Common Household Pests

Ants are one of the biggest “nuisance pests” because they can easily enter through small cracks and can nest anywhere in and around your home.

Silverfish can damage food, paper, books and fabric. Earwigs are unsightly and can be serious garden pests. Crickets can damage anything they can chew – from carpets to clothing.

Cockroaches can enter through small cracks and crevices, vents and pipes, and in grocery bags or on firewood. They are an unsanitary nuisance and can contaminate food.

Rodents slip in through open doors and attic or foundation vents. They can gnaw through furniture and electrical wires and can carry infectious diseases.

Carpet beetles can be brought in on cut flowers or antique items such as natural fiber carpeting, clothes, hatboxes, etc. They can multiply rapidly in the favorable conditions of your home.

Spiders invade your home through windows and doors and can also be carried in on firewood. They can cause unsightly cobwebs and a few species have bites that can be painful and sometimes require medical attention.

Flies are not only annoying, they can also carry harmful bacteria that they pick up from decaying materials and spread to any uncovered foods.

Stinging pests, such as bees and hornets, can dwell in gardens or shrubbery and can build nests in the ground, in trees and shrubs and in wall voids. Biting pests, such as fleas and ticks are most commonly carried into your home by your pets.

Pantry pests, such as beetles and weevils, can get into and contaminate dry goods like flour, rice, beans and dried fruit.