved in the last few years, and "baiting" is the most effective method of treatment. Call CARE for a free quotation to safely eliminate your cockroach problem today!
Fleas
Fleas are usually in homes where there are or were pets. They need blood for food, so you would know if you had them due to irritation and bite marks on your legs and ankles. In some homes, people won't notice them, so only the pets are bothered by them. They are most active in the summer time, and are found on the floors (all types, including carpet, linoleum, tile, hardwood and concrete), on window sills, under couch and armchair cushions, on closet floors and under beds. They come from the outside, from the lawns and garden. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian and getting your pets on a flea control product, and getting your home or office professionally treated. Call CARE today for a free quotation.
Flies
There are a number of different types of flies one might experience in their home (such as blow, cluster, drain, fruit and house flies). More often than not, there is a source in your home or office that is the cause of these pests (such as a dead rodent or bird in the walls; organic matter in the drains or poor sanitation). Other times, flies are just seasonal and will only bother you for a short period of time (a few days to a couple of months). If you have a fly problem, call CARE to see what methods are available to help control your particular situation.
Hornets & Wasps
Everyone knows the risk of having a hornet or wasp nest around. They can be found almost anywhere (under eaves, in trees, in the ground, on walls, in attics), and sometimes by surprise! Many times, nests are not even visible, all you notice is constant activity moving in and out of a hole in a wall or in the ground. If you've got an active nest, don't hesitate, call CARE and have it dealt with immediately!
Mice
While considered cute by some, house mice and their droppings carry all sorts of diseases. Mice are nocturnal, so you may hear them chewing, scratching or gnawing in your walls at night. You may also see their droppings (which are black in colour and about the size of a rice kernel) underneath kitchen or bathroom sinks, along baseboards behind major appliances, in the crawlspace or attic.
Mice are found in old and new homes, apartment buildings, townhomes, offices, restaurants, shopping malls, warehouses, bakeries - any type of building. If you think you've got some unwanted guests at home or in the workplace, call CARE today to get set up on a mouse program!
Rats
Rats, like mice, also carry many diseases potentially dangerous to man. Rats are nocturnal, so you might hear them at night in the attic of your home or see them running across a warehouse floor at your place of work. You might also notice their droppings (black in colour), which are three to four times larger than a rice kernel, and are found in the insulation in the attic, along the foundation in your crawlspace or behind a pallet stored up against a wall at your workplace. If you think you have rats or signs of them, call CARE today to get your home or workplace set up on a rat program as well as get a "point-of-entry" inspection done!
Silverfish
Silverfish are found in areas of high heat and humidity. In homes, one would typically find these bugs under kitchen and bathroom sinks, in cupboards, around baseboards, in furnace and laundry rooms, attics and crawlspaces. They are prevalent in apartment and other multiple dwellings; especially in pool, boiler, laundry and locker rooms and potentially in people's suites. They're also found in commercial buildings like restaurants, bakeries and office towers. If you think you have a silverfish problem, call CARE for a free estimate to treat your home or workplace!
Spiders
Spiders are considered beneficial, in that they eat other insects. But for those people that are still not satisfied in sharing their home with these eight legged creatures, treatment around the inside (i.e. baseboards, window sills, door frames lower level cupboards) and outside perimeter is necessary. Trimming back bushes and shrubs from the house will help too, by reducing insect activity around your home. Call CARE and ask about our spider treatment programs!
Stored Products pests
Stored Products pests are those that feed on non-perishable food products (such as rice, pastas, crackers, breads, cereals or any other foods you store in your cupboards). If you have these pests, you may have brought them in from your local grocer, who may have brought them in from their supplier. We recommend throwing out any food source that is infested with these pests ("if in doubt, throw it out!"). There are different treatment methods available to solve your stored product pest problem, call CARE for further information and a free quotation to treat your home, store, bakery or warehouse today!