Georgia, the iconic Peach State, is known for its warm climate, beautiful landscapes, and Southern hospitality. It’s also home to invasive and potentially destructive pests. Here we discuss the top 10 common pests in Georgia. From ants to rodents, these unwelcome visitors quickly turn your tranquil abode into a pest-infested nightmare.

Luckily, you don’t have to battle these intruders alone. Bug House is your trusted pest and moisture control company that helps protect your home from these nuisances. This blog explores the pests you’re most likely to see in Georgia homes and offers practical recommendations for treating and preventing them. Let’s dive in!

1. Fire Ants

Georgia’s warm climate is the perfect breeding ground for fire ants. Their venomous and notoriously painful stings make them dangerous for people and pets, and their unsightly ant hills can be an eyesore for your yard. They’re attracted to greasy and oily foods, making pet food a prime target.

Fire Ant Treatment:

• Due to their impressive numbers underground, completely eradicating fire ant colonies can be challenging. The best way to eliminate fire ants is by hiring a professional pest control company to treat their underground systems.

Fire Ant Prevention:

• Keep your lawn clear of debris and pet food.
• Regularly inspect your yard for new ant activity and schedule regular professional treatment.

2. Roaches

Living in a warm and humid environment like Georgia means cockroach infestations can be a common problem. These insects breed rapidly and can quickly spread throughout your home. Worse, they are hazardous to your family’s health, carrying germs and bacteria, spreading diseases, and worsening asthma and allergies.

Roach Treatment:

• Occasional roaches may respond to DIY methods such as boric acid, diatomaceous earth, cockroach bait stations, traps, essential oils, catnip, and soapy water.
• Professional roach treatment is required to effectively and permanently eliminate roaches.

Roach Prevention:

• Schedule regular professional pest service.
• Keep a clean and clutter-free home.
• Fix leaks, store food in airtight containers, and clean up spills.
• Seal cracks and crevices.
• Eliminate standing water.
• Use natural roach repellents like peppermint oil, cedar, bay leaves, and cucumber.

3. Mosquitoes

Georgia’s climate creates the perfect environment for mosquitoes to flourish. Even a tiny amount of rain can offer the ideal conditions for breeding. Mosquitoes are bothersome and can transmit harmful diseases like West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) to humans and animals. Additionally, they can pass on heartworms to pets, which can be lethal if left untreated.

Mosquito Treatment:

• Schedule professional mosquito spraying services. Bug House’s mosquito spraying helps control mosquito populations on your property by applying repellents and insecticides to areas where they breed and feed.

Mosquito Prevention:

• Eliminate standing water by emptying bird baths, flower pots, and buckets.
• Clear out your gutters, fix any drainage issues, and consider installing gutter guards.
• Regularly mow your lawn, trim shrubs, and remove overgrown vegetation.

4. Termites

Termites can quietly and quickly compromise the structural integrity of your home. These pests are drawn to moisture and materials that contain cellulose, which includes many common building materials. This makes homes an enticing target for termites to feast on.

Termite Treatment:

• Schedule a termite inspection with Bug House. Our experts will assess the extent of the infestation and recommend the most suitable treatment plan.
• Professional termite treatment is required to thoroughly and permanently eliminate termites in your home.

Termite Prevention:

• Fix leaks, ensure proper ventilation, and redirect water away from your home’s foundation.
• Keep firewood, lumber, and other wooden materials elevated and away from direct contact with the soil.
• Regularly maintain your yard by removing dead wood, tree stumps, and debris that could attract termites closer to your home.
• Schedule regular termite inspections.

5. Spiders

Georgia’s geographical location and climate allow different spider species to flourish. Among the spiders commonly found in households throughout the state are the American house spider and the southern house spider. Even though most spiders in Georgia do not pose any danger, some may cause inconvenience.

Spider Treatment:

• Vacuum regularly to remove spider webs and egg sacs.
• Place sticky traps in areas where spiders are commonly seen.
• Contact a professional pest control service for severe infestations or if you’re unsure about handling the issue yourself.

Spider Prevention:

• Trim bushes near your home to reduce spider habitats.
• Seal cracks and gaps in doors, windows, and walls to prevent spiders from entering.
• Keep your home clean and clutter-free to reduce hiding spots for spiders.
• Use spider-repellent sprays or natural deterrents like peppermint oil or vinegar.
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

6. Rats and Mice

Georgia homeowners often face rodent problems, with mice and rats seeking warmth and shelter in their homes during colder months. Rodents can enter through tiny cracks and openings around your home, bring germs and diseases, and cause property damage. Seek professionals to eliminate mice, rats, or other rodents. Prevention tactics are vital to keep your home rodent-free.

