Why identifying the pest matters
Different pests need different treatments. What kills ants does nothing to termites. What works on palmetto bugs can scatter German roaches deeper into your walls. So the first step of every job — ours and yours — is figuring out what you're looking at. This guide walks through the six pests we see most in Ocoee homes: what they look like, the signs they leave, and what a visit from us involves.
Ants
What they look like: Tiny dark ants marching in a line — that line is a scent trail, and the colony follows it for weeks. In Ocoee kitchens the usual suspects are ghost ants (pale, love moisture) and Argentine ants (dark, relocate after rain). Carpenter ants are bigger and excavate damp wood instead of eating it.
Signs of infestation: A steady trail of ants to the same spot — pantry, sink, pet bowl — day after day. Crumbs of wood shavings under trim or windowsills (carpenter ants). Ants that keep coming back after you wipe the trail.
What the visit involves: We trace the trail back to find where they're entering and where the colony lives, then bait at the source instead of spraying the trail. Spraying kills the ants you see and scatters the colony you don't. Our ant control page covers the full process.
Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches)
What they look like: Big — one and a half to two inches — reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-eight pattern behind the head. They fly, poorly and loudly, which is how most people meet them. They're not the small kitchen roach; those are German roaches, a different problem.
Signs of infestation: One or two big roaches inside, usually at night or after rain — they come from sewers, mulch beds, and tree holes. Smear marks along baseboards. A musty, oily smell in heavy infestations.
What the visit involves: We seal the entry points they're using (door sweeps, pipe gaps, weep holes) and treat the exterior harborages — mulch, tree bases, crawl areas — so fewer get in. German roaches need a different plan: baiting and patience. Not sure which you have? Our palmetto bugs vs. German roaches guide shows the difference.
Termites
What they look like: You rarely see the workers — they're pale, soft, and stay inside wood or soil. What you see are the signs: thin mud tubes (about the width of a pencil) climbing your foundation or walls, piles of discarded wings near windows after a spring swarm, or wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
Signs of infestation: Mud tubes on the foundation, bubbling or uneven paint, tiny holes in drywall, floors that feel soft or sag, and — the big one — winged swarmers pouring out of a wall or window frame in spring. That's a mature colony telling you where it lives.
What the visit involves: A full inspection of the foundation, crawl areas, attic, and every ground-contact point. Then either a liquid barrier in the soil or bait stations around the home, both warrantied. Never spray swarmers with household insecticide — it scatters the colony. Our termite inspection and treatment page explains both options.
Mosquitoes
What they look like: You know this one — long legs, needle nose, whining near your ear at dusk. In Central Florida they breed from March through November, and a single bottle cap of standing water is enough for a batch of eggs.
Signs of infestation: Bites that show up every evening in the yard. Standing water anywhere — saucers, gutters, birdbaths, toys, the low spot by the fence. Mosquitoes don't travel far, so if they're biting you, they're breeding within a couple hundred feet.
What the visit involves: We walk the yard and find every breeding spot, treat the vegetation where adults rest during the day, and give you the short list of water sources to dump. No standing water, no mosquitoes — the treatment handles the rest. See our mosquito prevention guide for the full yard checklist.
Rodents (roof rats and house mice)
What they look like: Roof rats are dark, sleek, about 8 inches plus a long tail — they travel the oak canopy and get in through the roofline. House mice are smaller, dusty gray, and squeeze through a gap the size of a dime.
Signs of infestation: Scratching or scurrying in the attic or walls at night. Droppings like dark grains of rice along baseboards or in the pantry. Gnaw marks on food packaging, wires, or PVC pipes. A musky smell in enclosed spaces.
What the visit involves: Removal first, sealing second — sealing holes before the rodents are out traps them inside. We find every entry point (roofline gaps, AC line penetrations, garage door seals), remove the animals, then seal with rodent-proof materials. Our rodent exclusion guide lists the entry points to check.
What every visit looks like, no matter the pest
1. We inspect first. Inside and outside — entry points, hiding spots, what's attracting them. You get the findings in plain words whether you hire us or not.
2. You get a written plan and price. What pest it is, how bad it is, what we'll do, and what it costs — before anything happens. No surprises.
3. We treat, targeted. Baits where they eat, barriers where they enter, treatments where they hide. We don't fog your whole house. Targeted beats blanket, every time.
4. We follow up. You'll know what to watch for, what to avoid (don't mop treated baseboards for a day or two), and when we're back. On a prevention plan, re-treatments between visits are free if pests return.
Not sure what you're seeing? Send us the form with a photo — we'll ID it and tell you the right next step.