Common Bugs That May Invade Your Home

Bugs are common in almost every household. Many of these insects are harmless, and you may never see them crawling around your home. But, household pests are anything but harmless.

Insects like roaches cause allergies and worsen asthma symptoms, and some carry diseases. Some insects also cause structural damage to the home.

With the variety of insects found in the home, it is hard to determine a strategy to eliminate all of them. However, by learning the different types of bugs, you can find ways to keep them out of your home. Learn more about the common insects likely to invade your home below.

Ants

Ants are a nuisance in many American homes. These tiny insects are social, so if you see one or two ants in your house, there is a colony nearby. Ants like to invade moist areas in the house, like the bathroom and kitchen. There are also attracted to food smells; thus, you might find them anywhere you spill food.

Ants enter through small openings and may build nests in your house. A sure sign that you have an ant nest in your home is if you see winged ants. You might easily confuse these for termites. However, unlike termites, ants have bent antennae and a pinched waist.

Termites

Termites are silent destroyers. These insects eat through wood, including your roof's beams and ceiling, causing severe structural damage to your home. Most often, you never see termites until they have caused significant damage to your home.

But you may notice subtle signs of damage, like small holes where termites have eaten through and sunken areas. Termites also build tubes from mud to protect themselves from the moisture in the air. You will observe these tubes higher up your house, on the ceiling, walls, and fascia boards.

Hornets

The hornets you find in your house have probably entered through an open window or door. However, the presence of hornets indicates that you may have a hornet nest on your home's exteriors. Hornets are small, but they deliver potent, venomous stings. So, watch out for a nest when you see some in your house.

Some places where hornets build their nests include:

• Underneath the roof
• In the attic
• In sheds
• In garages
• In tree trunks

You may also find a hornet's nest on the ground.

Hornets make their nests from chewed wood, which looks like paper. The insects bite off wood near them to make these nests, so, you may see small holes in wood surfaces and fixtures on your home’s exteriors.

A hornet's nest may host several hornets, and when you disturb it, the insects may sting you. Therefore, stay safe and call a pest control professional to get rid of the hornets and the nest.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches may be one of the most notorious insects that invade homes. They reproduce quickly and are quite resilient, often resisting extermination efforts. Thus, if not managed effectively, they grow into an infestation that is hard to eliminate.

Roaches carry bacteria that contaminate food. Some diseases you may suffer from due to consuming food contaminated by cockroaches include:

• Salmonella
• Streptococcus
• Dysentery
• Typhoid
• Staphylococcus



If you find one cockroach in your house, there are others nearby. Call a pest exterminator immediately if you observe roaches in your home to avoid an uncontrolled infestation.

Always ensure your kitchen is spotless to avoid roaches. Keep your trash bins locked, and remove trash from your home. Also, seal cracks, holes, and other crevices that may be cockroaches' entry points.

Household insects are a problem for most homeowners, which is best prevented rather than solved. Unfortunately, sometimes your prevention efforts fail, and you end up with crawly intruders in your house. Call the professionals at Best Pest Control Services when you have an insect infestation you can't seem to get rid of.