FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Pest Control in Tallahassee, Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions and Pest Control Resources for Tallahassee Residents
When you discover a pest problem in your home, you have questions. Whether you are hearing scratching in the attic of your Midtown cottage or finding sawdust near the baseboards of your Southwood home, uncertainty causes stress. At Pest Control Xperts, we believe that an informed homeowner is our best partner in keeping properties pest-free. We have compiled this comprehensive guide to answer the most common and complex questions we receive from residents in Tallahassee, Quincy, and Crawfordville. This resource covers everything from our general service philosophy to specific biological behaviors of Florida pests.
Use this guide to understand what is happening in your home, how our professional pest control services work, and what you can do to prevent future infestations.
General Service and Safety Questions
How soon can you come out for a service?
We understand that when you find pests, you want them gone immediately. We prioritize scheduling to get a technician to your property as quickly as possible, often within 24 to 48 hours of your initial contact. For urgent situations, such as a severe bed bug discovery or a rodent inside the living space, we strive to offer expedited service. Our local presence in Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties allows us to navigate the area efficiently and respond faster than national chains.
Are your treatments safe for my children and pets?
Safety is the cornerstone of our integrated pest management approach. We utilize products and application methods designed to minimize risk to your family and pets. In many cases, we use targeted baits and gels placed in cracks and crevices where pests hide but where children and pets cannot reach. For exterior liquid treatments or flea services, we will advise you to keep pets and children out of the treated area until the product has completely dried. Once dry, the area is safe for normal use. We always encourage you to let us know about any specific allergies or sensitivities in your household so we can tailor our plan accordingly.
Do I need to leave my home during the treatment?
For the majority of our standard pest control services—such as ant control, roach baiting, or termite inspection—you do not need to leave your home. Our modern application techniques are low-odor and unobtrusive. However, for specific intensive treatments, such as flea extermination or widespread bed bug eradication, we may ask that you vacate the property for a few hours to allow the products to settle and dry properly. We will always provide clear, written instructions well in advance if you need to make arrangements.
What is “Integrated Pest Management” (IPM)?
You will hear us mention Integrated Pest Management often. IPM is an environmentally sensitive approach that relies on common sense practices rather than just spraying chemicals. It involves three steps: inspection, identification, and treatment. Instead of blanket-spraying your entire home, we investigate why the pests are there. Are they coming in through a hole in the screen? Are they attracted to a moisture leak? By fixing the root cause (exclusion and sanitation) and using pesticides only where necessary, we provide a more effective, longer-lasting, and safer solution.
Do you offer “green” or organic pest control options?
Yes, we offer environmentally friendly pest control strategies for clients who prefer them. These services utilize essential oil-based products, botanical insecticides, and mechanical trapping methods. While these products can be effective, they often work as repellents rather than long-term elimination agents, so they may require more frequent application than traditional methods. We are happy to discuss the pros and cons of organic pest control versus traditional targeted treatments to find the right balance for your home.
Why do I see more bugs after you treat my home?
It sounds counterintuitive, but seeing more bug activity immediately after a service is often a sign of success. Many of our treatments, particularly for cockroaches and ants, involve “flushing agents” or slow-acting baits. These products irritate the pests and force them out of their hiding spots in wall voids and crevices. It also disrupts their normal behavior. This period of increased activity typically lasts for a few days to a week before the population crashes and dies off.
Do you service commercial businesses as well as homes?
Absolutely. We provide comprehensive commercial pest services for a wide range of industries in Tallahassee and Quincy. We manage pest control for restaurants, office buildings, warehouses, retail stores, and multi-unit housing complexes. We understand the unique pressures of commercial compliance, including the need for discreet service, after-hours availability, and detailed logbooks for health inspectors.
Termite Inspection and Treatment FAQs
What is the difference between flying ants and termite swarmers?
This is the most common question we get during the spring. Both insects swarm in large numbers to mate, but they look different. Termites have a “cigar-shaped” body with a thick waist, straight antennae, and four wings that are all equal in length. Ants have a pinched “wasp-like” waist, elbowed antennae, and front wings that are longer than their back wings. If you see swarmers inside your home, please try to collect a few in a plastic bag or jar. Accurate identification is the first step to saving your home from structural damage.
I have a block home on a slab. Do I still need termite protection?
