Cockroaches
Cockroaches are gross bugs that are also bacteria spreaders. These insects can get into your food and contaminate it. They can also contaminate your surfaces. There are a few different types of cockroaches that you may encounter, and they differ in appearance and size. No matter what the type, you’ll want to make sure you keep cockroaches out of your house.
Below are a few things you can do to make sure cockroaches don’t make their way into your home and start spreading bacteria:
- Check around the exterior of your home for cockroaches.
- Use weather-stripping on your doors and windows.
- Keep your home cleaned and vacuumed.
- Keep your basement dry.
- Check packages before you bring them indoors.
- Reach out to expert exterminators in Atlanta when you notice an infestation.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can be quite the problem in Atlanta due to the warm and humid climate during the spring and summer months. While swatting them will do the trick individually, an infestation can be another problem entirely.
It’s important to keep in mind that mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance because they bite and leave itchy bumps; they are also known for spreading viruses and diseases. This makes them particularly dangerous.
In order to avoid a mosquito infestation, consider the following tips:
- Keep your grass cut short.
- Fill any holes in your yard that can collect water.
- Remove debris, brush and stumps from your property.
- Turn any containers or buckets you have outdoors upside down.
Ants
Ants come in colonies. If you see a lone ant walking around, you can be sure that it is part of a larger group. If you start seeing ants around your house regularly, it’s likely that there is an infestation.
Ant infestations are more than just an eyesore. Some ants (like fire ants) bite, which can hurt a lot. Other than that, ants can cause structural damage, eat your food and can even spread illness.
In order to avoid ants, consider these tips:
- Use weather-stripping on your doors and windows.
- Rinse out containers and cans before throwing them away.
- Remove overgrown vegetation, branches and other debris from your yard.
- Close off any openings to your house.
spiders
Spiders not only give people the creeps, but they are also unsafe to have around. While some spiders are relatively harmless, other spiders have strong venom that can be extremely painful and even dangerous. Some different types of spiders include American house spiders, brown recluses, long-bodied cellar spiders and black widows.
In order to avoid an infestation of spiders (safe or otherwise), here are a few tips you should consider:
- Replace or repair torn window and door screens.
- Get rid of spiderwebs as they appear.
- Close any gaps to the outside that allow spiders to find their way in.
- Keep your doors and windows closed.
- Remove branches, debris and rock piles from your yard.
Bed Bugs
Making a home in your bed, bed bugs are bloodsuckers that bite and cause you to itch. They are extremely unpleasant. On top of living in your bed, bed bugs can move around your house and find a home in different pieces of furniture.
In order to avoid a bed bug infestation, consider following these tips:
- Wash any clothes you bring home from the store.
- Wash your clothes as soon as you arrive home from a trip.
- Avoid purchasing used furniture—including a used bed.
- Vacuum and clean your house regularly.
- Wash your sheets often.
Rodents
There are a few different types of rodents that you may run into. These rodents are generally different types of rats and mice. Rats and mice can find their way into your walls, and can hide in different parts of your house. These rodents are not only unsightly, but they are also disease spreaders. This makes them unsafe, uninvited guests.
There are a few things that you can do to avoid a rodent infestation:
- Clean and vacuum your house regularly.
- Take out your trash often.
- Don’t leave food out and containers open.
- Use a garbage disposal.
Wasps/Hornets
Nests of wasps and hornets are particularly troublesome to have around. Unlike some pests that will leave you alone, wasps and hornets can be particularly vicious—and their stings hurt a lot! On top of their stings being painful, they may also cause an allergic reaction. These reactions can sometimes be fatal. Because of this, you need to make sure you remove any wasp or hornet nests on your property.
Because of the inherent risk involved when dealing with wasps and hornets, it’s a good idea to hire a company that provides pest control in Atlanta instead of trying to handle the problem yourself.
Ticks
Ticks are parasites that live off of their host and drink their blood. These parasites are sometimes found on animals, but they also feed off of humans as well. Ticks should be avoided at all costs, as they are very dangerous to have around. Ticks carry a variety of different types of diseases that they spread through their saliva.
In order to avoid ticks, consider the tips below:
- Make sure your pets are on a year-round tick control program.
- Keep your grass short.
- Remove food sources for animals, like bird feeders and open trash cans.
- Cut overgrown bushes and shrubs.
- Remove vegetation.
- Cut wooded areas away from your property.
Termites
Termites aren’t generally known for causing humans much of a problem—but they do cause a lot of damage to homes! Termites feed off of the wood in your house, which can cause severe structural damage over time. Even if you only notice a few termites, there may be as many as thousands in the wall! Because of this, you’ll want to contact an exterminator if you suspect termites are nesting in your home.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are similar to termites in that they do damage to your house over time. They are actually responsible for billions of dollars-worth of damage each year. Because of this, you’ll want to avoid a carpenter ant infestation.
To do this, follow the tips below:
- Use weather-stripping on your doors and windows.
- Dry out your basement with a dehumidifier.
- Paint, stain and varnish the wood in your home.
- Remove wood and other debris from your property.
- Close off any cracks that lead to the exterior of your home.
