Bed bugs are brown, oval-shaped insects that feed on human blood and multiply quickly. Although a bed bug infestation can occur at any time of the year, fall is when many residents find themselves needing to invest in professional bed bug treatment. In many cases, bed bugs hitch a ride home during summer vacations and are able to multiply undetected for several months. In others, they’re able to transfer from home to home as children go back to school and have more frequent home-to-home contact.

Bed bugs don’t normally pose significant health risks, but the sores their bites create can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Four of the most common signs of a bed bug infestation include:

• Shells and/or molted skins
• Small bloodstains on bedding
• Clustered red welts that itch and burn
• White eggs approximately 1 millimeter in length

Few pests alarm homeowners quite like cockroaches, and understandably so! Cockroaches often make their way through garbage, sewers, and other areas in which they can pick up bacteria and pathogens that are spread wherever they go. They can also exacerbate asthma and allergies and susceptible individuals, making it extremely important to take steps to keep them out and treat infestations as soon as they’re discovered.

Cockroaches are primarily active at night, which can make them more difficult to spot than some other pests, and the fact that they can take up residence almost anywhere only compounds the problem. If you notice any of the following signs, contact our team to schedule an inspection:

• Dark-brown egg casings
• Exoskeleton sheddings
• Dark droppings that look similar to ground coffee
• Musty odor near drains, cupboards, and other secluded spaces

Like the pests discussed in the previous three sections, ants have a difficult time thriving once summer transitions into fall and the temperature begins to drop. New Hampshire is home to several different kinds of ants, but carpenter ants are by far the most destructive and worrisome species that could take up residence in your property.

Carpenter ants can be difficult to spot due to the fact that they often make their way inside through small cracks and crevices before nesting inside of walls and other sealed-off areas. However, there are a few subtle signs to watch for this fall:

• Piles of wood shavings in secluded areas
• Winged ants crawling out of floorboards, walls, and other indoor areas
• Shed wings near windows, doors, vents, and other access points
• Subtle rustling noises in walls and woodwork

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Mice, rats, and other rodents can be a nuisance for homeowners at any time of the year, but summer is when they are at their most active. Summer gardens, food scraps from outdoor events, compost piles, and firewood can all attract them to your property, putting you, your family, and your home at risk of disease and structural damage.

As is the case with other seasonal pests, the best way to solve a rodent infestation problem is to keep it from occurring in the first place. Anchor Pest Services is familiar with rodents in all of the local areas we serve, and we would be more than happy to help you come up with a plan to prevent rodents from making your home their own this summer.