How to Identify and Eliminate Common Household Pests

Store food in airtight plastic, glass containers, or in the freezer to prevent pests from entering your home. Carefully inspect the outside of your home and look for small holes or gaps where rodents can enter. Fill holes and gaps with steel wool and caulk the outside of your home to prevent rodents from entering. Woodpiles, compost bins, and garden waste are good hiding places for insects that might move indoors, so make sure these places are away from the house.

Before you bring firewood, check it for insects that hitchhike for free. Eliminate areas of standing water in your garden that could be mosquito breeding areas. Keep flowerbeds free of weeds and plant debris that could harbor insect pests, and keep pruned plant branches away from the foundations of your home. Look for insects that hide under leaves, clustered along new shoots, or boldly lodged where stems and leaves meet.

A magnifying glass of 10 magnification can help turn suspicions into a confirmed diagnosis. A pest control company will send a technician equipped with the tools and resources to properly identify the pest. Check your dry food for signs of pests before taking it home; small holes in food packaging can be an indication of food pests. Certain pests, such as bed bugs, should be eliminated with a pest control company, as there are no over-the-counter products that can be used to eliminate bed bugs.

We spoke to Jordan Foster, pest expert at Fantastic Pest Control, who identified the three most common domestic mosquitoes: ants, bedbugs, cockroaches and flies, not to mention rodents. A moth infestation is evident when it destroys clothes, fabrics and carpets, but there are also other indicators. There are about 90,000 species of arthropod pests in the United States, many of which have similar characteristics, making it even more necessary to have a useful pest identification guide. This list of bugs and insects, as well as other types of pests, such as rodents and birds, contains hundreds of species, making it the most complete insect and pest identifier on the Internet.

It is extremely important to follow the preparation instructions provided by a licensed pest control operator in order for the extermination of any type of pest to be successful. Companies that are members of the Maryland Pest Control Association and the National Pest Control Association have access to all current treatment practices. Depending on the common household insect infestation you have, a pest control professional (also known as an exterminator) can provide you with a plan to eradicate these pests from your home and prevent future infestations. Not only can licensed pest control operators help you get rid of pests, but they can also help you identify pest entry points and take corrective action to prevent future infestations.

The most common household pests include rodents such as mice and rats, bats, pigeons, and insects such as bed bugs, house flies, fleas, and food beetles. Read now the latest insect and pest information, help and identification tips from NPMA pest control experts to protect your health from these unwanted guests. It's important to prevent these pests from entering your home and if you have a pest problem, resolve it quickly.