No one likes uninvited guests, especially if they are nasty insects and creatures. Regardless how long you’ve stayed in the house, it is essential to conduct frequent pest inspections to be on the lookout for insects that may be sharing your space. Even if you do not notice any insects visually, it does not mean that they do not exist because there are blindspots that you could have missed. Therefore, it is important to be proactive in understanding the different types of pests found at home, signs of a pest infestation, where they usually occur and how home pest control can effectively get rid of these creepy crawlies at home. Bingo Pest shares more in this article.
What are home pests?
There are many types of pests that can potentially infest a home. In general, household pests are insects or creatures that can cause destruction to your property and/or impose risks to your health and safety. Some of these home pests can cause itchy and painful bites, some can spread diseases and cause food contamination, while the others can cause damages to the structure of your home.
In order to protect your health and safety, it is crucial to understand the various common pests found at home, learn how you can prevent pests from entering your home and discover how establishing a home pest control programme can help to protect your home against a pest infestation.
Common Household Pests in Singapore
There are some pests that are commonly found at homes in Singapore. It is because an abundance of food and water sources can usually be found in places we lounge and live in. Here are some of the most common household pests that you might have encountered:
1. Ants
Ants are a typical sight in many homes in Singapore. They are tiny and are able to squeeze through small gaps and spaces to infest your home. Ants are social insects. When one enters your home, others will also follow. This is also one of the reasons why it is difficult to eliminate an ant infestation on your own. When you notice an ant trail at home, there is a high possibility that an infestation is taking place.
While some over-the-shelf solutions such as aerosol sprays can get rid of ants to a certain extent, they do not eliminate the source of the infestation. Most often, ants are likely to surface again after a couple of days. Hence, establishing a home pest management programme is the best way to keep ants away from your home.
2. Cockroaches
Cockroaches can hide in dark places and appear unexpectedly. They are not your typical knight in shiny armour despite having a shiny appearance. These pesky insects are known to spread diseases and contaminate food and cause food poisoning. Presence of cockroaches can also give a negative impression and be associated with being unsanitary. Furthermore, they also cause fear of cockroaches, also known as katsaridaphobia.
A cockroach infestation is not hard to identify. Here are some telltale signs of an infestation:
Cockroach egg cases
Adult cockroaches
Cockroach droppings
Presence of a musty odour
3. Bed Bugs
Dealing with a bed bug infestation can cause lots of distress. Although bed bugs do not transmit diseases, they cause itchy bites that usually come in a cluster. Bed bugs are flat and tiny. They are able to hide and nest in tight spaces and gaps. Furthermore, bed bugs reproduce very quickly and it may only take a week for a full blown infestation to happen. This is because bed bug eggs take only 6 to 10 days to hatch.
A bed bug infestation can happen to any home. Bed bugs do not only infest places that are unsanitary or cluttered although, the latter definitely provides bed bugs with more hiding spots.
Getting rid of bed bugs at home requires time and effort. While home pest control helps get rid of bed bugs fast, it is essential to combine good housekeeping and cleaning efforts to compliment the plan. Learn tips to eliminate bed bugs at home with expert tips.
4. Booklice
There has been an increase in the number of booklice infestation cases over the past years. This may be due to climate change and increased humidity at home. Booklice are tiny and are frequently mistaken as dust or dirt on the wall. While they do not cause harm to our health, mould can trigger allergy and respiratory conditions including asthma. Booklice feed on mould. Therefore, removing mould and controlling humidity at home is an important element in booklice control.
5. Flies
Flies are attracted to a variety of things at home. They include organic matter, meat, over-ripe food, sugary drinks, rotten food waste and garbage. Flies are known to lay eggs near their food sources. While having one or two flies in the house may not raise any concern, sightings of a large number of flies or maggots at home could potentially mean an infestation nearby.
