By Stephen Hoxworth, A.C.E. | Director of Pest Control Operations, Butler Plus
Most common pest control myths don’t hold up toscience, and in multifamily properties, believing them can lead to residentcomplaints, repeat service calls, and infestations that spread between units.Butler Plus multifamily pest control uses Integrated PestManagement (IPM) to find the real source of pest problems in apartmentcommunities, not just treat what residents see. Below, our Director of PestControl Operations, Stephen Hoxworth, an Associate Certified Entomologist(A.C.E.), breaks down nine myths property managers and residents commonlybelieve and what actually works.
After more than four decades in the pest control industry, I have heard just about every explanation imaginable for why pests appear, how they behave, and what supposedly makes them disappear.
Some of these beliefs have been passed down for generations. Others are relatively new, promoted through social media, advertising, or well-intentioned advice from friends and neighbors.
The problem is that repeating something often enough doesn’t make it true.
Understanding pest behavior is fundamental to controlling pests effectively. When we make decisions based on misconceptions rather than biology, we can waste money, overlook the actual source of an infestation, and sometimes make the problem worse.
Here are nine common pest control myths that deserve a closer look.
Myth #1: Rodenticides Make Rats and Mice Go Outside to Die
This is one of the most common misconceptions I have encountered throughout my career. Homeowners frequently ask whether a rodenticide will cause rats or mice to leave their home before dying. Some even believe that certain products contain ingredients specifically designed to drive rodents outdoors.
Rodenticides work through different mechanisms depending on their active ingredients. Anticoagulant rodenticides interfere with the blood-clotting process, while other rodenticides work through entirely different physiological mechanisms. What these products generally do not do is cause a rodent to recognize that it is dying and deliberately seek an outdoor location.
A rodent that has consumed a lethal dose may die inside a wall void, attic, crawlspace, cabinet, or another concealed location. It may also die outdoors. Where it dies depends on its movements, available harborage, and the progression of the toxic effects—not some special ingredient that directs it outside. Rodents experiencing illness or weakness may seek secluded areas where they feel protected.
This is an important consideration when developing a rodent management program. Using rodenticides inside an occupied structure can create the possibility of inaccessible carcasses, odors, flies, and other secondary problems.
At Butler Plus, we believe rodent control should begin with a thorough inspection, identification of entry points, exclusion, sanitation recommendations, and an appropriate control strategy. The objective should not simply be to kill rodents. It should be to eliminate the infestation and prevent another one from taking its place.
Myth #2: If You Have Fleas in Your Home, They Probably Came from Outside
When someone discovers fleas inside a home, the immediate assumption is often that they must have come in from the lawn. That is certainly possible, but it is far from the only explanation.
Fleas are closely associated with host animals. Dogs and cats are common hosts, but wildlife such as raccoons, opossums, and rodents can also support flea populations. A pet can bring fleas indoors, but so can an animal living beneath a home, in an attic, or in a crawlspace. Fleas can also become established in a property previously occupied by infested animals.
One particularly frustrating situation occurs when someone moves into a previously vacant residence and suddenly encounters fleas despite having no pets. How is that possible?
Flea larvae develop in protected areas where flea eggs and organic debris accumulate. Eventually, developing fleas enter the pupal stage, where they are protected within cocoons. Under suitable conditions, emerging adults can respond to vibrations, warmth, and carbon dioxide associated with a potential host. Consequently, fleas may appear when people begin occupying a property that has been vacant for some time.
Fleas can also develop in outdoor areas frequented by animals, particularly shaded, protected locations. But treating the lawn without determining the actual source may accomplish very little.
The important question is not simply where the fleas were found. It is where they are developing and which animals are supporting the infestation.
Successful flea management often requires a combination of host-animal treatment by an appropriate veterinary professional, thorough vacuuming, treatment of infested areas when necessary, and correction of wildlife or rodent problems. Treating only the visible adult fleas is rarely an adequate long-term strategy.
