Oklahoma City Pest Control

Most Common Pests in Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City is home to many species of insects, rodents, and wildlife. Learn more about the most common pests in the region.

Termites

Eastern subterranean termites are the main species of termite that live here and are responsible for most of the termite damage to manmade structures in the tri-state area. This species lives underground in large colonies, eating away at soft or decaying wood. Small gardens and mulch beds that are up against the foundation of your home can harbor entire colonies, hidden out of sight. Subterranean termites construct protected “mud tubes" that can appear on walls in your structure, utilized for safer colony travel. Wooden features throughout your home such as support beams, flooring, and window and door frames, can be severely damaged when a subterranean termite infestation goes unaddressed.

Cockroaches

German and American cockroaches are the most abundant in Philly homes. Regardless of species, it can be a surprise when you find them crawling under your sink, in your bathroom, or dashing across your path when you turn on the lights in a dark room. Cockroaches thrive indoors when food and water sources are readily available. This can include fallen crumbs, open food packaging, piled-up kitchen garbage, and general moisture issues. Even clean homes can harbor both German and American cockroaches. For many Philly residents, online shopping is commonplace. Unfortunately, cockroaches frequently travel as stowaways, as they can move from infested warehouses into shipping boxes and arrive in your home. Poor moisture control and excess humidity can also keep cockroaches living indoors. Bathrooms without proper ventilation, leaky faucets, and dripping dishwasher hoses are a magnet for cockroach activity.

Mice

As a homeowner, the last things you want to find in your home are mouse droppings and rodents scurrying around. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many Philly residents. Both connected units and standalone homes are prone to mice infestations year-round, but rodent activity is always increased during the fall and winter. Small cracks in the foundation of your home, uneven garage doors, gaps around exterior utility piping, and broken basement windows are easy entry points for mice. Because mice are nocturnal and travel along walls, it's not very likely that you'll see one crossing your path. Once indoors, they can quickly cause unsanitary conditions, leaving large amounts of droppings throughout your home as they move around at night. Mice can also contaminate food in easily penetrable or unsealed food containers. Because mice coats are full of natural oils that transfer as they scale walls or enter and exit through small spaces, oily spots called "rub marks" can stain walls where openings exist.

Rats

Norway rats are the most common species of rats in Philadelphia. When indoors, they can nest on lower levels of your home such as basements, but if the population grows too large, they can take up residence in attics and ceilings. Norway rats build their nests out of soft material like paper or grass chewed into small pieces they gather from surrounding areas. They typically search for food outdoors, but many times will come inside homes at night to gather food and return to their burrows. They can travel hundreds of feet which could mean that you are suffering from your neighbor's rat issue. Rats need a water source to survive, but they're not too picky. They can obtain water from toilets, sinks, rain puddles, or condensation from utility pipes. Outdoors, rats scavenge for fruit from trees growing on your property, and even dog droppings.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, gray, carrot-shaped pests that live indoors, commonly found in bathrooms, basements, and attics. Silverfish have long, flat bodies which means they can slip through cracks in the exterior of your home and travel throughout your house unnoticed. Bathrooms, attics, garages, basements, and crawl spaces are especially vulnerable to silverfish activity. Silverfish feed on foods with carbohydrates and proteins including paper, small insects, and paste in addition to other things commonly found around homes such as cereal, clothing, and insulation. Silverfish can be surprisingly challenging to control when compared to most other common household pests.

House Ants

No matter where you live in the city, you have probably had to contend with house ants at one point. Those tiny black ants crawling around your kitchen or bathroom are incredibly common. They thrive in environments that supply consistent food and water, both of which can be found in your home. House ant colonies live outdoors, sending scout ants to find nourishment. Once the scout ants find a leak under your bathroom sink or crumbs on the kitchen counter, they will signal the rest of the colony to follow. That's when you will see hundreds of trailing ants crawling throughout your house.

