Best Pest Control in Atlanta, Georgia

Like other cities in the southern United States, Atlanta has its own share of pests and critters: it’s consistently ranked amongst the top cities for rodent infestations in the United States, and its subtropical climate makes it a hotspot for bedbug infestations.

The state of Georgia is also susceptible to a variety of invasive insects such as:

• stink bugs
• palmetto bugs
• silverfish
• springtails
• paper wasps
• cockroaches

Other common house pests include:

• termites
• rodents
• mosquitoes
• carpenter ants
• odorous ants
• fire ants

As a homeowner, it’s your job to protect your property, your family, and your pets from possible infestations.

If all else fails, you need to know which company you can trust to do the job well. There are many critters to keep an eye on, so we’ve compiled a list of the most common home pests in Atlanta, and how you can prevent them from entering your home.

Pests in Atlanta, Georgia

Stink Bugs

Stink bugs take their name from the foul smell they emit whenever they are threatened or killed. These insects become a problem for Atlanta homes only during fall and winter, since the change in temperature forces them to find warmer places to call home. Stink bugs are not harmful to humans, pets, or property, but when in large numbers, they can be a nuisance for homeowners. Additionally, since their diet consists mostly of plants and fruit, they are a direct menace to farmers and their crops.

To prevent stink bugs from making your home theirs, you need to seal off all possible entry points, such as wall crevices and ceiling cracks, inside and outside your home. If you already have a stink bug problem, the best course of action is to contact a pest control agency directly. 

Silverfish

Silverfish take their name from the silver color of their scales and from their fish-like movements when scuttling about. Just like the stink bug, silverfish aren’t harmful to humans or pets, but they can pose a threat to your property, specifically starch-composed items like glue, photos, paper, sugar, and cereal. Homeowners with large collections of books or photo albums risk losing them if there’s ever a silverfish infestation.

Just like with stink bugs, to prevent silverfish from devouring your books or photo albums, you need to seal all openings, cracks, and crevices in your home. You should also keep potential food sources, like sugar, glue, and paper, well-sealed or packaged.

Furthermore, since silverfish prefer living in humid places, it’s important to keep your home as dry as possible, particularly areas that are prone to dampness, like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Seal any leaking pipes, clean wet areas thoroughly, and refrain from storing books, cardboard boxes, or anything with starch in these places.

If your silverfish problem is small, you can try to solve it using sticky or poison traps, but if the infestation is serious, call a pest control company as soon as possible.

Rats and Mice

These mammals prefer humid climates, so it’s no wonder why Atlanta has such a hard time handling them. The most common rats in Georgia are the Norway and roof rat, and the most common mice are the deer and house mouse. These rodents are omnivores, so they will eat anything in their path, including fruits, meat, bread, and pet food.

Unlike stink bugs and silverfish, rats and mice pose a serious threat to you and your pet’s health, since they can transfer several diseases, like leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and rat-bite fever. These diseases can be transferred by different means, including bites and scratches, and exposure to their urine, feces or saliva. Additionally, since rats and mice can gnaw through all types of construction materials, they also pose a significant threat to your property.  

To prevent rats and mice from infiltrating your home, you need to plug and secure all possible entry areas(wall cracks and pipe holes, for example) by caulking, netting, and waterproofing them. It’s also important to prevent them from finding food or water inside your home, so storing food in containers is a must. If you have rats or mice in your home, contact your preferred pest control company for help.

Cockroaches

The five common cockroaches found in Georgia are the:

1. American
2. Oriental
3. Smokybrown
4. Asian
5. German

They all vary in size, with the oriental cockroach being the largest and the German and Asian cockroach the smallest. Like rats and mice, roaches are hosts to different types of bacteria, so they can be harmful to other living beings. These bacteria can be transferred either through physical contact with the insect or by ingesting food that has been contaminated by roaches.  

To prevent cockroaches from settling in your home, you need to cut off any possible food or water sources they could find. Keep your bathroom, kitchen, dining, and living room clean check for broken or leaking pipes in these areas, dispose of your garbage in unbroken bags, and always keep your garbage cans sealed.

If you have already run into some roaches in your home, you can try to handle the problem by buying insecticide or roach traps at your local store. If this isn’t enough, you will need to seek out professional help.  

Termites

Termites are considered one of the most destructive insect species in the United States since they mostly feed on wood and dead plant matter. Most termite species prefer living in humid areas, and unfortunately, Atlanta’s subtropical weather fits that bill.

There are three different termite species in Georgia:

1. Subterranean
2. Formosa
3. Drywood

Each of these species has its own preferences when nesting and feeding, so depending on the species, you might find them in different areas of your home.

Subterranean termites are your typical termites, living underground and feeding off dampened or rotten wood.

Formosan termites are less common and share the same characteristics as subterranean termites, but they can consume wood faster than any other species.

Finally, drywood termites prefer feeding on dry, hardwood, making their nests inside the wood they consume.

To prevent termites from infesting your property, it’s important to take cautionary steps for all the species found in Georgia. Just like with most pests, you should first check for any visible cracks or holes in your roof, inside and outside your home, and seal them with caulk or plaster. Next, do a precautionary sweep of your backyard and remove any rotting plant matter (from gutters or downspouts, for example), and keep wood sources, like firewood, at least five feet away from your home and above ground.

Trees and gardens should be kept at a distance from your home, and they should be checked regularly for signs of infestation. Inside your house, keep wooden areas as dry as possible, and check your wooden furniture habitually. It is pivotal to spot termite invasions as early as possible, but if you catch them too late, you should call a trusted pest control company immediately.   

Choosing Pest Companies in Atlanta, Georgia

When you’re evaluating residential or commercial pest control companies in Atlanta, it’s important to look at the services they offer and make sure that they cover both the common pests we’ve mentioned and wildlife that is autochthonous to the region.

Ideally, the company you eventually choose should offer integrated pest management (IPM) solutions that adapt to Atlanta’s unique climate, with the option of continuous monitoring to ensure that your property remains pest-free. Detailed documentation should also be provided by the company as a way of verifying what services they’re providing and charging for.

Homeowners who obtain services from pest control companies need to check that the company has every necessary license. Particularly those provided by the Georgia Structural Pest Control Service and the Pesticide Division (for mosquitoes) with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, as well as the correct certified commercial applicator licenses for each license category in which their business is conducted.

The National Pest Management Association, Certified Pest Control Operators of Georgia, Environmental Protection Agency, American Mosquito Control Association, and the Better Business Bureau also offers licenses or certifications in the state.