Uninvited Guests: A Guide to Identifying Common Household Pests

Sharing your home with loved ones is a wonderful experience, but sometimes unwanted guests crash the party. These uninvited guests, also known as identifying common household pests, can be a nuisance, damage your property, and even spread diseases.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge to identify some of the most frequent pest invaders, allowing you to take proactive steps to eliminate them and keep your home a pest-free haven.

Crawling Critters

Our homes can be attractive to a variety of crawling insects and arthropods. Here are some of the most common ones to watch out for:

Ants

These social insects live in colonies and are easily identified by their segmented bodies, antennae, and six legs.

• Signs of Infestation: Ant trails, presence of nests (often near food or water sources), and sightings of live ants.
• Common Types: Carpenter ants (large, black or reddish-brown), odorous house ants (small, dark brown with a faint coconut odor), and pharaoh ants (light brown or yellow).

Cockroaches

These nocturnal scavengers prefer dark, damp areas and can spread bacteria and diseases.

• Signs of Infestation: Sightings of live cockroaches, especially at night, shed skins, and droppings (small, dark pellets).
• Common Types: German cockroaches (small, tan or brown), American cockroaches (large, reddish-brown), and oriental cockroaches (dark brown or black).

Spiders

While most spiders are harmless, some can deliver a painful bite

• Signs of Infestation: Webs, egg sacs (small, white or yellow sacs), and sightings of live spiders.
• Types to be Cautious Of: Black widows (identified by a red hourglass marking on their abdomen) and brown recluse spiders (fiddler-shaped marking on their back).

Creepy Crawlies That Bite

These bloodsucking insects can leave itchy bites and, in some cases, transmit diseases.

Mosquitoes

These buzzing insects are most active at dawn and dusk and can transmit diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

• Signs of Infestation: Mosquito bites, and the presence of stagnant water (breeding grounds).

Bed Bugs

These small, flat insects feed on human blood and are most active at night.

• Signs of Infestation: Bites (often in clusters), bloodstains on bedding, and shed skins.

Rodents That Ruin

These furry pests can cause damage to your property and spread diseases.

Mice

These small rodents are excellent climbers and can squeeze through tiny openings.

• Signs of Infestation: Droppings (small, pellet-shaped), gnaw marks on furniture or wires, and sightings of live mice.

Rats

Larger than mice, rats can cause significant damage with their gnawing and can spread diseases through their droppings.

• Signs of Infestation: Larger droppings (spindle-shaped), burrows around the foundation of your home, and sightings of live rats.

By familiarizing yourself with the signs of these common pests, you can take action to prevent infestations or address them quickly before they become a major problem. Remember, early detection is key!

Don’t Let Pests Take Over Your Home!

If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, don’t wait! Contact Pasumai Pest Control Services today for a consultation. Our experienced technicians will identify the problem and develop a customized treatment plan to eliminate pests and keep your home safe.