During the winter months, holiday feasts bring together family and friends in celebration of the spirit of the season. Unfortunately, warm homes also bring together potentially disease-carrying household pests in search of sustenance and shelter from the winter’s wind. Some of the most common pests this season include carpenter ants and cockroaches. But the most dangerous, disease-ridden winter pests of all are rodents. According to research published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, common household rodents such as mice and rats can transmit Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Ants
Infestations by ants are arguably the most commonly-occurring pest control issue across the country, particularly in warmer climates. Fire-ant mounds on the front lawn are easy enough to spot, but ants can also live outdoors in unkempt flower beds, mulch piles, stone landscaping, the shores of ponds and streams, old tree trunks, and against the foundations of houses. If an ant infestation is discovered indoors, the most likely location for the nest is inside a wall along the baseboard. Some ants, such as carpenter ants, can travel several yards away from their nests, which can make detection of the main nest difficult without assistance from a pest control professional. Another possible source of a holiday ant infestation could be a honeydew insect-attracting plant. Bamboo, cherry laurel and oleander can all inadvertently attract pests like ants.
Cockroaches
While ants are the most common holiday pests, cockroaches rank among the filthiest pests of them all. Research published by the CDC shows that two main health risks exist when cockroaches abound inside a home. The CDC reports that cockroach excrement can trigger asthmatic reactions in unsanitary living conditions. Secondly, cockroaches are a well-documented disease-carrier. Some of the pathogens cockroaches can potentially carry are Plant Pests And Diseases Identification Pdf shigella, streptococcus bacteria and E. coli. At their worst, cockroaches can carry multi-drug-resistant pathogens, which are nasty infections that are notoriously difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. Cockroaches can live almost anywhere near a viable food source, and since cockroaches eat any type of food, a full-bore cockroach infestation is very difficult to battle with store-bought pest-control chemicals alone.
Rodents
Mice and rats are unequivocally the most dangerous pest to have around friends and family during the holiday season. Rodents, in addition to acting as carriers for fleas and lice, can transmit the extremely virulent Hantavirus, one of the most dangerous viral infections on the planet. Reports from the CDC implicate contact with rodents and their droppings as the probable cause of several cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Rodents have the ability to mate and reproduce approximately every two months. Each litter can contain as many as nine rodent pups that can quickly turn one single nest into an infestation within a matter of weeks. In the wild, rodents make their nests in trees or in burrows in order to avoid predators. This information is particularly useful when investigating a rodent infestation, since attics and basements are common nesting locations inside of the home.
Pest Prevention Tips
– Cleanliness should be the first line of defense against a winter pest infestation.
– Proper food storage is essential to guarding against ants and cockroaches, so leftover food should never lay out uncovered or unrefrigerated for more than an hour.
– Poorly stored pet food is often one overlooked food source for rodents. This Garlic Mint Insect Spray can easily create a major infestation if not sealed and stored properly.
– Remove any debris from around the home. This can hide insect and rodent nests.
If homeowners don’t take serious actions to prevent pest infestations this holiday season, probably severe ant, cockroach and rodent problems will appear in the near future. If you already suspect of a pest infestation inside your home, it’s crucial to take care of it immediately by seeking the help of pest control professionals who can guarantee a bug-free household for you and your family this season.
Home