Clothes Moths

Clothes moths are small flying pests that can be found in many Philadelphia area homes. Although clothes moths can be a year-round pest issue, many people struggle with infestations in the fall. If you've ever broken out your favorite wool sweater only to find holes in the fabric, you may have a clothes moth infestation. Their damage isn't limited to wool. Clothes moths can also lay eggs in and damage carpets, upholstered furniture, and rugs. They are not an immediate health threat to humans, but they still are bothersome because of how destructive they can be to your garments and rugs. Always contact your local Terminix branch in Philadelphia for a free inspection if you suspect you have clothes moths in your home.

Spiders

House spiders and wolf spiders are among some of the most likely species of spiders you'll encounter in the Philly area. Secluded corners, garages, basements, crawlspaces, cabinets, closets, and attics are ideal hiding places for house spiders due to the low amount of foot traffic. Most house spiders are harmless and feed on other small pests that could be in your home. Wolf spiders are much larger than house spiders and can be found both outdoors and indoors. At night, wolf spiders hunt their prey which includes smaller insects. If you find a web with a large hole in the center, a wolf spider may be close by. Like house spiders, wolf spiders are not aggressive.

Centipedes

House centipedes are a common household pest in Philly. Centipedes like moist environments and may enter structures such as your basement to seek shelter. Their diet includes insects and spiders, so if there is an infestation of another pest, centipedes can thrive. Because they are so flat and relatively small, cracks and crevices in the foundation of your home serve as easy entry points for centipedes to find their way indoors. Once they find a suitable environment with food, moisture, shelter, and little foot traffic like unfinished basements and crawlspaces, centipedes can live. It's not uncommon to find centipedes in other rooms with moisture such as bathrooms and under dishwashers or sinks.

Earwigs

Earwigs are occasional invaders, mostly living within the soil, under rocks, within mulch, and among decaying organic matter outdoors. You've probably heard of earwigs attached to the myth that they crawl into your ears and lay eggs and that they're aggressive due to their large pincers. Luckily, neither of these is true. Earwigs typically use their pincers (forceps) as a defense tactic against wild predators and other earwigs. Their forceps can also be utilized for hunting prey or as part of a mating ritual in some species. Earwigs aren't dangerous or venomous toward humans, but they can cause localized pain if they pinch.

House Crickets

Common house crickets can be found in basements and garages throughout Philadelphia. If you've ever had crickets in your home, you know how bothersome their chirping can be. Not to mention the fact that they jump when disturbed. House crickets may eat paper, silk, woolen items, all kinds of foods, and even rubber. However, unless large numbers occur, the damage is typically minor. House crickets like warm places such as kitchens, fireplaces, cracks and crevices, and behind baseboards. Though they can be irritating, house crickets are harmless to humans.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are stinging insects that are primarily active in the spring and summer in Philadelphia and the suburbs. Because they don't live in large colonies, you may not see many paper wasps flying around your property. The best way to tell if paper wasps are living on your property is to identify their nests. They make nests that resemble an upside-down umbrella with a honeycomb pattern. Paper wasps scrape wood shavings off decks, wooden railings, wooden patio tables and chairs, and other wood around your property, turning it into a paste when mixed with their saliva. This mixture is used to construct their nest. Most paper wasp nests are light gray, but they can be different hues based on the color of wood available in the area.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small parasitic pests that can be found throughout homes in Philadelphia. If you frequently travel, you are especially susceptible to bed bugs that live in hotel rooms and airplanes. Are you a fan of antiques and secondhand finds? Used items such as wicker furniture, dresser drawers, and upholstered furniture may harbor bed bugs, potentially moving the infestation from the thrift store back to your home. Unlike most household pests, bed bugs do not live outside. They exclusively live indoors where there is climate control and a live host. You aren't going to find bed bugs trailing across your floor like ants. Bed bugs prefer to hide in tight spaces like around mattress piping, in the corners of bed frames, within upholstered furniture, inside dresser drawers, and even behind light socket covers and hung artwork. If you find what looks like small marks made with a permanent marker on your bed sheets, bed bugs could be around.