You may wonder if you have bed bugs at home. Bed bugs are small, oval, and brownish insects that reside in or around furniture, typically mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. They can travel undetected through luggage, clothes, and used furniture because of their flat bodies.

Signs you have bed bugs

• Smell/Odor: when an infestation is severe, you might smell something sweet or musty.

• Bites: the most obvious sign is bed bug bites on your skin. They live on blood and are most active at night.

• Stains: bed bug excrement is a rusty color. Please get in touch with us if you see these stains on your bed.

• Shell Casings: before they become adults, bed bugs go through five life cycle changes. If you see exoskeleton shell casings, it could signify you have an infestation.

Bed Bugs Life Cycle

Living in Houston, Texas, we have a variety of cockroaches that can invade our homes. The most common are German, American, and Oriental cockroaches. Cockroaches do best in warm environments, making Texas a perfect home. 

Signs you have cockroaches

• Droppings: cockroaches leave droppings that resemble coffee or black pepper.

• Smear Marks: these pests tend to leave a mark or trail behind. These smears are dark, and you can find them on walls where they are most active.

• Odor: infested areas can provide a musty, damp, unpleasant smell that can stick to any surface.

• Eggs: finding egg capsules is a sure sign you have an infestation.

• Shedded Skin: before reaching adulthood, cockroaches will shed their skin.

• Living Roaches: finding roaches crawling around infested areas indicates you've got a problem.

The common species found in Texas are acrobat, carpenter, fire, odorous house ants, and rover ants. Don't overlook an ant infestation; they can multiply into large colonies and invade your home or business. 

Identify the ants

Acrobat Ants: they can lift their abdomen over their heads! They are small, light brown to black, and grow from 2.5mm to 4mm long.

Carpenter Ants: some of the largest ants in Texas. They are shiny black and grow to 18mm while queens grow to 20mm.

Fire Ants: they are easy to recognize due to their reddish color. These ants grow from 3mm to 5mm. 

Odorous Ants: these ants are dark brown to black and grow to about 3mm. 

Rover Ants: they vary in color from pale yellow to blackish brown. Adults are around 1/2mm to 2mm. 

Signs you have ants

• Live Ants: if you see live ants around (typically where we are preparing food), it might be a sign you have an infestation.

• Ant Pathways: some species lay an ant pathway for other members in the colony to follow to the food source.

• Ant Nests: if you see a small pile that looks like dirt or soil, you may have an infestation.

There are many different flies in Houston, Texas, but the most common causing problems are fruit and house flies; they feed on decaying organic matter. 

Signs you have flies

• Small Dark Clusters of Spots: the size of a pinhead.

• Sightings: seeing flies around food or garbage.

• Maggots: maggots are a larval stage of flies, so seeing them around your home can indicate you have an infestation.

We think of fleas as an animal issue only; however, when left untreated on your furry companion, it can lead to an infestation in your home. Fleas are small, reddish-brown insects that feed off the blood of birds and mammals. They tend to hide in bedding, furniture, floor cracks, and carpet. 

Fleas can thrive in the carpet because they have armored bodies; it's almost impossible to crush them.

Signs you have fleas

• Flea Sightings: seeing fleas jumping around drapery, carpet, or furniture.

• Pet Symptoms: seeing these insects in your pet's fur or noticing more frequent scratching.

• Ankle Bites: you can become a meal too! If you notice bites around your ankle or feet, it's likely from fleas.

Having wasps in or around your home can be stressful. They can get in through openings or gaps. Wasps have slender bodies with black and yellow stripes or brown and yellow markings. They can sting several times and will protect their homes when provoked. 

A pest control specialist should handle wasps.

Why do you have wasps?

• a food source is present

• nesting site

• a protected place to hibernate

• accidental

Signs you have wasps

• Increased Activity: as the weather changes (warmer), you may start seeing wasps swarming around areas around your home.

• Chewed Wood: Contact a pest specialist if you begin to see small holes or tunnels appearing on wood surfaces. Seeing chewed wood could also be a sign of termites or ants.

• Wasp Nests: wasps will build their nests in sheltered areas with easy access to the outdoors. Look around roof spaces, garages, underhangs, trees, and birdhouses.

Termites are known as "silent destroyers" because they can unload a lot of damage undetected. Termite colonies eat nonstop, making them a dangerous pest; they chew through wood, flooring, and wallpaper. 

Signs you have termites

• Stuck Windows or Doors: if windows or doors have become much harder to open or feel stuck, this can be an early sign of termites.

• Damage Under Paint or Wallpaper: because termites create tunnels (termite galleries) and exit holes while feeding, it can disrupt the thin layer of paint or wallpaper.

• Termite Swarmers: termite swarmers are the reproductive members of the colony. Seeing these insects is a sure sign you have an infestation. They are easily recognizable because they have wings - after mating, they shed their wings.

• Termite Droppings: also known as "frass," termite droppings signify activity. However, only droppings from dry wood termites are visible to humans.

Mosquitoes are common near ponds, marshes, and depressions that collect rainwater; they breed in standing water. Most emerge before sunset and are active at night. 

If they are in your home, they rest in the dark, hidden areas. They typically come through open doors or windows. 

Signs you have mosquitoes

• Standing Water on Your Property: mosquitoes are attracted to standing water because it's an ideal environment to breed and survive.

• Constant High Buzzing Sound: if you hear an annoying buzzing sound (high-pitched noise), mosquitoes are probably lingering.

• Bites: mosquito bites are irritating and can cause inflammation and swelling. These bites are very itchy.

• Hovering: if you notice mosquitoes hovering over food in the kitchen (especially sweets), you should worry about an infestation.

• Activity During the Daytime: if you have an infestation, you will notice activity during the daytime.

• Humid Weather: water brings bugs - and Houston has the perfect climate.

Bees benefit our world and ecosystem; however, they can become a problem. Many people have an allergic reaction to bee stings, making it a dangerous situation. 

Signs you have bees

• Increased activity: if you see more bees around your home, it could be a bee infestation.

• Dark Patches: seeing dark patches on the ceilings or walls is a sign that bees have nested and created honey.

• Nests: seeing nests in or around your home.