While you might think that with all of the pest control solutions that are available online and over the counter at your local big box home improvement stores, do-it-yourself pest control might seem like the most affordable and reasonable solution to dealing with ants, roaches, termites, rodents, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, bedbugs, silverfish, and other common household pests. However, depending on your pest issue, do-it-yourself pest control can prove challenging, due to several factors.
The fact is that most homeowners aren’t trained to treat pest infestations, starting with identifying pests and knowing exactly what type of application and how much will eliminate the species of pests they’re concerned about. Breaking it down, this month we discuss five reasons why you should not do it yourself with pest control.
1. Pest identification may not be as easy as you think
In South Florida, pests love the mild temps and tropical climate as much as the throngs of people who flock here to visit and who call the Sunshine State home. Common pests in this paradise include a multitude of different species and types of pests that want to move into your home. Some of the variety of different pest species include:
Ants—Most are nuisance ants, such as ghost ants, white-footed ants, acrobat ants, Argentine ants, and others, but some can cause damage to your home, and pose health threats, including:
- Crazy ants
- Carpenter ants
- Native fire ants
- Imported fire ants
Termites—The most destructive pest in South Florida, termites consist of a variety of species of subterranean, dry wood, damp wood, and hybrid termites including:
- Eastern Subterranean Termite
- Cuban Subterranean Termite
- Formosan Subterranean Termites
- Asian Subterranean Termites
- West Indian Subterranean Termites
- Florida Drywood Termite
- West Indian Drywood Termite
- Western Drywood Termite
- Conehead Termites
Treatments for one type of ant or termite species vary vastly from treatments for other ants and termites. Correctly identifying pest species is time-consuming and determining treatment for your particular pest can raise other issues about do-it-yourself pest control.
2. Pest control products can endanger your home and loved ones
First of all, consider that you are exposing yourself and your loved ones to dangerous chemicals that require special handling. Pest control professionals wear protective gear, such as face shields, gloves, and boots when they perform treatments, to keep them safe. Over-the-counter treatments may only damage pest populations and excessive use can cause health problems in sensitive humans. Additionally, in the case of a DIY rodent reduction plan, do you really want to get involved with removing rodent carcasses from hard-to-access spaces in wall voids or risk getting bitten by a rodent you encounter when placing traps? Also, while do-it-yourself pest
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