Over 25 different species of ants often invade homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area, and most of them live underground in colonies. In their colonies, they have distinct roles, such as worker ants, queen ants, etc. The ants you see in your home are tasked with finding food and returning it to the colony. In fact, you will often see a line of black ants in your kitchen because ants communicate with pheromones and an original and laid a path from their colony to the food source that all the other ants are following.

This is the secret to effectively treating ants — you have to get the forging ants to take the bait back to the colony so that the ant pest control treatments are applied to the entire colony, not just the worker ants.

However, not all ants operate this way, and a trail of ants in your kitchen or bathroom is not the only way to determine if you have an ant infestation. Some ant species, such as the carpenter ant, will actually take the wood from your home to build their nest. Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants don’t eat wood but use it for their nests. So if you see wood shavings piled up next to the foundation of your home, then it is best to call a pest control company for an inspection because you may have carpenter ants or a need for termite control.

Bed bugs are small pests that can cause series problems if not treated immediately by a professional pest control company. This is because bed bugs spread from room to room and the longer you wait the harder it is going to be to rid your home of these small, brownish apple seed-like pests. Most people in Dallas Tx are horrified when they hear that they have a bed bug infestation but in truth, it is never their fault.

Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can easily catch a ride and invade your home. Most people in Plano or Arlington get bed bugs from riding on public transportation, staying at hotels, or staying at an infected home. Bed bugs will crawl on luggage, your clothes, or anything they can get a hold of and then hold on until they find a quiet and dark place. From here, they will scurry away and squeeze into a tight space and then weigh until their host is asleep or ideal for a long-period of time. This is when they start feeding which will leave red marks that are clustered together.

Bed bugs also have egg cycles and this is another complex factor in exterminating them. When you hire a professional pest control service from one of the many reputable pest control companies in Dallas, TX you have to make sure that they guarantee their service. This is because heat treatments and other traditional treatments will only affect living bed bugs and not those that are about to hatch.

To ensure that Forterra can rid your property of bed bugs we not only guarantee our service but every service has two treatments to break the egg cycle and help you live pest free.

There are over 30,000 identified species of wasps. Do you need to know that? Nope. Do we need to know that as pest control experts? Also, no. Lucky for everyone, treating wasps and hornets is very similar regardless of the species.

Wasps tend to be more aggressive and a lot more useless than bees. They don’t produce honey and don’t lose their stingers when they attack. Unfortunately, this also means their ability to sting is endless. A sting by a bee is a death sentence for the insect, and you’ll keep the stinger as a token. (Lucky you!)

Our general pest prevention service includes knocking down wasps and nests that build up around your roofline throughout the year. This is a critical step in managing wasp populations. When temperatures drop in the fall, we see wasps sneak inside homes (especially in chimneys). If you see wasps inside your home or business, call us. Because literally, no one wants that.

When you call Forterra one of our customer service representatives will answer and help you understand your wasp or hornet infestation better. In fact, our customer service representatives are why we are considered the best pest control company in Dallas-Fort Worth. Our goal is to help you live pest free all year long.

There are three main types of cockroaches in the DFW Metroplexand those are the American Cockroach, the German Cockroach, and the Oriental Cockroach. Each of these roaches has different habits, breeding cycles, and preferences when it comes to the homes they invade. But each of these cockroaches carries various diseases and can cause a serious problem if they are left untreated by a pest control professional.

The best way to prevent cockroaches is to keep your property as clean as possible. Roaches are attracted to crumbs on your floors or counters, rotting garbage, and dirty dishes that have been piling up for too long. But, just because you have a cockroach infestation doesn’t mean that it is 100% your fault. These pests can be brought into your home if they are around it or close to it. For example, if you live next to a busy park that has trash that often piles up and attracts cockroaches, it is fair to assume that these roaches have wandered from their main source of food to yours to find protection from the elements or water.

