Is Your House A Bug Magnet?

How You May Be Attracting Insects To Your Home

Did you know that you may be inadvertently attracting insects to your home? Sometimes it’s the characteristics of the house itself that draws them in. Other times, it’s our habits, lifestyle, or resources. Understanding these factors and being proactive about pest prevention is something that homeowners should do. With a little effort, you can spare yourself from costlier damage and the many illnesses that pests expose you to. Let’s take a look at what these attractants are and what you can do to minimize them.

Dirt And Clutter

While it is true that pest problems can occur even in spotless homes, the odds are against you when you don’t keep things tidy. Dirt in the form of crumbs and spilled and discarded food is attractive to pests. Clutter, meanwhile, gives those pests more places to hide. These same principles apply to your yard, too. Keep it picked up, decluttered, and mowed. It’s important to note that many interior infestations begin with exterior infestations.

Another change to make is the type of cleaning products you use. Don’t pick products that smell like flowers, spice, or fruit (except for lemon). To bugs, that stuff smells like food. Instead, use pine, lemon, and cedar-scented products, which have repellent properties.

Common Food Supplies

Many insects eat the same things we do. How you store your food items can make a huge difference; the key is to make those items inaccessible. Something like a plastic bag should not be considered a barrier because some insects can chew through it. Store everything in tightly closed, rigid containers, including hard plastic, metal, and glass, and make sure the lids are tight-fitting. If you have pets, feed them at specific times, and don’t leave dishes on the floor throughout the day.

Trash

Your trash needs a tight-fitting lid as well. To you, it’s garbage. To a cockroach, it’s a buffet. Also, ensure that kitchen trash is not leaking, especially aromatic garbage is promptly removed from the kitchen. Empty trash daily and keep garbage cans outside the home. Also, don’t keep your recycling bins inside the house; rinse out recyclables thoroughly. If debris is left on or in them, they emit odors that attract pests.

Cellulose

Not all insects that invade homes are dumpster divers or are after the foods you eat. Some eat cellulose, such as termites and millipedes, and they are after your home’s wooden structures, furniture, books, photographs, magazines, papers, etc. You may not be able to control these elements as well as your food items, but there are some things you can do that help. Exercise the same control you do for your food items when possible. Some items cannot go inside storage containers; maintain good housekeeping to discourage pests.

Water

Open water sources, leaks, condensation, and excess humidity attract insects. Water sources outside the home are a lure as well. The more you can control your home’s humidity and make your water sources less available, the better off you’ll be. Clogged gutters are an attractant for mosquitoes and termites.

The Insects Themselves As A Food Source

Sometimes, the food sources a pest is after inside your home are the pests that are already there. Many species, such as spiders, are predators that eat other bugs. Insects attract more insects, and when populations remain unchecked, those infestations grow until they cause serious problems. And speaking of “the pests that are already there,” that is something else you need to know. Studies show that virtually all homes have insects, probably thousands of them. They stay hidden, so you won’t know they are there until you start experiencing problems. Many of them are harmless, but even the benign ones serve as food for the ones that aren’t. That’s why it is vital to lessen those attractants that draw them in in the first place and do what you can to reduce their numbers.

Why You Need Cardinal Insect & Pest Solutions

Even when you do everything you can to reduce the likelihood of pest issues, an expert can do more. A professional is your best defense against pest issues, and there is none better in St Louis and the surrounding area than Cardinal Insect & Pest Solutions. We can help with inspections, provide treatment for immediate issues, and implement prevention programs such as exclusion, which seals up the cracks and crevices to block the entrance points where pests often get in. Contact us today, and let’s discuss how we can assist you.