Name: Aaron Jagger

Hometown: Springvale. Now lives in Auburn.

Bug exterminator isn’t something that most kids dream of becoming. How did you get into the business? I have customer relations experience. There are many interesting aspects to pest control including science, ecology, customer service and problem solving that keep the job fresh.

What do you like most about the job? The most rewarding part of my job is finding a small problem while it is still inexpensive and easy to fix.

What do you like least? It’s challenging to work both indoors and outdoors year round. But, as the saying goes, I only need to wait a minute for the weather to change.

Do you have any favorite bugs? Why? I’m a great fan of my natural helpers in the environment – dragonflies eat mosquitoes; bats eat many types of bugs; and the ground beetle feeds on gypsy moth pupa.

Least favorites? Why? My least favorite pest is the flea. Flea eggs provide protection to the growing flea larvae. Even after a treatment, the fleas can reappear 20 days later.

What’s the worst infestation you’ve seen and what was that like? The worst infestation I’ve experienced included the German cockroach. It seemed that at least two or three of them were hiding underneath anything I moved.

Is there any particular pest that people seem to get most worked up about?  Bed bugs have been in the news a lot lately. I think as people become more educated about bed bugs, prevention will increase and the bed bug populations will decrease. In Maine people need to keep ticks in mind. Ten percent of people who are bitten by a tick infected with Lyme disease will not get the bulls-eye rash associated with the pest. Everyone needs to know the symptoms associated with Lyme disease.

If there was one tip you could give homeowners about dealing with pests — aside from “Call your Orkin man” — what would it be? For anyone trying to steer clear of general pest problems, I would say give your home a good spring and fall cleaning. This will help remove pest’s food sources and nesting material, and will uncover small problems early. All of that is easy with a little extra time and energy.