Spiders see your home as a hunting ground. You could view that as a good thing - they're part of nature's pest control service. Or it can be taken as a bad thing - they're roaming across your floors, walls and ceilings in obscene hunting parties. In either case, you'll need to know a little about your (un)wanted houseguests' diets in order to better understand why they've chosen your residence as a prime stalking field.
Fortunately, there are only two species of poisonous spiders found in North America and neither of them is particularly common, especially in northern climates. The Centers for Disease control and Prevention listed the black widow and brown recluse spiders as mostly confined to the southwestern and midwestern United States. The spiders that you might find in your home are much less dangerous. You may come across such larger species as the wolf, crab or jumping spiders. These three are, according to the University of Minnesota, hunting species that are rarely aggressive and typically eat pillbugs and other small insects. They're harmless to humans, but can be frightful to look at.
Most likely, you will come across cobweb or orb weaver spiders. These aren't dangerous either, but their webs can be annoying. They like dark, undisturbed places, and typically find basements perfectly suited to their needs. These species are mostly known for eating small bugs and beetles.
Amazingly, there is one kind of spider that exclusively consumes mosquitos. National Geographic reported that the Paracyrba wanlessi is of entirely one mind when it comes to dinner. They like to consume the blood the mosquitos take from their own victims. Unfortunately, the Paracyrba is only found in Malaysia, so it won't be stalking bloodsuckers on your porch any time soon.
Although spiders can be beneficial to your house while hunting flies, the better options is to not have flies to begin with. The best way to prevent spiders from moving in is to remove their source of food. Without the lure of prey, spiders will move on to better hunting grounds.
If you keep a clean house, take out your trash regularly and fill in any cracks in the foundation of your house, you'll have fewer insects wandering your halls. This can be difficult during the summertime, when the windows are open, but be vigilant about cleaning up any standing water near your property and you will see incoming pests dissipate in kind.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
