Yes. Subterranean and drywood termites are the two most commons types of termites found in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.

Signs of Subterranean Termites:

Mud tubes: These are narrow tunnels made of soil and saliva that subterranean termites use to travel between their colony and a food source. They are typically found along walls, foundations, or other surfaces.

Swarmers: Winged reproductive termites, known as swarmers, emerge from mature colonies to mate and establish new colonies. Finding swarms of flying termites indoors or discarded wings near windowsills or light fixtures could indicate an infestation.

Damaged wood: Subterranean termites usually consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of wood or paint on the surface. Tap on suspected areas with a screwdriver; if it sounds hollow, it could indicate termite damage.

Sagging floors or ceilings: Extensive termite damage can weaken wooden structures, leading to sagging or buckling floors and ceilings.

Signs of Drywood Termites:

Termite droppings (frass): Drywood termites push out their fecal pellets from tiny kick holes near their nests. These pellets resemble sawdust or coffee grounds and accumulate below infested wood.

Discarded wings: After swarmers emerge to mate, they shed their wings, leaving them behind near windows, doors, or other light sources.

Hollow-sounding wood: Like subterranean termites, drywood termites hollow out wood from the inside, leaving a thin surface layer intact. Tap on suspected areas to check for hollow-sounding wood.

Cracked or blistered paint: Drywood termites often create small cracks or blistering in painted surfaces as they tunnel through the wood beneath.

How do you get rid of termites in your home or business?

If you suspect a termite infestation, it's crucial to contact us right away for an inspection and appropriate treatment.

Early detection and intervention can help prevent extensive damage to your property. Termites require professional treatment. Our staff at Segura’s Pest Solutions are certified in treating termites and wood boaring insects.

Learn more about our professional termite services.

In New Mexico, many home owners get rid of piles of firewood thinking that termites have invested it.

More often than not, one common pest that can cause wood to turn into sawdust is the powderpost beetle.

These beetles lay their eggs in the pores of wood, and when the larvae hatch, they tunnel through the wood, creating tunnels filled with a fine, powdery frass, resembling sawdust. Over time, this activity can weaken and damage wooden structures.

Another potential culprit is the old house borer beetle, which can infest seasoned softwood lumber. These beetles also create tunnels and frass within the wood, leading to structural damage.

It's essential to properly identify the type of pest causing the damage to effectively address the infestation and to determine if it’s safe for you to keep this wood on your propertyo

Call us today for a free consultation and a treatment plan if it’s warranted.

Dealing with a mouse or rat infestation requires a combination of prevention, sanitation, and elimination methods.

Here's a step-by-step guide to getting rid of mice or rats in your home:

Identify entry points: Inspect your home thoroughly to identify any gaps, cracks, or openings that mice or rats could use to enter. Seal these entry points with caulk, steel wool, or other appropriate materials to prevent further access.

Eliminate food sources: Mice and rats are attracted to food, so it's essential to remove any potential food sources that may attract them. Store food in airtight containers, clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and keep trash bins tightly sealed.

Remove hiding places: Declutter your home and eliminate hiding places where mice or rats could nest, such as piles of boxes, paper, or debris. Keep storage areas well-organized and tidy to reduce potential nesting sites.

Set traps: Place snap traps or humane live traps in areas where mice or rats are active, such as along walls, behind appliances, and near entry points. Use peanut butter or other bait to attract them to the traps. Check traps regularly and dispose of captured rodents promptly.

Use rodenticides: If traps alone are not effective, consider using rodenticides (poison baits) as a last resort. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and place bait stations in areas inaccessible to children and pets. Be aware that rodenticides can pose health risks if not used properly and may also result in secondary poisoning of non-target animals like cats or owls.

Practice good sanitation: Keep your home clean and clutter-free to deter mice and rats. Regularly vacuum floors, wipe down surfaces, and dispose of garbage promptly. Pay special attention to kitchen areas and areas where food or pet food is stored.

Block access to water: Mice and rats need water to survive, so fix any leaks or sources of standing water in your home. Store pet water dishes overnight and empty drip trays under potted plants to remove potential water sources.

Seek professional help: Segura’s Pest Solutions team members are trained in both ridding your home or business of mice or rats, but also helping to prevent re-entry by blocking the paths in. Learn more here.

For a free consultation, call us today. We’ll help ease your mind!

Ants typically don't cause structural damage to homes like termites or carpenter ants can. See FAQ for carpenter nts and for termites for more information.

However, small ants, sometimes referred to as sugar ants, can still be a nuisance and cause some minor issues.

