When it comes to pest control, there is really two major categories that we talk about.
These two are the big ones across the board, so let's talk about them and break them down into sub-categories.
General Pest Control is something we in the pest control industry talk about quite frequently.
And now with Stink Bugs arriving (imported from Asia), it's something here in Lancaster County Pennsylvania that is a necessity, to stop the plague-like situation.
If you don't have them yet, and you live in the Central PA area, or neighboring states, you will see them soon.
But having said that, we also need to talk about Wood Destroying Insects.
Although some Wood Destroying Insects fall under the General Pest Control category, there needs to be special attention paid to them, and failure to recognize this could cost you thousands and thousands of dollars if you do not understand why.
When realtors contract a Pest Control Professional to perform a Wood Destroying Insect report, no matter where you live in the United States, there is a handful of insects that we are looking for.
As an example in the northeast, we usually are looking for about five insects specifically: Termites of course, Powder Post Beetles, Old House Borers, Carpenter Bees, and Carpenter Ants.
These insects are separated from the General Pest Control category and grouped together because they all have one thing in common that bothers realtors, mortgage lenders, and new homeowners.
What is it? They all infest the wood of a home or commercial property.
We could go even deeper in our categories and talk about what Wood Destroying Insects actually do with the wood.
For example, Carpenter Ants are not interested in eating your lumber--they just want to make some room in it to make a nest, or a bigger nest.
To do this, they use their huge mandibles to perform excavation detail.
In plain English, they are literally ripping your house apart bit by miniature bit.
I know of a home where the second floor fell in because the occupant chose to do nothing about his Carpenter Ants.
On the other hand, we have termites that eat the wood for food.
This kind of damage occurs much faster, since the workers destroying the wood are potentially preparing lunch for one million or more other termites! So within the Wood Destroying Insect category, we have wood infesters, and wood eaters.
In General Pest Control, we use the phrase to categorize insects that are a nuisance, meaning they invade your living areas like kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
And just like Wood Destroying Insects, we have subcategories here also.
For instance, some General Pest Control insects are Pantry Pests.
These insects will be found usually in foodstuffs first.
Some examples are Indian Meal Moths, Grain Beetles and the like.
Other insects are carnivores like Spiders and Centipedes.
You could find these bugs anywhere in the house.
Then, we have the sun-bathers: Boxelder Beetles, Lady Bugs, and now Stink Bugs.
These insects alight on the side of your home where the sun hits most of the time, then sneak in around your doors, windows, under the siding, and actually anywhere the house has any cracks.
Now we can't forget the Roaches, and back (maybe to stay) is our Bed Bugs.
These guys are the ones folks freak-out about.
It's bad enough one is in your food, let alone the other is in bed with you...
and you are the food! If you want the short version of General Pest Control vs.
Wood Destroying Insects, remember this: General Pest Control is a category that is fairly easy to us in the pest control industry.
The damage is minimal and the solution is usually simple and affordable.
Wood Destroying Insects is category that most don't think about until they sell their home and someone mandates an inspection.
If WDIs are found, it can get costly and labor intensive.
If you suspect Wood Destroying Insects, do not play around, contact a professional soon.