Cockroaches
We can all agree that cockroaches are disgusting critters. They scurry about, spreading bacteria wherever they go. This may be on your floor, your kitchen counters, and even on your food! There are a few different types of cockroaches. The most common in the United States are American, German, and Oriental. You don’t want any of them in your home.
If you would like to avoid cockroaches in your home, consider these tips:
- Close off gaps to the exterior of your home.
- Take out your garbage often and don’t let it pile up.
- Replace damaged or torn window and door screens.
- Clean your home and vacuum regularly.
- Check your packages for cockroaches before bringing them indoors.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are annoying little critters. They buzz around your head and bite. These bites leave itchy bumps that are extremely hard to avoid scratching. On top of this, mosquitoes can also be dangerous. While not every mosquito that lands on you will be a carrier, some mosquitoes carry diseases and viruses. Because of this, you won’t want them making their home on your property and breeding.
In order to avoid mosquitoes, consider the following tips:
- Turn buckets and containers on your property upside down.
- Fill in any holes in your yard.
- Remove standing water from around your home.
- Cut your grass short.
- Remove stumps, branches, and debris from your property.
Ants
You may see a few ants on your counter carrying sandwich crumbs off to some unknown location and think nothing of it. The problem is, where they are going is their colony—which is likely in your house. Argentine, fire, and sugar ants can set up a colony inside of your house and grow from there. It’s especially bad when it’s fire ants, as they sting.
If you would like to avoid an ant infestation in your home, consider these tips:
- Rinse cans and containers before you throw them out.
- Remove tree branches and debris from your property.
- Put food away after you are done eating it.
- Use weather-stripping on your windows and doors.
Rodents
No one likes seeing a rodent scurry by their feet! There are a few common rodents that you may see in your home. These include mice, roof rats, and Norway rats. These rodents can vary in size and appearance but they all can damage your home. Rodents destroy walls, chew through wires, eat your food, and even spread disease.
To make sure rodents aren’t scurrying around your house, take these tips into consideration:
- Clean your home and vacuum often.
- Take out your garbage often.
- Use your garbage disposal.
- Close your doors and windows.
- Put your food in containers and don’t leave it out.
Wasps/Hornets
Wasps and hornets are mean. They are way more aggressive than a lot of pests, and they will attack you if you get too close. Their stings hurt a lot, and they can be particularly bad if you have an allergy. The problem is you may not even know you have an allergy. You may also have friends or family visiting that may be allergic to wasps and hornets. This puts them at risk any time they come over.
If you see a wasp or hornet nest, you’ll want to get rid of it immediately. The safest way to remove a wasp or hornet nest is to contact a company that specializes in pest control. A pest control specialist will be able to destroy the wasp or hornet nest fully and make sure they don’t set up another nest in the future.
spiders
Creepy spiders can make their way inside and spin webs in the corners of your house. Some of these spiders are relatively harmless and aren’t really anything to worry about. That said, their webs will grow and get annoying. Other types of spiders are extremely dangerous and can even be deadly. You’ll want to ensure spiders stay outside.
If you don’t want a spider infestation, consider these tips:
- Repair tears in your door and window screens.
- Get rid of woodpiles, rock piles, and debris from your yard.
- Make sure there are no cracks in the exterior wall of your home.
- Clear away spider webs when you see them.
- Keep your windows and doors closed when not using them.
Termites and carpenter ants
Termites and carpenter ants are pretty safe when it comes to people and pets, but not so much when it comes to properties. These pests are known for the destruction they cause. They are actually responsible for billions of dollars in damage every year. If they infest your house, you may end up with thousands of dollars in repairs. These pests also have a tendency to breed and spread quickly. If you see a few and don’t do anything, you’ll find that there are a ton more later.
Termites and carpenter ants need to be removed with the help of a professional pest control specialist. They know where to look and have the experience and tools needed to eliminate your pest infestation.
