Common Household Pests: Creepy Crawlers, Flyers and Wildlife

There are many types of common household pests that can work their way into the home with ease. Insects and wildlife can range from tiny creepy crawlers to sizable wildlife. Regardless of their size, some of these critters can cause quite a bit of damage and be a nuisance in the home. These are some common household insects and wildlife that owners should consider eradicating.

Common Pests Found in the Home

With a few exceptions, all of the various types of household pests typically fall into two categories: insects and rodents. Both can be extremely damaging to a home as they can get behind walls and above ceilings where they can nest and destroy wires, plumbing, and other such things. If found in a home, a homeowner must get rid of the pests one way or another before they can cause damage. For this, there are pest control pesticides, and chemical free pest control solutions such as traps.

Common Insects in Homes

It’s common to find insects in a home as they’re so tiny, they can fly in through a cracked door without notice or even crawl through cracks the homeowner may not even be aware of. Here are some different insects that may invade a home and how to identify the signs they leave behind:

• Cockroaches: These pests love to invade warm homes and can hide in cracks and wall cavities and often creep out at night to feed on the owner's food. While they may seem harmless, many cockroaches carry diseases such as poliomyelitis and salmonella and can cause dysentery in humans.
• Wasps: These flying pests have a fierce sting awaiting those who approach their nests, which can actually become huge very quickly and can contain tens of thousands of wasps. They love nesting in the eaves and wall cavities within homes and storage sheds and even in bushes and trees.
• Termites: Likely one of the nation's most destructive home pests, termites can eat away at the framing and walls of homes causing thousands of dollars of damage, particularly since many home insurance policies don't cover termite damage. Homeowners can have experienced pest control companies set up traps and bait to prevent termite infestations.
• Fleas: Flea infestations can occur even in homes without pets. These parasites quickly lay eggs and multiply when settling into homes and can be very challenging to eradicate.
• Silverfish: These critters often work their way into homes and hide in dark spaces like boxes and cabinetry. Silverfish enjoy eating paper and glue, so books, photos and such can become seriously damaged.
• Mosquitoes: There are more than 150 mosquito species in the United States. Not only are they pesky bloodsuckers, but mosquitoes can carry a number of deadly diseases such as West Nile virus and malaria.
• Bed Bugs: Another blood thirsty pest common in homes are bed bugs, which can actually harbor themselves in cracks and crevices in addition to bedding. Professional eradication is typically necessary to get these fast multiplying invaders out of the home.
• Spiders: Thousands of species of spiders exist in the U.S. and can range in size from tiny to scarily large. They like to hide in warm, dark places like air vents, corners, d wall cracks. Many are harmless, but quite a few are extremely toxic and are not a good addition to any home.

If any of these sorts of insects are causing problems within a home, homeowners should consider pest control options such as DIY pest control or calling a professional exterminator in order to get rid of the pest infestation.

Common Rodents and Other Wildlife in Homes

Sometimes wildlife tries to make their own respite and shelter out of your home, be it in Alexandria South or elsewhere. Bats, for example, love to get into attics and hang out during the daylight hours, and these rabies carriers can be dangerous. However, the most common infiltrators tend to come from the rodent family and include critters such as:

• Squirrels: Like many rodents, a squirrel’s teeth never stop growing and they need to gnaw on things constantly to keep them short, so be on the look out for chew marks as well as strange noises in walls, droppings, and increased squirrel activity in the area.
• Chipmunks: Chipmunks are very similar to squirrels, and homeowners should keep an eye open for chew marks, droppings, opened food, and noises coming from in the walls and ceilings.
• Marmots: Unlike squirrels and chipmunks, marmots typically don’t seek residence inside homes as they actively try to avoid humans. However, they may make burrows in yards or gardens and scavenge from the garbage or vegetable garden.
• Groundhogs: Another large rodent, groundhogs create burrows like marmots and like to be away from people. They can be identified by the piles of dirt they leave while digging and larger than average droppings.
• Rats and Mice: Both rats and mice will gnaw at furniture and walls, leave droppings, and create nests that have a foul odor. As they run, homeowners may be able to hear a faint skittering sound.

Generally, these critters enter dwellings and attics for shelter and food, but they can wreak havoc on interiors in the process. Many of these intruders scratch, chew and gnaw away at insulation, pipes, wood, cables, and wires which can cause serious damage or start electrical fires. Many rodents are also disease carriers, so eradication is a wise move.

The first move homeowners should make is to contact a local professional pest control company to help remove and prevent pest infestations. Those who aren't sure who the most reliable companies are can reach out to a local real estate professional who can make recommendations.