Insects, bugs, pests, whatever you want to call them, have always been a nuisance to homeowners. Whether you have termites eating away the foundation of your home, or ants feeding off of the little crumbs Jimmy left on the floor, we as homeowners are never free from these little visitors. Did you know that of all the insects in the world the most common household pest is the ant!
Ants come in different colors and sizes. Discovering the type of species for your local ant colony will greatly assist in preventing and treating an ant invasion into your home. For example, one of the most common species of ants is the Carpenter Ant. They prefer to dwell in moist areas such as tree stumps, bathroom walls, subfloor insulation, and open crevices near the dishwasher and washing machines. Like most ants, Carpenter Ants love sweets. Sugar in honey, jam, fruit, and ice cream are all targets for a meal. In addition, Carpenter ants will also eat other insects. They like to mate or grow the colony during the warm summer months, and will come indoors during winter months.
With this type of information, you can effectively find treatments to eliminate an ant problem. The first and most important step is to locate the nest. This may be difficult if the nest is located in an unreachable area. Many homeowners will leave something sweet out on the floor or countertop as ant bait. They will then follow the line of ants back to their colony. Once the colony is located, you can then use one of the many pesticides to destroy the ants. It's important to know what pesticide will work best. For example, Boracare is a popular and potent product for killing Carpenter Ants. It can be applied to virtually any surface and will prevent ant invasions for at least a year. Boracare is also an effective termite killer, so if you are looking for an overall pest control product, Boracare is a definite solution.
But sometimes there are pests in areas where we would not want to apply a heavy duty insecticide. I'm referring to a place that most people do not imagine containing bugs – your very own bed! That's right, there may be little creatures living within the mattress and box spring you use each night. Bed bugs are similar to mosquitoes; they like to suck blood from animals and humans. A fully grown bed bug will reach ¼ inch in length and will resemble a poppy seed. They will usually crawl out at night in search of food, which explains why most people are not aware of their presence and wonder why they wake up in the morning with bug bites on there skin. An effective bed bug control will contain products that attack the bug at all possible locations. These locations include: curtains, carpets, mattress and box springs, clothing, furniture, and any small crevice in the room. Depending on the severity of the problem, multiple treatments may be needed to fully destroy the infestation.
Fortunately, homeowners have many options for combating all sorts of bug problems. Through a little research and planning most insect infestation can be prevented and controlled. Both ants and bed bugs are just a couple of examples of the bugs that invade our homes. Maybe it's time to see if there are any other unwanted guests living in side our walls!
Ryan Knapp is an Internet Marketing Consultant for 10x Marketing. Visit Do My Own Pest Control to learn more about controlling the pests in your home.