Household pests are no fun to have around. Besides just being gross, many pests are actually dangerous. Some carry diseases and may bite your family or pets. If you notice any signs of pests such as ants or roaches, whether they’re living or dead, it’s a good idea to bring in a professional to help.
Ants
Ants will happily make themselves at home in your space. Because ants have a symbiotic attachment to aphids, it’s a good idea to get the exterior of your home checked out as well as treating for ants indoors.
Spiders
Spiders can cause serious challenges for homeowners. They like the dark and the quiet, so you might never see them until they’ve laid their eggs and are fully settled in. If you notice spiders of any size in your home, don’t get too close. While many are technically harmless, the bite of a black widow, brown recluse or hobo spider can cause a terrible infection. Glove up and check under furniture for small, fibrous balls (spider eggs). If you find any, contact a pest removal service.
Cockroaches
It doesn’t take much food and water to keep cockroaches happy. Even if you moved out and took all food sources with you, these pests can feed quite well in an empty house. If you see live roaches when you turn on the light, your home is infested. Check under sinks for roach leavings (tiny black dots stuck to surfaces) and bring in a pro to get them out of your space.
Wasps
We need to take good care of our local bees, but wasps don’t deserve such loyalty. If you notice wasps around a certain portion of your home, look for their nests in the space. You may find a gray or brown muddy clump stuck to the inside wall of a garage or shed. This is a wasp’s nest and should be treated with great care. The warmer the temperature, the more active wasps are.
You can purchase sprays at your local hardware store to soak down the nest and kill the wasps. If you choose to use these sprays, keep the following tips in mind:
- Work in the coolest part of the day
- Open all doors so you have an escape route
- Work with a partner who can close up the space once you spray
- Stand as far back as possible and let the spray can do the work
- Soak the nest
- Clear out and close the doors
If you’re not able to move quickly or don’t want to tackle this project alone, contact a reputable pest control company like Joshua’s Pest Control (www.joshuaspestcontrol.com) to get rid of the wasps safely and effectively.
Earwigs and silverfish
Earwigs and silverfish are attracted to water. Check your plumbing to make sure there are no leaks and make sure to use exhaust fans to keep moisture levels down. If you find a brown earwig in your home, don’t smash it, as they can stink. Be aware that while earwigs generally make themselves at home in your bath and kitchen, silverfish will travel. Silverfish like carbohydrates and can make a home in your books or even feed on wallpaper glue.
Mice and rats
Despite their portrayal in kid’s books, mice are not heroic creatures. Rodents carry diseases and can serve as a host for fleas. To reduce the risk of mice in your home, put up pet food overnight, and try to keep everything in your pantry in a sealed container. Mice and rats will chew through bags and can jump quite a long way. Traps and poison can help control the population.
Snails and slugs
Snails need moisture to live on and for traveling. If you have plantings close to your home or have window boxes attached to the house, you may have snails inside your space. Sprinkle a layer of diatomaceous earth between the plantings and your home. This will make incisions in the belly of the slug and should kill them, but don’t be surprised if you find a dead slug in your home.
Making an inviting and comfortable home for your family means being vigilant about pests. Some are just a bother, but others can be dangerous. Pest control can literally be a lifesaver.