Simsbury Pest Control

Most Common Pests in Hartford, CT

Discover which insects, rodents and wildlife are commonly found in your neighborhood and around iconic Hartford attractions and landmarks such as the Mark Twain House & Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Connecticut Science Center, Elizabeth Park Conservancy and the Bushnell Park Carousel.

Understanding the pests that are common in Hartford, CT can help with your pest prevention efforts and in finding the right pest control provider.

Termites

Eastern subterranean termites are the most common species of termite to infest Connecticut homes. With colonies of up to two million members, these wood-destroying pests live in ground soil and build mud tubes along the foundation and walls of buildings to travel from the soil to their food source. Once inside, termites can infest and destroy wood flooring, window frames and structural elements.

Termite swarming season in Hartford typically occurs in the spring, usually between March and May. During this time, subterranean termites will swarm, or fly in large groups, in search of a new location to establish a colony. Home and business owners in Hartford should be on the lookout for the presence of swarmers, discarded wings and mud tubes. Early detection and intervention are crucial in preventing possible damage caused by termites.

Cockroaches

The most common types of cockroaches found in Hartford, CT are American, German, Oriental and brown-banded cockroaches. Because cockroach infestations can grow out of control quickly, it's important to take action at the first sign of activity. If you see one, there are often more.

Cockroaches are attracted to food, water, clutter, warmth and darkness. The best way to keep cockroaches away is to keep your home free of clutter, fix any leaks or moisture problems and store food in airtight containers to help prevent cockroach infestations. Cockroaches can easily contaminate food and surfaces, spreading disease-causing bacteria. If you have a cockroach issue, contact your local Terminix team to set up an inspection.

Mice

The most common types of mice to invade homes in Hartford are house mice, deer mice and white-footed mice. Once inside a building or structure, mice may chew through food packaging, or wiring in the walls, which could cause a fire. As mice move about, they leave behind droppings and urine. They may also leave oily "rub marks" on the walls as they enter and exit small spaces. Because mice are nocturnal, it's not likely that you'll see one crossing your path during the day, but the evidence they will leave behind is a good indicator that you have a rodent problem.

It's important to take preventative measures to keep mice out of your home and/or business, such as sealing up any cracks or openings in walls or foundation, keeping food in sealed containers and using traps or other pest control methods when necessary. If you suspect mice activity, give the Terminix team a call and schedule a pest inspection.

Rats

There are two types of rats that are a common issue for home and business owners in Hartford – the roof rat also known as the “black rat" and the Norway rat also known as the “brown rat." Roof rats are skilled climbers, making their nests in higher areas like attics and drop ceilings. Norway rats prefer to stay lower to the ground and will often nest in burrows underground. Both species of rat can be found in urban and suburban areas throughout Hartford, particularly in areas that offer a variety of food and shelter options.

Keeping food stored in sealed containers, maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment and sealing up cracks and gaps on the exterior of buildings can help prevent rat infestations. Don't risk handling rats on your own. Call a Terminix pest control expert for help with rodent issues.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, silver-gray, fish-shaped insects that are commonly found in moist, warm locations such as bathrooms and kitchen sinks, around plumbing fixtures, and in bathtubs. Silverfish have long, flat bodies allowing them to easily slip through cracks on the exterior of your building. Once inside your Hartford home, silverfish may feed on starchy materials such as paper, glue, and fabric, and can cause damage to books, clothing, and other items. To prevent silverfish infestations, it's important to keep indoor environments dry and free of clutter. Using a dehumidifier and fixing leaks or water damage can help reduce the occurrence of silverfish.

House Ants

No matter where you live in the Hartford area, you have probably had to deal with ants at one point. House ants are attracted to food and water, both of which can be found in and around your home. Keeping food and trash in sealed containers, cleaning up crumbs and spills in your kitchen, and repairing any leaks will help reduce ant activity in your home. Your local Hartford Terminix pest control team will find where the ant nest is located and put a control plan in place to help keep them away.

Clothes Moths

There are two types of clothes moths in Hartford, CT: the webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth. Clothes moths are small, winged insects that are cream or light brown in color. Clothes moth larvae will feed on natural fibers (feathers, wool, silk, cotton, animal fibers) that are commonly used in carpets, upholstered furniture, clothing and rugs. If you find holes in your favorite wool sweater, you may have a clothes moth infestation.

To prevent clothes moth infestations, store clothing and other textiles in airtight containers or bags and regularly clean and vacuum closets and other storage areas. If you suspect you have clothes moths, contact your local Hartford Terminix branch for a pest inspection.

