Why You Still See Bugs After a Home Pest Control Treatment

If you’re investing in professional pest control applications, you want to be confident that they’re working. That’s why you might be frustrated or concerned if you are still seeing bugs after pest control treatments.

What does this mean? Are your pest control treatments not effective?

Jump to Section

• What Are the Signs I Need Pest Control?
• What to Expect From My First Pest Control Treatment?
• Why Am I Still Seeing Bugs After A Pest Control Treatment?
• How Long Does It Take for Pest Control to Work?
• How Can I Tell If Pest Control is Working?
• Choosing Pest Control in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany MS

First and foremost, don’t panic.

There are good reasons why you might still see bugs, even after you’ve started with pest control. In fact, there can even be an influx in the number of pests you notice when you first get started with these services.

In this article, we’ll explain why…and provide helpful advice on what you ought to know. Understanding the basics of pest control can help you feel confident that you’re getting the most value from your investment in these services.

What Are the Signs I Need Pest Control?

The most obvious sign that you need pest control is spotting the pests themselves. A lot of homeowners call for professional pest control because they’ve spotted a pest, like a spider or a cockroach, inside their home. We understand that this is very unsettling. People want to keep pests out of their safe space!

But there are also less-obvious signs that you might have a pest problem. These include unusual odors or sounds (such as scratching and scurrying), droppings, damaged food packaging, or grease marks on walls (often left by cockroaches).

Sometimes these signs are small or subtle, and you might not notice them unless you’re looking. Pests are really good at hiding and often only come out at night or when they’ll be undetected. And small pests might never leave behind noticeable signs.

But here’s a disturbing fact you probably didn’t want to know: You already have pests in your house, whether you’ve overtly noticed it or not.

Research shows that an average home can host up to 100 different species of arthropods. Arthropods is a general category covering many kinds of household pest like ants, spiders, and centipedes.

While we hate to be the bearer of that bad news (or make that “icky” news), it’s an unfortunate fact that bugs are always looking for ways inside, as your home offers comfort and shelter.

That’s why we’d advise against waiting until you see signs of a pest problem before investing in professional pest control. If you don’t want to share your home with pests, it’s best to address the issue now.

What to Expect From My First Pest Control Treatment?

Professional pest control typically starts with a thorough inspection. Whether you already know you have a pest problem, or you’re just being proactive and trying to prevent future problems, a pest control program starts with a thorough inspection of your home and property during that first visit.

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, this includes searching the interior and exterior of the home. We’ll search for common hiding spots such as pantries, closets, sinks, storage areas, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Pests are skilled at hiding, but our trained pest pros know exactly which signs to look for.

Understanding where pests might be lurking can help inform your customized treatment plan.

Once a plan is in place, pest control applications and pest-proofing measures will commence.

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, it’s pretty rare for our technicians to find a need to spray every single room and baseboard in your home. We take a conservative approach, treating only necessary areas, and also provide recommendations for ways you can keep pests out. Efforts like cleaning up food crumbs, taking out the garbage promptly, fixing leaky pipes, and more can help pest-proof your home.

When we move outside the home, our technicians will sweep up to 12 feet and apply an insecticide barrier around the home's foundation to knock down lurking spiders and create a protective layer that prevents pests from coming inside.

The best way to get rid of pests is to keep them out in the first place!

That’s why exterior treatments are so important.

Why Am I Still Seeing Bugs After A Pest Control Treatment?

So, you’ve invested in professional pest control, and you’re still seeing pests. What gives?!

Don’t panic. Even though pest control is highly effective at helping you get rid of bugs, it can take a little bit of time. Some bugs, like roaches,  take longer to control than others.  

Roaches, for example, are best controlled with products they need to consume or come into contact with. A barrier spray or a fast-acting spray provides immediate effects but no long-term control. Using roaches as an example, the population is reduced after a treatment, but then it takes a few days to see the full results.

It’s important that your pest control program includes a range of products that target different pests and in different ways, for maximum effectiveness against ALL pests.

In addition, once you start professional pest control treatments, there is often a period of “flushing” that takes place. This is a natural step in getting rid of pests. It simply means that after a pest control application, some pests may be “flushed out” of their hiding places.

That means that a sudden influx of pests doesn’t mean pest control treatments aren’t working. It can be just the opposite, actually. Those pests were already there, but in hiding.

Pest control is making sure they’re taken care of!

How Long Does It Take for Pest Control to Work?

You will see an immediate reduction in pests once your pest pro has been by for a service visit. Professional pest control is designed to work fast.

But as we’ve mentioned, some pests, like roaches, can take a few days to respond to treatments.  

Other pests, such as ants, are typically controlled quickly (1 to 2 days in most cases, up to a week for heavy infestations).  

Additionally, some pests may require a second application for full control. That's why we include free return visits if needed. Your pest pro will always advise you about your situation, as every circumstance is unique.

How Can I Tell If Pest Control is Working?

You will typically see a reduction or elimination of pests within a day.  You may also encounter a dead roach or spider. That's a sign that the application worked, not a sign of more pests.

Of course, if you have a bad infestation, you have to be realistic that it’s going to take more than one treatment to get your problem under control. Even though it’s working, it will take some time to eliminate ALL the pests in an infestation.

As you assess your pest control results, keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for homeowners to have no clue how many pests were hiding in their home. You might not always find dead pests, and that’s okay.

You can still have peace of mind that these products are working to keep pests away. As we’ve mentioned, exterior treatments are incredibly effective at keeping pests out of your home in the first place. You might think of it like a shield around your house. So even though you won’t notice these pests, you can have confidence they’re being kept away.

Lawn & Pest Solutions technicians are also on call for customers should any needs arise. We want to hear from our customers and don't want them resorting to DIY tactics after hiring us. This could work against our efforts.

By calling or texting when they have a need, we can better assess the situation and offer advice and a treatment plan that will produce better results for them.

Choosing Pest Control in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS

You have choices when it comes to pest control in Tupelo, Oxford, and New Albany, MS. Be sure to do your research and look for a company that you feel confident has your best interest at heart.

When searching for the best pest control in Hernando, Olive Branch, Oxford, and Tupelo, MS, Lawn & Pest Solutions wants to be at the top of your list. We love helping homeowners like you who just want some peace of mind in their own home!

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer a full array of professional pest control and lawn care services. This means you don’t have to deal with two companies for these services; you can have one contact to call and one to handle these issues.

At the end of the day, we want to help you achieve peace of mind so you don’t have to stress about pests lurking around your home.

Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for the best pest control services for your home and landscape in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS? We’d love to learn more about you. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan perfect for you and your home.