Pest Identification Guidelines

Find Out Exactly Which Pest Has Been Bugging You

The first step in fighting off pests is learning about your opponent. Use our helpful guides below to determine which type of pest is invading your commercial or residential property. If you aren't confident that the pest in your home or office fits any of the descriptions of East Texas's most common pests below, bring in a sample and we are happy to take a look. If we haven't seen it before, we will send it to Texas A&M to be identified.

Customer satisfaction and real results are our primary goals at A. R. A. Exterminating, which is part of why we were honored to be voted into the Best of Lufkin 2014 category. Call us today. We do not require any binding contracts on preventative programs.

Common Pest Species

• Termites: We often see Eastern Subterranean Termites, and Reticulitermes flavipes, although many people confuse them for flying ants. Take a close look: termites don't have as many body segments as ants.

• Formosan Subterranean Termite: Imported to the US from Central America and the Far East in lawn and garden products, this termite is aggressive and has a large colony size, which also means that it consumes wood faster than the more common Eastern Subterranean Termite.

• Carpenter Bees: Carpenter Bees weaken structures by nesting in the wood and creating runnels that are about 1/2 inch wide and 6 to 10 inches long. They look like large bumble bees, close to 1 inch long, but they have shiny abdomen with some hair. Male bees do not sting, and females are not often known to attack.

• Red Wasps: Red wasps are 3/4 to 1 inch in length and red-colored with lengthwise wings when folded at rest. You will find that their nests are open, and they can become very aggressive if it is disturbed. Each wasp can sting multiple times, causing pain, swelling, and occasionally an allergic reaction.