Washington, D.C., has ranked high on reports that identified the top bed bug cities in the country. Bed bugs can be difficult to eliminate due to their fast reproduction. Anyone with bed bug problems should refer to the DC Health Department’s directions on bed bug control and contact a top-rated bed bug exterminator in the D.C. area.

First, conduct an online search to identify the best exterminators in Washington, DC. Read pest control reviews to get a feel for each company’s quality of work and customer service. Exterminator reviews may also include before and after photos. These images could be good indicators of the companies’ quality of work, so take the time to inspect them closely.

Pesticide applicators in DC require a pesticide license, according to the Department of Energy and Environment. Before you hire an exterminator, make sure they are properly licensed. 

Lastly, don’t forget to ask for quotes from several DC pest control companies. Getting an accurate quote will help you budget for pest control services and help ensure you’re not overpaying.

Ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, termites and stinging insects are among the common home invaders in the nation’s capital.

To control your pest or bug problem, reach out to the best exterminators in DC today. An exterminator can also take steps to help prevent these pests from invading your home if they haven’t already.

It depends on the type of pest control service you require. Your exterminator can often tell you beforehand which products they’ll be using and where they’ll be applying it. 

If the pest control company will be applying toxic chemicals, limit your exposure, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. For example, consider leaving your house during application and ventilate your home thoroughly when you return. And always keep your pets and their supplies away from the applied pesticides. 

Talk to pest control companies near you for advice on what you should do while they’re treating your home for pests. 

The best way to get rid of ants is to hire an ant exterminator near you. The exterminator can also help you find the source of the problem that’s drawing ants into your home. 

After they’re done treating your home, you can invest in ant baits to keep infestations at bay. It’s also important to take preventative steps to avoid ants.

For example, always clean up crumbs and wipe down surfaces to eliminate potential food sources. Regularly take out the trash, fix leaky pipes, store your food in sealed containers and seal cracks near your kitchen cabinets. 

Here are more tips on how to get rid of ants (for good).

Monthly pest control service is only necessary for certain situations. For example, severe ant or cockroach infestations may require monthly pest control in order to destroy the infestations at the source. 

Talk to the best exterminators near you to get an idea of what type of service you need — and how many times you’ll need follow-up treatments.

The cost of bed bug extermination depends primarily on how widespread the pest infestation is and how many rooms need to be treated. Other factors that can affect bed bug extermination costs are the amount of clutter in the location, additional furniture that needs to be treated, and construction of the home. Pest management professionals often have rates for room treatments, which can vary based on these factors. As an example, a pest management company treating a 10-by-15-foot room with light infestation might charge clients about $250, while the same size room with a heavy infestation and large amounts of clutter might cost the clients $300-$400. Clutter and heavier bed bug populations mean more product and longer labor time for the workers. Rates will vary from company to company, and from region to region, but the national average bed bug extermination cost is $320-$400. Bed bug heat treatments are an alternative way to exterminate these pests. Heat treatments are typically charged per square foot and tend to cost more than chemical or non-chemical spray solutions. Although effective, they are not usually recommended for occupied spaces, as the extreme temperatures can damage televisions, window dressings and other home furnishings.

Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but depending on where they are in their life cycle they can be hard to see. Adult bed bugs are the easiest to spot. According to the EPA, they are roughly the size of an apple seed and the height of a credit card. Adults are flat and oval-shaped, have six legs, and are rusty red in color. Bed bug larvae, also referred to as nymphs, are white-yellow or translucent in color and are much harder to spot due to their small size. The nymphs go through five stages of life, shedding an exoskeleton at each stage. Throughout these stages the nymphs grow in size from approximately 1.5 millimeters to approximately 4.5 millimeters. Bed bug eggs can be the most challenging to see as they are roughly 1 millimeter — about the size of a pinhead — and are white or clear. Bed bugs tend to be more active at night, as this is when they feed.

Whether you need to get rid of bugs or rodents, pest removal professionals can be lifesaving when you have an infestation. Pest control prices will vary based on what type of pest is being removed. The national pest control price range is $80-$130, although prices can be much higher for tasks like wildlife removal (raccoons, bobcats, etc.), which might start at $250 and exceed $500, depending on the animal and the trapping measures required.

The cost of eliminating a termite colony ranges on average from $240 to $400, but these costs can increase greatly if the whole house is infested. The average cost to kill cockroaches is between $80 and $130, while bedbug extermination ranges from $320 to $400 on average. The main factors that will affect your pest control price are the type of pest, the extent of the infestation, the accessibility of the infested areas, and the type of treatment required.

Calling a wasp exterminator near you is the best way to get rid of wasps.

A wasp exterminator will begin by identifying the type of wasp that has invaded your home. They’ll also be able to tell if it’s just a wasp look-alike or the real deal.

Professionals use several different methods to remove stinging insects, such as vacuuming, getting rid of the wasp’s food and shelter, or cleaning and sanitizing your yard space.