Rat and Mouse Treatment:

• Eliminate all sources of food and water around your home.
• Identify and seal all possible entry points.
• Call the wildlife removal experts at Bug House.

Rat and Mouse Prevention:

• Sweep up crumbs, take out the trash, and recycle daily.
• Store dry foods in metal and glass containers.
• Keep trash, recycling, and compost bins covered and don’t let them overflow.
• Block rodent tunnels with pebbles or pour cat litter down them.
• Install stainless steel rat-blocker flaps over sewer pipes and drainers.
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

7. Ants

In addition to fire ants outside, you might encounter ants indoors. Georgia is home to many species that commonly make their way inside, from sugar ants to Argentine ants. Almost all types of food and drinks attract them, but they’re particularly drawn to sweet foods like syrup and fruit juice. 

Ant Treatment:

• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your home to eliminate ants on contact
• Fill ant bait traps with borax and sugar, which ants will take back to their colony and eventually kill the queen and the entire colony.
• Use store-bought chemical ant spray with caution.
• Partner with Bug House for ant extermination with commercial-grade products and professional equipment.

Ant Prevention:

• Keep a clean and clutter-free home.
• Fix leaks, store food in airtight containers, and clean up spills.
• Seal cracks and crevices.
• Consider using essential oils like peppermint, lemon, and eucalyptus, which are natural ant repellents. 
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

8. Fleas and Ticks

Typically found outside, fleas and ticks can easily enter your home via pets or people. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, while fleas reproduce quickly, leading to infestations. Flea bites can be itchy and uncomfortable for both humans and pets.

Flea and Tick Treatment:

• Check yourself and your pets after spending time outdoors.
• Remove any ticks promptly.
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

Flea and Tick Prevention:

• Ensure your pets receive regular preventive flea and tick treatments and clean their bedding.
• Vacuum your home regularly, especially areas frequented by your pets, and wash pet bedding and linens frequently.
• Keep your yard well-maintained by trimming tall grass and bushes.

9. Bees and Wasps

Carpenter bees, paper wasps, and yellowjackets can enter homes through small openings or cracks in wooden structures. They build their nests in sheltered areas like eaves, porches, and attic spaces. Yellowjackets are particularly aggressive and can make their nests in various locations, including underground and wall voids.

Bee and Wasp Treatment:

• Do not attempt to remove or handle them yourself, especially if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, as these insects can be aggressive when they feel threatened.
• Call a licensed pest control professional like Bug House.

Bee and Wasp Prevention:

• Seal any cracks or openings in your home’s exterior.
• Keep doors and windows screened, and be cautious when leaving windows or doors open for extended periods, especially during warmer months when these insects are more active.
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

10. Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects known for their silvery-gray color and distinctive, fish-like, wriggling movements. They thrive in damp and humid environments, like bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Silverfish have a diverse diet; they can feed on paper, cardboard, book bindings, clothing, and even food items. They can also damage books, fabrics, and wallpaper if left unchecked.

Silverfish Treatment: 

• Use traps and insecticides explicitly made for treating silverfish.
• Call Bug House for general pest control.

Silverfish Prevention:

• Reduce humidity in areas where silverfish are commonly found.
• Repair plumbing leaks or moisture issues promptly.
• Keep dry food items in airtight containers.
• Remove piles of paper, cardboard, and other items that silverfish may feed on.
• Seal cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and foundations.
• Vacuum regularly.
• Schedule regular professional pest service.

Bug House Has Your Back

Keeping your Georgia home bug-free requires consistent attention, but you don’t have to handle it alone. For years, homeowners throughout the state have trusted Bug House to provide reliable pest and moisture control solutions.

We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout Georgia in Augusta, Carrollton, Columbus, Dublin, Eastman, Forsyth, Lake Oconee, Macon, Madison, McDonough, Milledgeville, Monroe, Sandersville, Savannah, St. Simons, Warner Robins, and Watkinsville.

By implementing the prevention tips we covered in this blog and teaming up with a trusted pest control company like Bug House, you can ensure your home remains a haven free from pest infestations. Reach out today!