When it comes to household pests, there are many species that can cause a nuisance in your home. From ants to termites, cockroaches to flies, and spiders to mice, these pests can range from mild to serious in terms of the risk they pose. To help you identify and manage these pests, here is a list of the top 10 most common indoor pests in the United States. Ants are the most common nuisance in American homes, according to the National Pest Control Association.
This includes carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants, among hundreds of other ant species found in the US. They can enter homes through cracks or very small openings and are more active during certain seasons. To prevent them from entering, quickly clean up any crumbs or food spills as they are attracted to sweet smells. Cockroaches are another common household pest that can cause serious health risks.
As they can carry more than 100 possible pathogens, it is best to call a pest control expert if you find them in your home. Termites are known as “silent destroyers” as they can cause significant damage in a short time. Signs that they're close include bubbling paint, mud tubes, and discarded wings. If you suspect or know that there are termites in your home, call a pest control expert as soon as possible. Flies are more than annoying to hear buzzing around your home.
Especially attracted to food, flies can leave bacteria on things they touch which can lead to food poisoning or other serious illnesses. Common flies include gnats, fruit flies, house flies, and more. You may be able to control the problem yourself with natural pest mitigation efforts but be sure to treat it quickly to prevent flies from multiplying. Spiders naturally help control pests but seeing them can be unsettling. To prevent spiders from entering, be sure to close outside doors or windows tightly and seal outside cracks.
If you find one inside, you can catch it and return it outside. Mice may not be as big or look as unattractive as rats but they are capable of much more than their size shows. A clear sign that there are mice in the house is their droppings which look like oversized coffee grounds. Mice cause most of their damage by leaving urine and excrement on household items and clothing but have also been known to chew on books, pillows, and other soft objects. To manage their population it is essential to locate and eliminate all sources of water and food for insects and eliminate any places where they can hide. Rats arouse apprehension in the best people but they can also transmit diseases such as salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, and typhus.
To control the rat population it is not only necessary to eliminate food sources for them but also to protect your home against rodents by sealing any space larger than a quarter of an inch with steel wool or metal sheets that they cannot gnaw. Insects and bugs may not be welcome guests in your home but they are essential to the balance of the world's ecosystems. When found in places where they don't belong however, they not only cause problems by being a nuisance but they can also transmit diseases and potentially cause serious damage to your home.
