A major number of black-owned pest control companies and householders are familiar with the indicators of German cockroaches, bedbugs, and ants. Although these pests are ubiquitous, they are not the only bugs that might inhabit your home. The greater your knowledge about pests, the better equipped you will be to combat them. Here are 6 Lesser-Known Bugs You May Find in Your House.
EARWIGS
The first time you encounter an earwig in your home, you may certainly feel apprehensive. Earwigs are elongated, brown insects with two terrifying-appearing pincers (cerci) protruding from their hind ends. Fortunately, according to urban legends, they will not crawl into your ears and consume your brain. In reality, they rarely pinch, and when they do, they rarely break the skin.
Earwigs may not be harmful, but they are nonetheless annoying. They typically enter a property when there is an issue with moisture. To keep them at bay, address plumbing leaks, a humid basement, and other sources of moisture.
SILVERFISH
Another insect with a frightening appearance, silverfish are silver-gray in color and have three long “spikes” (cerci) on their rear ends and long, curled antennae on their fronts. Similar to earwigs, they concentrate in damp environments such as basements and restrooms. In contrast to silverfish, they pose a threat to your home. Silverfish will consume nearly anything containing starch, including wallpaper paste, book pages, and cardboard food containers. Numerous individuals are allergic to them and sneeze in their presence.
Getting rid of silverfish is difficult because you must treat both the adult bugs and their eggs. For the best results, use an exterminator with experience. Typically, they employ a mix of traps and chemicals to eliminate silverfish.
BOXELDER BUGS
The name of these bugs is derived from their preference for the box elder tree, however in the fall they appear to prefer houses. As the weather grows cooler, boxelder bugs tend to concentrate on siding and door frames; if your home’s exterior has cracks, these bugs may travel inside.
Box elder bugs do not reproduce inside homes, thus they are not difficult to eradicate. In addition to being an irritation, they are relatively harmless. They do not bite humans or consume household items, however their excrement can create stains.
If you cover all openings and crevices on the exterior of your property, boxelder bugs will often remain outside. If they are a continuous problem on the outside of your property, a pest control firm can come to spray insecticides to get rid of them.
ORIENTAL COCKROACHES
Oriental cockroaches can be just as problematic as their German and American counterparts. They frequently enter a residence through sewer drains and cluster near leaking pipes and plumbing equipment. Males are approximately 25 mm in length with wings that are three-quarters of their length. Females are somewhat larger and lack wings.
Oriental cockroaches can transmit infections such as E. coli and Salmonella, and they can also generate an offensive stench. Because getting rid of Oriental cockroaches needs a combination of baits and insecticides, you should always contact an experienced pest control professional.
HOUSE CRICKETS
When you think of crickets, you generally see huge, black bugs that ruffle their wings and keep you awake at night. This is field cricket, one of many different varieties of crickets. The house cricket is approximately 20 millimeters long and yellow-brown in coloration. Similar to field crickets, house crickets emit chirping sounds at night.
Despite their noisy chirping, house crickets are relatively harmless. The majority of the time, cockroach traps will be sufficient to eliminate them. Then, seal any exterior holes to prevent additional crickets from entering your home.
MILLIPEDES
These long, slender insects may not have a million legs, but each body segment has two sets of legs. Typically, millipedes inhabit the outdoors under mulch and in flower beds. When the weather is dry, millipedes may penetrate homes in quest of moisture, which they may find in the crawlspace or basement.
Millipedes are mostly innocuous and do not pose significant problems in the home. To eliminate them, simply vacuum them up using a shop vacuum. Then, seal any gaps or crevices in your home’s exterior. Check the bottom weather stripping on your doors. Millipedes can enter via weather stripping that is damaged or torn.
Call Us Today!
Keeping all of these pests at bay can often feel overwhelming, but if you keep your home clean, dry, and well-sealed, you’ll be well on your way. Contact Deanya Pest Control at (773)692-3615 for assistance if you encounter a problem or find an insect you cannot identify. Also refer to our website to learn How To Prevent Damages Caused by Rodents to Crops and Farms.
