Your home is your personal sanctuary; it can be traumatizing when bugs and pests invade that space.
According to one study, people in public housing who encountered consistent pest infestations were more likely to experience depressive symptoms.
While bugs are important for the ecosystem, your house is one place that doesn’t really qualify as a suitable habitat for bugs. The first step to eliminating indoor insects is to identify them and contact a pest control expert for assistance.
This guide will discuss nine common indoor bugs in Pennsylvania that you need to be on the lookout for.
1. Flies
Flies are a nuisance pest that can contaminate food and transmit dangerous diseases. The most common intruder is the house fly, but your home can also suffer from fruit and horse flies as well.
These bugs are persistent and plentiful. If hatching occurs, your problem can go from one buzzing bother to many. While house and fruit flies mainly zoom around and pester, horse flies can bite, leaving some nasty welts. Therefore, these pests should be dealt with quickly.
Key Facts
- House flies and fruit flies hover around food sources, while horse flies bite, leaving painful welts.
- Flies can transmit dangerous diseases by contaminating food and surfaces.
- They reproduce quickly, making infestations escalate rapidly.
Prevention Tips
To prevent flies from getting inside, keep your home as tidy as possible. Block all possible entryways like doors, windows, and cracks. Eliminate any breeding sites. If you suspect an infestation, it would be wise to reach out to a pest control expert to locate the breeding ground and eliminate the problem.
2. Fleas
These pesky parasites feed off warm-blooded creatures and come in many different varieties: cat, dog, and rat fleas. These critters do not fly, but they jump onto their hosts.
They bite and leave painful, itchy, red bumps. These pests can affect not only your family but your furry friends as well. Enough of these pests can cause serious harm to your animal.
Key Facts
- Common flea types include cat, dog, and rat fleas.
- Severe infestations can harm pets by causing anemia and skin infections.
Prevention Tips
With fleas, prevention is the best course of action. Keep your yard clean, and try to deter any creatures carrying fleas from entering your yard. Seal all cracks and crevices on the outside of your house using silicone-based caulk.
In addition, use flea management for your pests: ointments, baths, and other treatments. If you do have an infestation, vacuum the affected area, dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed garbage bag, and place it outside.
If the infestation doesn’t relent, contact a pest control expert to inspect your home.
3. Book Lice or Louse
Book Lice are a common parasite often found in damp pantries or storage areas. They feed on mold, dead insects, stored food, and other organic matter.
These scavengers, which are wingless, live indoors and are drawn to places with high humidity and moisture.
They don’t cause any physical harm, but they are unwanted nonetheless. Be careful, as lice are often mistaken for bed bugs!
Key Facts
- Small, wingless insects found in damp pantries, storage areas, and bookshelves.
- They feed on mold, dead insects, and stored food.
- Book lice thrive in high humidity and do not bite or transmit diseases.
Prevention Tips
The best way to keep these bugs out is by eliminating any excess moisture. Run a dehumidifier, make sure your rooms are adequately vented, and be sure all your water sources are cared for.
If you find booklice, throw out any contaminated food or items, whether cereal, books, flour, or grains. If you wish to keep infected items, like books, seal them in a plastic bag and freeze them.
Once the bugs are dead, vacuum up the remains and dispose of them properly.
4. Little Black Ants
Ants are a common invader, especially little black ants. These pests are normally worker ants searching for food and water for their colony.
They act as a search party, checking for ideal places to raid. If you aren’t careful, one ant can become many, which can be bad news for your pantry.
Key Facts
- Small black ants are often found in kitchens and pantries.
- They act as scouts searching for food and water sources.
- Ant infestations can quickly grow as they communicate food sources back to their colony.
Prevention Tips
To protect against these invaders, seal all cracks in your exterior with a silicone-based caulk. Store all firewood about 20 ft from your home, and keep your shrubs trimmed. Seek out ant nests and use store-bought killers and repellents to destroy them.
5. House Spiders
House spiders are so stealthy it can be hard to spot them. Cobweb spiders, cellar spiders, and ghost spiders are among the wide variety of housemates you may not know you have. They are very common in homes.
They often make webs or hide, making a feast of other possible pests that may reside in your house as well. Less of a pest and more of a small exterminator, house spiders are often harmless if left alone.
Many spiders, however, can become an issue, especially if you encounter a poisonous spider in Pennsylvania.
Key Facts
- Cobweb spiders, cellar spiders, and ghost spiders are common indoor species.
- They often spin webs in corners and crevices.
