Creepy-crawly bugs are never welcome in homes. Unfortunately, it’s common to find bugs inside your house and when this happens, it’s important that you’re able to identify what insects are living in your home so you can develop a plan to eliminate them.
Depending on what kind of insects are living in your home, your risk can range from mild to severe. For example, with termites they could potentially cause structural damage and this could mean tens of thousands of dollars to fix if you don’t get rid of them as soon as possible.
Signs Your House May Be Infested with Pests
Whether you are house-hunting or have just moved into a one, you may not notice bugs right away unless the issue has become serious. But you still need to keep your eyes open for even the most subtle signs of infestation. These include:
- Cobwebs
- Wood shavings
- Dead insects
- Wood damage
- Insect holes
- Hallow galleries in wood
A lot of the most common insects in the US are harmless to humans and even building structures. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ok to have them in your home. For insects that do not damage or live in wood, you can start with a DIY approach to banish the bug such as using natural pest control methods.
For wood-infesting types of bugs like termites, this will require a more serious solution. To effectively eliminate them, it requires special tools and products that professional pest control services like A1 pest control offers. You may have to spend some money to get the best outcome.
In any case, here are the most common household insects you can find in the US:
1. Ants
Ants like carpenter ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants are just among the 100s of other ant species that live in US houses. They can get into homes by way of tiny cracks or crevices. Carpenter ants may cause damage wood but they do not carry diseases.
2. Cockroaches
Cockroaches carry bacteria and you will often find them in your kitchen. They can either be brown, black or reddish. If you spot one cockroach, then it only means there are dozens more in your home hiding, most likely under the kitchen sink or anywhere that has moisture. Cockroaches carry diseases and they also reproduce at lightning speed.
3. Termites
The main insect that can really be worrisome to homeowners are termites as these bugs can cause major problems in just a short period of time. These “silent destroyers,” eat through wood—including the beams and posts of your house. Termites are often hidden behind walls but you can detect them if you see bubbling paint, discarded wings and mud tubes.
4. Flies
Flies carry over a hundred possible pathogens. They are attracted to food and often leave behind bacteria leading to food poisoning, diarrhea, and others. Gnats, houseflies and fruit flies are some of the most widespread flies you can find in homes.
5. Spiders
Most spiders found in homes in the US are harmless but seeing one (especially a huge spider) can really scare you. To prevent these creepy crawlers from getting inside your home, exterior doors or windows should be tightly sealed. But if you do find one inside your house, you can trap it and simply release it outside.
6. Mosquitos
Mosquitoes are blood-sucking insects that cause itchy bites and also carry diseases that may be potentially dangerous to humans and pets. If your area has mosquitoes, keep doors and windows closed and always get rid of stagnant water in and around your property.