Dealing with pests can be difficult for any homeowner and can even endanger your family and property. Whether you’re dealing with termites, ants, cockroaches, or rodents, you must be aware of the warning signs that indicate an infestation that requires immediate attention.
Certain pests, such as termites and rodents, can cause significant damage to your property if left unchecked. Other pests that roam freely around your property can be hazardous to your health.
If you want to effectively deal with a possible pest infestation in your home, calling in professionals is the best decision. As a starting point, you can learn more about pest control services by checking out reliable providers such as Pest Ex Pest Control in Brisbane and others. If you intend to deal with the pest problem, it can be costly and time-consuming, with no guarantee of complete elimination.
If you want to ensure a pest-free property, here are the signs that you should call professional pest control services for effective removal.
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Droppings On Your Property
The most obvious indication that you have pests in your home is the presence of animal droppings. Rodents, cockroaches, and termites are examples of pests that commonly leave droppings near the area of infestation.
Rats or mice droppings are typically dark-colored pellets that emit a strong odor. Because these droppings are likely to contain disease and bacteria, it’s critical to contact a professional pest control service as soon as possible.
Termite droppings are similar to rodent droppings in appearance and odor, but they resemble smaller pellets with a grainy appearance that vary in color, depending on their diet.
Cockroach droppings, are usually black or brown cylindrical pellets that lack odor. The majority of people will probably mistake the droppings for coffee grounds.
- Damage To Property
A pest infestation on your property can cause significant damage to your home. Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing can be an expensive ordeal.
When dealing with pests, it’s best to schedule routine professional inspections for any pest-related damage such as gnawed furniture, holes, and damage to electrical wiring and baseboards.
Unfortunately, major signs of damage usually means that the infestation has been present for some time, and there may be other instances of property damage that probably remain unnoticed.
A common example of pest-related damage is hollowed-out wood frames in doors, which is a dead giveaway for termites. Termites are also known for creating “mud tubes” that run along surfaces that they can’t usually chew through (such as concrete walls).
- Unusual Sounds
If your property has a significant pest infestation of rats or mice, they’ll most likely be active at night when human activity is low. You’ll probably notice unusual sounds at night, such as squeaking, scratching, or scurrying in the ceiling or underneath the floorboards.
- Leftover Exoskeletons And Wings
Cockroach on toothbrush and toothpaste
When some pests molt, they discard wings or exoskeletons. Winged pests such as termites and ants will also regularly shed their wings. Termite wings have a distinct prismatic finish that, from a distance, looks strikingly similar to fish scales.
Ticks and cockroaches are likely to shed their exoskeletons several times throughout their life cycle of an infestation. Keep an eye out for these hollowed-out husks, which are usually found under the kitchen sink and other dark spots in the house.
- Pets Are Exhibiting Erratic Behavior
If you have pets, they’ll usually be the first to notice when pests are present. Once rodents have established themselves in your home, cats become vigilant and try to seek out mice and rats if they are present in your home. The same is true for cockroaches, but you have to make sure that your cats don’t ingest these pests as they carry bacteria and, in some cases, have already ingested pesticides that can harm your cat. For a tick infestation or other instances of parasitic pest infestations, you’ll notice that your pets are constantly scratching due to the itchy sensation caused by tick and flea bites.
- Visible Bite Marks
Pests can wreak havoc on your food and other perishables. Rodents chew through almost anything to get to the food, including food packaging, while flies can lay maggots that can ruin both raw and cooked food left in the kitchen for some time.
If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, carefully inspect the pantry, cupboards, bins, or any boxes that hold food items. If you find bite marks on the packaging or the food itself, you have a pest issue that requires the expertise of a professional.
- Numerous Pest Sightings On Your Property
The sure-fire indication of a pest infestation in your home is finding pests with your own eyes. Although a single encounter is not alarming, finding pests in various parts of your home is a major cause for concern, as it indicates that your home is a haven for unwanted pests.
Final Thoughts
A pest infestation on your property can be a bothersome ordeal. With this in mind, maintaining cleanliness plays a crucial role in preventing pests. Sadly, even meticulous homeowners could still end up dealing with pests at some point. Depending on the type of pests you encounter in your home, you should seek professional pest control services to deal with any infestation efficiently.
