Gaslamp Quarter Pest Control

Most Common Pests in San Diego, CA

Wondering if your home or business is part of our service area? We provide pest control to residents throughout the San Diego Metro region, including the communities of La Jolla, Hillcrest, Coronado, Pacific Beach, Old Town, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, and Spring Valley, and the surrounding area. If your community is nearby, keep reading to learn about the pest control treatments we provide.

Termites

Drywood termites and subterranean termites are the most common termite species in the San Diego region. Both species are capable of causing significant damage to your home. Hidden deep within wood, drywood termites chew and grow their colonies, destroying wood from the inside out. Because wood contains certain levels of moisture, drywood termites are able to survive on wood alone as both a water and food source. Bubbles in wallpaper or wood flooring and small piles of wings are signs that drywood termites may be infesting.

If you suspect these termites on – or in – your property, it's important to enlist the aid of a professional as soon as possible, given that they can cause damage to the structural integrity of your home.

Cockroaches

The most common species of cockroach in the San Diego Metro area is the German cockroach. Kitchens and bathrooms are common places to find German cockroaches. Unfortunately, these pests reproduce rapidly.

Rodents

House mice and deer mice are among some of the most common species of rodents in the San Diego area. They can be found in attics, closets, and small spaces around your home that don't receive a lot of foot traffic. Mice activity tends to increase during colder months, when they are seeking warmth and shelter. Norway rats and roof rats are also problems in the San Diego area. These rats can nest almost anywhere, and they are good climbers. You may find them in higher spaces, such as attics and in the rafters of garages. Rats gnaw through structures to find good nesting spots, and they are known to carry disease-causing pathogens, as well as fleas.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are notorious for hitching rides in luggage and spreading quickly from place to place – especially in areas, such as rowhomes or apartments that share a common wall. They are especially difficult to get rid of because they can hide for long periods of time between feedings. Bed bugs feed on human blood, usually while you are asleep in bed or relaxing for long periods of time on living room furniture.

Silverfish

Silverfish are long, flat, grey pests that are most commonly found indoors in areas with humid conditions. Oklahoma City, with its hot, humid summers, provides an optimal climate for silverfish to thrive. Silverfish can slither through cracks in search of sustenance. Once inside your home, they can cause damage, feeding on a variety of items – ranging from smaller insects to paper products and even glue from book bindings.

Damp areas such as bathrooms, basements and crawl spaces are particularly hospitable to silverfish and give them the conditions they need to thrive. Once a silverfish infestation takes hold, these pests can be difficult to get rid of – all the more reason to enlist the aid of a pest control specialist.

House Ants

Common ant species in the San Diego Metro area are Argentine ants, harvester ants, fire ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants. Argentine ants can form large colonies, invading your garden, destroying plants and entering your home through cracks in the foundation. Similarly, harvester ants can cause devastation to your landscaping. They build a mound in the dirt and gather seeds for food, sometimes clearing the area around their mound completely free of vegetation. Fire ants, by contrast, have an unmistakable red color and they can bite, leaving burning, itchy marks on your skin. Odorous house ants will make their way into your home in search of food. Once indoors, they can contaminate food supplies. Pavement ants also have a similar mode of operation, although they are usually found on the edges of sidewalks and concrete pads.

Moths

Moths eat different foods at different stages of their lives. In the caterpillar stage, they like to eat leaves, paper, grain products and cotton, among other things. This also means they may eat your clothing or your pantry food supplies if they are able to infiltrate your house. As adults, moths sip flower nectar, tree sap, and rotting fruit. Moths are drawn to light, and can fly in an open window at night, nesting in your closet. They are most active during spring and summer.

Fleas

Fleas are a blood-sucking parasite that are drawn to furry animals and sometimes people. If you have a flea infestation in your house, these tiny pests may hide in the carpet, upholstered furniture and bedding. They can reproduce rapidly, so calling in a team of professionals to help you deal with your flea problem can be your best course of action to help stamp out their population.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed in still water, making them a common insect around ponds and lakes. If you have water in your backyard, such as rain barrels or bird baths, you could be creating an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Only female mosquitoes can bite, but when they do, they leave an itchy red welt on your skin. Additionally, some mosquitoes can carry disease-causing pathogens.