Find out the 5 uncommon pests in homes

Mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants and rats. These pests tops the mind recall among many because of its’ filth, diseases and damages caused in our lives. But with many pests species scientifically, there are perhaps some that appears in your without being identified. In this article, Rentokil shares the five uncommon pests we encounter at home, where they actually come from and how can we get rid of them.

Midges

Some would say they have a close resemblance to mosquitoes, but they are non-biting insects and known as chironomids. Their reproduction process is similar where they require water to lay their eggs. If you notice bunch or “mosquito-looking” insects sticking onto your car screens or windows, they might be midges that is blown and carried from their source. This includes reservoirs, ponds, lakes, rivers, drains and even within homes and corridors.

While they are mostly harmless, there are the other midges-biting species known as sand flies do bite and suck blood, however they will not transmit diseases like those of dengue fever. They do leave painful and itchy bites that are best to take care of the wound to avoid resulting in infection and seek medical attention for allergies symptoms. Find out more about the difference between mosquitoes and midges.

Ticks

For animal lovers and pet owners, it is essential to know what are ticks and fleas and how this is associated with your pets. Belonging to the arachnids category, they seek blood meals from hosts such as yourself and your pets. Because they tend to reside near greeneries such as grass, shrubs, garden, trees and woody shades, pets can pick up these ticks as we walk them during their daily regime. However, they are often mistaken and associated with fleas due to their presence around pets including cats. There is a difference between both ticks and fleas. Ticks favour warm and cosy nesting environment and seeking shelter within pets’ fur is one nice natural habit. It is important to ensure you check for presence of ticks latching onto your pets, surroundings such as carpets and rugs and around their belongings such as toys and beddings.

Booklice

Not all black tiny spots are dirt and grime; in fact, they are signs of a pest infestation or actual pests lurking around that we are unable to identify. Booklice are tiny black dots that is found on the walls of your bedroom, bathroom, cabinets and wardrobes. However, the presence of books do not cause booklice to surface, but rather the high humidity in the home. This promotes moisture, mould and mildew for booklice to feed on. Bird mites is another species that has similar attributes to booklice whereby they are attracted to moisture as well. It is good to invest in a good dehumidifier and ensure you ventilate your home well.

Stored Product Insects

They sound very uncommon and unfamiliar but under the species types among stored product insects are some common household pest names we have heard of. This includes beetles, weevils, moths and mites. They can cause some common damages and risks if left untreated. Firstly, damaged food packages and contaminate products before they ship out for consumption. Secondly, they can contaminate and taint food as they lay their eggs on these food sources. Thirdly, there are possible cause of allergies and health and safety risks. They go for dried and preserved food and organic items such as grains, cereals, nuts and cheese. In addition, they infest in dried food such as dried fruit and fermenting food. Find out some common signs of stored product insects infestations.

Silverfish

As the name suggest, silverfish indeed is shiny and silver in colour and creep out at night for foraging activities. They are not biting pests that transmit diseases; however, their shed skin may cause an allergy among some people. They are less fussy in terms of food preference and besides going for natural good ingredient such as sugar and starches; they feed on wallpaper, books and cardboard as well. One common sign of silverfish infestation is to notice tiny holes on your clothing, books, papers and upholsteries. You will notice them in your bathroom and kitchen where the environment is warm and humid.

You may also like: How to get rid of silverfish

Why it is challenging to detect signs of pest?

Unfortunately, unless the home is in a compromised condition and faced a serious pest infestation that shows obvious signs, pest detection is challenging. Firstly, they are in very small, tiny and flat sizes that are not very visible and noticeable to our eyes. Secondly, they look similar at a glance with common colours and body shapes. Thirdly, they are capable of hiding well in tight corners or spaces and is usually beyond our reach and sight. Fourthly, some of their habitats are not common and frequent spaces such as attic, false ceilings, underground, within furniture and wall and rooftop. Above all, we see their presence when infestation turns serious that makes them surface even during their resting time. Otherwise, they leave evidence that is not clearly connected to them. For example, termites leave behind mud tubes that just look like a line of hardened mud on the wall. We may not be aware that bed bugs shed skins and those skins belong to them. Lastly, droppings or eggs can be mistaken for dirt and grime and simply ignore these traces.

Take the first step to perform pest detection

Fret not if you are not the experts in pest control or biologically trained to spot pest signs. Every pests is unique and exude distinctive signs and evidential appearances. Here is a summary of their characteristics, profile and preference.

• Cockroaches: They leave droppings and emit a distinctive odour and appears at night searching for food
• Ants: Often found near food-available parts of the home, typically in kitchens and travels in a line with nests hiding deep within cabinets
• Bed Bugs: You can see traces of bloodstains or shed skins on surfaces; they give out a sweet and musty smell.
• Rats: Damages on parcels, boxes and wires due to their gnawing habits, smear marks and scratching sounds on ceiling boards
• Termites: Mud tubes that look muddy on the wall, cracks and damages of your structure and droppings that look like saw dust along surfaces
• Mosquitoes: The buzzing mosquitoes around the area and larvae found within stagnant water and surrounding receptacles

However, some of these signs are not easy to observe, reach out and differentiate them. In addition, some pests are nocturnal that makes pest detection much difficult. Some pest signs, outlook and behaviour can be confusing and similar, such as carpenter ants and termites. Above all, some signs and activities are well hidden behind structures and buried underground. Without the use of detection technology, we can potentially miss existing pest activities that are taking place in your home. Find out a series of cutting-edge technology that Rentokil Initial utilises to detect pest presence.

Contact pest control company for a solution

The thought of engaging pest control services is often not the first option. Some of the common actions when encountering a pest problem includes:

• Seeking the internet for DIY tips and remedies to get rid of pests
• Consulting family and friends for well-proven pest eradication tactics
• Using off-the-shelve pesticides, baits and gels to eliminate pests
• Clean up the place spic and span to remove traces of pests
• Adopt and improvise pest control tools such as pest traps

Typically, these remedies work to very little success to none, or require repetitive applications for limited efficacy. Contacting a pest control specialist is usually a “last resort” option when a pest infestation turns serious. Firstly, serious infestation can damage the home structure, furniture and belonging. Secondly, signs of pests can generate distinctive and unpleasant stench and ugly sights of droppings. Thirdly, because pests pick up bacteria and harmful microorganisms, they can spread diseases with food poisoning symptoms. Fourthly, perhaps one of the more intolerable reasons to activate a pest control is experiencing painful and itchy bites. Finally, one of the most common reasons that triggers a need to seek professional help is the speed of spread and volume of pests crawling up.

Read also: Essential guide to home pest control

What can you do to prevent pest problem

Of course, turning to professionals is one of the safest and assuring way to stay away from a pest problem. However, dealing with pests is not just the efforts of the specialists, but largely you have a role to play. You can apply pest prevention easily on a daily basis in your home. Here are some tips to adopt:

• Taking the first step to spot signs of pest and infestation presence
• Ensuring diligent and consistent home maintenance and sanitation
• Pest-proof the home structure to prevent pests entry
• Perform a home check for integrity issue and fix those gaps
• Avoid leaving trash lying in the bin and dispose them immediately
• Address a pest issue quickly, instead of procrastinating an action
• Constant monitoring of the premise and check if infestation has escalated
• Keep the environment dry from water spills and moisture
• Remove clutters, junks and piles to eliminate pest hiding opportunities

Read also: Tips on keeping your kitchen safe and clean

Call Rentokil Singapore at (65) 6347 8138 for a pest control solutions today.