Pest control services glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a pest control service provider in Tampa FL.

What are chinch bugs?: Chinch bugs are tiny insects that pierce and suck sap from St. Augustine grass blades, causing yellowing patches and weakened lawns in Florida's warm climate.
What are drywood termites?: Drywood termites are termites that live and nest entirely within wood structures without requiring contact with soil, distinguishing them from subterranean termites that must maintain ground contact.
What are ghost ants?: Ghost ants are tiny ants with pale or translucent legs and abdomens contrasting with dark heads and thoraxes, frequently found nesting indoors in Florida homes and businesses.
What are subterranean termites?: Subterranean termites are wood-eating insects that live in underground soil colonies and construct mud tubes to access buildings and structures above ground.
What are termite swarmers?: Termite swarmers, or alates, are winged reproductive termites that leave an established colony to find mates and start new colonies; their appearance indoors indicates an active infestation nearby.
What are white-footed ants?: White-footed ants are a small invasive ant species with extremely large outdoor colonies that invade homes and buildings and are notoriously difficult to control using conventional methods.
What is a baiting system (termite bait stations)?: A baiting system is a network of in-ground or above-ground stations installed around a structure to monitor for termites and deliver toxic bait cartridges that worker termites consume and transport back to their colony.
What is a bed bug encasement?: A zippered fabric encasement that fully covers a mattress or box spring to trap bed bugs inside and prevent them from feeding or escaping, while blocking new bugs from entering the furniture.
What is a certified pest control operator (CPO)?: A certified pest control operator (CPO) is a professional licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to apply restricted-use pesticides and operate a pest control business in Florida.
What is a German cockroach?: A small, tan-to-brown cockroach species that thrives indoors and reproduces rapidly, making it the most common roach problem in residential and commercial kitchens throughout Tampa.
What is a label rate (pesticide label)?: The label rate is the EPA-regulated dosage, mixing ratio, application method, and safety precautions specified on a pesticide product's packaging that technicians are legally required to follow.
What is a liquid soil termiticide barrier?: A liquid soil termiticide barrier is a chemical perimeter installed in the soil around a building's foundation to block subterranean termite entry and colony access to the structure.
What is a non-repellent termiticide?: A non-repellent termiticide is an odorless chemical that termites cannot detect, allowing them to pass through treated zones and spread the poison throughout their colony, unlike repellent products that kill on contact and may cause avoidance.
What is a palmetto bug?: A palmetto bug is the regional Florida term for large American cockroaches or smoky brown cockroaches, distinct from German cockroaches and typically found in outdoor vegetation and mulch rather than indoors.
What is a residual insecticide?: A residual insecticide is a pesticide that continues killing insects for days or weeks after application, rather than only on contact, by leaving an active chemical barrier on treated surfaces.
What is a sod webworm?: A sod webworm is the larval stage of a small moth that feeds on grass blades and thatch in lawns, causing brown patches and dead turf. These pests are especially problematic in warm, humid climates like Florida.
What is a termite bond?: A termite bond is a warranty agreement that commits a pest control company to treat termite infestations and repair damage within specified terms, typically covering one or more years.
What is a WDO inspection report?: A WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) inspection report is a mandatory document in Florida real estate transactions that identifies damage or infestation caused by termites, carpenter ants, powder-post beetles, and wood-rot fungi in a property's structure.
What is an FDACS pest control license?: An FDACS pest control license is the certification issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that pest control companies must hold to legally apply pesticides and provide pest management services in Florida.
What is an insect growth regulator (IGR)?: An insect growth regulator is a pest control product that mimics or blocks insect hormones to prevent normal development, molting, or reproduction rather than killing insects on contact.
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest control approach that uses inspection, exclusion, monitoring, and targeted treatments to manage pests based on actual activity rather than on a fixed schedule.
What is K9 bed bug inspection?: K9 bed bug inspection is a detection method using specially trained dogs that alert handlers to the scent of live bed bugs and their eggs, allowing inspectors to pinpoint infestation locations that visual inspection alone might miss.
What is pest exclusion?: Pest exclusion is the practice of sealing cracks, gaps, and other entry points on a building's exterior and installing barriers like door sweeps and vent screens to physically prevent pests from entering.
What is whole distinct colony elimination?: Whole Distinct Colony Elimination (WDCE) is a termite treatment standard that targets the complete eradication of a subterranean termite colony rather than spot-treating visible infestations.