Copesan Answers Top Pest Questions

Alabama

How do you get rid of roaches?

Getting rid of cockroaches can be extremely difficult. These nighttime pests are adapted to taking advantage of human environments and are able to live undetected for long periods of time. That’s why it is highly recommended you contact a professional pest control company if you're dealing with a roach infestation in your facility. Copesan specialists are experts in pest identification and removal, especially when it comes to cockroaches. We can not only help treat an existing cockroach infestation but also help prevent further outbreaks.

Arizona

What are the signs of a pest infestation?

Pest infestations can look different depending on the facility and the type of infestation. Some signs to be on the look out for include (but are certainly not limited to): dead bugs, insect wings or carcasses, droppings, damaged food or products, rub marks, signs of nesting, odd smells and sounds, holes/possible entry points, gnaw marks or gnawed items, rub marks (rodent grease marks), damaged plants or patches of lawn, mole holes, ant hills, and dried blood spots (which could actually be bed bug feces).

Arkansas

How do you get rid of roaches?

Getting rid of cockroaches can be extremely difficult. These nighttime pests are adapted to taking advantage of human environments and are able to live undetected for long periods of time. That’s why it is highly recommended you contact a professional pest control company if you're dealing with a roach infestation in your facility. Copesan specialists are experts in pest identification and removal, especially when it comes to cockroaches. We can not only help treat an existing cockroach infestation but also help prevent further outbreaks.

California

What is the greatest concern about having pests in a restaurant?

Food safety and damage to your brand are the biggest risks posed by pests in and around your restaurant. The most common pests of restaurants are flies, cockroaches, and rodents - and all three can carry and transmit dangerous pathogens to your customers and your employees. If that wasn't reason enough to take pests seriously, imagine what would happen if your customer encountered a cockroach in your restaurant and broadcast is via social media.

Colorado

How can you control a bird infestation?

Bird activity at a facility or store can pose both structural and health hazards, and control and removal of pest bird populations should be handled by a professional. However, preventative measures can be taken to help deter birds from your facility. Keeping doors and windows closed when not in use will aid in preventing birds from entering your facility. Preventing bird activity outside of your facility will also reduce the chance of birds entering. Make sure exterior conditions aren't providing birds with a way to feed or roost. Ensure dock spillage is cleaned up, areas around trash compactors and receptacles are kept clean, or consider adding a bird deterrent system to your structure.

Connecticut

How can I get rid of rodents in walls?

Any rodent activity within your facility can be damaging to your product, employees, and facility. If you suspect current rodent activity, contact Copesan. To take preventive measures, inspect the interior and exterior of your facility for any cracks or openings that rodents may be able to use as entry points. Rats can fit through 1/2-inch openings, while mice only need 1/4-in. to gain access to your building from outside.

Delaware

How do you get bed bugs?

Bed bugs are hitchhikers that can spread in a structure once established. Bed bugs can be moved from place to place in furniture, purses, bags, and suitcases. Once they are established, bed bugs can move between rooms via wall voids, conduits, and on equipment. Carefully inspect any second-hand furniture before bringing it inside and avoid any items discarded in a dumpster or on the curb. In order to detect introductions or infestations early, remove clutter that makes bed bugs hard to find. The earlier an infestation is discovered, the easier it will be to treat.

Florida

What are the signs of a pest infestation?

Pest infestations can look different depending on the facility and the type of infestation. Some signs to be on the look out for include (but are certainly not limited to): dead bugs, insect wings or carcasses, droppings, damaged food or products, rub marks, signs of nesting, odd smells and sounds, holes/possible entry points, gnaw marks or gnawed items, rub marks (rodent grease marks), damaged plants or patches of lawn, mole holes, ant hills, and dried blood spots (which could actually be bed bug feces).

Georgia

Why do roaches die on their backs?

Cockroaches don't always die on their backs, but if they do, it's usually because they were exposed to certain types of insecticides that disrupted their nervous system. Other insecticides kill cockroaches differently, including making them run out of energy, and cockroaches will die upright.

Hawaii

Where do termites nest?

There are two major types of pest termites and both are highly cryptic. Subterranean termites build their nests underground in the soil and spend their lives protected from open air. Termites tunnel in the soil from their nest to find food and can reach your facility this way. Above ground, termites construct mudtubes, which allow termites hidden access into the walls of a facility while preventing workers from drying out. Formosan termites can maintain activity above ground if there is enough moisture. Drywood termites live within dry and sound wood. Colonies are usually small and can often be found inside the structural timbers, furniture, hardwood floors, and beams.

