Every year termites alone cause nearly $40 billion in damage around the world and affect more than 600,000 homes in the U.S. This is why it is so important to catch pests early, before they go unnoticed for too long and wreak havoc in your home. Telltale signs of pests include peeling paint, holes in your carpet, and webs around your pantry cupboards.
we wants to show you the best ways to tell if you are sharing your home with unwanted guests, and what the early signs of an infestation are.
1. Yellow paper stains
Pest: Silverfish
Main signs: Holes in books and paper and little piles of yellow dust around their feeding area. You may also find their shed skin around the house.
2. Peeling paint
Pest: Termites
Main signs: Crumbling wood damage and hollow-sounding wood are other ways to identify if you have a problem. It is also possible that you may hear noises in the wall of them chewing. Little mounds of termite pellets may also start to appear around, which look like piles of salt or pepper.
3. Clusters of holes in carpets
Pest: Carpet Beetles
Main signs: These beetles will go for any materials that are animal-based. This means that you should look out for damage in fabrics like wool, silk, feathers, and fur. Unlike the moth holes in clothing, these will be in clusters and lines. You might also notice where they’ve shed their skin if you look closely.
4. Webs around your flour packets
Pest: Rice and granary weevils
Main signs: There are several types of weevils that can get into our food cupboards. Typically you will know if you also find dried larvae shells in your flour and floury dust around the webs and packets. You will also notice holes in your rice where the rice weevils have laid their larvae.
5. Small brown moths in your pantry
Pest: Indian meal moths
Main signs: You may discover clumps in your flour which serve to warn you that you have an infestation at hand. You may also notice clusters of gray/white eggs laid on their food sources, like dried fruits, nuts, grains, flour, spices, and pet food.
6. Dark fecal smears on surfaces
Pest: Camel crickets
Main signs: If they hang around long enough they might start eating your stored goods in a quiet area like a basement. You may notice damage to your garments, carpets, cardboard boxes, and even wood.
7. Small red stains on your surfaces
Pest: Clover mite
Main signs: When they feed on plants they leave behind small silver streaks on the leaves. You may also notice damage in your garden with brown wilted grass, as their population grows.
8. Yellowing and wilting of household plants
Pest: Aphids
Main signs: They leave behind a honeydew on your plants’ leaves as well as a black sooty mold fungus. If you look under the leaves you will see clusters of yellow or green aphids attached to your plant as they suck out its sap.
How do you deal with pests at home? Please share you experiences with us!
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