How to Prevent and Minimize Indoor Pests in Your House

No one cares for uninvited guests. Unfortunately, almost all of us will at some point contend with creatures that want to take up residence in our homes. Houses make for safe, effective shelters for all kinds of insects, rodents, reptiles, and other critters, so homeowners need to stay vigilant and take measures to prevent common indoor pests from gaining entry. This article captures the essentials of preventative indoor pest control.

Types of Indoor Pests

No matter where in the United States you live, there is no shortage of species liable to move into your attic, basement, or walls. Here are the broad categories of pests to watch out for.

1. Insects

There are more than 90,000 insect species in the United States alone, so it’s perhaps no surprise that various kinds of insects account for the bulk of household pests. The most common indoor insect pests include: 

• Ants. While ants can potentially track bacteria around your kitchen, they aren’t usually known disease carriers like mosquitoes or ticks. Still, they’re unsightly, can infiltrate your foodstuffs, and infestations can quickly get out of hand. Some species can damage your home as well. Carpenter ants, for instance, excavate wood for nesting sites and can wreak havoc on a home’s wooden framing.
• Bed bugs. Bed bugs have become increasingly problematic around the world. They are parasitic, feeding overnight on the blood of a human host. Bed bugs are unlikely to transmit disease, but their bites can be itchy and painful. 
• Termites. Termites feed on wood, making them a real problem for homeowners. Current data suggests the average cost to repair household damage from termites is around $3,000, though that figure can balloon in cases of severe infestations that have gone unchecked for a number of years. Employing termite control strategies at the very first sign of an infestation is critical.
• Cockroaches. Roaches are among the most common—and hated—pests worldwide. They too can spread disease, and the debris they leave around the home is known to trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. 
• Silverfish. Though scary looking, silverfish don’t pose much of a threat to humans. They can be a nuisance by feeding on clothing, books, and other belongings, however. Silverfish tend to be attracted to moisture, so they could be a sign that you have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
• Flies. House flies, fruit flies, and many other fly species can be cause for irritation. Setting traps and removing food sources can make remedying fly infestations more manageable.
• Bees, wasps, and hornets. Stinging insects aren’t strictly outdoor pests. They can slip under eaves or through vents to build nests in attics and inside walls. Once discovered, it’s important to have a professional remove a bee nest. Hives and nests have the potential to cause structural damage, and of course stinging insects pose a danger, especially to those with allergic sensitivities.
• Moths. While some caterpillars are poisonous, most moths and caterpillars that find their way into homes aren’t particularly dangerous. Moths and caterpillars can eat holes through clothes, books, and other personal belongings, though.

Other kinds of insects pose trouble, from indoor garden pests like aphids, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, to bloodsuckers like mosquitoes and fleas. Some insects, such as stink bugs and ladybugs, tend to be seasonal nuisances as well.

 

2. Arachnids

Many arachnids are harmless, but we’d usually rather they stay out of our homes. Here are some that can move in without invitation.

• Spiders. Spiders can actually be beneficial in residential environments because they keep other pests in check. Very few spiders are actually dangerous, and almost all keep out of the way. Still, there are some species that should be professionally eradicated from your home because of the danger they pose to people and pets. These can include black widows, brown recluses, and hobo spiders.
• Ticks. Ticks are prevalent throughout much of the United States and transmit a variety of nasty diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and alpha-gal syndrome. But these nasty arachnids—they’re technically not insects—rarely infest homes. One species, the brown dog tick, is known to nest and lay eggs indoors. If you find other species of ticks inside, they probably hitched a ride on you or your pet.
• Scorpions. Scorpions can be problematic pests, if only in regional areas in the United States. Scorpions indoors are usually hunting for food, so a substantial number of them could indicate a primary pest infestation that is attracting scorpions.

3. Mammals

Small mammals account for a large number of service calls for indoor pest treatment. Here are the most common culprits.

