Pest Control Services Blog

You keep your home clean, take out the trash, and maybe even sprinkle a little peppermint oil around for luck, and yet, pests keep showing up. Whether it’s ants in your kitchen counter or mosquitoes swarming your porch, the truth is that some everyday habits are practically an open invitation to unwanted critters. In this blog, our Charleston, SC, pest control experts will explore what you might be doing to cause a pest problem—and how to fix it before it gets out of hand. 1. Leaving Pet Food Out Your furry friends are adorable, but their food can be a major draw for pests. Ants, cockroaches, and even rodents love a bowl of food left out overnight. And it’s not just about the mess—these tiny invaders can carry bacteria that aren’t great for pets or humans. Quick Fix: Feed pets at set times and pick up uneaten food immediately. Even a 10-minute window can make a huge difference in keeping your home pest-free. 2. Letting Trash Sit Too Long We get it—life is busy. But leaving garbage in the kitchen or on the porch for days is basically ringing the dinner bell for pests. Fruit flies, roaches, and rodents will

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying—they can pose real health risks to your family and pets. If you’re constantly swatting at them in your yard, the problem might be closer than you think. Many of the worst mosquito breeding zones are hiding in plain sight around your home. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common areas to monitor around your home and discuss ways to reduce this pest problem as much as possible. Common Mosquito Breeding Areas to Watch For 1. Buckets, Toys & Yard Equipment Anything that can collect rainwater becomes a breeding ground for mosquitos and various other pests. Empty, dry, or store items like buckets, flower pots, wheelbarrows, and kids’ toys upside down. 2. Clogged Gutters Leaves and debris trap standing water in gutters—prime real estate for mosquito eggs. Regularly cleaning your gutters helps reduce mosquito populations. 3. Birdbaths & Pet Bowls Mosquitoes love stagnant water. If you have a birdbath, pet bowl, or fountain, be sure to refresh it at least once a week. 4. Tarp Covers & Pool Covers Tarps and covers that sag or aren’t tightly secured can pool water. Keep these tight, and check after rain to ensure they’re dry. 5. Low Spots &

If you live in Charleston, you know the charm of Southern evenings, from porch swings and barbecues to coastal breezes. But along with that charm comes one very unwelcome guest: mosquitoes. These pests aren’t just annoying, but they pose real risks to your home life and health. In this blog, we’ll explore why professional mosquito control is a worthy investment for the health and comfort of you and your family. Mosquitoes Thrive in Charleston’s Climate Charleston’s warm, humid climate and frequent rainfall create the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed. From standing water in gutters and flower pots to puddles after a rainstorm, mosquitoes multiply quickly here, turning your beautiful yard into a hotspot for bites. Beyond the Itch: Health Risks in Charleston Mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus and Zika have been reported in the Charleston area. Protecting your family means more than just avoiding itchy bites—it means reducing exposure to potentially serious diseases common in our region. Why DIY Isn’t Enough Charleston’s unique climate requires more than quick fixes. DIY sprays and repellents can provide temporary relief, but without professional, ongoing treatment, mosquitoes will always return. That’s where Allpro Pest Control steps in. How Professional Mosquito Control Protects

Living in Charleston comes with its share of unique challenges, especially when it comes to pests. The warm, humid Lowcountry climate creates the perfect environment for all kinds of unwanted critters, from mosquitoes and spiders to termites and rodents. But while it’s tempting to grab some bug spray or set traps on your own, many well-meaning DIY efforts can backfire. At AllPro Pest Management, we’ve seen firsthand the common mistakes homeowners make, and we want to help you avoid them. In this blog, we’ll explore the top seven DIY pest control mistakes Charleston residents often make, and why professional pest control is usually the smarter choice. 1. Using the Wrong Products for Local Pests Charleston’s pest problems aren’t the same as anywhere else. For example, southern house spiders, wolf spiders, and fire ants are very common here, but they need different approaches than pests in drier or colder regions. Many DIY products are generic and won’t target the specific pests you have—or worse, they might only kill the visible bugs while leaving nests or colonies untouched. Applying the wrong chemical or missing critical treatment spots leads to wasted money and frustration when pests come right back. 2. Treating Only What

When it comes to protecting your home, most homeowners focus on the visible areas, such as the roof, siding, windows, and doors. But one part of the house often goes unnoticed until it causes a problem: the crawlspace. If your home has a crawlspace, keeping it sealed and dry is essential for moisture control and long-term pest prevention. That’s where crawlspace encapsulation comes in. It’s a long-term solution designed to create a clean, controlled environment underneath your home—and one that pests are far less interested in. In this blog, we’ll explore the ins and outs of crawlspace encapsulation and how it promotes a pest-free environment. Understanding Crawlspace Encapsulation Crawlspace encapsulation is the process of sealing off the crawlspace using a combination of heavy-duty vapor barriers, insulation, and air sealing. The purpose is to isolate the crawlspace from the moisture and air from outside, which can contribute to mold growth, poor air quality, and unwanted pest activity. A typical encapsulation includes the following: Installing a vapor barrier (usually a thick plastic sheet) along the crawlspace floor and walls Sealing vents, cracks, and gaps that allow outside air and pests in Optionally adding insulation along walls or rim joists for temperature control

