Pest management is essential to a healthy and happy home or office. Pests can damage residential and commercial premises, from termites eating into wooden structures to ants ravaging kitchen counters. These unwanted guests cause structural damage, health concerns, food contamination, worry and anxiety. Bedbugs, cockroaches, and other insects can contaminate your home and spread diseases. Their constant chewing and quick breeding can ruin structures and represent a health risk with their droppings and urine. If you struggle with pests in your home, Shreveport, LA pest control experts can help you eliminate them, leaving your house clean and pest-free.
Common pests in households
Below are some pests you may encounter in your home:
Rodents
Rodents are known for their continuously growing incisors. Some rats are omnivores and eat animal items, but most eat seeds, grains, and fruits. They can destroy furniture, automobile engines, walls, pipes, crops, and even your house! These rats and mice can start fires by chewing electric lines.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches love warm places with plenty of food and water. Although these pests don’t destroy property, they can cause health issues, including asthma and allergies, and spread 33 bacteria.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs can spread fast and can be found in couches, suitcases, clothes, and motels. These bugs can cause allergic reactions and skin problems.
Ants
Ants are social insects that reside in big colonies and organized groups. They enjoy sweets but eat even meat, vegetables, oil, and fats. These insects are carriers of salmonella, streptococcus, and shigella, and they can spread them to food or wounds.
Ticks and flies
These are the most common parasites that afflict cats and dogs. Bites from these animals can spread plague, typhus, cat scratch fever, and flea-borne spotted fever.
Simple ways to prevent pest infestation
Patch Exterior Holes
Infestations only occur when pests can enter the residence. Regularly inspect your home’s interior and exterior for cracks and holes to prevent pests. Check foundation, loose siding, roof, and utility lines. Patch or patch holes as they appear. This keeps bugs out and prevents openings from worsening.
Store Food in Secure Containers
Pests do have superpowers for finding food. Terminix says ants have five times as many odor receptors as other insects to detect leftover apple pie from afar. Use smell-blocking, well-sealed food containers to keep pests out. That includes the pantry and counter items.
Deep-clean your home
Wiping, mopping, or vacuuming every corner of the house helps eliminate pest-attracting sources. Deep cleaning of your house can reveal and eliminate bug breeding places. For instance, small flies flourish in neglected sewers, but you can prevent them using drain cleaner.
Reexamine Your Landscape
Walk around your yard and check for pests: ensure the woodpiles are away from external walls, and clean gutters regularly. Pests can damage your property from the outside, so watch for foundation, siding, or roof changes.
Sanitize Soft Surfaces
Bugs and fleas can hide under beds, couches, and rugs. Regularly sanitize everything that fits in the washer. Clean your mattress and cushions with a vacuum and disinfectant spray.
