Spring has sprung! And isn’t it a joy to behold! Nevertheless, spring’s arrival can also herald the emergence of insects inside your home.
Some of these bugs are no cause for concern, while others can damage your property or be detrimental to your health. Here’s how to identify and get rid of them.
The Centipede
Covered in antennas and remarkably fast, many of us are grossed out, even frightened, by the centipede’s appearance. It’s flat body, beige-brown in colour and transparent in texture, is 2.5 cm in length.
To remove centipedes from your home, you must take steps to resolve any moisture issues, such as repairing a leak, improving basement insulation, aerating the residence, or plugging holes in walls. To kill them, diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide) is effective: the insect will dehydrate upon contact.
The Ant
Well, we all know what ants look like! These ubiquitous tiny black bugs are regularly seen outside the home, in sand or in soil. It’s when they take up residence in your property that the trouble begins! They’re difficult to eradicate.
The first step is to patch cracks in the foundation and cut any tree branches touching your home (the ideal ant highway!). That you find the nest and destroy it is likewise essential. Don’t forget to inspect door and window frames and reseal them with caulking. As an additional step, you can apply neem oil (extracted from the neem tree’s seeds) at strategic locations to act as an ant repellant.
As for carpenter ants, larger and brownish, they’re far more destructive: they will eat at your house’s wooden framework. You must call in an exterminator immediately if you see one inside your property.
The Silverfish
Also known as the fish moth, this carrot-shaped beastie is covered in shiny scales. It only measures half an inch. It feeds on starch, glue, paper, human food, and hair. Like many insects, it thrives in humid environments. The silverfish poses no risk, despite its repulsive appearance. A neem extract-based insect repellant oil will help you eliminate it.
The Bedbug
Bedbugs are minuscule biting parasites that can enormously impact your quality of life. They suck human blood at night. They hide in the bedding, bed frame, fabric furnishings, basically anywhere that is cozy and slightly damp. They also love to live in power switches and gaps in walls.
So how do you combat this infestation? They will die when exposed to heat or cold. However, it can be difficult to find all of them and therefore fully eradicate them using this method. Furthermore, they reproduce at lightning speed. The best solution is to contact an extermination company as soon as possible.
The Woodlouse
Similar in aspect to a small crustacean due to its shell, the woodlouse is less than an inch in length. It can also roll itself up into a ball when it feels threatened. It hates light and prefers to stick to damp environments. Neem extract-based repellants can work wonders to make them disappear! Still, while far from the most desired of houseguests, you should know that woodlice aren’t dangerous. They don’t bite nor transmit disease to humans.
Don’t allow these creepy-crawlies to adversely affect your well-being and quality of life! You should ideally seal up all potential entry points around your house through which they might sneak in. By doing so, you can avoid having to kill these insects and they can continue to live peacefully outdoors. Especially as many of these are actually beneficial!