Yes, absolutely. A concrete block home is not immune to termites. Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel up the foundation to reach the wooden components of your house, such as roof trusses, interior framing, baseboards, and kitchen cabinets. They enter through tiny cracks in the slab (often around plumbing pipes) or travel up the exterior stucco. In Florida, there is no such thing as a “termite-proof” home unless it is made entirely of steel and glass.
How does the “trench and treat” liquid method work?
The trench and treat method involves digging a shallow trench around the exterior perimeter of your home’s foundation. We then apply a non-repellent liquid termiticide into the soil. As termites tunnel through the treated soil to reach your home, they come into contact with the product. Because it is non-repellent, they do not avoid it. They carry the material back to the colony, infecting other termites and eventually eliminating the queen. This method provides an immediate, continuous barrier of protection.
Do bait stations attract more termites to my house?
No. Termite bait stations do not “call” termites from long distances. Termites are constantly foraging in the soil, looking for food blindly. The stations are placed in the ground around your home to intercept these foragers before they find your foundation. Once they find the bait station, they prefer the bait over wood, feed on it, and share it with the colony. It is a smart, proactive way to eliminate the colony without pumping gallons of liquid into the ground.
How often should I have my home inspected for termites?
We recommend a professional termite inspection at least once a year. In our region, termite pressure is intense, and conditions can change quickly. A new leak, a shift in the foundation, or landscaping changes can create new entry points. An annual inspection ensures that your protection system is working and catches any new activity early, preventing extensive damage.
What are mud tubes and where should I look for them?
Mud tubes are pencil-width tunnels that subterranean termites build to protect themselves from the drying air and sunlight as they travel from the soil to the wood. You should look for them on the exterior foundation walls (rising from the dirt), inside the garage on the walls, or in the crawlspace on piers. If you break a tube open and see small white insects, the infestation is active.
Cockroach Control FAQs
Why can’t I get rid of German cockroaches with store-bought sprays?
German cockroaches are incredibly resilient and reproduce faster than almost any other pest. Store-bought sprays are typically repellents that kill on contact. This means you might kill the few roaches you see, but the spray sends the rest of the nest scattering deeper into your walls or into other rooms, spreading the infestation. Furthermore, German roach eggs are protected in a hard casing called an ootheca, which most sprays cannot penetrate. Our professional service uses baits and growth regulators that the roaches eat and share, killing the nest and stopping the eggs from developing.
What is the difference between a Palmetto Bug and a Cockroach?
In Florida, “Palmetto Bug” is a polite local nickname for the American Cockroach. They are the same insect. These large, reddish-brown roaches prefer to live outdoors in trees and mulch but come inside looking for water or shelter. Unlike the smaller German roach that infests kitchens, the Palmetto Bug usually enters from the outside. Treatment for them focuses on exterior perimeter defense and sealing entry points rather than intense interior baiting.
How do I prepare my kitchen for a roach treatment?
To get the best results, we need access to the cracks and crevices where roaches hide. We generally recommend removing all items from your countertops and, in severe cases, emptying the cabinets under the sink. It is crucial to clean up any grease, crumbs, or food spills before we arrive. Sanitation is half the battle; if the roaches have plenty of food debris to eat, they are less likely to take our bait.
Why do roaches come inside even when my house is clean?
While poor sanitation attracts roaches, even spotless homes can get them. American cockroaches (Palmetto Bugs) often enter simply to find water or escape extreme temperatures. German cockroaches are hitchhikers—they can be brought inside in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, or used appliances. Once inside, they can survive on tiny amounts of food, like the glue on a postage stamp or soap residue.
Rodent Removal and Prevention FAQs
I hear scratching in my attic at night. Is it rats or squirrels?
The time of day is a big clue. Squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. If you hear thumping and scratching at sunrise or sunset, it is likely squirrels. Rats and mice are nocturnal. If the noise happens in the dead of night, you are likely dealing with rodents. Specifically, Roof Rats are famous for making noise in Tallahassee attics. A professional inspection looking for droppings and entry points is the only way to be 100% sure.
Why is trapping better than using poison in the attic?
We rarely recommend using rodenticides (poisons) inside an attic. If a rat eats the poison and dies inside a wall void or deep in the insulation where we cannot reach it, the smell of the decaying animal can be unbearable and last for weeks. It also attracts flies and other pests. Trapping allows us to confirm the catch and remove the carcass from your home, ensuring a sanitary result.
How do rats get into my house?
