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    • Bed Bugs and Other Winter Pests To Be Aware Of

    The season may be changing, but pests are here to stay year-round. Here is a list of the most common winter pests we see in Wichita and how to recognize them. Knowing what pest you have can help us best eliminate your problem.

    The most common winter pests we see in and around Wichita are:

    • Ants
    • Bed bugs
    • Cockroaches, specifically the German cockroach
    • Mice and other rodents
    • Spiders

     

    Pavement Ant

    Ants

    Ants are one of the most common winter pests we see in Wichita.  

    Signs of having an ant problem are:

    • Ants, dead or alive 
    • Ants marching along a trail  
    • Ant mounds 
    • An unpleasant odor (odorous house ants) 
    • Food covered in ants 
    • Tiny piles and trails of dirt and wood (carpenter ants) 

    Call us for professional help. Also, following the tips on our pre-service checklist will result in the best outcome. 

    • Ants are in your home for a reason – food, water, or shelter from the weather. You cannot control the weather. However, you can control their access to food and water. 
    • Eliminate any food and water supply that ants can easily access. 
    • Repair water leaks, dripping faucets, and excessive irrigation. 
    • Do not leave pet food out for more than one hour per day. 
    • Clean kitchen counters and dishes. In addition, carry out all trash daily. 
    • Make sure you eat in a common area and keep it clean. Consider only eating in the kitchen or dining areas to limit scraps and dropped morsels. 
    • Trim all tree limbs and vegetation away from your home or building. 
    • Keep grass cut short near your home or building. 
    • Seal all entry points around your home. Most often, the entry points are around doors and entry frames. 

    Understanding the types of ants and their entry points is crucial for successful ant control. By completing the pre-service checklist, you assist our team in pinpointing trails, nests, or areas of high ant activity. This information guides our approach to treating and preventing ant infestations. 

    You can read more about ants here.  

    Schedule a local pest control appointment or request an estimate online. 

     

    Bed Bug

    Bed Bugs

    Bed bugs are another one of the most common winter pests we encounter. 

    The first signs of a bed bug infestation are: 

    • Actual bedbugs 
    • A sweet, musty odor 
    • Black dots (their poop) about the size of this period.  
    • Eggs, which are oval, white, and as big as an apple seed 
    • Eggshells 
    • Itchy bites in clusters that are often found on arms and shoulders 
    • Spots of blood on your bedsheets or mattress 

    Bed bugs are more difficult to get rid of compared to other pests. However, there are things you can do, such as the things in our pre-service checklist for bed bug elimination: 

    • Remove all loose items such as clothing, shoes, toys, books, trash, or any other miscellaneous items from the floor of the room(s) that is/are being treated. Care must be exercised so as not to spread bed bugs to other parts of the house until treatment is complete. 
    • Any items that are removed from the infected room(s) need to be placed in an airtight plastic bag or tote. 
    • Clean bed linens and curtains in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Place stuffed animals, shoes, and other items that can’t be washed in the dryer. Then, run the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes.  Once dried, items must be put in a sealed, airtight plastic bag or tote until treatment is complete. 
    • Use a dry, stiff brush to scrub mattress seams to remove bedbug carcasses and their eggs, using a vacuum to clean debris as you scrub.  When finished, remove the mattress and box springs from the bed frame and lean against a wall for treatment. 
    • After vacuuming the mattress and surrounding areas, immediately take the vacuum cleaner outside and empty it into the trash bin. Leave the vacuum either outside or in the garage for a few hours. 
    • Purchase mattress and box spring encasement to install after treatment. Bedbugs may live many months without feeding. Therefore, keep the encasement on your mattress and box springs for at least 6 months after treatment. This step will help ensure all bugs in the mattress are dead. 
    • Remove all outlet/switch covers from walls in the infected area. 
    • No pedestal bed frames or platform framed beds will be treated.  For treatment, all bed frames must be legged bed frames.  Once bed bugs have been eliminated, you may again use the pedestal or platform bed frames. 

