No matter if you’re a neat freak or not, you’re more than likely going to have a run-in with a critter in your home at one point or another. Some of them can be a danger to your health and sanity. Other critters or pests can do quite a bit of damage to your possessions, home and also to any wood furniture or creations you may have.
No matter where in the world you live, here’s a quick look at a few of the most common household pests globally. If you think you have a pest infestation then you’ll need to take action quickly with the likes of https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/ to prevent any damage or the issue from getting out of control.
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Cockroaches
These are insects that seem to prefer living in warmer homes, wall cavities, and kitchens. They’re a good reason to have a great pest control company, like Moxie Services on speed dial. Often, they’ll come out in the dark to eat. They have a legendary ability to survive and adapt and they’re known to carry things like salmonella and E. coli. If you happen to spot one, there can be as many as 3,000 more living in the walls so you must get your home checked our ASAP!
Termites
Termites are a serious problem. They can eat through wood, furniture and paper. They can cause major structural damage to your home and they can also make it difficult to sell your property. They can’t be seen by the naked eye and they can easily go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Termites are one of the most destructive pests. They’ll be quick to damage that beautiful handmade fireplace or wardrobe created from wood pallets. Termites are able to feed on wood for 24 hours at a stretch!
When termites damage your home itself, they can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage. You can check to see if your homeowner’s insurance covers you for damage caused by pests, but you can also take some preventative measures yourself.
There are some signs that you need to watch out for if you want to protect your home from termites. One of the most common signs is seeing piles of sawdust on the ground. If you see any of these signs, it is important that you contact a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
The best way to protect your home from termites is by taking preventive measures like inspecting the exterior of your house regularly, repairing any cracks in the foundation, making sure there are no standing water sources near the foundation or inside the house and getting rid of any rotting wood.
The most common way to protect your home from termites is to use a liquid termiticide. This substance is toxic for termites but safe for humans and animals, so it’s a great way to get rid of them without harming your family.
Ants
These critters will build their nests under your paving, in dry soil, or in your lawn. Ants often get into your home when they’re looking for food. In North America alone there are more than 1,000 species of ants. When it comes to damaging homes and your wood projects, carpenter ants will hollow out wood to build their nests inside.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are like little vampires in that they feed on human blood. They’re parasites. Aside from hiding in your bedding and mattresses, they’ll also hide in crevices and cracks. While they might not destroy your home itself, infestations of them are a source of incredible stress and even psychological trauma for numerous people each year.
Camel crickets
You may have heard of these being called spider crickets or cave crickets. They look for damp, dark places such as a crawlspace, shed, or basement. They tend to gather in large numbers too. When they’re scared, they’ll use their long legs to jump, most of the time, right at whatever happened to scare them. They’ll eat plants, dust, cardboard, and wood, along with carpet, fabric, fungus, and even each other!
Centipedes
These pests often induce screams when they’re seen and they prefer damp, dark places just like the camel crickets. They’ll come out at night and when they do, they are fast movers. The good news when it comes to centipedes is that they’re not really interested in us.
Fleas
These insects are flightless and small. They feed on blood and are known to carry diseases. Both humans and pets can be responsible for tracking fleas into your home. In fact, fleas can just jump onto you when you’re outside and catch a ride into the house. Once they’re there, they can bite your pets and your family and will multiply quickly.
Spiders
Most spiders in the UK are harmless, but in other parts of the world there are some species that can be quite dangerous if they bite you. Spiders have fangs that can be venomous. If you live somewhere with deadly spiders then it’s good to equip yourself with knowledge of which types are dangerous, although only four people a year in the USA die from spider bites so it’s very rare. The two most dangerous spiders in North America are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse.
This is just a small sampling of the pests that can invade your home, bite you and your family, and cause damage to your wood creation projects and your home. For the best chances of them staying away from your home, get treatment from a pest control service as soon as you notice a pest or signs of them.
This is a collaborative post and images are sourced from Canva unless otherwise stated.
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