We know pests as destructive insects that destroy our properties. Some of them are home invaders, others are yard and garden invaders. Not only are they detrimental to our belongings, but they also bring diseases to humans and animals. Some of the most common pests that we encounter in the household include cockroaches, rats, bedbugs, and flies. To give you an overview of why we need to eliminate them, here are a few of the nuisances and disturbances brought to us by these pesky creatures:
Damages Brought By Pests
Damage To Crops
We consider farmers as our number one provider of food. Some might say they are the backbone of the economy. Without them, people won’t have enough to eat. We will all be prone to starvation. Many of us are unaware of the sacrifices and hardships they face one of which are pests that are considered their number one enemy. It hinders our farmers from planting high-quality fruits and vegetables. Because of the damage pests bring, it is impossible to gain 100% income from the seeds they sow.
The most common pests they encounter are weevils, Japanese beetles, aphids, and whiteflies. These pests would seasonally and attack their newly planted seedlings and newly harvested crops. When it happens, this crashes all their sacrifices and hardships they made. It lowers their income at a significant rate. Plus, they are unable to meet the demands of society.
Damage To Possessions
Pests such as rodents and cockroaches can also damage our accessories and clothing. We can expect rats and mice to gnaw on our garments, but we didn’t expect this from roaches.
According to studies, cockroaches are attracted to food stains on clothes. They sip the stains on the fabric. When they do, this causes tears and holes in our garments. Can you imagine getting through winter without a warm blanket or sweater? You can thank these pests when winter comes.
Damage To Homes
This is the worst type of damage we can expect from pests. Rodents such as mice and rats can gnaw on electrical wirings. If their activities remain unprecedented, it could lead to house fires. Did you know that these creatures are responsible for 25% of house fires in the United States? If this does not alarm you, I don’t know what will.
Illnesses Brought By Pests
Food Contamination
Rodents are the number one pests known to contaminate foods inside the house. They endanger human beings through their urine, saliva, and droppings which can cause Hantavirus and other illnesses. Hantavirus is known as a severe respiratory disease that causes headaches, fever, body pain, or dizziness which has no vaccine. Rodents also cause E-coli which develops inside the intestines leading to loose bowel movements.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
We commonly know mosquitoes as the deadly vectors that transmit the most lethal illnesses such as Dengue, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, and many more. Did you know that dengue affects five million people every year? How much more people can mosquitoes infect if you add the cases for other mosquito-borne illnesses?
The World Health Organization warned everyone to never underestimate the infestation of mosquitoes. Without proper sanitation and irrigation practices, mosquitoes can dominate the environment and endanger everyone on its path.
Allergies
Bed bugs, lice, or ticks could cause the itch you feel. To those who have sensitive skin, these insect bites can have more severe effects on them. Bed bugs and mosquito bites may cause blisters and necrotic spots in the skin which could leave a mark.
Lice are very irritating to the scalp. For animals, their skin is infested by ticks and fleas. The nuisance they bring is not just because of the itch but because of the skin disease that constant scratching leads to. It can cause acute dermatitis and eczema.
DIY Prevention For Pests
Organize The House
The number one DIY prevention for pests is to clean your house and lessen the possibility of pests from entering your home. Start from sealing any holes from your walls, doors, or windows that pests can enter. Disinfect your beddings and cabinet. Store your foods inside Tupperware or anything that pests cannot penetrate.
Pest Spray
Mint, lavender, citronella, geranium, and other essential oils are the number one enemies of pests because it makes their eyes ache. It makes them frolic because of the irritation these bring. To get rid of them, make your pest spray or insecticide through mixing mint, lemon, garlic, or any strong-scented seasoning in soapy water. Spray these on pest-infested areas to deter pests and disturb their reproduction cycle, metabolic processes, and life cycle.
DIY Traps
You can make your traps such as mixing engine oil and vegetable oil in a solution of detergent and water. Then place it on pest-infested areas to eliminate mosquitoes. This will attract these creatures to lay their eggs in the solution. But your homemade solution kills its eggs.
Another way you can make a trap is to create your natural rat poison. All you need to do is mix chocolate and baking soda. The rat will smell the chocolate and will be enticed to eat it. In a few minutes, the baking soda will act up and kill the rat. You can also use this to eliminate mice inside your home. According to entomologists, mice are clumsier and more intelligent than rats. It’s easier to target those using baits.
If you don’t want homemade traps, you can always purchase rat traps or glue boards at department stores. Strategically place them around your home where rodent activities are most frequent. But first, you need to assess the severity of the infestation and the rodent you are dealing with. The bigger the rodent, the bigger the trap. You don’t expect a small glue board to target a humongous rat. If you know what to target, you know how to match the methods for pest control.
Diatomaceous Earth
This is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to eliminate pests such as cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, ticks, and many more. You can purchase these anywhere, but if you want someone to deliver it straight to your door, you can buy it online.
Aside from its affordability, it is easy to use. You only need to sprinkle it on your compartments, shelves, and floors. Spread it thinly using a piece of cloth or a broom. Let it sit for about 2 to 3 days and replace it with another batch. Do this regularly to control the population of pests inside your home.
Why You Need The Pest Control Professionals?
Sometimes, do-it-yourself methods do not cut pest infestations. In severe cases, you need the help of a professional to eliminate your problems immediately and thoroughly. Here are the advantages of calling an expert on pest management:
- Convenience - By calling a professional, you see more time and money in buying different types of DIY materials. Without prior knowledge about pests, we can't apply these methods effectively. To save yourself from trouble, call a professional and put them on speed dial. This way, you only need to sit back and relax as they work on eradicating all forms of pest life in your environment.
- Protection from Poison - Pest control professionals are highly trained to use insecticides such as fumes, dust, traps, and baits. Especially if you have children at home, it’s terrifying to use these pest control methods on your own. If you misplace if, chances are your children who play with it. This will put them in very dangerous situations. To protect your family and your pets from insecticide-related illnesses such as food poisoning and organ failure, let Greensboro area exterminators for pests do their job. They know how to use insecticides better than you do. They can ensure the safety of the people and animals around them.
- Pest Control - Pest control professionals such as Go-Forth Home Services offers the ultimate pest protection methods. They pride themselves in using state-of-the-art methods of extermination which are tested safe for the environment. So, even if you have plants and fish in your surroundings, you don’t have to worry about any residue contaminating these areas. These professionals will take care of everything for you.
3 Methods Of Pest Control
After the extermination process, the pest control company will suggest several methods to keep your environment pest-free. Here are some common strategies that professionals recommend to their clients:
- Hygiene Pest Control - Keeping your surroundings neat and clean is the number one way of pest control. These could be done by organizing your trash bins, cleaning every food crumb, and eliminating clutter that can attract pests.
- Biological Method - Biological methods use the natural predators of pests. For mice and rats, for example, get a cat or a dog. For garden pests, cultivate nematodes and apply it to your medium. This way, they can chase every kind of pest and feed on them.
- Mechanical Method - Mechanical methods use traps and barriers to keep pests away. Professionals would suggest investing in a pest barrier spray and apply it to the foundations of your house. This way, you can deter pests from coming inside. They will be pushed to look for another place to infest.
Pests are typical nuisances in the household, but we should never underestimate the damages and the illnesses they bring. Before you experience any regret, call a professional and have your house checked for any sign of pest infestation. This way, they can detect it early and apply the interventions for extermination and control.