Ants can sometimes enter homes in search of food, leading to contamination of pantry items and other food sources. While ants themselves might not directly damage your home's structure, it's still important to address any infestations promptly to prevent potential issues.

Contact us today for a free consultation and treatment plan.

Carpenter ants are large ants known for their ability to excavate wood to create nests.

Unlike termites, which eat wood, carpenter ants hollow out wood to create galleries and tunnels for nesting. They typically prefer moist or decaying wood, but they can also infest dry wood if it suits their nesting needs.

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies and are about the size of an apple seed when fully grown.

Here are some key characteristics of bed bugs:

Size: Adult bed bugs typically measure around 4 to 5 millimeters (about 1/4 inch) in length. However, they can vary in size depending on their age and whether they have recently fed.

Color: Bed bugs are usually reddish-brown in color, although their hue can change after feeding. Newly hatched bed bugs (nymphs) may appear lighter in color and almost translucent.

Shape: Adult bed bugs have a flat, oval-shaped body, similar to the shape of an apple seed. This flat body allows them to hide in cracks and crevices, making them difficult to detect.

Segmented body: Bed bugs have three distinct body segments: a head, thorax, and abdomen. They also have six legs, antennae, and small, wing-like structures called wing pads (though they cannot fly).

Mobility: Bed bugs are not particularly fast-moving insects, but they can crawl relatively quickly over floors, walls, and other surfaces. They do not have the ability to jump or fly.

After feeding: After feeding on blood, bed bugs become engorged and their bodies may appear swollen and more elongated. They may also appear darker in color due to the blood they have ingested.

Eggs: Bed bug eggs are tiny, about the size of a pinhead, and white or translucent in color. They are usually laid in clusters in hidden locations such as mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture cracks.

It's important to note that while bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are adept at hiding in cracks, crevices, and other sheltered locations, making them challenging to eradicate without professional pest control intervention.

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, call us today!

Signs of a bed bug infestation include:

Bite marks: Bed bug bites often appear as small, red, itchy welts on the skin, typically in a clustered or linear pattern. However, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, so the absence of bites does not necessarily mean there are no bed bugs present.

Visible bed bugs: While bed bugs are nocturnal and typically hide during the day, you may occasionally spot them on bedding, mattress seams, furniture, or walls, especially if the infestation is severe.

Blood stains on bedding: After feeding, bed bugs may inadvertently leave behind small blood stains or smears on bedding or nearby furniture. These stains can appear as small reddish or rusty spots.

Dark fecal spots: Bed bugs excrete dark, rusty-colored fecal matter after feeding, which may appear as small spots or streaks on bedding, mattress seams, or nearby surfaces. These spots can resemble ink stains.

Eggshells and shed skins: As bed bugs go through their life cycle, they molt and shed their exoskeletons. You may find translucent bed bug shells (exoskeletons) or empty egg casings in areas where bed bugs hide, such as mattress seams, crevices, or cracks in furniture.

Musty odor: In severe infestations, bed bugs can emit a musty or sweet odor, often described as smelling like raspberries or coriander. This odor is caused by the bed bugs' scent glands and may be particularly noticeable in heavily infested areas.

Finding bed bug hiding spots: Bed bugs prefer to hide in dark, secluded locations during the day, such as mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, furniture joints, electrical outlets, and cracks in walls or flooring. Inspecting these areas for signs of bed bugs, such as fecal spots, shed skins, or live bugs, can help confirm an infestation.

How do you treat bed bugs?
Because bed bugs can hide, getting rid of bed bugs is hard. It is very hard to eliminate them without professional treatment. Call us today if you think your home or business has bedbugs.

Yes, black widow spiders (Latrodectus species) are found in New Mexico.

The Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is the species most commonly encountered in the state.

Black widows are venomous spiders known for their distinctive shiny black color and red hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen, though this marking can vary in shape and coloration.

These spiders typically prefer dry, sheltered environments such as woodpiles, rock crevices, sheds, garages, and outdoor structures.

While black widow bites can be painful and may cause symptoms such as muscle cramps, nausea, and sweating, they are rarely fatal to healthy adults. However, it's essential to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to avoid encounters with black widows, especially in areas where they are known to inhabit.

How do you get rid of spiders at your home or business?

Contact Segura’s Pest Solutions today for preventive treatment to keep your home or business free of spiders.

Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) are not native to New Mexico. Their natural range is primarily in the central Midwestern United States, particularly in states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and parts of Texas.

However, there have been occasional reports of brown recluse sightings in New Mexico, likely due to accidental introductions through human activities such as travel or shipping.

If you have seen spiders you are concerned about around your home or business, contact us for preventive pest treatment.