Infestations of the following pests may call for urgent action:

• Termites and carpenter ants
• Wasps and bees
• Gophers, moles and voles

Termites and Carpenter Ants

These can do major structural damage. Carpenter ants don't eat wood. They tunnel into wood with a 12 - 15 percent moisture content to nest. Kitchens, bath and laundry rooms, porch posts, siding that touches the earth, stumps and wood stacks are possible nest sites. Termites eat dead plant material such as wood, leaf litter, soil, and droppings. Identification is the first step of pest control. Call a county or university Extension Agencies or experienced pest control companies. Repair leaks, keep moisture and wood stacks away from foundations and walls. Keep kitchens free of sweets and grease, Dealing with a termite or carpenter ant infestation requires urgent, knowledgeable pest control methods.

Wasps and Bees

The risk of anaphylactic shock from a bee or wasp sting, while rare, can be life-threatening, so be sure your tolerance is known before tackling infestations. While a few bees or wasps can be trapped, crushed, sprayed or dusted, call an experienced pest control company for a paper wasp nest or a colony in your attic. Again, county or university Extension Agencies are great information sources.

Gophers, Moles and Voles

Mounds of earth, raised ridges in lawns, or lawn paths of missing grass stems and blades are signs of burrowing critters. Pest control depends upon the correct identification of the animal, as what works for one may not work for another. Homeowner remedies include fumigation, traps, poison pellets and electronic signal emitters. For pest control of large areas, call expert help.