Know what you are dealing with.

Carpenter, fire, and odorous house ants, trails in kitchens and bathrooms usually mean a colony is close by.

Silent structure-eaters. Texas homes sit in one of the highest termite-pressure zones in the country.

Hitchhikers that spread fast. Bites in rows of three and rust-colored spots on sheets are the tell-tale signs.

Rats and mice gnaw wiring, contaminate food, and multiply quickly once they reach your walls or attic.

German and American roaches trigger asthma and spread bacteria, daylight sightings signal a large infestation.

Most are harmless helpers, but brown recluse and black widow bites need immediate medical attention.

Paper wasps and yellowjackets defend their nests aggressively, nests in eaves or the ground need professional removal.

More than itchy bites, West Nile and Zika vectors that breed in as little as a bottle cap of standing water.