Think of 3 different takeaways.
Uninvited roommates come in all shapes, sizes and species. From bugs and critters scurrying around in ones living space, to larger animals like mice and rats nesting and living in places they shouldn’t. Everyone has experienced a pesky unwelcomed roomie at one point or another, but what exactly are these pesky pests and what makes them so keen to be our roommates?
1. Rats:
Rats are crafty rodents the can live inside and outside of homes, typically in walls, ceilings, basements and attics. Through small access points, rats enter and make themselves at home, creating a variety of damage and destruction.
A. Damage:
They are able to chew through items like insulation, drywall, wires and more. Not mention, rats also urinate around their living area, creating a smell, and are constantly moving dirt and debris from one place to another, creating a mess.
B. Reproduction:
Rats also reproduce very quickly, making one female rat with a single litter potentially turning into hundreds of rats within the year.
2. Mice:
Similar to rats, mice are also rodents that live close to homes, and are known to invade interior spaces much quicker than their larger rat counterparts.
A. Contamination:
Mice will contaminate any area they are in due to their constant urinating and defecating wherever they travel. Any food or living spaces these mice are in are in danger of being contaminated, leading to food-borne illnesses or potential infections.
B. Diseases:
They can also spread various diseases through the urine, stool, saliva and fur they leave behind. The most common are hantavirus and salmonellosis that can cause serious illnesses and possibly even deaths in humans if left untreated.
3. Cockroaches:
Cockroaches can come from a variety of sources, from outside a home to a grocery store. These bugs can even make it inside by hitchhiking on bags and other items brought into the home.
A. Reproduction:
What makes roaches so difficult is their ability to reproduce quickly. A single female can produce over 30,000 eggs in her short lifetime, leading to an infestation within the home in a short amount of time.
B. Destruction:
Cockroaches also feed off and destroy fabrics, paper, plastic and anything else they may find and can lead to health complications.
4. Bed Bugs:
Although they don’t actually live and nest together like mice, bed bugs are still considered “roommates”. Bed bugs can travel from the outside to the inside by traveling on people, clothing, furniture and luggage.
A. Biting:
Once inside, these bugs will crawl into the cracks of beds and other furniture and will bite humans throughout the night, leaving itchy bites.
B. Reproduction:
Bed bugs can reproduce quickly if left undetected and can colonize areas around the bed, including nightstands, floorboards, and other furniture in the room.
5. Spiders:
Spiders are unwelcome crawlers, usually found in dark, undisturbed corners of one’s home. They feed on small insects, but can also feed off human food, depending on the size of the spider.
A. Allergens:
Spiders are known to carry allergens and can lead to irritation and respiratory issues, causing cold-like symptoms, like sneezing and coughing.
B. Bites:
Although spiders are relatively harmless, certain breeds can cause bites that can lead to serious medical complications if not tended to immediately.
People Also Ask:
Q. Can Roaches Take Over Your Home?
If roaches make it inside your home, the population can definitely grow quickly. Female roaches can produce hundreds of offspring each year, leading to an infestation if left unchecked.
Q. How Can You Spot Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are easily spotted if one looks closely enough. They are about the size of an apple seed, oval-shaped and reddish-brown in color. While one may not spot the bugs themselves, they may spot the black spots on the mattress, which are their waste.
Q. Are Rats or Mice More Dangerous?
Although both can cause destruction, mice are considered more dangerous because they carry and transmit more diseases than rats do.
Q. How Can I Get Rid of Spiders?
To prevent spiders from taking up residence in the home, keep any clutter or mess away. Furthermore, try to seal up any cracks or openings in the exterior of the home to keep spiders and other critters out.
Q. How to Keep Pests Out of Your Home?
There are plenty of ways to keep pests out of your home: use a pest exterminator, place weather-stripping around doors, windows and other openings, use window screens and door sweeps, pick up clutter and keep the home clean, and store food in air-tight containers.
Conclusion:
Uninvited roommates have been a problem since the beginning of time. One can come across a variety of pests in the home, such as rats, mice, cockroaches, bed bugs and spiders. Each pest carries its own set of dangers and can lead to health complications if left alone for too long. To prevent unwanted guests, one should use pest exterminators, seal off any openings, keep the house clean and store food in air-tight containers.
Final Words:
Pests can be more than a nuisance if left to roam freely around the home. To prevent health complications and a lackluster environment, it’s best to take the necessary precautions to protect one’s home and wellbeing from unwelcome roommates.