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What are the Most Common Household Pests?
Jesse Trujillo (Owner) • December 4, 2020
There are millions and millions of pests in the world. That statement alone can give anyone goosebumps, and the idea of these creatures lurking around our homes can be quite disturbing. There are bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, ants, rodents, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, spiders, ticks, and many more. The list goes one. Here, we give you some knowledge on the five of the most common household pests. After all, getting to know more about these stubborn critters gives you more chances of getting rid of them.
The 5 Most Common Household Pests
Pests contaminate food, kitchen equipment, and other surfaces. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), common household pests can spread diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, Lime disease, malaria, Ricky Mountain spotted fever, and Hantavirus encephalitis. If you don’t do anything about it now, you put yourself and your family at risk.
1. Cockroach
One of the most common household pests is cockroaches. These are long bugs that contaminate food and destroy paper and fabric, and can stain some surfaces as well. Cockroaches are known to spread 33 kinds of bacteria, including E.coli and Salmonella species, seven types of human pathogens, and six parasitic worms.
It’s important to know that the mere saliva, droppings, and decomposing bodies of cockroaches have allergen proteins that can trigger allergy or asthma symptoms, especially in children.
If you’ve been trying to get rid of these cockroaches with bug spray, make note that only a vigilant effort in doing so can this be effective. The best way to get rid of them is to locate and remove all water sources and food for these bugs and remove any of their hiding places. You can also set out traps, which can help you keep track of when they appear so you can manage them more quickly and effectively.
2. Termites
Next to cockroaches, we have termites. According to the NPMA, subterranean termites eat 24/7. This makes them the most destructive pests or species of termites that are found in the US that can cause damage to lumber in homes, furniture, books, and even food products. A single queen terminate is capable of laying a thousand eggs in a day and can cause severe damage to your home.
The way to get rid of termites is really to call for professional help. But if you are looking at helping to prevent termites from ever entering your home, use termite-resistant woods for homes like redwood, cedar, and white oak.
3. Rodents
According to NPMA, 30% of American homeowners have had rodent problems at home. These pests are mainly the reason why 20% of the world’s food supply is contaminated. Rats transmit disease organisms like Salmonella, trichinosis, rat-bite fever, murine typhus, leptospirosis, and plague. They are also implicated in fires by spilling flammables and chewing wires.
Mice, on the other hand, may seem too small to cause damage. But never underestimate these creatures because they are capable of much more than their size lets on. They do damage by leaving their urine and excrement on clothing or objects and nibble on delicate items like pillows.
Remove any food source for them and seal gaps at home with steel wool or sheet metal, which they can’t penetrate. Use traps to catch them instead of using a poison that can lead them to die in the walls or create an unbearable stench.
4. Ants
Wherever there’s sugar or even a crumb, you will find ants. And if you find one, you are sure to see more of them nearby. Some ants in the US include pavement ants, ghost ants, pharaoh’s ants, garden ants, carpenter ants, blackhouse ants, or bulldog ants. Some are destructive, while some are just really creepy-crawly nuisances.
While these don’t cause much damage as termites or rodents, ants, they are still pests that can be very uncomfortable to see on kitchen table tops or anywhere at home.
To get rid of them, make sure you clean whatever container or object is covered in them outdoors. Wash these containers, and any food spills around with soap and water. Seal holes in doorways with caulk, stop plantings, and mulch a foot from the foundation so they don’t colonize there.
5. Bed Bugs
Last on this list is bed bugs NPMA states that 99.6% of pest professionals have had to deal with bed bugs in the past year, which is significantly higher than 15 years ago. Mostly, professionals reported that these bed bugs were primarily found in apartments or condominiums and single-family homes. It’s a fact that one in 5 Americans has had a bed bug infestation.
Bed bugs can leave skin irritated with some itchy red welts. It’s crucial to know that getting rid of bed bugs begins with cleaning beddings, linens, curtains, clothing, or other places they could live. Although, the best way to remove them is to seek professionals who can do chemical treatments. That way, bed bugs get exterminated, and you can rest assured you won’t have any of these bugs for an extended period. That depends, of course, on how well you clean your home.
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