Are Insects Hiding In Your Home?

Insects are more than happy to live with you if you provide them shelter, food, and water.

If you can discover where these pests are hiding, you can deal with them efficiently and ultimately eliminate them from your home.

Here are some of the most common types of pesky invaders that are likely to enter your property and the most effective ways to deal with them.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects that feed on sugars and starches.

These creepy crawlies have long antennae and move in a wiggling motion that resembles a fish and can live up to 8 years.

They’ll eat carpets, clothing, paper, and cotton, making them extremely destructive. Silverfish are nocturnal and secretive – they may be in your home for long periods of time before you notice them.

The most effective way to deal with silverfish is to use borax and spread it anywhere you notice the bug. Other exemplary methods would be to make traps, like a wet newspaper that would attract them and which you throw away after a few days sealed in an airtight container.

You can also opt for using cedar oil, which you can place directly into your diffuser or add a few drops of it into warm water and spray it anywhere you notice silverfish activity.

Carpet beetles

Carpet beetles are a nuisance pest as they cause damage to textile products such as wool, fur, leather and other natural fibres.

Adults are attracted to daylight, so that you may see them on a windowsill. They’re dark brown or black in colour, with mottled patches of yellow and white.

Eggs will be laid in the spring and early summer, and it’s the larvae that cause all the damage.

Once you’ve noticed their presence, you can usually deal with them without calling an exterminator.

The first method is to treat carpets or upholstery with an insecticide containing at least one of the following ingredients: deltamethrin, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin.

Another one is using boric acid to sprinkle the carpet and then using a broom or a brush so the substance seeps into the fibres. Once a few hours pass, you can vacuum thoroughly. That will take care of the carpet beetles and their larvae.

Other natural and effective options are steam cleaning and white vinegar.

Spiders

Spiders frequently come indoors through open windows to build their webs.

Spider bites, though, are pretty rare.

Autumn months tend to see an increase in larger house spiders as they search for a mate. They take about two years to reach maturity, and the eggs produced are in white, silk-covered sacs about the size of a small fingernail.

The first tip to prevent them from entering your home is to install screens on your windows.

Next, you can use sticky glue traps to catch spiders. Make sure you change the traps often. Place them in high-traffic areas, but watch out if you have kids or pets.

When you notice a web in the corners of your home, remove it instantly with a duster or by vacuuming it. Spraying vinegar and water solution on the corners can serve as a natural repellent and keep these creepy crawlies away. Re-apply after a few days, and you are good.

Another way to deal with them is to use peppermint oil. Add 15-20 drops to a spray bottle of water and spritz anywhere you notice spider activity. That will make sure to keep them away.

Ants

Ants have four life stages – egg, larvae, pupae and adult. This life cycle can take from several weeks to several months to complete, depending on the type of ant.

Once the adult ant is fully grown, it darkens in colour. Many ant species build their nests indoors and become a nuisance when they forage for food.

As ants have poor eyesight, using common household detergents like soap, glass cleaner, or liquid detergent can deter them from entering your home is a good idea.

White vinegar works wonders as well, and a 50-50 solution mixed with water will kill the ants if they’ve already entered the premises.

Essential oils like peppermint, cinnamon oil, and eucalyptus are natural ant repellents that you can use to prevent them from invading your home.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are distinguished by their long antennae, flat, oval bodies, and rapid walk.

They often remain hidden during the day and feed on almost anything at night.

They need water to survive but can live for several months without food. When foraging for food and water, they can contaminate preparation surfaces and utensils, which can cause food poisoning.

As they reproduce quickly and are masters of hiding, dealing with them as soon as you notice them is key to preventing a full-blown infestation.

First, you have to locate any entry points and seal them tightly. Remove any sources of food and keep all foods in jars or/and sealed containers.

In the end, if the infestation is too severe, you may have to call professional pest control to deal with the problem.

Favourite hiding places

Usually, those include areas that provide the ideal environment for inspects to thrive: the kitchen and the basement.

Kitchens

Kitchens are top of the list for ants, cockroaches, and silverfish, as the food particles are irresistible to them.

To prevent infestations keep floors and worktops clean. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight, and keep food remnants in sealed containers or in the fridge.

Remember to empty and clean bins regularly, as strong scents attract bugs.

Basements

This area is an ideal breeding ground for cockroaches as they thrive around pipes, heating ducts, and boilers.

Don’t forget to proof and repair gaps and seals around doors and windows. Spiders will weave their webs in any corner, and silverfish will be attracted to any damp patches.

Sometimes using a dehumidifier can help remove the conditions that some bugs find very attractive about the basement.

Conclusion

So, now you know the most common types of pests that can hide in your home and what to do about them.

Pest-proofing your property is the ideal course of action, as prevention is always better than cure.

However, if you’ve noticed a bug problem, your best bet is to act quickly before the problem deepens. That will ensure your home is protected and save you a lot of money in the long run.