    Completing the pre-service checklist for bedbugs is a critical initial step in eradicating these elusive pests. These tiny insects can hide in cracks, crevices, and furniture, making them challenging to detect. Your input on areas where you’ve noticed bites, stains, or unusual odors helps our experts target potential hiding spots, facilitating a more thorough inspection and tailored treatment plan. 

    Save yourself the stress and let us handle the rest! Call us at 316-943-3555 today for bed bug elimination. You can read more about bed bugs here. 

     

    German Cockroaches

    German Cockroaches

    German cockroaches are another one of the most common winter pests we see. 

    Signs you may have a roach infestation include: 

    • A musky odor 
    • Egg casings 
    • Visible roaches 
    • Their droppings (small black specks) 
    • Your neighbors have cockroaches 

    It can be a tedious job getting rid of cockroaches, so let Betts Pest Control help! 

    Follow our pre-service checklist so you’re ready when we come to help: 

    • CLEAN! Sanitation is the key to roach prevention. 
    • For proper and effective treatment, kitchen cabinets and drawers need to be emptied and cleaned out. Countertops need to be free from all items. 
    • Any recycled cans/bottles need to be in a sealed plastic tote. 
    • Reduce clutter, and make sure the stovetop and surrounding area are clean. All dishes need to be washed. 
    • All trash needs to be removed. 
    • Any dirty dishes, drinking glasses, or food of any sort should be picked up and properly handled (cleaned or tossed). 
    • If all the above conditions are met and you still have roach issues, the problem could be coming from the adjoining resident. 
    • Note that cockroaches can cause asthma symptoms in people who live in an infested home. Seek medical care if you are experiencing symptoms. 

    A pre-service checklist for roaches allows us to gather essential information about areas where these resilient pests are prevalent. Identifying areas with food sources, moisture, or cracks helps us strategically apply treatments and implement preventive measures to eliminate roach populations effectively. 

    You can schedule an inspection by calling 316-943-3555. Read more about roaches here.

     

    House Mouse

    Mice and Other Rodents

    One of the other most common winter pests we see in town are mice and other rodents. We most often notice the deer mouse and the house mouse. 

    Signs of a mice, or rat, infestation are: 

    • Droppings 
    • Gnaw marks 
    • Nests 
    • Noises, such as scratching 
    • Paths 
    • Pools of urine and the smell of ammonia 
    • Someone in the home is having an allergic reaction 
    • Your pet is acting unusual 

    Prepare for our wildlife control services by completing our pre-service checklist for rodents: 

    • Clean up any spilled feed, seed, cereal, etc. 
    • Store food securely in sealed containers on high shelves
    • No cafeteria feeding of animals. Meaning, do not leave pet food out for more than one hour
    • Bird feeders should be placed as far from the house as feasible. Clean up spilled feed below regularly
    • Thoroughly seal holes that are necessary for your home, water hydrant, dryer vents, gas lines, electrical, etc. Crawl space access also needs to be tightly sealed. Door threshold seals need to be properly maintained

    For effective rodent control, the pre-service checklist aids in identifying potential entry points, nesting sites, and areas frequented by rodents. Information about sightings, droppings, or gnaw marks enables us to develop a comprehensive plan to exclude and eliminate these pests. 

    You can read more about mice and other rodents here. When you’re ready, give us a call at 316-943-3555! 

     

    Black Widow

    Spiders

    Lastly, spiders are also one of the most common winter pests we see. We also see black widows, brown recluses, house spiders, and wolf spiders, among others. 

    Signs you have a spider infestation include: 

    • Dark spaces 
    • Droppings,  
    • Egg sacks, or small white balls 
    • Increase in flying insects 
    • Spiders 
    • Spider webs 

    There are many at-home solutions to getting rid of spiders; however, leaving it to the professionals can save you time and effort and guarantee a better outcome.

    You can read more about spiders here. For an appointment or estimate, you can contact us online here.

     

    Don’t let winter pests take over your home. Not only are they unpleasant, but they also pose health risks. If you need pest control for a common winter pest or any others, then call us today at 316-943-3555!

     

    Do you have a pest but don’t know what it is? We can help! Contact us today online. You can find more information about pest identification here.

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