Your basement is the best environment for bugs because it is dark, damp and lightly inhabited. Although bugs may not be harmful, they do have a creep factor — most especially when you switch on the lights at night and immediately notice little creatures scurrying for cover.

An exterminator in Modesto says that the presence of too many spiders in your home is an indication that there lots of other bugs living with you because spiders naturally feed on smaller bugs.

Also, bugs survive thanks to constant moisture. Their presence in your basement could point to a serious problem with damp that could affect the integrity of your home.

Here are 5 basement bugs (which, luckily, are harmless) that indicate you have water problems in your home.

Mold Mites

With moisture comes mold, and that means you could also be harboring a colony of mold mites. These are tiny creatures that feed on your meats, cheeses, seeds, and nuts. Kill them by squashing them. But the only way to get rid of them completely is to prevent mold growth.

Silverfish

Otherwise known as fish moths, silverfish are nocturnal, silver-grey creatures that can grow up to an inch long. You might find them moving about in your empty bathtub as you wake up in the morning. Also, they can live on fabric, sugar, coffee, paper, clothing, and human hair.

It is pointless to kill them directly. Using a spray that can leave a residue is the only way to get rid of them.

Snow Bugs

Also known as woodlice, snow bugs are useful in your garden because they can generate compost as well as loosen up the soil. But when it is dry outside, they will invade a damp basement. Eliminating the moisture in your basement is the only way to exterminate them.

Centipedes

Centipedes are carnivorous and they come in all sizes and shapes. Keeping your house clean is your best defense. AAI Pest Control experts recommend stunning them with a rolled-up newspaper, catching them in a jar, and throwing them outside instead of killing them.

Earwigs

Earwigs are commonly found in rotting trees, but you can also find them in your damp basement. They are nocturnal and they eat varieties of plants and insects. If using poison is an unlikely option, you must keep rotting vegetation away from your house.

It is not easy to permanently eliminate insects in your house. But removing the source of moisture and hiring a reputable Modesto pest control company to help you can make your basement less hospitable for these little creatures and prevent them from further infesting your home. And if you are having a hard time fixing your damp basement, calling seasoned contractors is also a good step to take.