Myth #3: Every Small Red Welt or Sting Is an Insect Bite
I cannot count how many times someone has shown me a small red mark on their skin and asked me to identify the insect responsible. Often, they are convinced that the mark must have come from bed bugs, fleas, mites, or spiders.
The problem is that you generally cannot identify a pest simply by looking at a skin reaction.
Many insect bites produce similar-looking reactions. Mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, and certain other biting arthropods can cause itching, redness, and swelling. However, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions, skin irritation, and some medical conditions can produce similar symptoms. Even two people bitten by the same species may react differently.
A common mistake is assuming that the location or pattern of red marks provides conclusive identification. For example, three marks in a row are sometimes described as definitive evidence of bed bugs. They are not. Likewise, a homeowner may describe a sharp sensation as a sting even though no insect was observed.
Professional pest management requires evidence. We look for the pest itself, cast skins, droppings, eggs, harborage sites, and other physical indicators. We consider the location, environmental conditions, and the biology of the suspected pest.
Without supporting evidence, applying pesticides simply because someone has unexplained skin irritation is not sound pest management. If symptoms persist, worsen, or suggest an allergic or medical condition, the appropriate next step is evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. Our responsibility as pest professionals is to identify pests and determine whether they are actually present—not diagnose skin conditions.
Myth #4: Earwigs Crawl into People’s Ears and Lay Eggs
The earwig has been the subject of frightening stories for centuries. One version suggests that earwigs crawl into people's ears while they sleep. Another goes even further, claiming that they enter the brain and lay eggs.
Earwigs are primarily outdoor insects that prefer moist, protected environments. They commonly hide beneath mulch, stones, landscape debris, and other sheltered locations. Their preference for narrow, protected spaces is known as thigmotaxis. This behavior may have contributed to the historical misconception about their attraction to ears.
Earwigs do not seek out human ears as nesting sites, and they do not lay eggs in the human brain. Like many occasional invaders, earwigs may enter buildings when outdoor conditions change or when they find openings around doors, windows, or foundations.
When earwigs become a recurring problem, the practical solution is to investigate moisture conditions, exterior harborage, and potential entry points. Reducing excess mulch against foundations, correcting drainage problems, and sealing openings will generally be more productive than worrying about what might happen while you sleep.
Myth #5: Only Dirty Homes Have Pest Problems
This misconception creates unnecessary embarrassment and sometimes causes people to delay seeking professional help. I have inspected immaculate homes with significant pest infestations, and I have inspected poorly maintained properties with surprisingly little insect activity.
Pests do not care about the value of a home, the neighborhood in which it is located, or how much effort someone puts into housekeeping. They respond to the availability of food, water, shelter, suitable temperatures, and opportunities to reproduce.
German cockroaches, for example, can be introduced through infested appliances, cardboard boxes, deliveries, or items moved from another location. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can be introduced through luggage, furniture, and personal belongings. Their presence does not establish that a home is dirty. Termites can infest extremely well-maintained structures when conditions permit them to gain access.
That said, sanitation is an important part of pest management. Exposed food, grease accumulation, excessive clutter, leaking plumbing, and improperly stored garbage can make pest problems more difficult to control.
The distinction is important: poor sanitation can contribute to an infestation, but it is not a prerequisite for one. An effective pest management program identifies the conditions that support pest activity and corrects those conditions whenever possible. Blaming the occupant does nothing to solve the problem.
Myth #6: Mosquitoes Only Bite at Dawn and Dusk
There is some truth behind this misconception, which makes it particularly misleading. Certain mosquito species are most active during dawn, dusk, or nighttime hours. However, other species readily bite during the day.
Two particularly important examples are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, mosquitoes associated with the transmission of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. These mosquitoes frequently feed during daylight hours, although their activity can vary with environmental conditions.
Female mosquitoes locate potential hosts using several cues, including carbon dioxide, body odors, heat, and visual signals. Their feeding behavior is influenced by species, temperature, humidity, light conditions, and the availability of hosts.
