Under Attack

Fighting Off Pests Intelligently Requires Prevention, Not Just Poison

A brigade of teeny brown ants scaled the wall, shot across the kitchen counter and stormed the fireplace at the Montgomery County home of Debbie Samartzis.

It was war.

"I have three dogs and two small kids," she said of last summer's invasion. "Obviously, I didn't want something that was toxic that could hurt the dogs or the kids."

She contacted a local exterminator, whose remedy did little good, then called a nationally known company that treated the house "more aggressively" with a wider variety of products touted as environmentally friendly.

Mission accomplished.

"It's been very effective," she said.

This is the season for ants and termites. And don't forget cockroaches and bedbugs, unwelcome visitors no matter the time of year.

So how do you win the fight?

Do you turn to do-it-yourself products such as bait traps, or call an exterminator? Do you opt for tried-and-true synthetic chemicals or the increasingly popular green products such as those Samartzis used?

The answer: Depends.

For minor infestations -- a few ants here and there -- a bait trap from the drugstore may do the trick, experts say. (There are mixed opinions about using store-bought aerosol sprays.)

But for bigger problems, particularly termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches and bedbugs, it's best to call a pest management company. Get an estimate, ask questions, and explore the different treatments.