Your home should be your sanctuary. It’s a place where you and your family can retreat to and be comfortable and safe in. If you love your dogs and cats, then your home should also be a haven for your pets. But, what about creatures that are attracted to your property because of your beautiful garden or the damp and dark basement?
While insects and other creatures play a vital ecological role in our natural environment, they can become a nuisance in your home if there’s an infestation. Which household pests threaten your home and property should you know about? And, when is the right time to call in pest control?
By knowing the different creatures that may take up residence in your property, you’ll be well-informed about which ones are welcome and which ones need to be removed. Let’s talk about the five most common household pests you don’t want in your home and why you should call in a pest control expert to assess the situation.
5 Common Household Pests That Threaten Your Home
1. Cockroaches
Watching a cockroach or two scuttling across your kitchen floor or skirting down into your sink drain can be quite disturbing. These little bugs love to live in the warm and dark spots of your home. You’ll find them hiding out in the cavities of your walls, in kitchen cupboards and even skulking around in your wardrobe.
Cockroaches come out at nighttime to feed and will soil areas of your living environment. They’re known to spread diseases such as gastroenteritis and salmonella in your home whenever they walk across your countertops and other surfaces. Cockroaches can pose a serious health risk to you and your family so it’s always a good idea to have them removed.
2. Termites
Colonies of termites can be found living in your garden as well as in the foundation and walls of your home. A few termites don’t threaten your property’s infrastructure but when you have an invasion of these bugs, you need to consider pest control immediately.
The signs of a termite infestation include:
- Mounds of soil or mud tubes along your skirting boards inside the house
- Lifting tiles
- Cracked or peeling paint on the walls
- A hollow sound whenever you tap wooden window frames or walls
Termites can be destructive and if not removed, will result in permanent damage to your house. Make sure you contact a pest controller as soon as you suspect you have an infestation of termites on your property.
3. Rodents
Mice and rats often take up residence in a home when they’re looking for shelter and food. They can be found nesting in cavities in the walls, in lofts or under furniture such as your couch. Mice are smaller than rats but they can cause as much trouble as their larger rodent cousin.
While both mice and rats can chew through electrical wiring, the rat can also gnaw through wood, sheet metal and aluminium. Besides causing infrastructural damage to your home, these rodents will also steal food and spread diseases. An infestation of rodents in your home becomes a health hazard so it’s essential to get rid of them fast!
4. Bedbugs
Despite their name, bedbugs can be found anywhere in your home. Bedbugs like to live in cracks of furniture, bed mattresses and even in bed frames. They are blood-sucking creatures feeding off both humans and animals. The most common place for finding bites is on your face, neck, arms and hands. Bedbugs are minute, measuring up to 7mm long.
An infestation of bedbugs in your home is a serious health problem that should be dealt with as soon as possible. While their bites are not dangerous to you and your pets, they can lead to allergic reactions and itchy rashes that could result in serious secondary infections. Too many bedbugs in your bed could also result in sleepless nights.
5. Wasps
Wasps are stinging insects that should be avoided whenever possible. However, if they decide to move onto your property and build a nest, it may become difficult to keep your family and pets safe from them. While not everyone is allergic to wasp stings, if you or any member of your family is, it’s essential to remove this aggressive insect from your home.
An infestation of wasps can become difficult to control and often all it takes is the sound of the lawnmower to set them off into an angry rage, attacking anyone in sight. Wasp nests can be found in the eaves of your roof, underground, in trees and shrubs. If they get into your house, they’ll even build a home in the corner of your ceiling or in the loft.
Final Thoughts
An infestation of household pests should be sorted out as soon as you realise you have a problem in your home. Pest controllers are experts who will come to your home and assess the situation. Based on the type of infestation, they’ll be able to advise you on the best solution.
If you suspect you have one of these common household pests living on your property, book a pest control inspection immediately. This way you can protect both your family and home from potential health risks and infrastructural damages.
