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General Pest Control

Local Trained Professionals in Des Moines, IA

ROACHES

Cockroaches can enter your home in many different ways, from the outside through the cracks and crevices, vents, sewer and drain pipes. We even bring them in on products like grocery bags, boxes, purses and on our person! Your home provides an ideal breeding ground for cockroaches with plenty of food, warmth, and nesting sites. Cockroaches are nocturnal, remain active all year round, and reproduce quickly. Cockroaches can cause health issues because of the dust created by cast–off cockroach skins, dead bodies, and droppings. This can aggravate asthma/allergies, especially in children and sensitive individuals. They also carry a range of serious illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis and typhoid. The risk is particularly high in homes with children, the elderly, or those fighting illnesses. Cockroach droppings can also cause eczema and asthma.

SILVERFISH

Adult body length is ½” excluding the tail. Their coloration ranges from gray to almost black, with a metallic sheen. All silverfish taper from head to tail. They are covered with silvery scales and have a flat carrot shaped body. Three long, slender antennae-like appendages project from the end of the abdomen, giving them the name “bristle tails.” All silverfish are nocturnal and hide in cracks and crevices. They can be found almost anywhere in a house or commercial structure. Silverfish will survive for weeks without food or water. They prefer temperatures of 70-85 degrees and humidity of 70-100%. Silverfish are fond of paper, particularly glazed paper, wallpaper, and wallpaper paste. They will also eat proteins such as dried beef and dead or injured of their own kind. They may be found anywhere but especially in attics with roofs made of wooden shingles.

MILLIPEDES

Millipedes are similar to centipedes, but have two pairs of legs per body segment. Some people mistakenly refer to them as “wireworms.” Millipedes are usually brown to blackish in color. The elongated body is rounded, not flattened, and they have no poison claws or legs. They usually coil up when disturbed. They are usually restricted to moist places where they feed on organic matter. In the fall, they may become a nuisance because they migrate away from feeding areas and invade homes. Because they crawl along the ground, they are usually found in lower floors and basements. Once inside the home, they usually die due to desiccation, although in moist basements, they can survive longer.

CENTIPEDES

Centipedes are sometimes called “hundred-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs. Even though they are predaceous and therefore beneficial, most customers consider them a nuisance pest. Some species can inflict a painful bite, but it is not lethal. They are widely distributed throughout most of the United States and the world.

SPIDERS

Spiders are arthropods, not insects. They have four sets of legs and eight simple eyes, sometimes six. Below their eyes are two jaws which end in a hollow fang that connects internally to a poison duct. There are approximately 3,000 species in North America and 35,000 in the world. All spiders are predators, paralyzing or killing their prey with venom. They feed by injecting a predigested fluid into the body of their prey and then consuming the digested liquid food. Most spiders are nocturnal and will scurry away when disturbed unless they are tending egg sacs or young.

CRICKETS

Crickets don’t just annoy with their constant chirping; they can damage paper products, clothing, furniture and even walls! Some simple measures to help control your Cricket population include (but are not limited to): glue traps; bug spray; removing any eggs; ensuring your home or property is well sealed; cover / seal all trash outside; cut back vegetation; removing bright outdoor lights and drawing shades at windows to conceal interior lights; lastly, allowing natural predators to live (lizards and spiders, cats and birds) on your property.

FLEA / TICKS

Germs can be transferred from fleas and tick to their host as the insects feed. Homes near areas frequented by wild animals may be susceptible to invasion by ticks, and pets may track fleas into the home upon returning from outside. We are trained to help you with these pests in the unfortunate event that they make into your home. In order to deal with possible infestations, our licensed exterminators will first inspect your home and the area around your home to determine the magnitude of the infestation and then work with your family to devise a course-of-action to tackle the source of the pests, permanently remove them and prevent future infestation.

WASPS / BEES

There are obvious dangers to having bees and wasps inhabit your area, however, you may not be aware if the bees are European or Africanized. The Africanized species tend to be very aggressive when swarming.

Bees can cause property damage as well. If a swarm takes residency in a wall void inside a house, the hive and honey will damage the interior of the house if left untreated. Call us today and we will remove the hive in a safe and efficient method, making your property safe again.

MOSQUITOS

Beyond mosquito repellent for protecting you and your family, we offer a long-term control program. For starters, we control adult mosquitoes on your property. Then, we turn our focus to eliminating existing mosquito larvae developing in standing water- to control them before they become breeding, biting adults.

In short, we offer a dual approach to reducing mosquito populations, which, in turn, reduces the number that may carry such diseases as West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue, malaria, and canine heartworm.

Diam Pest control provides general pest control services throughout Des Moines and its surrounding areas.  Learn more about all of our services and solutions by contacting us!