10 best pest control companies in Staten Island, New York

In Staten Island, you can face pests such as flies, mice and cockroaches. DIY prevention techniques may improve your pest issue, but you may need to bring in a pest control company for an existing infestation. Certified pest exterminators in the Staten Island area have the knowledge to inspect your home, implement appropriate treatments and solve your pest problems.

Letting a pest problem go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your family members and your pets. Insects and small animals can pass on disease, damage the structure of your home and contaminate food.

A reputable pest control company can reduce these risks. A pest professional will spot infestations and treat them with a range of methods, from plugging holes to using traps or chemicals. When the proper fixes are put in place, you can get rid of infestations for good.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Staten Island

Look for pest control companies in Staten Island with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Staten Island?

Though pests are found everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. If you think you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in Staten Island:

• Mosquitos: Standing water attracts mosquitoes, so living in damp climates or near bodies of water puts your home at a higher risk of infestation. Mosquitoes are active at night and signal their presence through a sharp buzzing noise. Bites might not be instantly noticeable, but later the spots will become itchy and raised. Mosquitoes can also spread diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and West Nile.
• Bees: If you see more bees than usual inside or around your home, have dark stains on your walls or hear humming inside the walls, you may have a bee infestation. You might also notice an unpleasant odor coming from your walls. This happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, causing the growth of mold. Bees can easily harm your loved ones and pets, as bee stings often provoke allergic reactions.
• Rats: You may have rats if you see a rat, find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling. Rats also create access points for themselves by gnawing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Snakes: Snakes become more active when the weather is warm, nesting among rock piles, overgrown grass, debris and wood. Finding snake skins and snake eggs indicate an infestation. If you think you might have a snake, sprinkle flour in the suspected areas. If you see trails in the flour, contact a pest control professional for help removing the snake.
• Mice: Mice that have gotten into your house might dart by quickly or leave rice grain-sized droppings. Mice characteristically give off a musky smell and damage household items by gnawing through them. They build nests from shredded fibers and other found materials. As mice prefer tight spaces, you may hear scratching sounds inside your walls or ceiling.
• Flies: Everyone sees the occasional fly buzzing around their home during the summer months, but if you see more than usual, there’s a good chance you have an infestation. Flies leave feces that look like clusters of black dots and often appear near kitchen sinks, high shelves and around trash. Another sign of an infestation is the presence of maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Bed bugs: Bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, wingless insects about the size of apple seeds. Found in apartment buildings and hotels, they can cling to belongings, such as purses, backpacks, clothing and secondhand furniture. They hide in your bed and in nooks and crannies during the day then become active during the night. When you have an infestation, you may spot the insects or find blood stains on your mattress or other furniture.

How can you prevent pests in your Staten Island home?

A full-blown infestation probably needs professional intervention. However, there are precautions you can take before pests become a problem to to keep them from infesting your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are troublesome and can cause extensive damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control service about taking preventative measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing small entry points, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

Since pests are often in search of sustenance, restricting their access to food sources will deter them from settling in. Store food at least half a foot above the ground and slightly away from walls. Ensure counters, food storage areas and sinks are kept clean and disinfected when not being used. Regularly dispose of food waste and other garbage, and keep the spaces near trash cans and dumpsters tidy.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Trash, tall grass, standing water and leaves give ample shelter to insects and small animals. Keeping your yard clean and well-maintained with mowed grass and trimmed foliage is one of the simplest ways to prevent an infestation. If you need professional lawn care, check if national lawn care companies such as TruGreen service your area.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off entry points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair holes in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest exclusion services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

When selecting a pest control provider, ask the following questions to verify they have the expertise to handle your unique situation.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Additionally, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to have certification compliant with the agency and state, territorial and tribal laws.

Pest control professionals servicing New York are required to have a Commercial Pesticide Applicator or Technician License in order to legally practice. These licenses are issued by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist recommends will depend on the property location, pest type, treatment type and infestation severity. Pest control providers generally do not advocate for getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are difficult to reach.

Pest specialists often suggest recurring treatments, some of which may be only done in the warmer months, while others occur across all seasons. As a proactive measure, they might also recommend preventive treatments every two or three months to stop infestations from starting.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest issue to go away depends on the type and extent of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might see a decline in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring further treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should decrease within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home for some stages of the pest control treatment, such as when the professional is sealing holes and cracks. But if a pesticide is used, it may need hours to dry completely, and you'll have to stay in another location while it dries.

Certain pest control treatments can take a while. For termite fumigation, the pest control company sets up a tent over your entire home for three days to apply the pesticide. You'll have to find another place to stay during this process.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A service professional will know how much of a particular product to use, how long it takes to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the area that's been treated. Before applying any treatment, they should educate you on what you must remove from the affected space, such as animals, food and plants.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest specialists offer green solutions for addressing infestations. This means they use products with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing potential entry points where pests can gain access, humanely trapping rodents or applying pesticides made from natural sources.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control companies provide guarantees and warranties in the event that pests reappear before a specific date. To resolve a returning pest issue, specialists may offer a one-time treatment or ongoing treatments. Consult with your service provider to learn about the packages they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.