Understanding the Life Cycle of Pests to Disrupt an Infestation

The longer pests are allowed on your property, the more time they have to cause property damage and put you and your loved ones’ health at risk. One of the best pest control methods is understanding their life cycle, so you know the most effective time to strike. Here’s a guide on the life cycle of common household pests and how to use it to combat a growing pest infestation.

Average Life Cycle of Common Pests

Most household pests, such as flies, roaches, mosquitoes and ants, follow this four-step life cycle:

1. Egg: Female pests will lay eggs in a safe location, such as on plants, in soil, or on food. Most pests will lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetime, from roaches laying up to 50 at once to ants laying up to one million per year.
   
2. Larvae: While a pest is in the larva phase, it’s time for them to grow and develop. Maggots, for instance, are an easily recognizable pest that are the larvae of house flies.
   
3. Pupa: While in the pupa stage, the larva is non-feeding as it transforms into its adult form. Most pests, including beetles, flies, ants, and bees, go through a pupa stage. This stage of a pest’s life cycle is critical because this is when they’re most vulnerable, so it’s the perfect time to strike against an infestation.
   
4. Adult: The adult phase is the final stage of life and is usually when the pests are most active. Adulthood can last from a few days to months. As adults, the pests are now capable of reproducing and starting the life cycle of another generation of pests on your property.

Using the Life Cycle to Fight a Pest Infestation

Understanding a pest’s life cycle is crucial for pest control. It’s a good idea to take care of the pest infestation when they’re most at risk, so you can quickly and effectively get rid of them. The pupa stage or younger is when they’re most likely to be affected by pest control methods, stopping the problem before it starts. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with pest infestations on your own.

Rely on Pest Control Professionals to Combat a Pest Infestation

At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, our licensed and experienced pest control technicians have the knowledge, techniques, and equipment to keep invasive pests away from your property. We use safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly methods to completely eliminate pest infestations and their contamination, while also restoring and safeguarding your property to prevent future infestations.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free pest control estimate, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.