However you may have gotten cockroaches, so it is best to treat them right away before they spread and can cause a major infestation. When you call Forterra Pest Control, we will treat your cockroach infestation in two cycles so that we can break up their hatching sycle and make sure the pests are gone. Then, we will apply a protective barrier around your home so that these pests don’t come back.

Mosquitoes are small, flying insects that are well known for their role in the spread of diseases such as malaria and the West Nile Virus. mosquitoes are most active during the summer months when they lay their eggs in standing water.

Most homeowners think that they need to use tiki torches filled with citronella to deter mosquitoes from their yard but that isn't the most effective way to stop mosquitoes from ruining your summer plans. The best way to protect your family from itchy bites is to call a local exterminator company like Forterra.

Pest control companies have a variety of methods for dealing with mosquitoes, depending on the specific situation. In some cases, they may use traditional treatments to control mosquitoes on contact if standing water is found on the property. However, this is not always effective, as not all mosquitoes will be in the area during the time of treatment. In extreme cases, pest control companies may release mosquitoes that have been infected with a disease, such as the Wolbachia virus. This method is effective in reducing the overall mosquito population, as the infected mosquitoes will pass the disease on to other mosquitoes when they mate. The best type of mosquito treatments will be unique to your property and the situation as a neighbor with standing water could be causing the infestation that is driving you mad.

The most common rodents in Dallas are mice, rats, and squirrels. Unfortunately, we see them all over the place — inside, outside, and in between.

Rodents can cause serious damage to your home. Rats in particular will eat just about anything, including electrical wiring, walls, and water lines. In other words? Rats can cause fires (they’ve caused about 25% of U.S. home fires) and floods. Take rat infestations seriously for your own peace of mind, safety, and property, and call a professional pest control service for an inspection if you think you might have an infestation.

If you’re concerned about rodents outside your home, you can typically control populations with a variety of products ranging from baits to traps. Bait (rodenticide) effectively kills a rodent in 3-6 days but relies on them actually eating it. If baits aren’t working, there are likely alternative food sources for your pests to chow down on (like a nearby restaurant dumpster).

If you’re experiencing a rodent infestation on the inside of your home, it means there’s a tiny rat-sized entrance somewhere on your property. While that’s pretty basic, it escapes many customers’ minds in the heat of the moment. When Forterra deals with a rodent situation inside a home or business, we think about 1) trapping and 2) sealing off entry points to prevent re-infestation.

Rodent issues inside also increase dramatically during the colder months as they move inside seeking warmth and food. Call us today if you’re dealing with any rodent issues.

Everyone’s seen the commercials of your house falling down because of termites. Is that real? Yes and no. Has it happened before? Not that we’ve ever seen (though we’ve seen some really close calls). But could it happen? Yes.

If an infestation is left untreated for long enough, termites can cause serious damage. Take swift action with termite control

The most common type of termite in the DFW area is the subterranean termite. Other types, which we don’t typically see here, include Dampwood, Drywood, and Formosan. Formosan termites are found along the gulf coast and have been known to occasionally infest homes in Dallas, although it’s much rarer.

If you suspect you have termites, you need a professional termite inspection done by a pest control specialist who is licensed with the state of Texas in the Termite category. Many companies, including Forterra Pest Control, will perform the inspection for free. The termite inspector will be looking for evidence of termite activity such as mud tubes around the outside of the home, discarded termite wings, or damaged wood.

If you live in a pier and beam house, the inspection and treatment process is more complicated and requires a full inspection of the crawl space. Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground and the crawl space is typically the first place they’ll go as they search for food. If your home is old or did not receive a termite pre-treatment during the initial building process, you are much more susceptible to a termite infestation.

Termites are extremely common in DFW and should be taken seriously as they can cause significant damage to your home and be a big sticking point for buyers in real estate transactions. They feed on wood and can cause aesthetic and structural damage. If you think you have or might have a termite problem please don’t hesitate to call for our termite control options.

Forterra treats homes and businesses for termite infestations regularly. However, our most recommended and frequently used service is our Termite Prevention Plan. Call us today to learn more about how to protect your home against termites before they become a problem.