Spiders

There are several species of spiders that invade homes and businesses in Hartford, CT. The most frequently encountered are:

Common house spiders (web makers) and cellar spiders (daddy longlegs) live indoors in sheltered areas

Wolf spiders (large and harmless) are found indoors and outdoors, can move quickly, and may bite if provoked

Jumping spiders (small and colorful) are found indoors and outdoors, and are known for their ability to jump long distances

Most spiders will hide in areas of your home or business with the least amount of foot traffic and air flow. This may include the corners of rooms, your garage, cabinets, closets and attic. To help avoid being bitten by any spider, wear protective gloves when reaching into dark areas. Terminix's year-round pest control plan can help reduce any spider infestations.

Fleas

These tiny pests can plague Hartford pet owners. Fleas can enter homes on pets or on other animals, such as rodents or wildlife, and can quickly reproduce and infest a home. Fleas thrive in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes Hartford a hotspot for flea activity starting in spring through fall. Because fleas can carry disease-causing pathogens and put your health and the health of your pets at risk, it's important to implement a professional flea control program early in the year, before an infestation grows out of control. Call Terminix today for a quote.

Ticks

Different types of ticks live in different areas and can carry various disease-causing pathogens. The most common ticks in Hartford are the lone star tick, American dog tick and the blacklegged tick (deer tick). Ticks require blood-meals to reproduce and grow and will readily feed on animals and humans. Some common tick-borne illnesses in Hartford include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and tularemia.

Ticks typically live in grassy and wooded areas. Keeping the vegetation around your property trimmed back and implementing a preventative tick control program can help keep ticks away from your home and help keep your family and pets safe from these blood-sucking, disease-causing pathogens.

Mosquitoes

Because mosquitoes have the potential to transmit disease-causing pathogens to humans and pets when they bite, it's a good idea to be cautious if you live in a Hartford suburb where mosquitoes are present. Help protect yourself, your family and your pets by hiring a professional mosquito control technician – before the height of mosquito season. Monthly mosquito treatments will reduce overall mosquito populations living on your property and keep them from coming back. Another way to reduce mosquito populations lingering around your property is by eliminating standing water, removing dead/rotting trees and trimming back vegetation – a resting spot for adult mosquitoes.

Earwigs

Hot, humid summers in Hartford create ideal environments for moisture-seeking earwigs. Typically found living in garden soil, amongst decaying organic matter, earwigs are primarily a nuisance pest; however, they have been known to feed on leaves, flowers and fruit. To prevent earwigs from entering your home, seal crevices and gaps around doors and windows and keep areas around the foundation of the home free from organic debris such as leaves and mulch.

Crickets

There are several species of stinging insects that are common in Hartford, CT, including:

Yellow jackets: These aggressive wasps are typically black and yellow in color and build nests in the ground, in trees, and in structures such as attics and wall voids. Yellow jackets can sting multiple times and their stings can be painful and cause allergic reactions in some people.

Paper wasps: These slender wasps are typically brown or black in color and build papery nests that look like upside-down umbrellas. Paper wasps are less aggressive than yellow jackets but can still sting if threatened.

Bald-faced hornets: These large, black and white wasps build papery nests high in trees and on buildings. Bald-faced hornets are extremely territorial and can be aggressive when protecting their nest.

When it comes to stinging insects, your best bet is to call an expert who can safely treat and remove the nest. Your local Terminix pest control experts can help.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, parasitic pests that can be found in homes and businesses in Hartford, Connecticut and throughout the country. Bed bugs live indoors near a live host and prefer to hide in tight spaces such as mattress seams, bed frames, upholstered furniture, dresser drawers and even behind switch/electrical plates and hung pictures. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, bed bugs do not transmit disease-causing pathogens. Bed bugs can multiply quickly and move to different areas of your home, making them difficult to eradicate. If you suspect bed bugs in your home, call Terminix right away.

Wildlife

Raccoons, skunks, opossums and squirrels can quickly take shelter in and around your home. In Hartford, wildlife pests such as these will commonly live under decks and porches, and in sheds, attics, wood piles, rotted out trees and abandoned structures. When wildlife lives nearby, your home is at a higher risk for being invaded, which can create several problems. You may see signs of damage to the exterior of your home from where these pests gnawed or clawed their way in. There are health risks associated with these pests as well. Raccoons, skunks, opossums and squirrels are known for carrying fleas and ticks that can transmit disease-causing pathogens to people and pets. Call Terminix to help deter wild animals from invading your home.