Pests like ants, cockroaches, and mice infiltrating your home can be annoying at best and downright unhygienic at worst. Getting rid of these unwelcome visitors takes some work, but is well worth the effort to reclaim a pest-free home. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about identifying, preventing, and safely controlling the most common household pests.
Introduction
Household pests come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny critters like fleas to larger invaders like rats. While some pests are simply a nuisance, others can spread diseases, contaminate food, and even cause structural damage to your home. Controlling pests is important for keeping your family healthy and home in good shape.
Definition of Common Household Pests
Household pests are insects, rodents, or other small animals that invade our homes looking for food, water, shelter, or places to breed. Some of the most common household pests include:
- Ants – There are many species of ants that can enter homes. Some of the most common are carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, pavement ants, and Argentine ants. They enter in search of food and water.
- Bed bugs – Small, flat, parasitic insects that feed on human and animal blood. They hide in cracks and crevices in bedrooms.
- Beetles – Varieties like carpet beetles, cigarette beetles, and furniture beetles feed on materials found inside the home.
- Cockroaches – Nocturnal omnivores that seek food scraps and moisture in kitchens and bathrooms. Common species are German, Oriental, American, and brown-banded cockroaches.
- Dust mites – Microscopic spider-like pests that live on dead skin cells and organic debris. They are commonly found in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture.
- Flies – House flies, fruit flies, and drain flies enter homes attracted to food waste and moisture. They spread bacteria and diseases by landing on unsanitary surfaces.
- Mosquitoes – Feed on human and animal blood. Can enter through small openings and transmit dangerous diseases like Zika, West Nile Virus, malaria, and more.
- Rodents – Mice and rats enter houses looking for food and nesting sites through cracks and holes. They contaminate food with urine and droppings.
- Termites – Eat cellulose material found in structural wood, furniture, books, papers, etc. Cause major structural damage to homes.
Importance of Controlling Household Pests
It is very important to control pests in your home because:
- Pests contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria, viruses, and parasites they carry. These can cause food poisoning and various illnesses in humans.
- Rodent and cockroach allergens trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals.
- Bites and stings from certain pests can cause infections or allergic reactions.
- Pests like termites and carpenter ants damage the structural integrity of the home.
- Flies and pantry pests spoil stored food. Rodents also gnaw on home infrastructure.
- Pests are simply a nuisance. No one wants to deal with the creepy feeling of sharing living space with bugs and rodents.
Overview of the Article
This guide provides detailed information on various aspects of controlling common household pests:
- Identifying major pests – their physical characteristics, habits, signs of an infestation.
- Health risks posed by different household pests.
- Preventative measures to deny pests entry and resources in the home.
- Cultural, physical, biological and chemical control methods.
- Safe DIY pest control techniques using homemade remedies, baits and traps.
- Benefits of hiring a professional pest control service and how to choose one.
Let’s get right into understanding and managing the most common house pests plaguing homeowners.
Common Household Pests
Ants
Over 12,000 species of ants exist worldwide. They live in colonies with one or more egg-laying queens. Worker ants forage for food, expanding the nest and colony. Common nuisance ants include:
Carpenter Ants
- Large (1/4-1/2 inch long) and black or red-and-black
- Nest in moist wood like fallen logs, tree stumps, timber structures
- Can damage wooden structures while excavating nest galleries
Pharaoh Ants
- Very small (1/16 inch long) yellow or light brown
- Nests have multiple queens with large colonies up to several thousand
- Found indoors seeking food, moisture and warmth
Pavement Ants
- Small to medium sized light brown or black
- Make nests in soil or pavement cracks near structures
- Trail along structural edges looking for sweet foods
Argentine Ants
- Tan to dark brown tiny ants (1/8 inch long)
- Form large colonies with multiple queens in shallow nests
- Seek sugary foods inside homes like syrup and jelly
Ants invade homes through cracks and crevices when foraging for food and water. They contaminate surfaces and foods with the pathogens they carry. Prolonged exposure to ant allergens released in their waste can trigger respiratory issues.
Bed Bugs
- Flat, oval, brownish parasitic insects about 1/5 inch long
- Feed on human and animal blood at night
- Reside in cracks near sleeping areas like mattresses, furniture, carpets
- Cause itchy red bite marks that may lead to skin infections
Bed bug infestations are highly problematic. Their bites can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Discarded shells and blood stains on bedding are telltale signs of bed bugs at home.
