Pests in the Home
When you think of house pests, insects may be the first critters that come to mind. Pests are defined as any harmful, noxious or troublesome organism. The biggest pest in the home is the mosquito. I notice that there are at least 3 different kinds of mosquitoes. Some bite in the daytime and some at night. Some are large while some are tiny, but they have one thing in common, they bite. So we use mosquito repellents, coils, nets and sprays to keep them at bay, but somehow they still manage to get past our defenses. Other common house insects include feared pests such as termites, bed bugs and cockroaches. There are only a few insects, spiders, and mites that are normally found inside homes.
I am very sensitive to mosquito bites, so I sleep under a mosquito net. Some people seem quite unaware of their presence and do not seem to know that they have been bitten. Well, these are lucky people until they come down with malaria or dengue fever. Certain ants, beetles, true bugs, cockroaches, flies, mites, silverfish, and springtails (collembola) are the most commonly reported. A few may even cause serious structural damage which can impact the value of your house.
Another persistent pest is the common rat. These animals are very active during the night, looking for food everywhere. They eat anything, even soap. So any food left uncovered overnight is likely to be contaminated by these pests. Furthermore, rats make nests in the nooks and corners of the house. They nibble into floorboards, ceilings and even electrical wiring. They are really a big nuisance.
Cockroaches too are pests. They have the habit of crawling all over the place. They can slip through any crack in the walls, bringing with them bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Sometimes they even crawl onto one’s body. These dirty little creatures contaminate food too. They also emit a strong stench. It is never pleasant to encounter them.
There are many types of insects living in our houses that are not visible. Most insects only come out at nighttime when it is quiet around the house. There are other pests like flies, ants, moths and assorted bugs. It would be nice if we can get rid of them but it is obvious we cannot. They are here to stay. Pests can act as carriers for allergens which irritate people with sensitive medical conditions. Pest control and pest management are important tasks to protect your home’s safety and health. The only effective way to minimize them is to keep the house clean. In this way, they have fewer places to breed and less food to eat. The fewer pests we have in the home, the more pleasant the home is.
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