Pest Library

What You Need To Know About Pests In San Antonio, TX

Many of the pest species encountered around San Antonio are dangerous, disease-ridden, and extraordinarily expensive to remove once established. Worse, many local businesses and commercial sites are threatened by the mere presence of a pest infestation on their properties. SATX Pest Control is proud to present this pest identification guideline for concerned citizens all over the San Antonio area. 

To learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions, give us a call today.

Ants

Ants are an extremely common pest in San Antonio, primarily because of the high temperatures and low rainfall amounts. Several species can be found on residential properties, such as carpenter ants, fire ants, and pavement ants. Most ants will measure around 1/8 to 5/8 of an inch on average. Commercial properties can also suffer from the ill effects of ant species, which occur in color patterns of black, red, and deep brown. 

Ants cause different types of damage according to their unique abilities. Carpenter ants chew through wooden structures and other items in order to build nests for their larva. Fire ants are known for their painful stings, and may cause health concerns in at-risk victims. Finally, pavement ants can create unsightly mounds around sidewalks and driveways, and contaminate food items left out in the open. 

Control these pests before they take over your property by caulking and sealing the home with some type of waterproof material. Do not allow food items to remain on the counter or outside for long periods of time. If you intend to have an outdoor barbecue or picnic, ensure you throw away or otherwise remove any food refuse left behind. For the ultimate control in your ant protection, please contact the SATX Pest Control professionals at our San Antonio headquarters.

Cockroaches

Two primary species of roaches call San Antonio home: German Cockroaches and American Cockroaches. American roaches are some of the largest and most prevalent pests in North America, with body sizes ranging up from 1 ? to 2 ? inches at maturity. They are easily identified by their chestnut red exoskeletons and folded wings. Much smaller and less common, German cockroaches are tiny tan roaches that prefer a higher humidity level. They are identified by their long antenna, a set of gossamer wings, and body lengths between ½ and 5/8 an inch.  

While cockroaches are most known for their disease carrying capabilities, they may also be able to cause some property damage as well. These pests are vectors to over 33 forms of disease, including deadly varieties that require hospitalization. Cockroaches spread illnesses through food contamination, surface spread, and waste products. 

To prevent cockroaches from entering your residential or commercial property, it will be imperative to follow some actionable steps. Reduce humidity inside the house using desiccant bags or dehumidifiers. Throw away trash items as soon as possible, and do not allow food items to linger on the counter. Finally, get regular cockroach inspections from the reliable crew at SATX Pest Control.

Rodents

Roof Rats, Norway Rats, and House Mice are some of the most common rodent species in the entire San Antonio area. 

Roof rats are smaller rodents that crawl into homes from rooftops and chimneys. They are usually in the ballpark of 40 centimeters long. 
Norway rats are the largest species on this list, measuring up to 6 inches long in body size alone. Their scaly pink tails can add an additional 6 inches in length. 
House mice are completely dependent on human activity to survive. Their small 4-inch body frames allow them to sneak through almost any crevice. 

Rodents are hated in residential and commercial buildings due to their ability to spread disease. A rodent does not even need to be alive to infest a host, transmitting pathogens through surface contamination, food contamination, and even their own carrion. Hantavirus is a serious illness that can be picked up simply by inhaling small water droplets in the air. The longer rodents inhabit an area, the higher your risks of infection become. 

The best way to prevent rodents from entering your property is to keep them from investigating in the first place. Keep your lawn well maintained and trimmed, and reduce hiding or harborage zones as much as possible. Keep all food and garbage items stored and sealed in their proper containers. For additional assistance and help and removing a rodent infestation, call SATX Pest Control today.

Scorpions

Some of the strangest pests of the arid desert, scorpions are secretive arachnids that possess 8 legs, a pair of lobster-like pinchers, and an arched tail that curves over its back. Most scorpion species have exoskeletons ranging from dark brown to light tan, sometimes with black spots, stripes, or markings. 

All scorpion species possess some type of venom, although not all species have enough in their bodies to physically harm humans. Only one scorpion species in the United States is known to have deadly properties: the Arizona Bark Scorpion. While they are less common in San Antonio, bark scorpions have been known to appear in properties around Texas.

The best way to prevent scorpions from overtaking your yard is to provide a little extra maintenance. Mow the yarn carefully, and keep the grass cut low. Have any potential entry points sealed up against invading scorpion species. Finally, have your home inspected for pest prey species that may be drawing scorpions inside the house. Contact the team at SATX Pest Control for regular scorpion inspections at your convenience.

Stinging Insects

From Bees, Wasps, and Yellow Jackets to large and dangerous Hornets, stinging insects are a regular part of life for San Antonio homeowners. The majority of stinging insects are easy to identify through black and yellow color patterns, as well as long wings and noisy flight patterns. Stinging insect species play a huge role in the pollination and cultivation of various fruits and vegetables. However, they may still be dangerous for human activity.

Primary concerns related to the activity of stinging insects have to do with allergic reactions. Stings from bees or wasps have the potential to lead to anaphylactic shock, which usually requires hospitalization. Some stinging insects such as bees only attack once without stopping, while other creatures may sting multiple times. Certain Hornets or larger insects may not have any limitations to stinging at all.

If you have any fruit trees or bushes in the yard, take care to remove rotting fruit to prevent stinging insect attacks. Monitor the number of flowering or heavily scented plants in your landscaping. Make sure that you are checking various branches and roof eaves for signs of nesting activity. The team at SATX Pest Control has everything you need to manage stinging insect populations on your property. Call, click, or visit with us today to learn more about our stinging insect treatment options.

Termites

Wood eating insects such as Subterranean termites are some of the most feared pests in Texas State. Ranging from color patterns of dark brown to an off-white cream, this termite species rarely measures more than ½ an inch long at maturity. Subterranean termite nests are located underground, and may be difficult to identify through the untrained eye. These creatures specialize in the production of mud tunnels, which connect their nest to various wood sources around the property.

The biggest reason that subterranean termites endanger home and business owners is related to their ability to eat wood 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Termites cause homeowners over $5 billion worth of damages per year, and cause problems that are not covered by homeowners insurance policies. Large infestations can destroy long-term investments, and jeopardize the safety of homes and businesses all over San Antonio.

Prevent subterranean termites from coming too close to your property by adhering to the following advice:

• Remove landscaping mulching and replace these areas with gravel or pumice. 
• Store firewood a minimum of 25 feet away from the home. 
• Reduce standing water inside the home by repairing leaky pipes or clogged drains.