There is a never-ending saga of summer insects. As you find yourself in the midst of this scorching season, a relentless swarm of pests persists in their daring quest to infiltrate your cherished home. Despite your diligent efforts to fortify your abode with screens, closed doors and impeccably manicured yards, these cunning bugs always manage to find their clandestine paths of entry. They possess an uncanny ability to defy your best defenses, as if they were masters of deception and evasion. It's a constant battle, my friend, one that challenges your wit and resilience.
What are six six uninvited house bugs this summer?
From ants scouting for food to mosquitoes seeking a blood meal, and from flies buzzing around to spiders spinning their webs, these six pests are not going to go away on their own. Let’s delve into what these six particular types of pests are (and then find out what to do about them.)
1. Ants
Ant populations surge and pose greater challenges during the summer months as they multiply in numbers and increasingly encroach upon our homes, demanding our attention and intervention.
What types of ants will invade my home?
These tenacious little creatures come in various forms, each with their own unique modus operandi. The world of ants is diverse and challenging.
- Argentine ants: Argentine ants, small and light brown, have a penchant for swiftly infiltrating structures and creating extensive trails. They are commonly deterred by essential oils.
- Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants, known for their ability to excavate wood and cause structural damage, are the architects of destruction.They are among the ant species that possess the unique capability of flying during specific stages of their life cycle.
- Odorous house ants: Odorous house ants, true to their name, emit a distinct foul odor when crushed and have a knack for invading kitchens and bathrooms in search of sustenance.
- Pavement ants: Pavement ants, with their small mounds of soil near buildings, skillfully find their way through cracks and crevices.
- Pharaoh ants: Pharaoh ants, minuscule in size but mighty in their ability to infest hard-to-reach areas, particularly like to plague healthcare facilities.
- Thief ants: Thief ants, also true to their name, stealthily steal away with oily and greasy foods, amassing in large numbers along existing ant trails.
- Crazy ants: Crazy ants, with their erratic movements and a dark complexion, are hard to ignore as they forage relentlessly, especially in kitchens and pantries.
2. Mosquitoes
As the temperatures rise and the days lengthen throughout the summer months, these tiny insects become more prevalent and troublesome.
What types of mosquitoes will invade my home?
The notorious mosquito is a buzzing menace that knows no bounds. When it comes to invading your sacred abode, there are several types of these bloodsucking insects known to make their presence felt.
- The common house mosquito: The common house mosquito, Culex pipiens, is notorious for its relentless pursuit of a blood meal, particularly in the twilight hours.
- The aggressive Aedes aegypti: The Aedes aegypti, a stealthy intruder that thrives in warmer climates, can transmit diseases like dengue fever and Zika virus.
- The Asian tiger mosquito: The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has a distinctive black and white striped body and is yet another unwelcome guest that enjoys infiltrating homes, often causing sleepless nights with its incessant buzzing.
- The Culex tarsalis: The Culex tarsalis, a species prevalent in certain regions, is known for its affinity for birds and its ability to transmit West Nile virus. These tiny vampires will stop at nothing to make their way into your sanctuary, leaving behind itchy reminders of their unwelcome presence.
3. Flies
Common house flies can become a nuisance during the summer months, buzzing around and potentially spreading bacteria as they land on various surfaces.
What types of flies will invade my home?
These audacious winged infiltrators will try to turn your home into their personal playground. When it comes to invading your sacred abode, there are several types of flies that you should be on the lookout for.
- The common house fly: The common house fly, Musca domestica, is a ubiquitous nuisance known for its incessant buzzing and knack for spreading germs.
- The fruit fly: The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a tiny but mighty adversary that thrives on overripe fruits and decaying organic matter.
- The blowfly: The blow fly, Calliphoridae, has a metallic sheen and penchant for laying eggs in carcasses or garbage, and is an unwelcome guest that can turn a peaceful home into a breeding ground for their offspring.
4. Spiders
While spiders are generally beneficial for controlling other insects, some species may venture indoors in search of prey or shelter, especially during the warmer months when insect activity increases. The abundance of small bugs that serve as their food source, along with the need to escape the heat or find potential mates, can lead spiders to seek shelter within homes, making their presence more noticeable during this time.
What types of spiders will invade my home?
Spiders are eight-legged arachnids that occasionally venture into our sanctuaries. When it comes to invading your humble abode, there are several types of spiders that may seek refuge within your walls.
