Common Types of Water Bugs We Fight
Oriental cockroaches mislabeled as water bugs thrive in damp places. These shiny, dark, one-inch pests have six legs, antennae, and small, non-flying wings (males) or are wingless (females). They're identifiable by their greasy, reddish-brown to black shells.
Here are the types of aquatic insects:
Water Scorpions
These have pincer-like limbs and a stinger-like breathing tube, and capture and feed on smaller aquatic creatures by strangling them.
Giant Water Bugs
These large freshwater ambush predators seize prey with strong front legs and inject enzymes to liquify the tissues of fish and other small aquatic creatures.
Water Boatmen
Striped 0.5-inch bugs with oar-like hairy legs, they primarily feed on algae and plants using specialized digestive enzymes.
Water Striders
With long middle and back legs "walking" on water, water striders prey with their shorter front legs, which makes them efficient hunters despite their delicate appearance.
Reliable Pest Control for Water Bugs in PA
Pest Control Technicians, Inc. offers comprehensive water bug control solutions in PA's Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Berks counties, using scientifically proven methods. Here are the services we offer.
Residential Water Bug Control
Our residential water bug services include thorough inspection, targeted treatments, and preventative measures to keep your place pest-free. We identify and seal entry points, eliminate moisture problems, and apply EPA-approved treatments that don’t harm people or pets but are lethal to water bugs.
Commercial Water Bug Control
We protect your business reputation and ensure compliance with health regulations. Restaurants, hotels, apartments, and more take advantage of our water bug removal and prevention as we deliver discreet and efficient service that won't disrupt operations.
Stop Water Bugs From Invading Your Space!
Book our water bug pest control service today — see how our EPA-recognized treatments effectively eliminate these insects while keeping you safe.
Signs You Have a Water Bug Problem
Water bugs can go unnoticed as they are primarily nocturnal. You might have an infestation even if you rarely see them during daylight hours. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Seeing live insects
- An unpleasant, musty smell that worsens in humid areas of your home.
- Fragments of discarded limbs, wings, and outer casings, as these pests molt during their growth cycle.
- Chewed edges on food packages, leather items, and wooden fixtures.
- Dark, round droppings
What Causes Water Bug Infestations?
Understanding what attracts water bugs helps prevent infestations in your property:
- Excess moisture from leaky pipes, condensation, or poor drainage.
- Standing water in basements, crawl spaces, or around foundations.
- Cracks and gaps in foundations, walls, or around utility lines.
- Poor sanitation, including uncovered trash or food debris.
- Overgrown vegetation and debris near your building's foundation.
- Sewer line connections that provide entry points into your home.
Protect Your Property Year-Round with Our Pest Control Plans
Our affordable maintenance plans are the perfect way to protect your home from water bugs. You get continuous, preventative treatments to stop infestations, plus free emergency service between visits.
Unsettling Facts About Water Bugs
What people often mistakenly refer to as water bugs are oriental cockroaches. These insects pose several health and comfort risks:
- Carry harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, E. coli, and dysentery pathogens.
- Contaminate food surfaces and preparation areas.
- Trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks, especially in children.
- Produce a strong, musty odor that permeates infested areas.
- Can survive up to two weeks without water and a month without food.
- Reproduce quickly, turning a small problem into a major infestation.