Idaho

What do bed bug bites look like?

People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people will experience small, red, irritated, inflamed, and/or itchy spots while others will show no signs of bites. Perceived bites alone are not enough to confirm a bed bug infestation and there are other causes that could lead to skin irritations that may resemble bites. Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases and their bites usually do not require medical treatment unless symptoms are severe or persistent.

Illinois

How can you control bird poop?

Bird activity at a facility or store can pose both structural and health hazards, and control and removal of pest bird populations should be handled by a professional. However, preventative measures can be taken to help deter birds - and their droppings (or poop) from your facility. Make sure exterior conditions aren't providing birds with a way to feed or roost. Ensure dock spillage is cleaned up, areas around trash compactors and receptacles are kept clean, or consider adding a bird deterrent system to your structure.

Indiana

How do you get rid of fleas?

Fleas are very challenging pests because populations can be maintained inside on pets and outside on wildlife. Additionally, eggs, larvae, and pupae may be hard to locate and reach with treatments, especially in carpeted areas. Flea control must target the active adults and all breeding sites, which are usually areas where animals rest. Flea populations sustained by wildlife can be managed by removing wildlife and treating their resting areas with insecticides. Flea control is complex and requires insight into the biology and behavior of the fleas and the animals supporting them.

Iowa

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

Kansas

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

Kentucky

Do bed bugs make you itch?

Bed bug bites do not necessarily itch and do not necessarily manifest physically at all. People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people will experience small, red, irritated, inflamed, and/or itchy spots while others will show no signs of bites. Perceived bites alone are not enough to confirm a bed bug infestation and there are other causes that could lead to skin irritations that may resemble bites. Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases and their bites usually do not require medical treatment unless symptoms are severe or persistent.

Louisiana

What do termites sound like?

You will probably not be able to hear termite activity in your facility, even if they are present in large numbers. However, knocking on termite infested wood will likely sound hollow, or at least 'off' compared to sound wood. Subterranean termites may not show any signs of their presence until you discover damaged wood or flying termites suddenly leave the colony by the hundreds to thousands.

Maine

How do you get rid of ants?

Ants will nest inside and/or outside, depending on species. Ants that are foraging in from the exterior may be stopped, at least temporarily, by sealing cracks and crevices, reducing moisture, and trimming vegetation away from the structure. However, eliminating ant colonies is complicated because colonies can be very large, produce a tremendous number of offspring, have multiple queens and nests, and be located in inaccessible places. A coordinated strategy involving in-depth inspection, food reduction, exclusion, habitat modification, and targeted applications of insecticides may be required to colony elimination.

Maryland

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

Massachusetts

Why do moths like light?

Certain insects, like moths, are positively photostatic and are attracted to lights. This behavior is rooted in navigation for mating, migration, and the search for food. The 'artificial moons' common in inhabited areas are very confusing to moths and often lead them astray. If you are having problems with night-flying insects accumulating around, or getting into, your facility, call Copesan. We can recommend changes to your current lighting configuration and other strategies to reduce these pesky pests.

Michigan

How can you kill bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

Minnesota

What do bed bug bites look like?

Bed bug bites do not necessarily itch and do not necessarily manifest physically at all. People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people will experience small, red, irritated, inflamed, and/or itchy spots while others will show no signs of bites. Perceived bites alone are not enough to confirm a bed bug infestation and there are other causes that could lead to skin irritations that may resemble bites. Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases and their bites usually do not require medical treatment unless symptoms are severe or persistent.

Mississippi

When should I call pest control for roaches?

Do-it-yourself cockroach treatments and products are not usually effective, especially against large infestations, and the general public is more likely to use products in ways that are harmful to people and pets. If you've found a cockroach in your facility call Copesan at 1-800-COPESAN to find out about our pest solutions.

Missouri

Are gnats baby flies?

No. Any flying insect is, in fact, an adult. By definition, gnats are actually a subset of flies and thus, have a similar appearance and the same life cycle. Most gnats breed in freestanding water outdoors but can easily be confused with small flies that breed indoors. If you're not sure what kind of flying insect you're dealing with, or need help controlling them call Copesan at 1-800-COPESAN.

Montana

Are daddy long legs spiders poisonous?

Daddy-longlegs is a name people use to describe a few different arthropods including cellar spiders, crane flies, and, most often, harvestmen. Harvestmen have 8 legs but are not true spiders. They do not have venom glands and pose no threat to people. If you're finding harvestmen inside, that might indicate that one of their food sources, like insects or fungi, are present and should be managed.

Nebraska

Where do cockroaches come from?

