The last thing any homeowner wants to discover
is that their home has been invaded by insects. Pest
control can be a bit of a headache, but pests can be more than just
pests. Not only can they do serious (and expensive) damage to your home, but
some carry dangerous diseases. Insect bites and stings cause more than 80
deaths in the US every year. In order to protect your home and
practice safe pest control,
it’s important to know the type of insects you need to watch out for.
Ants
Tiny but mighty, ants are considered the number
one pest in the United States. While they don’t necessarily pose any
threat to a person’s wellbeing, they can cause some serious damage to a house.
The worst type of ant is the carpenter ant which are found mostly in the
northeastern region of the United States. These ants build their homes in side
yours by hollowing out the wood that makes up the framework of the house. The
ants eat into the wood and smooth it all out, making it most and filled with
million of tiny black pests.
Other than actually seeing the ants, a
telltale sign of the little invaders is sawdust piles on the floor under where
the nest is being built. The damage the ants can cause can be pretty extensive
depending on how many nests they’ve been able to build. This can take quite a
long time, but if left unchecked for years, the cost of extermination and
repair can get very expensive.
Bed
Bugs
“You have bed bugs” are probably the words of
every home and hotel owner’s nightmare. Fortunately, bed bugs don’t actually
carry any diseases. They do bite, and while the bites aren’t initially painful,
they do develop into itchy, red welts. Bed bugs get their name from where they
usually hide: in beds. This because they are nocturnal feeders, and will feast on any
available flesh such as sleeping people.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) all declare bed bugs a public health pest.
This is because, although they don’t carry diseases, these pests do pose other
public health issues. According to the EPA, bed bug bites can lead to secondary infections such as impetigo,
ecthyma, and lymphangitis. Individuals can also suffer allergic reactions to
the bites, potentially leading to anaphylaxis.
The EPA also identifies negative impact on mental health due to bed bug infestations.
People living in homes overrun by these pests have been found to suffer from
anxiety, insomnia,and systemic reactions.
Bed bugs pose health risks not only to those
whose homes they infest, but to the rest of the public as well. This because
their small, flat shape makes it easy for them to travel via suitcase,
clothing, or even secondhand furniture. Because of this easy transmission, it
is important that people take serious precautions to keep bed bugs out, and to
immediately exterminate any that are found.
Termites
Far worse than the carpenter ants discussed
earlier, termites are the real terrors to the infrastructure of a house. These
pests cause over $5 million in damages in the US every year.
Most of their work is done in the dark and can be devastating to the structure
of a building. Termites don’t just feed on wood either. They also can eat their
way through plaster, metal siding, and insulation. And the damage isn’t just
cosmetic; termites eat their way into support beams, floor and wall joists,
etc. If these pests are left at it long enough, the damage can even extend
underneath into the very foundations of the house. The damage caused by
termites can be bad enough to render your house unlivable. This would leave you
facing not only the cost of repairs, but also whatever accommodation you would
have to sort out will your home is being treated and fixed. Termites can be a
real nightmare if proper pest
control action isn’t taken soon enough.
While all these creatures are tiny little
pests, they can cause massive damage. Pests like ants, bed bugs, and termites
start out as mere annoyances. But if left to do their work, homeowners will be
facing the cost of extermination treatments, potential home repair, and some
massively uncomfortable bites. It is really important that you watch for signs
of these home invaders and take action as soon as possible for effective pest control.