Within a home there could be up to 100 species of insect, even in the cleanest of homes, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. While this may take things to an extreme, the fact is that bugs will find a way into the home, whether we like it or not. It is one of the facts of life—there will be bugs.
No home is impervious to insects. No matter where you live, you will have to face the potential fear of bugs. Once you come to this acceptance, you can begin to prepare your home or take measures to dispose of these pests for good. Wintertime provide a great opportunity to proactively prepare for an increase in insects during warmer months.
The first thing you need to know is what common bugs can infest your home and the areas where they like to congregate. Then to learn how to treat each of these areas to keep them from returning.
Kitchen
The first area we will look at is the kitchen. Why? Because, all living creatures need to eat. Food is essential for all life, and when we think of food, we think the kitchen. Unfortunately, so do many species of bug. A variety of foods give off scents that attract insects.
Pantry Moths
While it is unlikely that pantry moths will eat the clothes in your closet, they love food to in cupboards, among other places. They will feed on flour, rice, cereal, and other grains. They will also eat pet foods if accessible.
Cockroaches
A roach is primarily in the search for water. Under sinks is where it will most likely find it from the possibility of leaks or damp cleaning rags. They also feed off scraps of food from trash cans and dirty dishes in sinks.
Ants
Ants, too, are looking for water. While their primary food source is honeydew, anything sweet will do. This is why ants find a kitchen an attractive source for feeding.
Flies
Flies live off of waste. And the kitchen wastebasket is a treasure trove from scraps from numerous meals.
Bathroom
The wet and steamy conditions of a bathroom can be a magnet to certain bugs in search of water.
Cockroaches
Just as they search for water in the kitchen, they will visit the bathroom in their search for water when they find none.
Water Bugs
When people see a water bug, they mistake them for roaches. But these bugs are larger than the common cockroach. They are also not as shy and feed on insects as opposed to decaying food like the roach.
Ants
With the primary area in the home serving as a water source to the home, it is no wonder that ants will find their way here occasionally. Why they chose the kitchen first is the source of sweet.
Bedroom
Keeping your bedroom clean and a food-free zone will keep many pests away. Doing so will help this list to remain short here.
Bed Bugs
These little creatures often go unseen until it's too late. They are not grown but brought in from an outside source. They hitch a ride from many sources: from a visitor staying overnight, a recent second-hand furniture purchase, a vacation stay, a visit to a friend's house, anything to where one party visits the infested party. Bed bugs live inside your mattress and unfortunately feed on you.
Clothes Moths
These are the moths that you will find in the back of your closet. They snack on your favorite clothing while they are stored for the season. It is actually the moth larvae that feed on silk, wool, cotton, and other linens.
Fleas and Ticks
If you have pets, you will find these throughout your home, but they will thrive especially in areas where your pet sleeps. Ticks and fleas have similar traits and can often be confused for one another. The main difference is that ticks will bite and hold on, fleas let go after they bite.
Basement and Attic
These spaces can attract many insects as they are storage areas and offer many hiding areas for them. We pack away our belongings and forget about them. This stuff can breed odors and moisture. Bugs are attracted to this mixture.
Moths
If we are storing older items that are overflow from closets, moths will fly away from the closet and seek out these areas.
Roaches and Water Bugs
When the summer ends, and we put away damp supplies and equipment, it becomes an attractive area for bugs seeking water.
Ants
When ants continue their search for water, even damp areas, will draw them out. This can come through roof leaks, pipe leaks, or other items you may have in storage.
Spiders
Dark, cool, and damp is a trifecta for spiders. They camp out and feed on whatever insect comes across their web, like moths and flies.
Garage
While not technically part of the home, it must be included because garages can affect the home if it were to become infested with bugs, especially if it is attached. When part of the home it becomes one of the main entry points for bugs.
Spiders
Just as basements and attics can breed spiders, garages can be attractive to them. While far from dark, there are corners that go undisturbed where stacks of boxes may sit, or items may be stored for those who do not have basements or other storage areas.
Ants
Rainwater, irrigation runoff, and other stored items leave moisture that attracts ants in search of water. Other items that can attract ants are special project fluids that are left out or improperly secured, as well as trash bins stored in here.
Cockroaches
Where there is a garbage source, there will be roaches. Even recycling bins, if not properly maintained, will attract them. Stacks of cardboard are favorites for roaches.
Flies
If you must store your garbage bins in a garage, ensure they are regularly cleaned. Keeping the garage door closed will also keep an area from flies congregating.
Outdoor Areas
Outdoor areas include patios, porches, pools, gardens, and work sheds. These areas draw not only the common pests but many others not on our list. Just as in our indoor areas, bugs are in search of water and food. Provide these much-needed sources of nutrition and you will soon find yourself with an infestation.
What Can I Do to Get Rid of Bugs in My House?
When you find yourself with an infestation of unwanted guests, then you must search for the bug experts. Dr. Killigan’s creates premium pest control remedies that effectively dispose of bugs. Our team of professionals is dedicated to perfecting the art of Killing Them Softly®. This is more than a motto we live by. We are driven to continue to raise the bar in developing safe, toxic-free pest control products for your home.
Dr. Killigan’s offers these products for your home:
Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under®
Our most popular on-contact insect killer spray that will dispose of insects. It is made with a mixture of clove and cottonseed oils and is safe to use around pets, children, and food.
SFU works on fleas, ticks, bed bugs, roaches, ants, fruit flies, moths, earwigs, silverfish, mosquitoes, and more.
Dr. Killigan’s Premium Pantry Moth Traps®
Explicitly designed for pantry moths, the pheromone in these non-toxic moth traps is mixed into the glue, so there is no separate wafer to deal with, like many other moth traps on the market. It is a simple fold design, no glue touching involved. To top it off, it presented in a stylish design, disguising that they are moth traps.
Dr. Killigan’s Premium Clothing Moth Traps®
Explicitly designed for clothing moths the pheromone in these toxin-free moth traps is mixed into the glue. The one design difference is that Premium Clothing Moth Traps have a hook built into the trap for convenient hanging from the bar in your closet. They are also a simple fold design and are equally as stylish, hiding the fact that they are moth traps.
Dr. Killigan’s The Fly Inn®
The Fly Inn functions like a fly ribbon, but with the Dr. Killigan’s touch of class. It works by placing The Inn within a windowsill. The glue inside the trap does the rest. The beautiful style of The Inn leaves your guests clueless that you have an insect control product on your shelf.
Dr. Killigan’s Insect Buster®
The Insect Buster is a bulb designed to disperse Dust to Dust. Dust to Dust is a powder insecticide that is non-toxic and non-poisonous. It is known to be safe for humans and have kill times up to 50% faster than diatomaceous earth. Dr. Killigan’s Insect Buster bulb is sturdy, easy to aim, and easy to store with Dust to Dust inside of it.
The Final Word on Common Bugs Threatening the Home
All of Dr. Killigan’s products are all-natural, non-toxic, and safe for humans and pets. Our dream is a life without bugs, safely, peacefully, and full of class. And we want to bring that back to your home. So, we stand behind every product and design. If you are unhappy for any reason, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and won’t hesitate to make things right.