Jan 10, 2018, 12:25 PM by Fred Speer

Who better than a pest management professional, like the Clark Man, to let you know what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to preventing and eliminating household pests?

Going into the new year, what pests are stirring up the most headaches for consumers? In a recent survey and article in Pest Management Professional magazine, industry professionals were asked what pest management services are most requested by homeowners.

According to the survey, the top five requested pest services include:

1. Ant management
2. Cockroach management
3. Rodent management
4. Spider management
5. Flea and tick management

Survey respondents were asked what specific pests in these categories were popping up most often in their kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and crawlspaces.

In the ant category, it was the destructive carpenter ant topping the list, with long-time California homeowner nemesis the Argentine ant ranking in the top five, along with the odorous house ant, pavement ant, and fire ant.

In the cockroach category, disease-carrying German cockroaches – which can transfer harmful bacteria including E. coli and Salmonella to food and food preparation surfaces in kitchens – are public enemy number one. The presence of cockroaches in a home has also been linked to childhood asthma. Cockroach saliva and droppings, along with the decomposing bodies of these unwelcome pests that forage homes for food, water and moisture, contain proteins known to trigger allergies and increase the severity of asthma symptoms.

When it comes to rodents, the house mouse remains king of the hill when it comes to being a consistent troublemaker. Good exclusion and sanitation practices will go a long way to preventing mice and other rodents from making their way inside your home.

Spiders are creeping up as a service that more and more customers demand. Of those professionals surveyed, 97 percent, including the Clark Man, indicated that they offer spider management services.

Finally, according to the survey, fleas and ticks are becoming more of a problem in many parts of the country, due to sizable deer and rodent populations, along with residential developments that encroach into tick habitats.

If you are experiencing issues with any of these pests in or around your home, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.