Rats are incredibly agile. Roof Rats can jump several feet and run along power lines to reach your roof. Once there, they look for gaps in the soffit vents, roof returns, or ridges. Norway Rats and mice often enter near the ground through gaps around AC lines, unsealed pipe penetrations, or under garage doors with worn weather stripping. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime, and rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter.
What is “exclusion” and why is it necessary?
Exclusion is the process of physically sealing your home to prevent pests from entering. It is the most critical part of rodent control. If you trap the rats inside but do not seal the hole they used to get in, new rats will simply smell the pheromones and move in a few weeks later. We use steel wool, wire mesh, concrete, and metal flashing to close these entry points permanently.
Are rodent droppings dangerous?
Yes. Rodent droppings and urine can carry diseases such as Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, and Salmonellosis. When droppings dry out, microscopic particles can become airborne and be inhaled. We recommend professional pest sanitation services to safely clean and disinfect areas with heavy rodent activity, rather than trying to sweep or vacuum them yourself which can kick up dust.
Rodent Removal and Prevention FAQs
I hear scratching in my attic at night. Is it rats or squirrels?
The time of day is a big clue. Squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. If you hear thumping and scratching at sunrise or sunset, it is likely squirrels. Rats and mice are nocturnal. If the noise happens in the dead of night, you are likely dealing with rodents. Specifically, Roof Rats are famous for making noise in Tallahassee attics. A professional inspection looking for droppings and entry points is the only way to be 100% sure.
Why is trapping better than using poison in the attic?
We rarely recommend using rodenticides (poisons) inside an attic. If a rat eats the poison and dies inside a wall void or deep in the insulation where we cannot reach it, the smell of the decaying animal can be unbearable and last for weeks. It also attracts flies and other pests. Trapping allows us to confirm the catch and remove the carcass from your home, ensuring a sanitary result.
How do rats get into my house?
Rats are incredibly agile. Roof Rats can jump several feet and run along power lines to reach your roof. Once there, they look for gaps in the soffit vents, roof returns, or ridges. Norway Rats and mice often enter near the ground through gaps around AC lines, unsealed pipe penetrations, or under garage doors with worn weather stripping. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime, and rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter.
What is “exclusion” and why is it necessary?
Exclusion is the process of physically sealing your home to prevent pests from entering. It is the most critical part of rodent control. If you trap the rats inside but do not seal the hole they used to get in, new rats will simply smell the pheromones and move in a few weeks later. We use steel wool, wire mesh, concrete, and metal flashing to close these entry points permanently.
Are rodent droppings dangerous?
Yes. Rodent droppings and urine can carry diseases such as Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, and Salmonellosis. When droppings dry out, microscopic particles can become airborne and be inhaled. We recommend professional pest sanitation services to safely clean and disinfect areas with heavy rodent activity, rather than trying to sweep or vacuum them yourself which can kick up dust.
Bed Bug Eradication FAQs
How did I get bed bugs? Is it because my house is dirty?
Bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness. You can find them in five-star hotels and immaculate homes just as often as in messy ones. They are accidental hitchhikers. You likely picked them up on your luggage while traveling, on your clothes from sitting in a public place, or by bringing in second-hand furniture. In apartment complexes or dorms, they can also migrate from neighboring units through wall voids.
Do I have to throw away my mattress and furniture?
In most cases, no. We can successfully treat mattresses, box springs, and furniture. We typically recommend installing a certified bed bug encasement on your mattress and box spring after treatment. This traps any remaining bugs inside (where they eventually die) and prevents new bugs from establishing a nest deep in the seams. However, if a piece of furniture is heavily compromised or damaged, disposal might be the most cost-effective option.
How do I prepare for a bed bug treatment?
Preparation is vital for success. We will provide a detailed checklist, but the main tasks involve reducing clutter. You cannot effectively treat a room if the floor is covered in clothes and boxes. You will need to strip the bed, wash all bedding and clothing in hot water, and dry them on high heat. You should also pull furniture away from the walls to give our technicians access to the baseboards.
Why do bed bugs bite in a line?
Bed bug bites often appear in a pattern known as “breakfast, lunch, and dinner”—a line or cluster of three or four bites. This happens because the bug is easily disturbed while feeding. If you move in your sleep, the bug detaches, moves a short distance, and bites again. However, everyone reacts differently to bites; some people have no reaction at all, which allows the infestation to grow unnoticed.
Ant and Spider Control FAQs
Why are there tiny ants all over my kitchen counter?
