Pest expert warns misidentified ants can trigger costly termite treatments

A San Bernardino County pest control expert says homeowners in San Bernardino and Riverside counties can waste thousands on termite treatments when ants are misidentified as termites. He says better inspection, proof and written plans can help homeowners avoid paying for the wrong fix.

Why it matters: - Misidentifying ants as termites can send homeowners into expensive treatments that do not solve the real problem. - The mistake can leave pest activity active while adding financial risk and potential structural damage. - The issue is especially relevant for homeowners in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, where termite treatments can cost thousands of dollars.

What happened: - Ricardo Duran Jr., owner of ER Pest and Termite, said incorrect pest identification is the most common problem he sees in the field. - Duran said homeowners are often sold termite treatments after ants were actually the pest inside the home. - Duran said he is often called in after another pest control company already treated the property, only for the problem to continue. - Duran said pest technicians must identify the pest before recommending any treatment or pricing a job. - Duran said he has more than 15 years of experience in pest management. - Duran said he has trained pest control technicians and helped startup pest control companies build operating systems.

The details: - Winged ants and termite swarmers can look similar near windows, doors and exterior wood. - Ants have narrower waists and bent antennae. - Termites have wider bodies and straight antennae. - Duran said a technician should determine where the problem started and which treatment will work best after identifying the pest. - Duran said homeowners should not be pressured into authorizing a multi-thousand-dollar termite treatment based on an incomplete inspection. - Duran said homeowners should ask for visual evidence, an explanation of how the pest was identified and a written treatment plan. - ER Pest & Termite says it uses Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to combining inspection, identification, targeted treatment and ongoing monitoring. - The company says its five-step IPM model includes inspecting the property and finding pest issues and entry points, identifying the source and extent of the infestation, creating a safe treatment plan, using EPA-recommended treatments and monitoring to prevent pests from returning. - Duran said the company slows the process down so it does not guess which pest is causing the problem before recommending treatment. - Homeowners can contact more information. - ER Pest and Termite lists a phone number of +1 951-691-3424 and social media pages on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The warning points to a quality-control problem in pest management, where fast sales and limited training can outrun careful inspection. - Duran’s message is also a pitch for IPM, which relies on diagnosis first and treatment second. - The homeowner advice reflects a broader consumer protection idea: pay for evidence before paying for a costly service.

What's next: - Homeowners facing possible termite activity are being urged to question the diagnosis before approving treatment. - Duran said better technician training and slower inspections could reduce unnecessary treatments. - The company is likely to keep emphasizing IPM and written documentation as the first step in any pest plan.