Dealing with common household pests can be more of a hassle than anything else. Spiders, bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, mice, and other common pests can cause damage to a home, carry disease, and be very difficult to get rid of without the help of a professional exterminator.
Ants
Carpenter ants are a pest that one may want to get rid of because of their capability to cause structural damage to the home. Red and black carpenter ants are two of the most common ants found in Canada. They are a nuisance and search for food in homes. They eat both plant and animal matter. Natural food sources are insects and other small invertebrates. They also enjoy the sweet body fluids of aphids and other insects. The foraging ants will invade homes and seek out protein and sweet foods.
Nests are built by burrowing into wood. They will dig tunnels and throw the sawdust-like shavings out of the nest. Because of this behavior carpenter ants are often confused with termites but you can easily tell the difference by examining their bodies.
There are hundreds of workers in a colony of carpenter ants (all sterile females). There are also males and females that reproduce and one or more queens. If part of an established colony enters a house, it may establish a smaller satellite colony.
To get rid of carpenter ants you want to remove any decaying or infested wood away from your buildings. Take firewood outside and make sure it is not stacked close to a building. When you are landscaping your home, keep decorative bark, retaining walls, and driftwood away from the home. If you have any decaying or infested structural wood, replace it with new material.
Inside your home, make sure you do not have humidity problems. Also remove any food sources that may attract the ants. Food should be kept in sealed containers and make sure you clean your floors of crumbs and other food fragments regularly.
If you find you still have problems with carpenter ants you may want to contact an exterminator to deal with the problem. The experts at Rox Bugs in Regina, Saskatchewan can help to get rid of any existing infestation.
Bed Bugs
People often want to know what they can do to prevent an infestation of bed bugs too. In order to prevent bed bugs from becoming a problem it is important to eliminate places where they can hide. Get rid of clutter in the home and vacuum frequently, especially under and behind the beds. 
If you have old wallpaper that is peeling you should repair it or remove it. Also, tighten loose electrical faceplates so bedbugs are unable to crawl behind them. If you have cracks or crevices in wooden bed frames make sure you seal them. You will also want to seal any cracks between baseboards, in walls, ceilings, windows, door frames, and other wooden furniture.
If you do end up with an infestation of bed bugs, again, it is time to call in the experts. They are able to kill the bed bugs and help offer advice on how to prevent further infestations. If you are in Regina, Saskatchewan or surrounding area, contact Rox Bugs where they have professional bed bug exterminators.
