10 best pest control companies in Manhattan Beach, California

In Manhattan Beach, you can come across pests such as flies, bees and bed bugs. You can take action yourself to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you already have an infestation. Qualified pest specialists in Manhattan Beach know how to correctly identify pests, use proper chemicals and methods and resolve your pest problem.

Letting a pest issue go unchecked can introduce a variety of risks to you, your loved ones and your pets. Insects and small animals can spread disease, damage your home's structure and contaminate food.

Bringing in pest management professionals decreases these dangers. They'll identify where pests have nested, and customize a treatment plan that could include sealing entry points, using traps or applying pesticides. The right pest treatment can take care of your pest problem for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Manhattan Beach

Look for pest control companies in Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach?

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

• Bed bugs: Bed bugs have flat bodies, no wings and are reddish-brown, looking similar to apple seeds in size and shape. Multi-unit apartments and hotels are usually where you come in contact with them. They spread to your home by attaching to backpacks, purses, clothing and secondhand furniture. They are inactive during the day, hiding in beds and near sleeping areas. At night, they come out to feed. Seeing the insects themselves or blood smears on your mattress or bedding indicates you may have an infestation.
• Bees: An increase in bee activity inside or around your home, buzzing within your walls or dark stains on your walls maypoint to a bee infestation. You may also smell an odd odor coming from your walls, which happens as bees die or honey seeps into the walls, leading to mold and fungi growth. Bees can harm your family or pets by stinging them and potentially provoking allergic reactions.
• Termites: Termites feed on cellulose fibers found in wood. Signs of an infestation include termite swarms, cracked or bubbling paint, droppings, mud tubes and wood that emits a hollow sound when you knock on it.
• Moths: Common moths that invade homes include clothes moths and pantry moths. Clothes moths target wool and cotton, leaving behind trenches, tunnels, silky furrows and small tubes, which are larvae casings. Pantry moths bore into plastic food bags and create webbing in pantries. Ripe fruit, light and fermented sugars attract moths.
• 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 sink drains, high shelves and around trash. Another sign of an infestation is seeing maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches come out at night and flee when you turn a light on. With a serious infestation, however, you may see them during the day. Their nesting spots tend to be in basements, kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches often leave brown stains on walls and floors, droppings that look like brown or black specks and egg casings. They can spread disease and worsen allergies and respiratory issues.
• Ants: Your home could be invaded by various ant types. Carpenter ants excavate wood, while fire ants like greasy food scraps. Both bite, unlike pavement ants, which also frequently invade homes. Ant trails inside your home suggest larger infestations are nearby.

How can you prevent pests in your Manhattan Beach home?

While an infestation will probably require professional help, the best way to avoid infestations is to implement preventative measures.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are problematic and can cause considerable damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control company about taking preemptive 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

Because pests usually seek out food sources, limiting their food access will prevent them from infesting your home. Place food at least half a foot above floor level and slightly away from walls. Be sure to keep food storage areas, sinks and counters clean and disinfected when not in use. Dispose of food scraps and other garbage regularly, and keep the areas around trash cans and dumpsters neat.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Tall grass, standing water, trash and leaves create ideal habitats for insects and small animals. Maintaining a debris-free yard and regularly mowing your grass and trimming foliage are among the easiest ways to prevent an infestation from taking hold. Should you need expert lawn care assistance, check whether national lawn care companies such as TruGreen cover your location.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off ways will stop insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as little as half an inch wide. Be sure to address openings in your roof or siding and fix damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on keeping pests out and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

To find a pest control service with the proper qualifications for your individual needs, ask the following questions during the hiring process.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Furthermore, the EPA mandates that restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors have certification in line with the agency's regulations as well as state, territorial and tribal legislation.

A Qualified Applicator License or Applicator Certificate issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation is required for pest control technicians to practice in California.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

A pest specialist will create a treatment schedule based on the type of treatment, severity of the infestation, location of your property and type of pest. Pest control technicians typically discourage a single-treatment approach, as insects are often at various stages of their life cycles and may have laid eggs in hard-to-spot areas.

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

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it will take for your pest issue to be resolved depends on the type and severity of the infestation and the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may see a decrease in activity, but pests can return after they hatch, requiring more treatments. You may also see increased activity after the first treatment, as it can flush pests out of hiding places. Luckily, this should subside within a few 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 several hours to dry, and you'll have to leave the house while it dries.

Some pest control services can be particularly lengthy. During termite fumigation, the pest control professional must set up a tent around your home for three days to release the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to find other accommodations.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A skilled service technician has the knowledge to determine the appropriate amount of product to apply, the drying time required and when it is safe for children and pets to re-enter the treated space. Before administering any treatment, they should instruct you on which items such as animals, food and plants must be cleared from the area.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

Certain pest treatment companies provide green solutions for addressing infestations. This involves using methods that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing off areas where pests can gain access, capturing rodents or applying pesticides made from natural ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place to protect you if pests return before a predetermined date. These companies may offer a single service or continuous treatments to tackle a stubborn pest problem. Be sure to discuss the options with your provider.

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.