Flies, ants, fleas, spiders, termites and the dreaded bed bug are among the undesired guests that can infest your home. While some pests are simply nuisances, others can cause serious damage and spread disease. Learn more about the most common household pests, and what you can do to prevent infestations.

What pest control means?

Fungus-like creatures, fruit flies are attracted to ripe or rotting food and can infect people and pets with bacteria that cause food poisoning, gastric upset, meningitis, cholera, and more. Their massive breeding cycle means they can rapidly infest homes. The best way to eliminate them is by keeping garbage and trash bins tightly closed, regularly emptying compost and trash cans, swabbing mop buckets and drains for flies, and cleaning pet waste areas frequently.

Ants

Ants are hardy and can quickly overtake your home in search of food, water and warmth. They carry diseases and trigger allergy and asthma attacks in some people.

Mosquitoes

These pesky bloodsuckers may transmit deadly mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. They breed in standing water, so be sure to clean gutters, cover trash cans and regularly empty them, and use repellents and screens on doors and windows.

Termites

These wood-boring insects can cause structural damage to homes. They’re usually found in damp soil, rotting wood, or places with leaks or condensation. They’re especially prone to infesting homes after rain or floods, so it’s important to have proper drainage around your house and prevent moisture build-up.