6. Lizards
Although some people consider lizards as friendly pests as they help get rid of flies and mosquitoes, lizards can actually be harmful in many ways. Firstly, they may contaminate food with their droppings and urine that contain bacteria, which may cause Salmonella. Patients who contract Salmonella may experience symptoms such as stomachache, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Secondly, their excrement may leave unsightly and hard-to-remove marks on your walls and furniture. Thirdly, their presence may cause fear mainly due to several factors:
Their appearance
The tendency of lizards falling from the ceiling or walls
Their fast, jerky and unpredictable movements
Lastly, parasites and bacteria found on their body can also be spread when they move around your house.
7. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a common problem in Singapore. They are notorious for spreading deadly diseases including Zika and Dengue. These diseases cause symptoms including fever, joint pain, headaches and rashes. Despite being common in Singapore, there is currently no specific treatment for Dengue. Besides the diseases, mosquitoes also cause itchy bites that may be painful and inflamed with excessive scratching.
A mosquito infestation can pose serious dangers to everyone including the elderly and children. Therefore, it is important to remove traces of water to prevent mosquito breeding at home. Learn more about mosquito prevention and the various types of mosquito control treatments here.
8. Spiders
Not all spiders are harmful. They may give you the creep but like lizards, they are considered advantageous to have because they help keep disease-causing pests including mosquitoes, flies and fleas away. Generally, spiders cause more nuisance than health hazards. The web they build are invisible, making them hard to spot. Having one or two spiders around should not be a cause of concern, but what happens when you spot them on a regular basis? This could be a telltale sign of a spider infestation at home.
Conducting frequent general cleaning should help get rid of spiders and the web they build. If cleaning does not improve the situation at home, professional home pest control should be considered.
9. Termites
Unlike other pests that feed on food we eat, termites feed on cellulose, which are fibres found in wood. Termites have the ability to chew through wooden structures or furniture. A serious termite infestation can weaken the structure and pose a safety concern. Mostly, a termite infestation often goes unnoticed until substantial damage is done to the structure.
One of the most common signs of termites is seeing trails that resemble mud tubes. When a termite trail is disturbed, they can migrate to other areas and cause further destruction. Therefore, it is important and recommended to leave the trail untouched while getting professional termite inspection and treatment to identify the cause and problem. Learn more about the various termite treatments available, the price of termite control and how to choose the best termite control solution in Singapore.
10. Rodents
Rat issues do not happen just in food-handling businesses or landed homes. Rodents are pests with high flexibility and adaptability. With the increase of urbanisation activities in Singapore, rodents have also adjusted to living in commercial and residential buildings. They are able to climb up stairs and pipes to reach your home in sourcing for food. Therefore, without proper pest proofing and protection at home, rats can also infest your property even if you stay in a high-rise building.
Rodents transmit diseases that are harmful to humans and getting rid of rats is essential to safeguard your health and well-being. A rodent infestation can be challenging and hard to remove. Rats can become aggressive and bite when disturbed. Hence, it is more viable to engage a trained and professional rodent control expert to deal with the infestation.
Where Do Pests Hide at Home?
A pest infestation can happen anywhere in a home. Generally, they happen in areas near their food sources. There are a few hotspots where pests can be commonly found at home. These places include:
Kitchen
Bathroom
Trash bins
Under the sinks
Storage cabinets
On the other hand, there are also blind spots that are often forgotten such as:
Door frames
Cracks and crevices on walls
Gaps around windows
False ceilings
Behind and under kitchen appliances
Regardless where you spot the pests, getting rid of them early is critical. It is important to identify the root cause of a pest infestation at home early before the matter gets out of hand. Typically, it is easier to resolve a pest issue at an earlier stage where lesser damages have been done. When the infestation level is lower, it takes a lesser amount of time and effort to eliminate the root cause of the infestation.
Read also: How to achieve a pest-free home
How Bingo Pest Control Can Help with Pests Infestations at Home?
At Bingo Pest, we specialise in partnering homeowners in home pest control and management. We offer a series and variety of pest control treatments that are safe to be conducted in residential environments. Our solutions are NEA-approved and carried out by well-trained pest specialists who have undergone extensive training to manage various types of pest infestations.
Speak with our team of pest experts to discuss your pest control needs and requirements. Call us at 6517 9989 today.
