A recent research study found that 84 percent of American homeowners faced a pest problem in the past twelve months. Depending on the pest, it can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
If that’s not scary enough, most standard homeowner insurance policies do not cover pest damage. The damage could add up quickly, and you may feel your wallet was also destroyed by one of these pests.
From fruit flies to termites and rats, all pests can carry a wide range of diseases and damage to your house, here are the top ten house pests to be aware of.
1. Termites
Termites are number one for a reason – they can cause some serious damage. The National Pest Management Association states that termite infestations cause nearly $5 billion in damage in the U.S each year.
Termites can cause damage rather quickly. These pests eat around the clock, so when you see any signs of termite damage, call a professional pest control company immediately. Signs of termite damage include shelter tubes fanning on your walls, noises like tapping, tiny pellets inside or outside your home, sagging floors or wood, and tree nests.
2. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a tough pest. First, they are so small, so it’s hard to find them. They can cause some serious health problems for your family.
It is hard to stop the cycle once you have bed bugs. Females can lay up to 1,000 eggs at a time. If you have unexplained red bites, look around your bed for rust-colored stains (feces) and egg sacks.
3. Ants
There are several types of ants. Most ants cause food contamination, but carpenter ants can do real damage to wood in your home just like termites. Fire ants can sting and cause health problems.
To check for carpenter ants, look for sawdust beneath wood areas like trim, door jams, or window sills. You should also look for winged ants on your ceilings or near any areas you suspect damage. You may also hear the ants in the walls – it’s important to investigate any sounds you hear in walls!
4. Bees
In the late summer and early fall, bees are super active preparing and gathering food for their queen to last through the winter. There are several types of bees including honey bees, bumblebees, wasps, carpenter bees, yellow jackets, and hornets.
If you get a bee infestation, depending on the type of bee, it’s best to have a professional handle the issue. Some bees are aggressive like the wasp and yellow jacket. A honey bee colony should be relocated so they can keep producing honey.
Yellowjackets can chew through drywall and surface wood. Honey bee nests are typically larger with thousands of workers.
5. Squirrels
Now, let’s talk about some non-insect pests that can cause a great deal of damage to your home. Sure, squirrels may be cute, but they have strong teeth that can chew and destroy your home. Squirrels can chew their way into your home destroying your loose soffit and fascia.
Once inside your attic, they like to make nests in soft items such as clothes and blankets, and this means they will destroy your personal belongings. Electrical wires are no match for the sharp squirrel teeth. Squirrels can also chew through PVC piping.
As you can see, they are pretty destructive. They can also bring in other unwanted guests such as fleas, ticks, and mites into your home. Squirrels can also carry diseases such as rabies.
6. Rats and Mice
Like the squirrels above, rats and mice like to chew. Mice try to get snuggled in for nests, including burrowing in insulation, furniture, electrical appliances, or anything else for that matter. As mice and rats travel through your home, they contaminate areas with urine and feces.
A mouse contaminates 10 times more food than it actually eats. They can spread diseases causing serious harm to humans.
7. Roaches
No one wants roaches in their home because they are pretty gross insects. Roaches feed at night, so any sight of a cockroach in the daytime probably means you have an infestation. These pests like dark and damp spots like under refrigerators, floor drains, sinks, and stoves.
You will see cockroach droppings throughout the house, and their feces resemble coffee grounds. As if having cockroaches doesn’t stink enough, the actual insects themselves smell, and you can smell an oily or musty smell with an infestation.
Cockroaches can cause serious allergy issues. They also carry disease. Not to mention, these insects will destroy your food and make your house just feel plain dirty.
8. Fruit Flies
Fruit flies infest homes with rotted fruits, and they also like fermented alcohols like wine and beer. Once you get a few fruit flies, the infestation can grow quickly because females can lay up to 500 eggs that hatch within a day and a half. Fruit flies can contaminate food with bacteria and other germs that can make you really sick.
9. Fleas
In the summer, it’s important to keep up with your pet’s flea treatment. If fleas catch a free ride on your furry friend, they can lay eggs in your carpet, furniture, and bedding. Fleas bite more than animals – they will gladly bite you and your kids.
Some people experience serious reactions to flea bites, making life miserable. These pests are hard to get rid of because they are tough, small, and move quickly.
10. Spiders
Spiders like to come in for warmth when it starts to get cool. There are a couple of poisonous spiders to watch out for as well. Brown recluse spiders and black widows can cause serious health problems if they bite you.
Be sure to check dark corners because spiders are not fans of light. You also need to take care of any spiders immediately before they lay eggs. A spider can lay anywhere between 2 to 1,000 eggs!
Looking to Destroy House Pests?
As you can these pests are unwanted house guests. They will eat you out of the house and home – and take your money. As soon as you suspect an infestation, it’s time to call the experts to minimize any damage.
Don’t let house pests destroy your home. Contact Natura Pest Control today! We guarantee our work and will help you get your home back.
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