Beetles
Several beetle species damage materials found inside the home:
Carpet Beetles
- Tiny oval-shaped pests with distinctive hairy tufts
- Feast on natural fibers in carpets, clothing, upholstered furniture
- Leave behind shed skins and pinprick holes
Cigarette Beetles
- Tiny round brown beetles about 1/6 inch long
- Eat tobacco, spices, cereals, and dried foods
- Make small holes in wood furniture, structural timber and books
Furniture Beetles
- Small (1/8-1/4 inch) cylindrical wood boring insects
- Feed on hardwoods like oak and ash creating tunnels
- Weaken wooden furniture and structural wood
Beetle larvae and hairs released can provoke allergic reactions in people. They also ruin household materials by boring holes and leaving unsightly stains.
Cockroaches
Several cockroach species are household pests:
German Cockroaches
- Light brown with two dark stripes on the pronotum
- Small (1/2 to 5/8 inch long). Infest kitchens and bathrooms.
- Seek water and starchy food. Reproduce rapidly.
American Cockroaches
- Largest cockroach pest (over 1 1/2 inches long)
- Reddish brown with yellow band on pronotum
- Found in moist areas like sewers and basements
Oriental Cockroaches
- Dark brown to black in color and 1 to 1 1/4 inches long
- Prefer dark, damp places like trash cans and sewers
- Feed on decaying organic matter
Brown-Banded Cockroaches
- Identifiable by light bands across their wings
- Seek starchy foods and moisture
- Nest in small cracks in furniture and appliances
Cockroaches transmit E. coli, salmonella and other disease-causing pathogens as they move between filth and food surfaces. Cockroach allergens also trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms.
Dust Mites
- Tiny 8-legged microscopic organisms
- Feed on skin cells shed by humans and pets
- Found in fabrics, carpeting, stuffed toys and upholstered furniture
- Allergens in their waste cause reactions like sneezing, runny nose
While not visible to the naked eye, large dust mite populations can worsen allergies and asthma. Encasings for mattresses and frequent hot water laundering help control dust mites.
Earwigs
- Thin, brown insects with signature pincers on their abdomen
- Mostly active outdoors but sometimes enter houses
- Hide in moist, dark crevices during the day
- Feed on a wide variety of organic matter and plants
Earwigs are generally harmless but a nuisance pest. They may pinch with their tail pincers if disturbed. Sticky traps and pesticide sprays treat infestations indoors.
Flies
House Flies
- Most common fly pest identified by gray body and four dark stripes on the thorax
- Breed in rotting organic material like compost bins
- Carry bacteria and worms that can contaminate food
Fruit Flies
- Tiny yellow-brown flies about 1/8 inch long
- Attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables, trash cans
- Lay eggs near moist fermented food material
Drain Flies
- Delicate dark winged flies that resemble small moths
- Breed in moist organic buildup in drains and pipes
- Seen near sinks, tubs, toilets and other drain openings
Flies transmit diseases like typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis through contact with spoiled food and waste. They are attracted to food spills, trash and moisture indoors.
Mosquitoes
- Slender brownish insects with long piercing mouthparts
- Breed in stagnant water outdoors and enter homes
- Mostly active at dawn and dusk, feeding on human and animal blood
- Carry dangerous diseases like Zika, malaria, West Nile, encephalitis
Mosquitoes can enter homes through any small openings. Removing standing water sources outdoors and using window screens helps reduce mosquito entry and bites.
Rodents
House Mice
- Small rodents with a pointed nose, rounded ears and long tail
- Require very little space to enter homes through small cracks
- Nest in confined warm spaces indoors
- Contaminate surfaces and food with 40 diseases transmittable to humans
Rats
- Larger rodents at 6-8 inches long with scaly tails
- Burrow and nest in underground locations near homes
- Enter houses through sewer pipes, vents and openings in the foundation
- Spread dangerous diseases through their urine and droppings
Rodents like mice and rats enter homes seeking food and shelter. They reproduce rapidly, contaminate surfaces, and damage insulation, woodwork, food, and more with their gnawing and nest building.
Silverfish
- Small wingless insects about 1/2 inch long
- Covered in shiny overlapping silver scales and long antennae
- Found in moist areas and feed on books, papers, photos
- Eat away glue, paste and starch in household items
Silverfish enjoy humid places like attics and damage paper products, books, artwork and clothing in the home with their chewing. Traps and desiccant dusts help get rid of them.
Termites
- Social insects that live in colonies with workers, soldiers and reproductive termites.
- Known as “silent destroyers” because they quietly eat away at wood
- Damage structural timber, wooden furniture, frames, bookshelves
- Attracted to moisture, often nest underground extending galleries to homes
Termites cause the most severe home damage of any household pest. Getting rid of them requires specialized treatment of infested areas by termite control professionals.