- House spiders are mostly harmless and help control other pest populations.
Prevention Tips
As with other pests, seal up any potential cracks and openings with a silicone-based caulk. If you spot any spiders in your home, vacuum up egg sacs, webs, or the spiders themselves and dispose of them outside.
6. Bed Bugs
These horrific parasites feed off humans and other animals while they sleep. Nocturnal creatures, bed bugs are non-flying insects that can be found in populated areas such as hotels, schools, offices, or homes. However, bed bugs can hide just about anywhere, including beds, furniture, light fixtures, switch panels, and many other spots.
These nasty insects bite and feed, leaving welts on their hosts. Often hard to find, bed bugs are a pest that can be difficult to deal with without professional help.
Key Facts
- Small, brownish insects that hide in mattresses, furniture, and wall crevices.
- Bite marks often appear as red, itchy welts on the skin.
- Bed bugs are nocturnal and can spread quickly in high-traffic areas like hotels and schools.
- They do not transmit diseases but can cause severe discomfort.
Prevention Tips
If you are traveling, inspect your hotel room, seal your suitcase, and check your clothing upon your return. Examine second-hand furniture for any tell-tale signs like droppings or stains. Inspect beds with a flashlight.
Also, check headboards, box springs, and other places. Check out pet beds as well. If you suspect an infestation, learn about common signs and seek out help from a pest control expert.
7. House Centipedes
These fast, active hunters are frightening to look at if they should catch your eye. Often, these insects are hard to spot. They try to avoid being seen and stay out of sight.
They feast on cockroaches, flies, and other more threatening pests. While these bugs are more of a problem for other invaders, they are not a pleasant discovery in the middle of the night.
Key Facts
- Long, multi-legged insects that move quickly and prefer dark, damp spaces.
- House centipedes feed on other pests like cockroaches and flies.
- They are harmless but can be alarming due to their appearance.
Prevention Tips
House centipedes often hang around areas in your home that are full of moisture. Vent attics, basements, and crawl spaces and use a dehumidifier.
Seal all possible openings. Outdoors, clear away any refuse, and store firewood properly. If you do see a centipede in your home, vacuum up the pest and dispose of the bag outside.
8. Silverfish
These flightless bugs are attracted to wet, damp places. They feed off crumbs, dead insects, glue, paper, and leather.
They often leave yellow stains and notches in infested areas and can damage property if left unchecked.
Key Facts
- Small, silvery insects that thrive in damp, dark areas.
- They feed on paper, glue, fabric, and food crumbs.
- Silverfish can damage books, clothing, and stored food items.
Prevention Tips
The best way to dispose of this pest is to control the food in the infested area. Invest in a dehumidifier. Repair any leaky pipes or drains and eliminate any moldy, wet areas. Keep books dry and your foods like sugar and flour in airtight containers.
9. Cockroaches
These creepy creatures can be found just about anywhere but are more common in attics and basements. While cockroaches typically don’t bite, they can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
Additionally, these pests can spread harmful bacteria, contaminating surfaces they come in contact with. They inhabit dark, wet areas and stick close to food sources. If you see one, chances are there are many.
Key Facts
- Brown or black beetle-like insects are found in kitchens, bathrooms, and dark spaces.
- Common species include German, American, and Oriental cockroaches.
- Cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
- They spread bacteria and contaminate food and surfaces.
Prevention Tips
Cockroaches are one of the most resilient pests. The best way to deal with them is to prevent them altogether. Keep your home clean, inside and out.
Seal your food and trash receptacles. Close any cracks and openings. Inside, clear clutter, crumbs, and drains. Make your home uninhabitable for them. If you suspect an infestation, contact a pest control expert to inspect your property.
With proper treatment and precautions, you can keep your home bug-free! If you are having difficulty with any pests or the problem is bigger than you anticipated, do not hesitate to reach out–contact a pest control specialist at The Pest Rangers and make your home pest-free today.
FAQs
What are the most common signs of a bug infestation?
Common signs include visible insects, droppings, shed skins, damaged food packaging, itchy bites, and webbing or nests in hidden corners.
How do I prevent bugs from entering my home?
Keep your home clean, seal entry points like cracks and crevices, store food in airtight containers, and reduce excess moisture with dehumidifiers.
Are all indoor bugs harmful?
No, not all indoor bugs are harmful. Some, like house spiders and house centipedes, can help control other pests. However, insects like cockroaches, fleas, and bed bugs can pose health risks.