- The common house spider: The common house spider, a master of stealth and web-spinning, has a knack for setting up shop in dark corners and undisturbed nooks of your home.
- The cellar spider: The cellar spider, with its long, delicate legs, has the ability to spin messy cobwebs in your basement or storage areas.
- The brown recluse spider: The brown recluse spider, a more reclusive intruder, prefers to hide in secluded spaces and often causes concern due to its venomous bite.
- The black widow spider: The black widow spider, with its ominous reputation and distinctive red hourglass marking, is a visitor that demands caution and respect.
5. Cockroaches
These resilient pests can thrive in warm and humid conditions, making them more active during the summer. They can enter homes through gaps in doors, windows or pipes.
What types of cockroaches will invade my home?
The dreaded cockroach is a resilient creature that knows no boundaries when it comes to infiltrating our sanctuaries. With summer in full swing, having brought warmth and humidity, several types of much-feared cockroaches may attempt to invade your home.
- The American cockroach: The American cockroach, a robust species known for its large size and reddish-brown color, thrives in dark and damp areas, making kitchens, basements and bathrooms their favorite haunts.
- The German cockroach: The German cockroach, a smaller but prolific invader that multiplies rapidly and infests kitchens, pantries and areas with food sources, has the ability to hide in cracks and crevices. Their affinity for warmth and moisture make them a formidable foe.
- The Oriental cockroach: The Oriental cockroach, a resilient intruder that prefers cool and damp environments, is often found in basements, drains and crawl spaces.
6. Beetles
Various types of beetles, such as carpet beetles or pantry beetles, can find their way indoors. Their prevalence increases during the summer months, as the warmer temperatures and increased outdoor activities provide favorable conditions for their activity and reproduction. The higher temperatures also accelerate their development, leading to a higher likelihood of beetle infestations in stored food, fabrics, or wooden structures.
What types of beetles will invade my home?
Beetles are determined invaders. When it comes to invading your sacred abode during the summer months, several types of beetles may seek refuge within your walls.
- The carpet beetle: The carpet beetle, a tiny but formidable adversary, likes to infest your fabrics, carpets and stored food items. Their larvae feed voraciously, causing damage to natural fibers and leaving behind a trail of destruction.
- The flour beetle: The flour beetle, a sneaky infiltrator that targets pantry staples like flour, cereal and grains, can contaminate your food supplies and require careful monitoring.
- The powderpost beetle: The powderpost beetle, a wood-boring species, can wreak havoc on wooden structures and furniture. Their larvae burrow deep into the wood, gradually causing damage over time.
How do I get rid of these uninvited house bugs?
To effectively eliminate these uninvited house pests, you can employ a range of strategies, including the use of high-quality pest control products such as those offered by Dr. Killigan's. Their innovative line of products is designed to target specific pests while prioritizing safety and effectiveness. From their comprehensive moth traps to natural repellents, Dr. Killigan's offers reliable solutions to tackle common household insect problems. Combining these products with proper sanitation practices and proactive measures will help you reclaim your home from these unwanted invaders and restore peace to your living space.
For ants: To get rid of ants, use Dust to Dust. Apply a light dusting of this powder along ant trails, entry points, and other areas where ants are active, ensuring thorough coverage for effective elimination.
For mosquitoes: To keep mosquitoes away from your home, plant insect repelling plants and eliminate standing water.
For flies: Utilize The Fly Inn. Strategically place this trap on a high-traffic window where flies frequently gather, allowing the trap to capture these pesky insects and help to restore a fly-free home.
For spiders: To protect your home from spiders, apply Six Feet Under. Use this non-toxic spray to target areas where spiders are commonly found, such as corners, cracks and crevices, ensuring thorough coverage to deter and eliminate these unwanted arachnids from your living space.
For cockroaches: To get rid of cockroaches, apply Dust to Dust around the perimeter of your home, as well as behind appliances such as the stove and refrigerator, targeting areas where cockroaches are likely to hide and travel, ensuring a thorough light dusting for optimal elimination of these resilient pests. (You may want to consider the use of the Insect Buster for best coverage.)
For beetles: Use Dust to Dust for beetle control. Apply a thin, even layer of the powder in areas where beetles are present or likely to travel, such as cracks, crevices and entry points. The abrasive particles of Dust to Dust damage the exoskeleton of beetles, leading to their dehydration and eventual elimination.
