Bug identification is the first step to eliminating your pest problem. However, knowing what type of critter you’re dealing with is not always straightforward, as some bugs are difficult to detect or find. Fortunately, this post has everything you need to know about how to identify bugs in your Overland Park home.
Take a Picture and Use the Internet to Get Clues
One of the fastest ways to identify a bug in your home is to take its picture and use a bug identifier app or site to get instant results. Simply snap and upload a photo of the insect, and the platform will suggest what pest it is. Alternatively, you can google images of common house insects and compare the results against the pictures you’ve taken.
Send Pictures to a Bug Expert
Sure, technology is excellent, but if you want accuracy, you can’t always rely on apps and the internet to give you correct suggestions. One of the best ways to get an accurate answer is to send the insect’s picture to an experienced pest control specialist in Overland Park.
At Mantis Pest Solutions, our local professionals are familiar with all bugs that are present in the area, so we are better positioned to let you know what kind of insect it is. Whether you’re trying to identify bugs in the garden, in your home, or on plants, we can help.
Note Some Characteristics
If you’ve spotted a particular bug a few times in your home, take note of its characteristics. How does it look? What color is it? How many legs does it have? Another attribute that can help narrow down your search is how it moves—does it hop, crawl, walk, or fly?
On top of that, take note of the hours it’s most active, where you frequently spot it, what its droppings look like, and what type of damage it does. If you weren’t able to take a photo, detailing the characteristics can help the pest identifier figure out the pest problem you have at hand.
Ask a Bug Identifier to Inspect Your Home
Sending pictures and describing the type of bugs you’re seeing on your property isn’t always enough. The surest way to establish what insects are in your home and know the scale of the infestation is to call in a pest identifier.
Our Overland Park pest control specialists have all the skills needed to correctly diagnose any critter, uncover the extent of the invasion, and determine the best treatment solution. Most importantly, we will help you get rid of the creepy crawlers and guide you on how to prevent re-infestation.
Learn About the 5 Common Pests in Overland Park, Kansas
As a homeowner, it’s important you know how to identify some common Overland Park bugs on your own. Quick identification will help you take timely action, saving you money and frustration in the long run. Below are the common insects in Overland Park, plus a few pointers on how to identify them:
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are some of the most common household bugs that regularly find their way into our Overland Park homes. They have a shiny reddish-brown coat, their bodies have a flattened oval shape, and they walk on six spiny legs. These scavengers prefer living in groups in warm, moist, and dark spaces and find their way using long threadlike antennae.
Bed Bugs
Measuring about the size of an apple seed, bed bugs are blood-sucking animals that primarily feed on humans and other warm-blooded animals such as dogs, cats, and rodents. They typically range in color from dark red to light brown. They’re hard to spot because they live in dark crevices around the bed or mattress. Some signs of a bedbug infestation include itchy skin spots or reddish stains on sheets.
Silverfish
Getting its name from the silvery scales and three tail-like appendages, the silverfish is another common bug in Overland Park. This creepy crawler is quick-moving, slender, and wingless. It prefers a moist climate with high humidity, like the bathroom, attic, and basement. Although it doesn’t bite, it can destroy books and wallpaper and bring harmful germs into your home.
Spiders
Spiders have eight legs, two bulbous body segments, six to eight eyes, and they can shoot silk out of their abdomen. They often use silk to build webs and trap prey. These critters aren’t insects but arachnids. They are found in the yard but can move indoors to feed on the insects that are seeking refuge in your house. In Kansas, there are approximately 500 spider species, and the venomous types include the black widow and the brown recluse.
Ants
Ants are common uninvited guests that enter our homes in search of food, water, and shelter. They have three slender body parts, a thin waist, two antennae, and a bulbous abdomen. Many are black in color, but some species are red, dark brown, and light brown. They are social insects and live in large colonies, so it’s easy to spot them. Some, like fire ants, can sting, while others, like carpenter ants, damage wood.
Professional Help is Just a Phone Call Away
Some bug problems are more serious than others, so knowing what critter you’re dealing with allows you to tailor a solution to your situation and save time, effort, and money. If you need help identifying any bugs or strange pests in Overland Park, please give us a call, and we will help identify and get rid of your pest problem!