• Mice. Mice are especially equipped to infest residential spaces. They can squeeze through an opening only ¼ of an inch wide, so barring their entry takes care and dedication. Once a few mice are nesting in a home, the infestation can get out of hand quickly. A single female mouse can breed up to ten times per year, and each litter typically consists of five to six pups—but there can be as many as 14. Do the math, and you’ll see how the population can explode quickly.
• Rats. From a pest perspective, rats are like mice but worse. Like mice, they can transmit a variety of diseases, but rats are bigger, smarter, and more aggressive. Rats still reproduce quickly, so populations can exponentially increase, and their intelligence makes traditional pest control methods less effective. 
• Bats. It’s not uncommon for bats to infest unfinished attics. If you notice a bat roosting in or on your house, have it relocated immediately. Bat droppings can contain fungal spores that can make humans quite sick with an infection called histoplasmosis. Bats can also be carriers of rabies, and they may introduce bat bugs, a parasite similar to bed bugs, into your home as well. 

Lone animals might also find their way into your home. These can include squirrels, chipmunks, and even raccoons. Beyond mammals, you might discover in your basement snakes or small lizards too. And while any creature in your home warrants a call to a professional, outright infestations of squirrels or chipmunks or snakes are rare.

Signs of Infestation

How can you determine that you have an infestation? In many cases, if you see one mouse or roach or termite, there are plenty more. But sometimes visual confirmation of the actual animal isn’t possible, and you need to look for less obvious signs. Here’s what to notice:

• Nesting sites. Many household pests create nests for themselves in crawl spaces, attics, wall cavities, or dark corners of basements. Rodent nests might have shredded paper or fabric or pieces of straw. 
• Droppings. Animal droppings are sure signs of pest infestations. Mouse and rat droppings are unlikely to be out in the open. Instead, you might discover them in cabinets, under or behind appliances, along baseboards, and in other out-of-the-way places. Termite droppings, or frass, might appear like a pile of sawdust near a wooden fixture. Bed bugs will leave small dark stains on your bedding or furniture.
• Damage to furniture, fixtures, floors, or walls. Rodents can leave scratches or claw marks around your home, and they might chew through boxes, books, or other items. Termites and boring beetles will eat through wood and leave a series of tubes about the width of a pencil. If termite tubes aren’t in the open, you can knock on the wood where you suspect termites might be and listen for a hollow sound.
• Animal tracks. Roaches and ants might leave trails on your floors or counters. Rats and mice have a substance on their fur that can rub off on baseboards, walls, and furniture. You might see it appear as greasy stains or dark discoloration. 

Preventative Measures for Indoor Pest Control

Preventative pest control follows two principles: avoid attracting pests and keep them from getting inside in the first place. Here’s how to best avoid attracting common pests:

• Maintain a clean home, regularly sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down and disinfecting all surfaces.
• Securely seal all foods in your pantry, cupboards, and cabinets. 
• Wash all dishes in the sink or load the dishwasher immediately after meals. Avoid leaving dishes with food remnants in the sink or on the table or counter.
• Be mindful of cleaning all appliances, including ovens, toaster ovens, stoves, and microwaves.
• Keep firewood, mulch, and other pieces of wood or plant matter several feet away from your home’s exterior.
• Eliminate sources of standing water in and around your home.
• Clean your gutters twice per year.

Also eliminate as many points of entry as possible. Here are some tips:

• Use weather stripping along all doors and windows. 
• Apply fine mesh to external vents.
• Seal any fine cracks or gaps around your home’s exterior.

 

Effective Pest Control Solutions

Despite your preventative maintenance, you should still consider professional management of a pest problem as an anticipated expense of homeownership. You might have success with baited traps or other DIY methods, but professionals will be able to apply a combination of proven tactics and thorough monitoring to ensure the infestation is brought under control for good.

Long-Term Pest Prevention Strategies

Maintaining a clean home, keeping all food safely stored, and sealing all possible points of entry are the most effective long-term pest control strategies. But it’s also a good idea to have a professional come in once or twice per year to perform an inspection and set traps or insecticides. Quick inspections and preventative measures aren’t especially expensive, but you stand to save even more with a home warranty with pest control coverage.

Home Warranty With Pest Control

Home warranties have traditionally protected home appliances and systems in the event of malfunction, but Liberty Home Guard has modernized the industry by offering pest control coverage and other home services. To learn more about how you can save substantial sums while keeping your home free from pests, call (866)-983-0874.