There are many common household bugs that can become present in your home, and if you don’t take care of them quickly you could have a full-scale infestation on your hands. By being able to correctly identify the type of bugs that are in your home, you can take the appropriate steps to successfully remove them. Read on to learn some quick facts about some of the most common household bugs, as well as the best ways to remove them.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a major problem in the United States, especially in apartment complexes and townhomes. If you live in an urban area, the odds are that cockroaches have found their way into the homes in your neighborhood. This means that it’s only a matter of time until they enter your home, unless you take the steps to prevent their presence.

German, American, Oriental and brown-banded cockroaches are the most common varieties that are found in American homes, and they all vary in appearance. Take some time to research each of these varieties to determine if any of them are present in your home.  If cockroaches do find their way in, reject the urge to fight them using DIY treatments. Professional extermination is the only way to fully control a cockroach population.

Ants

Ants are tiny pests that can be black, brown, red or golden in color. There are thousands of varieties of ants, some of which are more common in certain parts of the United States than other. Like most common household bugs, ants can be prevented, but once they’ve found their way in they can be a challenge to remove.

Most ants build underground colonies, but some will set up their home within wood that has been weakened by water damage inside of your home. Carpenter ants can burrow deep inside of wood, creating structural damage that is expensive to repair and weakening the integrity of your home. If a flooded basement, burst pipe or leaking roof has been a problem in your home you are at a higher risk for carpenter ant infestation.

Flies

Flies are a very unsavory pest, and they spread bacteria onto every surface that they touch. These small winged bugs are very common inside of homes, and while fly swatters can kill the ones that you can catch, it doesn’t mean the problem has been solved. By the time that you’ve noticed flies around your home, they’ve probably already laid eggs that will soon hatch.

Being adamant about the cleanliness of your home is one of the best ways to prevent or end a fly infestation. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight, and take the trash out regularly. Investing in a trashcan with a lid is another easy way to prevent these common household bugs from becoming a problem.

Beetles

There are many types of beetles that can sneak into your home using a variety of methods. Many beetles feed on dry goods like grains, flour, dried fruit and nuts. If beetles are present in the warehouses where these foods are stored and packaged, they can easily find their way into the box and then into your home. Beetles don’t bite, but they can quickly contaminate many of the foods in your pantry as well as various fibers around your home. Their love for fibers leads to them commonly being called carpet pests.

If any of these common household pests find their way into your home it is essential that you eliminate them as soon as possible. The longer you wait to do this, the higher the chances of advanced infestation and exposure to deadly bacteria. Get in touch with a pest control provider as soon as you suspect a pest presence in your home.