House bugs are bugs commonly found inside the home– believe us, you know them… and they know you! Almost everyone is familiar with a few of these. House bugs may be drawn to your home for various reasons, but primarily they are attracted to available food sources or, in the case of some pesky creatures, wood and other materials that they can nest in or feed on. The most common house bugs include varieties of flies, moths, crickets, beetles, spiders, bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, mosquitos, and termites.
However, not all house bugs are created equal. Some definitely cause more damage than others. Some are a threat to your health, while others are just a plain nuisance. Some, like moths, can cause an infestation in food sources. Some are just plain more disgusting than others. In this article, we will walk you through the most disgusting house bugs of all, why they are a problem, and how you can get rid of them and maintain peace and quiet in your home.
What are the most disgusting house bugs?
Bed Bugs
The last place you want to find a bug is in your own bed– gross! What you see as a comfortable mattress is for them a convenient place to live. Bed bugs are small, wingless animals drawn to warm places like beds. They are drawn toward fabrics including clothing, sofas, and any soft upholstered furniture. They tend to gravitate toward dark places where they can easily hide.
Bed bugs feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, usually human blood. For millennia, bed bugs have been known to follow humans around and drink their blood for nourishment. Hence, bites are usually the first sign of an infestation. Bites often start as painless, red marks on the skin that later turn into itchy, large welts. They are a huge pain, as we all know. While bites usually dissolve with time, they are most effectively treated using hydrocortisone and antihistamine creams, which alleviate itch. Oral antibiotics or corticosteroids may be prescribed for rashes and other more severe reactions.
Another obvious sign of a bed bug infestation is droppings and eggs on fabrics. Carefully examine your bed linens for bugs or eggs. Eggs appear like small, brown dots, like poppy seeds. Look out for brown or rust-colored droppings; these may stain your fabrics.
DIY Methods for bed bugs
There are do-it-yourself bed bug products on the market in the form of sprays and creams. You can also try washing bedding and clothing in hot water for 30 minutes and using a steamer on couches, mattresses, and other furniture. Many bed bug-killing products are pesticide-based. Alcohol and soap-based sprays may not be as effective.
Professional Solutions
Depending on the nature of an infestation, eliminating bed bugs can take up to weeks or months. Sometimes, an infestation is so bad that it can’t be handled properly alone– and that’s just plain frustrating. Getting rid of bed bugs can certainly be very tricky, but under the care of experts, it’s not impossible! TermiGuard’s Residential Pest Control Plans are the best choice for tackling a bed bug problem head-on.
Spiders
We all knew a few spiders– well, more than a few. There are Daddy longlegs, wolf spiders, domestic house spiders, and black widows (yikes!). Contrary to popular belief, most spiders are harmless and do not bite. In fact, many indoor spiders, like Daddy longlegs, perform a valuable service for humans by eating mosquitos and flies. Black widows, on the other hand, are venomous– 15 times more than a rattlesnake! American House Spiders, on the other hand, are usually non-aggressive and only bite when provoked. Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders that build burrows instead of webs. They are very docile and even make good pets.
Prevent spiders in the home by reducing clutter, dusting and vacuuming regularly, and cleaning up debris and trash around the perimeter of the home. You should also clean cobwebs when found and remove egg sacs.
Besides actually seeing spiders in the flesh, the most common signs of spiders in the home are webs, egg sacs, and excess flying insects (a food source for spiders). Pay close attention to dark crevices, corners, and cluttered or dusty areas. They are often found in dark places such as basements, attics, and closets.
DIY methods for spiders
Keep your house clean as a preventative measure. Regular dusting, vacuuming, and de-cluttering will reduce the risk of unwanted visitors. Natural spider repellants include white vinegar, citrus, mint, diatomaceous earth, cedar, and horse chestnuts. Spraying pesticides at spiders is unfortunately not very effective.
Professional Solutions
TermiGuard provides professional pest control services that will solve your spider problem in no time. We provide knowledgeable, friendly, holistic services designed to treat your home and keep bugs away.
Cockroaches
Ahh, yes… the dreaded cockroach. According to AAFA, at least 63% of homes contain cockroaches and their particles. They really do love our homes– especially if you live in a warm, humid environment. They are drawn to food sources and are notoriously difficult pests to eliminate. While cockroaches are annoying, they almost never bite humans or pets unless threatened. However, they are unhygienic and sometimes spread disease. They carry certain bacteria that they may leave on our food. It is suspected that they carry microorganisms that cause illness in humans such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and others. Cockroaches can also worsen allergies when present in the home.
The best way to prevent cockroaches is to keep the house clean and keep food sources away. This includes pet food, crumbs, rotting food, and open containers. Take out the garbage regularly and clean up debris around the home. Remove any sources of additional moisture, such as pipe leaks, that may attract cockroaches.
DIY Methods for cockroaches
Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to eliminate. They hide in a host of areas, reproduce at a fast rate, and may develop resistance to pesticides. They also run fast and can live up to a full week without their head! That’s why preventative action is so important, because once a cockroach infestation starts it’s hard to control, especially on your own without professional help. Sprays and essential oils may help temporarily, but may not be permanent solutions.
Professional solutions
TermiGuard professionals are experienced cockroach killers. Since it’s one of the most common house “pets”, our knowledgeable team members have plenty of experience getting rid of them. No matter the size of the infestation, we can take it on.
Ants
Ants are some of the worst house bugs. They live in huge colonies that are extremely difficult to kill off. Each colony has hundreds of thousands of ants! There are over 12,000 ant species in the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Famously, they can lift 10-50 times their body weight. They are a very hard-working species that has miraculously succeeded at surviving somewhere between 140 to 168 million years.
House ants forage for food to bring back to the colony. If you begin spotting ants in your home, it’s probably because they’ve identified your house as a food source. That explains why they are usually found in the kitchen. Once a foraging ant locates a food source, they leave a trail of pheromones behind so the rest of the colony can follow them. Once an infestation has begun, it is hard to control. The presence of ants in the home has health risks: it can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms, and sometimes they carry bacteria that cause illness when deposited on human food. In the yard, ants can disrupt roots and destroy landscaping.
DIY Methods for ants
Use a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water to wipe off ants when you see them. White vinegar is a reliable way to kill ants. You can also put the mixture in a spray bottle to treat affected areas. Lemon juice, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and food-grade diatomaceous earth are other common DIY ant-killers.
Professional solutions
Did you know that ant infestations are the #1 reason that people call professional pest control? The best ant control is proactive pest control — that’s what TermiGuard is here for. Our plans take everything into account, from prevention to elimination. Call us today to set up a consultation, and our expert pest control team will work with you to build and execute an effective plan.
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