Crushing Infestation Stereotypes

By Author: Josh Bloom
Total Articles: 4762
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Bug infestations can be one of most disgusting and wretched things to deal with. Taking into consideration that there are millions of different insects in the world, and many pose no threat and in fact are beneficial you will need to determine what you are dealing with if you are concerned that you have an infestation of any kind. Some of the more common bug problems that people face include ants, beetles, moths and cockroach infestations.

There are many reasons that insect infestations can occur but one of the most common reasons is poor and unsanitary conditions. Although beetles and moths can be annoying and a hassle to get rid of at times, at least they're not carriers of any harmful bacteria or diseases. Moths and beetles are usually attracted to food products, such as dry dog and cat food, dried fruits, pastas, cereals, nuts, and non-food items like fabrics and even tobacco. You can easily spot these critters that usually hide in pantries, closets and cabinets where these items are kept. Retail stores (especially ones with bulk foods) are more likely to see beetles such as the flour beetle, warehouse beetle, sawtooth ...
... grain beetle and the Indian meal beetle.

The nasty ones
However, when you are dealing with a nasty bug like the cockroach and you suspect you might have an infestation, you should take the situation very seriously. Cockroaches are known as one of the most common household pests. They are able to feed on human and pet food, leave behind an offensive odor, can trigger asthma attacks and are able to mechanically transport microbes on their bodies to humans - which can become potentially dangerous to the human body, especially in hospitals where patients are more venerable to infection and sickness. Cockroaches can also cause allergic reactions in because of various proteins and enzymes they deposit. Cockroaches are mainly nocturnal and tend to run at the sight of light. If there are sufficient numbers of them, they may not going to run because they have become accustomed to the environment in which they live and have taken "ownership."

One of the more common cockroaches in the U.S. is, oddly enough, called the German cockroach. These annoying little critters are usually found in restaurant settings and can live and thrive off of all types of food spills and water pools. Whether cockroaches, ants or anything else, there are certain steps to take in order to control and eliminate bug infestations of the home and work area and they include the following:

1. Check all food products on a regular basis for infestation.
2. Remove all of the infested products and dispose of them immediately.
3. Replace cardboard or store-bought boxes with heavy-duty plastic storage containers.
4. Keep all areas clean. And free of food debris.
5. Vacuum on a regular basis and wash cabinets and shelves with detergents.
6. Rotate and stock shelves on a regular basis.
7. With severe infestations, appropriate insecticides may need to be used with the help of a professional exterminator.
8. If you are coming home from an area that has a roach infestation, check to make sure that there are no egg casings before bringing anything from that area into your home or business.
9. Make sure that you seal or patch any holes in walls and place a sealant type caulk around any cracked pipes or surfaces.
10. Keep garbage and rubbish properly disposed of in containers with tight lids.
11. Keep your kitchen area clean of any food spills, grease, dirty dishes and debris. Remove any of these attractions promptly.
12. Keep kitchen counters and surfaces clean with the right cleaning and disinfectant products.
13. Remove any empty cardboard boxes, bottles and newspapers that might be cluttering up the yard, garage, patio or any inside area - even a laundry room or sun room, and even if they have doors.

Bottom line on bugs
The best way to avoid any type of bug infestation is to keep the environment that you live and work in clean and healthy. Unsanitary conditions are what attract most annoying bugs. The more food and clutter that you have around, the more chance that an infestation will begin to form and continue to thrive. The cleaner you keep any area, the less likely you will ever have to deal with an infestation. It is not uncommon to see a roach every now and then, especially if you live in an urban area where they are common or if you have a neighbor with an infestation. However, if you keep the area that you live in clean, they are less likely to set up residence. Moths and beetle infestations are usually not caused by unsanitary conditions, as they tend to be introduced with certain types of foods and fabrics. The best way to keep these guys away is to rotate stock and use common sense in order to repel them.

Bugs are a part of life but that does not mean that they should control your life. Getting rid of them, and then keeping them away, is an important part of maintaining a healthy home, family and lifestyle.
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For over 80 years Standard Pest.com has been setting higher standards in pest management. Our mission is to provide effective new york pest control services for our customers. In so doing, we aim to improve the quality of life of our clients, community, environment and employees.