Identification of Common Household Pests
Correctly identifying the type of pest troubling your household is important to better target control measures. Here are some pointers to identify common pests:
Physical Characteristics
- Size – Compare against measurements provided earlier e.g. 1/2 inch German cockroaches. Use a ruler.
- Body shape – Segmented bodies (ants), elongated (earwigs), round (beetles)
- Color – Dark brown (American roaches), pale yellow (pharaoh ants)
- Unique markers – Stripes on house flies, silvery sheen of silverfish
- Appendages – Number of legs and antennae, tail pincers on earwigs
Habitat
- Indoors vs. outdoors – mosquitoes and ants nest outdoors but enter houses
- Preferred areas – kitchens, bathrooms attract roaches; beds attract bed bugs
- Nesting sites – cracks, crevices, smooth surfaces, wood galleries
- Moisture levels – silverfish like humidity; beetles prefer dry goods
- Temperature – rats, mice don’t tolerate extreme cold or heat
- Food sources – fruits fly to ripening produce; pantry moths eat dry goods
Behavior
- Nocturnal or diurnal – cockroaches active at night, ants forage during the day
- Solitary or social – ants are colonial, spiders roam alone
- Foraging ranges – flying vs limited mobility of silverfish
- Reproduction – rats can birth 20 offspring every 3 months
- Sounds – crickets chirp, mice squeak, termites shed their wings when swarming
Signs of Infestation
- Frass – powdery wood dust from termite or beetle activity
- Cast skins – papery shells shed during growth by roaches and bed bugs
- Droppings – rodent feces are cylinder-shaped, roaches leave dark blobs
- Webbing – spiders leave obvious webs; also seen with pantry moth larvae
- Holes – tiny openings in fabrics from carpet beetles; large rat holes
- Odor – foul stench from mice nests
Health Risks Associated with Common Household Pests
Pests carry and transmit a wide array of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. They pick up disease-causing agents in unhygienic environments like sewers and garbage dumps, transporting them into living spaces. Some key health risks include:
Allergies
Microscopic allergens are continuously shed by pests in the form of saliva, feces, or body parts. Inhalation of allergens triggers severe reactions in sensitive individuals, especially children.
- Cockroach and dust mite allergens worsen asthma symptoms.
- Pet dander and saliva cause sniffling, sneezing and watery eyes.
- Rodent urine allergens lead to stuffy nose, coughing and skin irritation.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease causing breathing difficulty. Pests make asthma worse by:
- Their shed allergens irritating the airways, triggering airflow obstruction
- Carrying molds and fungi that release asthma-aggravating spores
- Transmitting bacterial and viral respiratory infections
Young children and the elderly are at higher risk for developing asthma symptoms when exposed to household pests and allergens.
Disease Transmission
Insects and rodents are vectors for many serious infectious diseases transmissible to humans:
Rodents
- Hantavirus – causes life-threatening respiratory disease
- Salmonella – leads to intestinal infection, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Plague – bacterial disease causing fever, seizures, shock
Cockroaches & Flies
- Tuberculosis – bacterial lung infection
- Typhoid fever – acute intestinal infection
- Dysentery – intestinal infection causing diarrhea
Mosquitoes
- Zika virus – causes birth defects
- Malaria – parasitic disease leads to cycles of chill, fever
- Dengue – viral disease induces aching joints, rash, nausea
- West Nile Virus – leads to flu-like symptoms, headaches
Ticks
- Lyme disease – bacterial infection that affects joints, heart, nervous system
Fleas & Bed bugs
- Bartonella – bacterial infection induces fatigue, fever, aches
Lice – transmit bacterial infections like trench fever
Pest exclusion, sanitation, and control is crucial to avoid exposure to the many pathogens carried by household pests.
Prevention of Common Household Pests
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” fully applies to handling household pests. Stopping pests before they enter and become established saves much time, effort and money in the long run. Useful preventative measures include:
Sanitation
- Store food in airtight containers and clean up spills promptly to deny pantry pests.
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors and seal cracks in walls.
- Fix dripping faucets and leaky plumbing to discourage roaches.
- Replace ripped window screens that allow flies and mosquitoes to enter.
- Clean garbage cans regularly and empty recycling to avoid attracting flies, ants and roaches.
- Practice good sanitation in kitchens and bathrooms – prime areas of pest activity.
Home Maintenance
- Inspect insulation, sliding doors and windows for holes that provide entry to rodents. Seal them up.
- Keep basements, attics, and living spaces clutter-free and dry to discourage silverfish, spiders and stored product pests.
- Replace worn out weather-stripping around doors and windows to exclude insects and rodents.
- Trim tree branches and shrubbery touching the home to deny pests a highway into your house.
- Fix leaking pipes, clean out gutters and address dampness issues to deny pests moisture.
