Pest Control: Identify and get rid of pests in your home
Whether it’s rodents, roaches, or termites, pests can wreak havoc on your health and your home. Pest control in your Jackson, MS home is very important, they can cause structural damage to your house. If pests stay undetected or if they start to increase in number, the cost can be irreversible. Understanding how to identify and eradicate pests is the key to ensuring that your most significant investment and your family’s health stays safe.
Types of Pests
Invasive pests are quite common, but the type of pest you’re forced to deal with may depend on where you live. Certain pests thrive in warm climates and enjoy humid conditions, while others may come inside your home to seek warmth during the winter. Rodents like mice and rats can chew on electrical wires and eat your insulation, resulting in extremely costly repairs. Most rodents hide in the walls, basement, or attic as they prepare their nests for winter. Insects like termites and carpenter ants can destroy your home’s foundation or subfloor. These wood-loving insects are extremely threatening to your home and should be eliminated as soon as you find them. Other pests include biting insects like scorpions, spiders, and bees. Even pests like pigeons can become a nuisance if they decide to make your house their home.
How do Pests Affect Your House?
Different pests cause different problems when it comes to the integrity of your house. Some small mammals, birds, and rodents may only live in your home temporarily, while swarms of insects could decide to make your home their permanent residence. It’s essential to recognize how pests can harm your home to ensure you take appropriate action.
Damages to Infrastructure
The damage caused to your home can depend on the type of pest you’re dealing with. Animals that get into your walls or attic love to chew on insulation, which can affect your home’s ability to retain warm or cold air. Sharp teeth on rodents and other animals allow them to chew on wiring, which may result in an electrical short or even something more severe like a house fire. Wood-boring insects and bugs that enjoy eating wood like termites can cause your subfloors to be compromised. These pests can also chew up the framing of your home, windowsills, baseboards, and more. The cost to fix these problems can be huge, so contact a pest control company as soon as you spot them to prevent further damage. Pests can even cause issues with your furniture. Moths and bed bugs will damage upholstery and leave tiny holes behind. Other animals, such as mice, love to chew up furniture cushions and take the material back to their nests.
Damages to Your Garden
Pests can do serious damage to your garden as well as your home. If you’re growing a garden, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of harmful pests. Certain species of beetles can destroy trees in your landscaping, while worms are notorious for eating and destroying vegetables and fruits. Deer, rabbits, and rodents love to munch on cabbage, leafy greens, and tomatoes. Aphids are another tiny pest that loves to tear up plants and destroy the leaves of your vegetables in the garden. Inspect the plants in your garden regularly to look for signs of pests so you can take proactive steps to get rid of them.
How Can Pests Harm Your Health?
Aside from damage to your home and garden, certain pests can also be a threat to your health. Here are some examples of how different pests can affect your health and the health of your family:
- Disease: Rats and mice carry a variety of dangerous diseases, including typhus and hantavirus. The droppings and urine of mice, as well as bites from fleas, can spread these diseases to humans. Insects also carry diseases like West Nile (mosquitos) and E. coli (flies). Cockroaches are notorious for spreading diseases to humans, including salmonella and dysentery, to name a few.
- Allergies: If you suffer from allergies, pests can make the problem worse. Dust mites are the leading cause of indoor allergies in children and adults. Dander from mice and other small pests can also make allergy symptoms a lot more unpleasant. Roach saliva, feces, and urine have been shown to exacerbate the symptoms of asthma and allergies, particularly in children.
- Venomous Insects: Bugs like fleas, spiders, and bees can cause discomfort and even danger to your health. If you’re allergic to bee or hornet stings, the consequences can be fatal. Venomous insects can also bite and cause a myriad of other symptoms, including rash, burning, itching, and swelling of the skin.
- Pests in Pets: Fleas and ticks can make your pet’s life miserable if the problem isn’t addressed. Make sure you give your pets regular flea treatments to keep these tiny pests away. When fleas or ticks bite your pet, it can make them extremely uncomfortable and itchy. In some cases, it can even cause anemia, particularly in kittens and puppies.
- Inspect your home for seasonal pests like mosquitos in the summer and small rodents or bats that want to hide in your attic in winter.
- Pests like to hide in dark places or areas of the home where it’s damp, such as your basement. Check these areas regularly for the presence of pests.
- Small mammals and rodents like to hide in walls and attics, while insects prefer the foundation or your garbage and kitchen cabinets.
- Knowing what attracts pests can help you keep them at bay. Don’t leave food out of the fridge and clean your sink and cabinets often since food crumbs and sticky residue is a prime attraction for a myriad of different pests.
- Research how different pests look, including their size, coloring, and other features. That will make identifying pests quick and easy, so you can come up with a solution as soon as you see them.
- Upholstery with small holes or chew marks can be an indication that pests are in your home. Small piles of sawdust near corners or windowsills may indicate that you have a termite problem.
- Tiny droppings, unusual sounds, or unpleasant smells like a strong urine odor are common indicators that pests are lurking or living nearby.
Barry Pitts, Synergy² Owner
Pharmacist and Synergy² Pest owner, Barry Pitts, is a long-time Madison, MS resident with a passion for applying advanced scientific pest principles to pest control services in the Jackson metro area. Combining exceptional customer service with cutting-edge pest control technology allows Synergy² to provide residents of the Jackson metro area with the highest levels of pest control available today.