Simply avoiding outdoor activities at dusk does not eliminate mosquito exposure. Mosquito management should include eliminating standing water, inspecting containers and drainage areas, managing breeding sites, and using appropriate personal protection. EPA-registered repellents, when used according to their labels, can provide important protection.
The most effective mosquito programs focus on the biology of the species present rather than assuming that all mosquitoes behave the same way.
Myth #7: Rats and Mice Are Easily Fooled Because They Aren’t Intelligent
Anyone who has spent much time managing difficult rodent infestations knows how inaccurate this assumption can be. Rats and mice are adaptable animals capable of learning from experience, navigating complex environments, and recognizing changes in familiar surroundings.
One particularly important behavior is neophobia, or avoidance of unfamiliar objects and situations. This behavior is especially significant in many rat populations. A rat that has traveled the same route along a wall for weeks may suddenly avoid that route when a new trap or bait station appears.
The animal does not necessarily understand what a trap is. It simply recognizes that something in its environment has changed. Rodents can also develop avoidance behavior following unpleasant experiences. Food preferences, competing food sources, social interactions, and previous encounters with control devices can all influence the effectiveness of a rodent management program.
This explains why randomly placing a few traps in an attic or along a garage wall may produce disappointing results. Successful rodent control requires an understanding of travel routes, nesting locations, feeding behavior, entry points, and the species involved.
Trap placement, equipment selection, and monitoring are every bit as important as the devices themselves. The objective is to use rodent behavior to our advantage rather than assuming the animals will cooperate with our control efforts.
Myth #8: People Swallow Eight Spiders Every Year While Sleeping
This claim has circulated for years and is frequently repeated as though it were a scientific fact. There is no credible scientific evidence establishing that people routinely swallow eight spiders, or any particular number of spiders, during sleep.
Spiders are predators that generally seek out insects and other small arthropods. Humans are not food sources for spiders. Most spiders prefer protected locations where they can build webs, hunt, or remain concealed.
A sleeping person is not an attractive destination. Breathing, movement, and vibration are more likely to discourage a spider than encourage it to crawl into someone's mouth. Although an accidental encounter with a spider is possible, the idea that swallowing spiders is a routine part of sleeping has no scientific foundation.
Spider bites are also frequently over diagnosed. Many skin lesions attributed to spiders occur without anyone ever observing a spider. As with other suspected pest-related injuries, identification should be based on actual evidence rather than assumptions.
From a pest management perspective, recurring spider activity usually suggests that suitable harborage and prey insects are present. Reducing insect activity, sealing entry points, removing webs, and addressing exterior lighting or other conditions that attract flying insects can help reduce spider populations around buildings.
Myth #9: Plug-In Ultrasonic Devices Will Eliminate Pest Problems
If controlling pests were as simple as plugging a small electronic device into an outlet, professional pest management would be a very different industry.
Ultrasonic pest-repelling devices are marketed as convenient, chemical-free solutions for rodents, cockroaches, spiders, and numerous other pests. The advertising often suggests that high-frequency sound waves make an area so uncomfortable that pests immediately leave.
Unfortunately, the evidence does not support relying on these consumer devices as effective, stand-alone pest management solutions. Some studies have documented short-term behavioral responses under particular experimental conditions, but consistent, lasting control of established infestations has not been demonstrated for typical consumer ultrasonic repellents.
There are also practical limitations. Sound does not travel effectively through walls, cabinets, furniture, and other obstructions. An ultrasonic device placed in a living room is not going to reliably influence a rodent nesting inside a distant wall void. Animals may also become accustomed to repeated stimuli.
Most importantly, these devices do not eliminate food sources, moisture, nesting sites, or structural entry points. A cockroach infestation inside a kitchen cabinet will not be resolved simply because an electronic device is operating in another room. The same applies to rodents entering through an opening in the foundation or beneath a garage door.