If you’ve lived through a few summers in Charleston, South Carolina, you know what to expect: sunshine, humidity, warm weather, sweet tea, and bugs. A lot of bugs. As the temperatures climb and the Lowcountry air gets thick, pests of all kinds come out of hiding and start making themselves a little too comfortable inside our homes and businesses. In this blog, our pest control team will explore five of the most common pests to watch for in Charleston this summer and share a few tips on how to keep your home from becoming their summer vacation spot. 1. Mosquitoes Mosquitoes love the hot, humid air, and they’ll breed just about anywhere there’s standing water, from a birdbath to that bucket you forgot about in the backyard. Aside from being annoying, mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile virus, which you don’t want around your kids or pets. What you can do: Dump standing water once a week, clean out gutters, and trim the yard. For absolute peace of mind, let us handle regular mosquito control treatments—we know precisely where they like to hide. 2. Palmetto Bugs Commonly referred to as “palmetto bugs” in Charleston, these large American cockroaches are

Spring in Charleston is all about warmer weather, fresh blooms, and more time outdoors. However, it isn’t just the locals who appreciate the pleasant weather—pests love this season just as much as we do. As temperatures rise, so does pest activity, with bugs and rodents coming out in full force, looking for food, water, and a cozy place to stay. In this blog, we’ll explore the top five pests to keep an eye on this spring and what you can do to keep them out. 1. Termites Charleston’s humid climate is basically a termite paradise—especially for subterranean termites known for causing severe structural damage. These pests swarm in the spring, looking for new places to take up residence. If you see tiny wings near your windowsills, mud tubes on your foundation, or wood that sounds hollow when you tap it, you might have a problem. 2. Mosquitoes Spring showers don’t just bring flowers; they bring mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive in Charleston’s warm, damp conditions and can make spending time outside a nightmare. Worse yet, they carry diseases like West Nile virus and Zika virus. The best way to keep them away is to remove standing water around your home, use insect

If there’s one place to be in the termite-control business, Charleston is it. There are two kinds of houses here, experts say: those that have termite damage and those that will get it. Formosan termites, among the Holy City’s most unwelcome residents, chewed their way into the headlines again recently when their destructive menace was discovered at Bethel United Methodist Church in downtown Charleston. Officials closed the doors to the 1852 Greek Revival church until experts determine how much damage the tiny timber-eaters have done and how it can be fixed. The termite’s appetite for destruction is such that more than 130 licensed termite-control firms are in the Charleston area, among about 850 statewide, and there appears to be plenty of business to go around. As the region has grown, so has the industry. What once was considered a one-man-band profession, in which many operators worked out of their cars, now large corporations such as Terminix and Orkin are on the scene. The latter started as a one-man operation more than 100 years ago and grew like, well, termites, into a company with 8,000 employees in more than 400 locations. There’s even a local trade group called the Greater Charleston

Photo above courtesy of Post & Courier. Searching the seams of mattresses, behind headboards and under dust ruffles once was considered odd behavior. But peering into such spaces in houses and other buildings is becoming more common since a pest, thought to have been eradicated decades ago, has returned. It’s the bedbug. Some say it’s back with a vengeance. When night falls, bedbugs crawl from hiding places in and around beds, baseboards, wall outlets, picture frames and window coverings. The bugs move about in search of warm-blooded animals, usually humans, for their blood meal. Their five- to 10-minute feedings are not painful, so victims often can’t figure out what is causing the hive-like welts that can result. Telltale signs, however, can include blood droplets that bugs leave on bed linens and their excrement, which resembles tiny black dots, and can be found around the house. The proliferation of bedbugs has nothing to do with hygiene and they are not believed to spread disease, according to experts. Increased international travel, lack of public awareness and increased resistance to pesticides as well as changes in their application, are reasons offered for the increase in the bugs. The bugs, whose adults are brownish-red

Formosan facts Chris Leigh-Jones has been involved in renovating about 30 neglected homes on the peninsula. His company looks to invest in those that are 100 years or older and a challenge to repair. Where do Formosan termites come from? In South Carolina, they were introduced to Charleston during the mid-1950s through port shipments from Asia. Where have Formosan termites been found in South Carolina? Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties as well as in Beaufort, Orangeburg and York counties and on Hilton Head Island. What do Formosan swarmers, which will appear around Memorial Day, look like? They have a brown body, are about 1/4-inch long, and have wings with lots of hairs. Are Formosans super-termites resistant to termiticides? No, but there are millions of Formosans in each subterranean colony compared with a few hundred thousand in native termite colonies, so they do more damage in a shorter time. They can be controlled, as can native termite species. How much termite damage is caused by them in the Lowcountry? More than 90 percent of the termite damage done in the Lowcountry is caused by Formosans. Source: Clemson University Thanks to Formosan termites and the damage they cause, he has not been