Pest Library

Bed Bugs

Bed bug infestations have grown significantly over the past decade. There was once a time during the times of DDT when bed bugs seemed to have been under control, but now it seems it is as bad as ever. Bed bugs have adapted and survived and have become harder to kill and are now thriving in many metropolitan areas around the country. Portland, Oregon is no exception and the problem is getting worse and worse

Ants

Sugar ants are a type of soil ant, so they come from the ground outside and find their way into your home. They are distinguished by the distinct smell that they give off when they are squished. The smell has been described as anything from a rotten coconut to gasoline. Although they do not do any damage to the home, they can multiply quickly and spread out across the home.

Spiders

Hobo Spiders: These are the most common venomous spider that we have in the area. Although we have identified them from time to time in Sandy, Oregon, they are still fairly rare. In fact, most of the time they are mistaken for a “Giant House Spider”. Identifying them can be challenging, but you can look for a few distinguishing signs. They are larger brown spiders with dark brown markings on their back and they are one of several spiders that create a funnel web. Unlike most spiders, they do not have darker-colored joints on their legs.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches will typically be in areas that provide warmth, water, and food to thrive and reproduce. Usually, this is in the kitchen where they find all of these things under the refrigerator or behind the oven. Since cockroaches have been known to carry 33 different types of bacteria, the kitchen can become an unsanitary place. In addition to the bacteria, cockroach feces can also be an allergen and can induce asthma-related symptoms.

Fleas

Obviously, the first thing that you should do when trying to address a flea problem is to look at the pets. You really get what you pay for on flea medication, so be sure to be using something of good quality like Advantage or Frontline. If your pets don’t have fleas or you don’t even have pets, there can be other sources. For example, if you have rodents or any other animals living under your home, your crawl space might be infested with fleas that are making their way up to your living space. It might be worth having a pest control company do a free crawl space inspection to let you know if there is a problem down there.

Rodents

If you are seeing a rodent inside of your house, then there is a high likelihood that they are nesting nearby (usually in your crawl space). Rodents are drawn towards your crawl space in particular because it provides warmth and shelter. They typically are able to access the crawl space easily by entering through a broken foundation vent screen or burrowing underneath the foundation. Once they are established, their scent can also attract more rodents. They also reproduce very quickly (a female mouse can have over 70 babies a year), so the problem can get out of hand very quickly if it goes unchecked. For severe infestations in the crawl space, you may have to have a crawl space restoration performed, which can be costly.

Bees / Wasps

Wasps and bees are generally lumped in the same category, but they are very different.

-Wasps eat other insects, while bees eat nectar from flowers.

-Bees are “furry”, while wasps have a smooth, shiny body.

-Wasps do not pollinate as bees do.

-If a bee stings you it will die, but a wasp can sting multiple times.

For the most part, wasps and (especially) bees are beneficial to our environment. Wasps kill and feed on many types of insects that can damage plants and become a nuisance to us and we all know that bees pollinate and make the Sandy, Oregon area beautiful. However, they can also pose a threat to us since 1 out of 3 people are allergic to their sting and over 3% of the population is fatally allergic to stings. It is because of this that you should be sure to exterminate any wasp or bee nest that poses a threat to humans.

Termites

Termites cause more damage to structures worldwide than any other wood-destroying insect, accounting for billions of dollars. They are far more common in warmer climates, but an active termite infestation in Sandy, Oregon, or anywhere else in the Portland area can do just as much damage. There are several species of termites, but around here we just have two that you need to know about:

Moles

Moles are active all year long, which gives them ample opportunity to damage your land. Although moles primarily eat insects, vegetation can make up about 20% of their diet. If they find your garden or crops, they can easily ruin them.

Signs of mole activity in your area can include mounds of dirt which are made when moles are tunneling. On average, one very active mole is capable of creating up to 50-100 mounds in a month.

Nuisance Pests

We have plenty of nuisance wildlife here in Sandy, Oregon, and the rest of the Portland Metro area. It is common to see a raccoon, opossum, or skunk roaming around our neighborhoods and they are only looking for two things, food, and shelter. Unfortunately, your nice warm crawl space with all of its insulation and seclusion provides the perfect home for these animals to live and breed. If you are unlucky enough to get one of them in your crawl space, they can do a whole lot of damage in a short amount of time.