You are likely dealing with “sugar ants,” a catch-all term for small species like Ghost Ants or Pharaoh Ants. They are attracted to moisture and sweet food sources. These ants are notoriously difficult to control with sprays because their colonies have multiple queens. If you spray them, the colony splits (buds) and spreads. We use specialized baits that the workers carry back to feed the queens, eliminating the entire colony systematically.
Does killing a spider attract more spiders?
No, this is a myth. However, seeing a lot of spiders is a sign that you have a healthy population of other insects. Spiders are predators. They only hang around where there is a steady food supply. By reducing the general insect population (flies, gnats, roaches, earwigs) around your home, we naturally force the spiders to move elsewhere to find food.
How can I tell if a spider is dangerous?
In Tallahassee, the two spiders of medical concern are the Southern Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. The Black Widow is shiny black with a distinct red hourglass shape on its abdomen. It builds messy, chaotic webs low to the ground. The Brown Recluse is light brown with a dark violin shape on its back (though this can be hard to see). Recluses are, as the name implies, shy and hide in dark, undisturbed areas. If you are unsure, do not handle the spider. Call us for identification and removal.
Do you handle Fire Ants in the yard?
Yes. Imported Red Fire Ants are a major problem in Florida yards. Their stings are painful and can be dangerous to pets and small children. We offer yard-wide granular treatments that sterilize the queen, causing the mound to collapse. This is far more effective than pouring boiling water or gasoline on individual mounds, which just causes the colony to move a few feet away.
Flea and Tick Outdoor Control FAQs
I treated my dog for fleas, but they are still in the house. Why?
Treating the pet is only 50% of the solution. The fleas on your dog represent only the adults (about 5% of the population). The eggs, larvae, and pupae are living in your carpet, rugs, and furniture. If you don’t treat the home, these stages will mature and jump right back onto your treated pet. Total control requires a coordinated effort: your vet treats the animal, and we treat the environment with insect growth regulators to stop the life cycle.
Can ticks live inside my house?
Most ticks, like the Lone Star Tick or Deer Tick, cannot survive long indoors because the air is too dry. However, the Brown Dog Tick is an exception. This species is unique because it can complete its entire life cycle indoors, infesting kennels, curtains, and living rooms. If you are finding ticks crawling on your walls or curtains, you likely have a Brown Dog Tick infestation, which requires immediate, specialized indoor treatment.
How do you keep ticks out of my yard?
We treat the “ecotone”—the transition areas where your lawn meets the woods or heavy brush. Ticks don’t usually hang out in the middle of a sunny, mowed lawn. They wait on tall grasses and shrubs for a host to walk by. We target these harborages to create a buffer zone. We also recommend keeping your grass mowed short and removing leaf litter, which reduces the moisture ticks need to survive.
Are mosquitoes included in your pest control service?
Mosquito control is typically a specialized add-on service because it requires different application methods (misting) and frequencies. However, our general pest control services do help reduce mosquito breeding sites by identifying standing water and offering recommendations on moisture control around the property.
Service Area and Logistics
What areas do you serve?
Pest Control Xperts is proud to be a locally focused company. We serve the entire Tallahassee metropolitan area and the surrounding rural communities. Our primary service area includes:
- Leon County: Tallahassee, Killearn, Southwood, Midtown, College Town, Woodville, Miccosukee.
- Gadsden County: Quincy, Midway, Havana, Gretna.
- Wakulla County: Crawfordville, Wakulla Springs, St. Marks, Panacea, Medart, Sopchoppy.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
We believe in earning your business with every service. While we offer annual service agreements that provide the best value and guaranteed protection (especially for termites), we also offer one-time treatments for specific issues like flea outbreaks or wasp nest removal. We will present you with the options and let you choose the plan that fits your needs and budget.
How do I pay for my service?
We try to make the process as easy as possible. We accept all major credit cards, checks, and offer online bill pay options. Our technicians can also take payment at the time of service.
What if the bugs come back between scheduled visits?
This is the core of our service commitment. If you are on one of our recurring pest management plans and you experience a resurgence of pests between our scheduled visits, simply reach out to us for assistance. We will return to your home to re-treat the affected areas at no additional charge. We stand by the quality of our work.
Zip codes we serve: 32301, 32303, 32304, 32305, 32308, 32309, 32310, 32311, 32312, 32317, 32327, 32351, 32352, 32353, 32346, 32355, 32358