Effective pest control requires inspection, identification, exclusion, sanitation, appropriate treatment methods, and follow-up monitoring. There is no electronic shortcut that replaces those fundamentals.
The Bottom Line: Effective Pest Control Begins With Understanding the Pest
Throughout my career, one lesson has remained constant: the better we understand a pest’s biology and behavior, the more effectively we can control it.
Unfortunately, pest management is an industry where myths can become accepted as facts simply because they have been repeated for years.
A rodenticide does not guarantee that a rat will die outdoors. Finding fleas inside does not establish that they came from the lawn. A red welt does not prove that someone was bitten by an insect. And a plug-in device does not replace a properly designed pest management program.
These are not just interesting misconceptions. They can influence the decisions property owners make, the products they purchase, and whether an infestation is successfully resolved.
At Butler Plus, our approach is built around Integrated Pest Management (IPM): inspecting the property, identifying the pest, understanding the conditions supporting its presence, selecting appropriate control methods, and monitoring the results.
We believe the best pest control program is not necessarily the one that applies the most pesticide. It is the one that uses the right methods, in the right locations, for the right reasons.
Good pest control is based on science, not superstition.
Need multifamily pest control you can count on? Butler Plus partners with property managers to protect apartment communities through inspection, identification, exclusion, and ongoing monitoring. Contact Butler Plus today to schedule an inspection for your property.
From general household pest control to termite treatment, rodent control, bed bug treatment, mosquito programs, flea and tick treatment, stinging insect removal, and specialty ant control, Butler Plus offers the full range of multifamily pest services under one vendor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does rat poison make rodents leave an apartment building to die?
No. Rodenticides don’t cause rats or mice to go outside before they die. Rodents often die inside wall voids, attics, or cabinets, which can lead to odors, flies, and resident complaints. Butler Plus starts rodent control with inspection, exclusion, and sanitation so the infestation is solved, not just treated.
Why would a new resident find fleas in an apartment with no pets?
Fleas can wait inside protective cocoons in a vacant unit and emerge when they sense vibration, warmth, and carbon dioxide from new occupants. Rodents or wildlife living in or under the building can also support flea populations, so finding the source matters more than treating the lawn.
Do cockroaches or bed bugs mean a resident’s apartment is dirty?
No. German cockroaches and bed bugs often arrive in clean units through deliveries, cardboard boxes, furniture, and luggage. Poor sanitation can make an infestation worse, but it isn’t required for one to start.
Why do pests keep coming back to apartment communities after treatment?
Treating only the units that complain usually just moves pests around the building. Butler Plus provides general household pest control on a quarterly unit rotation, treating every occupied and vacant unit on a defined schedule, along with scheduled perimeter and common area visits.
Do plug-in ultrasonic pest repellers work in apartments?
No. They haven’t been shown to provide lasting control of established infestations, and sound doesn’t travel through walls where pests nest. The FTC has warned makers and retailers of these devices that their pest control claims must be backed by reliable scientific evidence.
Do mosquitoes only bite at dawn and dusk?
No. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which can spread diseases such as dengue and Zika, are aggressive daytime biters. Removing standing water around buildings, breezeways, and drainage areas is one of the most effective ways to reduce them.
Can I identify a pest from a bite mark?
No. Many insect bites look alike, and some red marks come from allergies or skin conditions rather than pests. Butler Plus confirms pest activity with physical evidence like droppings, cast skins, or the pest itself before treating.
Where is Butler Plus pest control available?
Butler Plus offers pest control in Florida and Texas, with additional markets to follow. Contact Butler Plus to find out whether your community is in a service area.
Stephen Hoxworth, A.C.E., is Director of Pest Control Operations at Butler Plus, where he leads pest management programs for multifamily communities. An Associate Certified Entomologist with more than four decades of experience in structural pest control, termite management, fumigation, and pest management operations, he helps property managers solve pest problems at the source using science-based Integrated Pest Management.
