| Pest |
Where
They Are Found |
How
to Prevent/Get Rid of Them |
| Termites |
Wood
in direct contact with the soil; stored newspapers and
cardboard boxes; wood (e.g., tree stumps and construction
debris buried in backfill); fence posts; wall voids; porches. |
Break
wood-to-soil contact; remove scrap wood and paper debris;
improve drainage away from structure; inspect vapor barriers;
improve ventilation in crawl spaces. |
| Ants |
Water
damaged wood; fence posts; decking; firewood; door and
window voids; attics; utility piping; dead parts of trees
and stumps; tree branches contacting roof; kitchen cabinets;
wall voids; gaps under doors and around utility piping;
house plants; cracks in pavement; under landscape timbers,
rocks and mulch. |
Eliminate
conditions that favor moisture accumulation; move and
aerate firewood; remove dead trees, stumps and overhanging
branches contacting house as well as rotten railroad ties
in landscape; remove food sources; seal all cracks and
crevices; locate and eliminate nests; correct drainage
in house plants; seal cracks in pavement and concrete
slabs. |
| Cockroaches |
Kitchens;
grocery bags; un-refrigerated vegetables; toasters, radios
and TVs; bathrooms; electrical and plumbing conduits;
floor drains. |
Clean
up spilled foods and water; eliminate harborage and pathway
areas by sealing or screening; repair water leaks; increase
ventilation; inspect incoming foods and packaging. |
| Mice
& Rats |
Under
sinks; kitchen cabinets; stored food; storage areas; wall
voids; inside appliances; closets; firewood; attics; garages;
and basements. |
Install
physical barriers; eliminate food and water; remove nesting
sites; inspect incoming boxes. |
| Domestic
House Spiders |
Holes
or cracks in a structure; basements; crawl spaces; attics;
garages; basements; and outdoors in vegetation. |
Remove
or limit heavy, ground-covering vegetation; seal cracks
and holes in building exteriors; install tight-fitting
screens on all attic and foundation vents; seal holes
around pipes indoors to prevent spiders from entering
the home along plumbing lines in basements or crawl spaces. |
| Scorpions |
Under
or inside something like a baseboard, a shoe, or a rug.
Sometimes fall into a sink or bathtub during night hunting.
Can crawl up masonry, rough wood or plaster, such as in
wall voids, and may hide under or near air conditioning
ducts in attics. |
Seal
entrance points to house; place physical barriers (like
double-stick tape) across or below all cracks or openings. |
| Flying
Insects |
Garbage;
faulty plumbing; eaves; attics; light fixtures; wall voids;
puddles of water and other moist areas. |
Install
or repair screens; change lighting; improve drainage;
remove garbage daily; keep trashcans clean and tightly
covered; repair cracks around siding, windows and doors. |
| Pantry/Fabric
Pests |
Flour;
potpourri; spices; cereals; rice; beans; dry pet food;
stored clothing; woolen rugs. |
Inspect
foods and packaging prior to storage; store foods in glass/plastic
containers; clean up spilled foods; rotate dry goods;
store only clean cloths. |