7 Common Pest Control Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Pests. They’re creepy and furry; they crawl and they scurry. They’re unsanitary nuisances and unwelcome guests inside and outside your home.

Not only that, but they’re also extremely destructive. The cost of damage to man-made structures from pests such as termites and other types of pests can cost $30 billion each year. The average homeowner will spend around $3,000 on average in an attempt to fix this damage.

If you’re looking for ways to prevent some of the most common pest control mistakes, this guide can help. Keep reading below for 7 common pest control mistakes and how you can avoid making them.

1. Not Addressing the Origin of the Pests

Your go-to method for taking care of pests in your home may be to just spray or trap insects and other types of pests as you see them and leave it at that. But one of the most common pest control mistakes is not finding the source of where the pests are originating from in the first place. You’re merely eliminating the ones you can see and ignoring the hidden ones that will emerge later on.

For example, Brown Recluse Spiders are dangerous with their necrotic venomous bites. They are the 3rd most venomous spiders in North America, alongside the Black Widow and the Chilean Recluse.

Seeing one Brown Recluse Spider may mean there are plenty more nearby lying in wait. Female Brown Recluse Spiders can lay up to 5 egg sacs with 40-50 eggs in each one. You must find these nests to eradicate future infestations and seal off any areas where they may be getting into your home.

2. Not Being Proactive with Routine Upkeep

Home is where the heart is, but it’s also where the pests are. Having a messy home is another one of the most common pest control mistakes you can make. It’s a goldmine for pests looking for a cozy place to nest and potentially reproduce.

You need to regularly clean and tidy up your surroundings inside and out. This includes removing junk from any dark, dank, and warm areas where items go untouched for long periods of time like the attic and basement. It also pertains to cleaning out dirty rain gutters and maintaining overgrowth in your front and backyard lawn areas.

If you have a pest control service, make sure that you’re scheduling regular inspections and sprayings throughout the year to keep pests at bay.

3. Using the Wrong DIY Pest Spray or Trap

You may think that one pest control spray or trap is multipurpose for different types of pests, but the misuse of these sprays and traps leads to further common pest control mistakes. Spraying a trail of ants may only kill the ones you see on contact, but it won’t stop the rest of the ant colony from invading your home.

You need to use ant bait that the scout ants will mistake for food and bring back to the colony. This will help address the ant problem at the source. When using topical insecticide sprays, you need to find the proper spray that is specially formulated for the appropriate types of pests for the most effective use.

4. Not Identifying the Right Type of Pest

To the naked eye, an ant is an ant. But did you know that there are around 1,000 different ant species in the U.S. alone? Some are just harmless annoyances while others pack a powerful and painful bite or sting. Ants come from the same insect order (Hymenoptera) that also encompasses wasps and bees.

You may see an ant’s black or red coloring and nothing else. A red ant could be a regular carpenter ant or it could be a fire ant with a stinging bite. A black ant could be a carpenter ant, capable of causing structural damage to wood structures similar to termites.

You need to determine the types of pests you’re dealing with to get the most effective extermination methods in place. Using the same type of pesticide for ant bait traps over and over again will cause the ants to become resistant to it and it will lose its effectiveness.

5. Overusing Pest Sprays

You may think that more is better when using pest sprays. But this also falls in line with common pest control mistakes. Chemical-based pesticide sprays are highly concentrated and in large doses can cause health issues inside and outside of your home.

Breathing in the fumes from caustic pest sprays can cause respiratory issues. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue are also common symptoms of exposure to high levels of pest spray. If you must use chemical pest sprays, always ensure you have proper ventilation, wear a safety mask and gloves, and only administer the recommended amount.

Keep children and small pets away from areas with pest spray contact. Never use dedicated pest sprays directly on children and pets as these can be toxic to their health.

6. Thinking the Problem Will Go Away on Its Own

You may believe that extreme cold or hot weather will be enough to take care of your pest problem. Or you could trust that Mother Nature will just run its course and they will die off on their own. While some insects and arachnids have notoriously short lifespans, believing your pest problem will resolve itself over time is one of the worst and most common pest control mistakes.

Without proper intervention, this is when your pests will most likely multiply. In just a short amount of time, your pest problem can develop into a full-blown infestation. This can cost you hundreds to even thousands of dollars trying to clean up the problem and the damage from pests.

7. Not Using a Professional Pest Control Service

Homeowners may also try to take matters into their own hands to cut down on pest control costs. About 74% of homeowners in the U.S. will attempt to use some type of DIY pest control to manage these issues. But they can still encounter common pest control mistakes.

Trying to solve the problem yourself in an effort to save money on pest control costs will only lead to bigger problems down the road. This could end up costing you more in the long run in damage from pests. DIY pest control is only a band-aid method that may cover up issues like a growing infestation.

A professional pest control service has the proper pest control equipment and knowledge to find the source and manage the issue effectively. They will also perform necessary pest control inspections to keep your home pest-free.

Manage Your Common Pest Control Mistakes with AMCO Ranger Pest Control Service

Your home is your castle, don’t roll out the welcome mat for uninvited pests. Keep your home pest-free and avoid common pest control mistakes with AMCO Ranger Pest Control Service in Missouri.

With AMCO Ranger Pest Control Service, you’ll get the right pest control equipment and expertise needed to manage a variety of different types of pests. We have over 50 years of experience in the pest control industry. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and strive to deliver the highest quality service.