Jan.19: PUBLIC INTEREST
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in JANUARY
15 reasons why your home attracts pests
Find out what you need to do to keep them away
Did you know that even a bread crumb or a juice spill could make your home attractive to pests? Insect and rodent pests basically need food, water and shelter. If your home provides these you are in trouble. While you can call in a pest control company to deal with the problem, prevention is always better. For that, it is important to know what draws pests to your home in the first place. Â
Open doors and windows: This is the easiest way insects and rodents get into the house. Keep doors closed when not in use. Repair torn mesh as insects can get into the tiniest hole. Ensure all doors and windows fit well and seal tightly.Â
Cracks and crevices: Pests can enter your home through gaps, cracks and holes. Holes in the wall or flooring are ideal for small insects to hide. Check around appliance vents, utility lines and plumbing. Seal all cracks and crevices.
Warmth and moisture: A warm house not only provides shelter from the cold outside, it attracts rodents and insects looking to nest. Cockroaches and rats are attracted to damp areas. Stagnant water gives mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs. Take care of leaky pipes and damp walls.
Food sources: Insects are attracted to food stored carelessly. It is best to store rice, flour and other food items in tightly sealed jars and boxes in cupboards. Spilled food or leftover food on dishes are a feast for flies, cockroaches and ants. Kitchen appliances such as stoves, microwaves, and toaster ovens often have food particles. Regular cleaning of cupboards and kitchen appliances is vital. Don’t leave dirty dishes lying in the sink for long.
Over-ripe fruit: Fruits and vegetables can attract fruit flies if left out too long. Check them frequently for over-ripening or signs of decay or store them in the refrigerator.
Sweet stuff: Sweet and slightly fermenting substances, like sugar, honey or wine, are loved by ants, flies, butterflies, ants, wasps and beetles.Â
Garbage: Accumulating trash is like inviting pests into your home. Aside from disposing your garbage properly, clean the bins routinely to make sure they are free of any waste residue.
Having pets: Dogs and cats are susceptible to picking up fleas and ticks and bringing them into the home. In addition, pet food and snacks, if not properly stored in airtight containers, will attract pests. Unclean food and water bowls are also a no-no.
Unused or clogged drains: Unused drains create a slimy film that creates an ideal breeding spot for flies. Clogged or broken gutters can lead to accumulation of water and that breeds insects.Â
Still air: Fans don’t blow flies away, but they make the air turbulent enough to discourage them from hanging around too long.Â
Clutter: Rats, cockroaches and spiders often take shelter in dark spaces and clutter. Untouched piles of papers can be a big draw for silverfish and cockroaches.
Lighting: Lighting is a major consideration when it comes to flying pests. Turning off the lights will discourage gnats. Use yellow florescent or yellow LED lights which attract fewer pests than white light.
Unkempt yard: Branches and bushes touching the home, long grass or an unkempt yard can be a major contributor to pest infestation.
Unclean beds: Being lazy about cleaning under the bed or washing the pillow cases regularly can allow dust mites and bed-bugs to breed in mattresses and bed posts.
Neighbourhood: One of the most difficult to control situations is what surrounds your home or who your neighbours are. For instance, marshes or lakes are attractive to pests. Also, if your neighbours have an unkempt yard or dirty home this will impact you.
The best way to deal with pests is to make your home unattractive for them to enter and survive. Now that you know what attracts pests, take preventive action. You can avoid the horror, misery and embarrassment of having an infestation of pests in your home.
Sources: www.rd.com, www.familyhandyman.com, www.rovepestcontrol.com, www.rentokil.com.sg
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