Some cockroaches are external-dwellers while other species are found almost exclusively indoors. Domestic cockroaches, like the German, American, and brown-banded, are often moved from facility to facility in bags, cardboard, and other packaging. Other cockroaches, like the Oriental cockroach, can live in and around structures and invade from outside.

Nevada

How do scorpions survive in the desert?

Scorpions avoid the blistering heat and unrelenting sun of deserts as much as possible by spending daylight hours in a protected harborage. Scorpions are able to get all the water they need from the prey, usually insects, spiders, and other scorpions, that they eat. Though they prefer living outdoors, scorpions can become an indoor issue if they move from their normal habitat in search of a better food source or harborage from the elements.

New Hampshire

Why do rodents need to chew?

Rodent incisors continue to grow during a rodent's lifecycle. Gnawing is a means of survival for rodents as it keeps their teeth from overgrowing, which could cause them to starve to death. Gnawing is also an opportunistic behavior because in their natural habitat, exploratory gnawing can help rodents find food, water, and nesting materials. As such, gnaw marks (1/16-1/6-inch wide) are a sign of rodent presence.

New Jersey

How to repel squirrels?

They may be cute, but squirrels can cause serious damage - to your product and facility. Their unique frames can allow them to access your facility through seemingly undetectable holes or cracks, and once inside they will chew on the insulation, electrical wires, plastic plumbing pipes, and walls. Ground squirrels specifically can also cause damage to crops, sprinkler systems and irrigation lines, while their burrowing can pose issue for stairs and foundations. If possible, make an effort to deter squirrels from your property by removing any source of food (bird seed for example). Live trapping is the most effective way to remove squirrels from a facility, but local ordinances will need to be taken into consideration, and the process is best left to a professional.

New Mexico

How can I get rid of mice?

Any rodent activity within your facility can be damaging to your product, employees, and facility. Mice are exceptionally difficult to manage so if you suspect current rodent activity, contact Copesan. To take preventative measures, inspect the interior and exterior of your facility for any cracks or openings that rodents may be able to use as entry points. Rats can fit through 1/2-inch openings, while mice only need 1/4-inch to gain access to your building from outside.

New York

How can you get rid of mice in a restaurant?

Any rodent activity within your restaurant can be damaging to your brand, customers and employees. If you suspect current rodent activity, contact Copesan immediately. To take preventative measures, do what you can to keep rodents from entering your restaurant in the first place. Keep exterior doors closed when not in use, and inspect the interior and exterior of your restaurant for any cracks or openings that rodents may be able to use as entry points. Rats can fit through 1/2-inch openings, while mice only need 1/4-inch to gain access to your building from outside. Sanitation and consistent cleaning are also essential to making your restaurant inhospitable to rodents - pay extra special attention to hard-to-clean areas. Minimize clutter, promptly remove shipping and packaging materials from the premises, and be sure to inspect any incoming goods for signs of rodents.

North Carolina

Where do cockroaches come from?

Some cockroaches are external-dwellers while other species are found almost exclusively indoors. Domestic cockroaches, like the German, American, and brown-banded, are often moved from facility to facility in bags, cardboard, and other packaging. Other cockroaches, like the Oriental cockroach, can live in and around structures and invade from outside.

North Dakota

How do rodents get into walls?

Due to their unique body structure, rodents can fit through much smaller openings than is often realized. Mice only need 1/4-inch to gain access to the interior of a facility - or its walls - and rats can fit through spaces as small as half an inch. Holes or cracks found in doors, walls, floors and foundations as well as gaps in windows or ceilings are all common entry points for rodent access.

Ohio

How do you get rid of roaches?

Getting rid of cockroaches can be extremely difficult. These nighttime pests are adapted to taking advantage of human environments and are able to live undetected for long periods of time. That’s why it is highly recommended you contact a professional pest control company if you're dealing with a roach infestation in your facility. Copesan specialists are experts in pest identification and removal, especially when it comes to cockroaches. We can not only help treat an existing cockroach infestation but also help prevent further outbreaks.

Oklahoma

What do bed bug bites look like?

Bed bug bites do not necessarily itch and do not necessarily manifest physically at all. People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people will experience small, red, irritated, inflamed, and/or itchy spots while others will show no signs of bites. Perceived bites alone are not enough to confirm a bed bug infestation and there are other causes that could lead to skin irritations that may resemble bites. Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases and their bites usually do not require medical treatment unless symptoms are severe or persistent.

Oregon

What is organic pest control?

