Taken one or two at a time, common home pests like ants or cockroaches may not be much to worry about—and can even be fun to squish. However, common home pests like cockroaches, mice, and ants can become a big problem if left unaddressed, especially given that they carry disease. Here’s a breakdown of the common critters you might face in your living space, the problems they create, and how to prevent them.
Ants
Certain types of ants pose a threat to health. There’s a type of house ant called “odorous” that contaminates food. Of course, those red ants known as fire ants can sting humans. And carpenter ants, like carpenter bees, can cause severe property damage as they tunnel into wood.
Unless you want to become an expert in distinguishing one ant type from another, it might be wise to lean on experts like us to get rid of ants in your house.
Flies/Fruit Flies
In addition to being annoying, houseflies and maggots can carry a host of dangerous diseases, including salmonella, E. coli., typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery and rotavirus.
The fruit fly also can carry dangerous diseases including salmonella, e. Coli, and listeria. And they’re super hard to get rid of once they start to breed, often in your sink.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the world’s most common pests, and can live for up to a month without food. As with mice, the danger of cockroaches is their ability to spread disease and trigger allergic and asthmatic attacks. In addition, their excrement and shells can carry diseases that cause intestinal difficulties.
If you begin to see them regularly, you may be facing a substantial infestation, which should be checked out immediately.
Mice
Don’t be fooled by their small size or their appearance in Disney movies. According to the CDC, mice and rats carry more than 35 different types of disease, transmitting those diseases through their urine and feces. In addition, they can track or bring bacteria and dust from their fur and waste into your pantry or other places in your home.
Mice can also do damage to your home and its foundation, chewing through things like electrical wiring. In fact, 25% of residential fires are caused by rodents.
Don’t wait until mice, or any other pests, become a problem. Reach out to us at (360) 935-4200 or contact us online to get professional help from GoodMonsters.