7 Most Common House Pests and How to Spot Them

No one wants creepy-crawly pests scurrying through their home. Yuck!

Unfortunately, you might have a few of these uninvited houseguests searching for warmth, food, or water right now.

Some pests are harmless, but others carry disease and can damage your home if you don’t take care of the problem. 

There’s a lot you can do to prevent these pesky pests from invading your home. But if there’s already a problem, you need a professional exterminator right away.

It helps to know what kind of pests you’re dealing within or around your home. Take a look at 7 of the most common house pests and how to spot them.  

1. Annoying Ants

When ants come marching in, they may be just looking around. Or it could be a sign of an infestation.

Ants are one of the most common household pests. Garden or black house ants aren’t disease carriers, but you don’t know where they’ve been or what they’re bringing into your home.

For that reason, you definitely don’t want them in crawling on your floors or in your food cupboards. If there’s an ant infestation, it’s important to get rid of them right away.

If carpenter ants infest your home, they can cause serious damage to the structure over time. Fire ants have a powerful sting that hurts and can be dangerous for some people.

Finding an ant infestation of any kind is never fun. The best thing you can do is call in the experts for help.

Pest control specialists understand the habits of ants and the best way to get rid of these annoying pests in and around your home.

2. Yucky Cockroaches

Cockroaches are disgusting, and no one wants to come across one in their home. They are dirty little creatures and can carry multiple diseases. 

They can damage your home and property as well. They are attracted to dirty dishes, crumbs on the floor, and food in general. 

The best way to prevent them from entering your home is by blocking entry points and keeping your home clean. Although there are many types of roaches, only a few types will invade your home.

The most common invader is the German cockroach. It’s brown with leathery wings and long legs.

Cockroaches are super resilient, can live anywhere, and survive any catastrophe. They hide from the light, so you can’t see them.

If you do see one, you may have hundreds or even thousands more lurking. The only certain way to get rid of them is to call an exterminator to clear away any infestation.

3. Itchy Fleas

If you have pets in your home, it’s likely you will deal with fleas at some point. These annoying pests live off blood.

They will bite anyone around, including you, your children, and your pets. They carry diseases and are dangerous to have in your home.

They’re more than a nuisance. They’re a health threat that you should deal with right away. Controlling fleas involves treating your pets, your home, and your furnishings.

A pest control expert can offer the best advice on how to rid your home of fleas and prevent them from coming back.

4. Biting Bed Bugs

Most people don’t realize they have bed bugs until they start seeing red bites on their skin. Bed bugs live in colonies in the seams and crevices around beds. 

They come out at night while you’re asleep to bite and drink your blood. They like to bite you, walk a bit, and then bite you again.

These itchy red bites can lead to infection. Bed bugs are serious travelers and will hitch a ride in your suitcase or on your clothes.

When they find a new home, they look for places to hide where they’ll be close to a blood meal. They could be hiding in your mattress, couch, chair, clothes pile, electrical outlets, behind pictures, or just about anywhere.

They can be very difficult to find. Signs may include blood on the sheet, shedded skins, fecal matter, or strange odor.

The best way to determine if you have bed bugs is to have a pest control specialist assess the problem. They know the signs to look for and how to rid your home of these biting bugs.

5. Pesky Flies

If you notice flies in your home, it could indicate a dead animal like a mouse or rat within your walls. This sort of scenario attracts flies to come in and lay their eggs.

Flies are dangerous and carry multiple diseases, including tuberculosis and typhoid fever. Common adult house flies are dull gray with two stripes on the face and 4 black stripes on the body.

Fruit flies are dull in color with bright red or red-brown eyes. If you’re seeing a number of flies on a regular basis, you could have a serious problem. You should have a pest control specialist perform an inspection right away.

6. Terrible Termites

Termites thrive in warm and moist hiding spots. Once termites invade your property, they begin their path of destruction.

If left unchecked, they can wreak havoc on your home and property. On average, a termite colony is 60,000 strong, with some colonies as high as 2 million.

They work nonstop to destroy your home. By the time you notice, there’s often extensive damage to contend with.

Tell-tale signs include damage to floors, walls, and door frames. They eat through drywall, leaving small holes behind.

Discarded wings are another sign of infestation. If you notice any sign of potential termite damage, call a pest control expert as soon as possible.

7. Dreaded Mice and Rats

The thought of having mice or rats scurrying around your home is terrifying. These rodents spread disease, including hantavirus and rat-bite fever.

If you come into contact with rodent urine or feces, it can make you sick.

They aren’t just attracted to dirty homes. They’ll enter any structure to find warmth, shelter, or food.

Signs of rodent infestation include droppings, shredded paper, and chewed food packaging.

Trying to rid your home of rodents on your own is tricky. When they ingest poison, they often retreat back to their nest and die. 

This can leave a foul smell in your home as they decompose behind your walls. Your best line of defense is to contact a pest control expert to locate and rid your home of unwanted rodents.

Rid Your Home of Unwanted House Pests

Keeping an eye out for pests can help you identify the problem early and prevent serious infestation or damage to your home. At the first sign of unwanted house pests, it’s a good idea to call in a professional to deal with the issue.

If you’re in the Elk Grove, CA area, our pest control experts are here to help. Don’t wait. Contact us today.