Pinpoint Pest Control Blog

Integrated Pest Management Serving North San Diego County for over 40 Years.

Common Pests in Coastal Climates

At Pinpoint Pest Control, we have been helping our North San Diego County neighbors get rid of pests for over 40 years, which means we have seen a few things! We pride ourselves on being skillful, efficient and quick at removing all types of pests. Here are a few of the common pests we see in coastal climates.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are common in California due to the high volume of tourists that carry bedbugs unknowingly in their luggage. Some people don’t react at all to the bites while others develop blisters and painful, itchy red spots. Bites don’t have any long-term effects, but serious or recurring infestations have been known to cause anxiety, stress and insomnia. They can survive for up to a year without feeding, so you may not realize that you still have them if you try to get rid of them yourself. It’s important to protect yourself and your family from the physical and mental effects of bedbugs.

Ants

Carpenter ants are not very common in our area, but we do see issues with them occasionally in the foothills in Ramona or Julian. Commonly thought to eat wood (they do not), they actually tunnel into wood to make their homes. They are a challenge to control because their nests are hard to find. Many pest companies will kill the scout ants but not the nest, leaving the home open to more attacks.

Argentine ants are very common in North San Diego County. They like to nest in places like air pockets under driveways and hollow places in walls. Virtually always on the move, Argentine ants are highly mobile in pursuit of more Food sources or away from danger. This means that it can be frustrating to find and treat their nest before they move again. They are drawn to sources of water which is why they are commonly found near sinks and tubs. Any food crumbs or open containers will draw them to your pantry or kitchen counter as well.

Bees

There are two types of bees that we deal with in North San Diego County: honeybees and Africanized bees. The biggest problem with honeybees is when they nest in or around your home. They commonly find an opening in a wall, in a roof overhang or at the top of a chimney. Heavy hives filled with honey can weigh in at 100 pounds and more, which can cause structural damage.

Africanized bees are an aggressive hybrid of African bees and European bees. They are known to attack people and animals that they perceive as threats to their hive. People have died from their attacks, so they are not something you want to mess with. It is not easy to tell a regular honeybee swarm from an Africanized bee swarm, though Africanized bees generally tend to prefer places close to the ground. The safest thing to do is to call Pinpoint Pest Control if you are dealing with a bee swarm so that we can properly handle it with no danger to yourself or your family.

If you have issues with the above pests, or any others, please contact Pinpoint Full Service Pest Control. We are passionate about helping you take your home and property back from damaging and annoying pests. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us through our website.

The Unknown Side Effects of Rats in the Home
Good Bees Vs. Bad Bees