In the commercial market, organic pest management ensures your facility's practices are aligned with National Organic Program (NOP) guidelines and certified by an organic certifying body. In organic pest management, sanitation, exclusion, and behavioral practices to reduce pest conducive conditions come before the application of pesticides. Copesan's Signature Care green program is designed for organic environments, supported by stringent documentation and sound Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles that mirrors the steps spelled out in the NOP rules for pest management.

Pennsylvania

What is an exterminator?

An exterminator is an out-dated term referring to someone that relied on pesticides, and not knowledge about pest biology and behavior, to deal with pest problems. A practitioner of integrated pest management (IPM) looks at pest problems holistically to identify risks and conducive conditions unique to each facility. Pests are correctly identified and a tailored management strategy is devised to best handle that particular pest in that particular environment. IPM can provide lasting results because root-causes are addressed instead of masking pest problems with regularly scheduled spraying.

Rhode Island

How do rodents get into ceilings?

Due to their unique body structure, rodents can fit through much smaller openings than is often realized. Mice only need 1/4-inch to gain access to the interior of a facility - or its walls - and rats can fit through spaces as small as half an inch. Holes or cracks found in doors, walls, floors and foundations as well as gaps in windows or ceilings are all common entry points for rodent access. Rodents are excellent climbers so once they have entered a wall void they may be able to reach upper floors and attics via pipe chases.

South Carolina

Why do roaches die on their backs?

Cockroaches don't always die on their backs, but if they do, it's usually because they were exposed to certain types of insecticides that disrupted thei nervous system. Other insecticides kill cockroaches differently, including making them run out of energy, and cockroaches will die upright.

South Dakota

What is the largest rodent in the world?

The largest rodent in the world is the capybara which ranges from 3-4 feet in length, stands up to 24 inches tall and can weigh almost 150 pounds. Fortunately the capybara is native to Brazil and surrounding countries, so it's not likely to show up in or around your facility in the United States. However, if you are dealing with a rodent or wildlife issue at your commercial facility, call Copesan to help get the issue under control.

Tennessee

How to get rid of gnats in the office?

Fungus gnats can be a common pest of office buildings. Locating and eliminating the food source for the gnats - they are attracted to moist locations with decaying organic matter - is key to ridding your facility of gnats. The moist soil in over watered office plants is the biggest culprit so be conscious of how much water you are using and how often plants are watered. If the infestation is beyond your control, call Copesan.

Texas

How can I get rid of mosquitoes?

Eliminating areas that may accumulate stagnant water (gutters, tarps, tires, open dumpsters, planters) that can be used for breeding, paired with a professional pest management program, is the most effective means of eliminating mosquitoes at your facility.

Utah

Do termites have wings?

Flying termites, also called swarmers, are the males and females produced by a mature colony that have left to find a mate and create a new colony. These termites will lose their wings, find a mate, and look for a place to build a nest. The scattered wings left behind is often the first clue that termites are present in the vicinity.

Vermont

What do carpet beetles look like?

Carpet beetles are small (ranging from 1/8 - 1/4-inch long) and oval shaped, with wings that are covered by a sometimes spotted hard exterior shell, and club-shaped antennae. Carpet beetles traditionally feed on pollen and nectar, and may be brought into a store or facility on cut flowers, but once inside they will also feed on fibrous materials like clothing, hair, fur, and wool.

Virginia

What do bed bug bites look like?

Bed bug bites do not necessarily itch and do not necessarily manifest physically at all. People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people will experience small, red, irritated, inflamed, and/or itchy spots while others will show no signs of bites. Perceived bites alone are not enough to confirm a bed bug infestation and there are other causes that could lead to skin irritations that may resemble bites. Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases and their bites usually do not require medical treatment unless symptoms are severe or persistent.

Washington

How to get rid of bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

West Virginia

How to get rid of bed bugs?

Call Copesan for positive identification and treatment. Bed bugs are difficult to kill, easy to spread, and pest management professionals are best equipped to manage them safely and effectively.

Wisconsin

How to get rid of black ants?

There are three common species of 'black ants' found in Wisconsin that are regularly found indoors and each one has unique biology, behavior, and environmental requirements. A pest management professional is required to first identify the ant to the species level before a control strategy can be put in place.

Wyoming

How to tell if you have mice in your walls?

Scratching and scurrying sounds, including ones that stop temporarily when you tap on the wall or seem to get louder at night may indicate you have rodents in the walls of your facility. As rodents emerge from walls in search of food, other signs of a rodent infestation can include gnaw marks, darkened and greasy "rub" marks, damaged food, nesting materials, tracks and droppings.