Hopkinton Pest Control

Outside of seeing the actual pests in and around your home, how do you know that you have a pest problem? Typically, you don’t start seeing the pests themselves until they are fully entrenched in your home. Therefore, knowing the symptoms of a pest problem is your first step in resolving the issue. It can also help you catch a pest problem before it becomes a full-scale infestation.

You may have a pest issue if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Animal, rodent, or pest droppings around your home
• Discarded pest wings, skins, or exoskeletons
• Strange sounds in your walls, attic, or crawlspaces
• Foul or musty odors throughout your home
• Property damage, such as holes in your walls or floors, chewed wires, and damage to your upholstery or curtains

Additionally, if you notice that your pets are acting differently or are hyper-fixated on a specific area of your home, this could signify that you have a pest somewhere. For example, if your dog or cat is particularly interested in a particular corner of a room, but you don’t see anything, this could be a sign that you have a mouse or some other rodent behind your walls.

While all pest problems are annoying, some pests are more tenacious than others, and getting rid of them can be incredibly challenging. In particular, bed bugs and termites are some of the most difficult pests to deal with. At Pestex, we understand how these pests work and only utilize the latest and best pest control methods to eradicate them.

When dealing with bed bugs or termites, you must catch the problem as quickly as possible. However, termites and bed bugs can be incredibly difficult to spot until they completely take over your property. Below we’ve provided some helpful information for identifying when you have a bed bug or termite problem.

Signs you may have bed bugs:

• Dark, rusty-looking spots on your mattress or box spring
• Bed bug feces in the seams of your mattress
• Small bloodstains on your sheets
• Small bites on your arms and legs
• Bed bug shell casings in your bed
• A musty or oily smell in your home or a specific room
• Your neighbors have reported finding bed bugs in their homes

Bed bugs are becoming more prevalent in the US. Often people bring them home with them after traveling or on secondhand upholstered furniture. They are nocturnal and tend to hide during the day. If you suspect you have termites, look in tight, dark spaces, like the seams of your mattress, behind your headboard, around picture frames, and even in power outlets. Then call Pestex for a professional bedbug inspection.

Signs you may have termites:

• Dry, hollow-sounding windowsills, doorframes, and flooring
• Blistering pieces of wood throughout your home
• Little piles of what looks like fine sawdust (frass)
• Windows and doors are warped or difficult to open and close
• You see mud tubes around the base and foundations of your home
• You see what looks like white ants with wings
• You see termites swarming
• You find discarded termite wings around your property

Another sign that you may have termites is if you have damaged trees or other buildings on your property. Similarly, if your neighbor has termites, you should have your home inspected as well as it is not uncommon for termites to travel to neighboring properties. You are most likely to see swarming termites in the spring and summer. However, some termites will also swarm in the fall. Unfortunately, termites are quite common in Massachusetts, so we recommend that people schedule annual termite inspections.