Rodents. Ants. Termites. Roaches.

At some point in time, you might have dealt with these pests in your home, or at the very least, heard stories from people you know about the havoc wreaked by these unwanted house guests.

But what about occasional household pests like earwigs, centipedes, or pill bugs?

What exactly are occasional pests?

The term “occasional pests” refers to insects and arthropods that occasionally invade homes, causing damage to properties and a host of health problems plus other issues.

Unlike common household pests — say, for example, cockroaches and rodents — occasional pests prefer to live outdoors.

However, certain conditions spur these creatures to seek refuge inside homes, away from their natural habitat.

One such reason would be the changes in the habitat of these creatures, including the temperature. Some of these creatures venture into homes accidentally while foraging for food while others are attracted by bright lights.

Among the most common occasional pests that venture into homes are millipedes, centipedes, pill bugs, crickets, earwigs, clover mites, springtails, ground beetles, and boxelder bugs.

What’s the deal with occasional pests?

Unlike common household pests, most homeowners have a difficult time dealing with these creatures because of their limited experience and knowledge on these.

Like common household pests, occasional pests can cause a myriad of problems.

Some of these creatures can hurt your loved ones by biting or pinching. While some target household plants and fabrics while others can cause stains or emit foul odors.

Some occasional invaders have been known to cause health problems like asthma and allergies. Worse, when these pests die inside your home, they can still cause bigger problems.

Dealing with these pests

Generally speaking, occasional pests do not stay indoors for more than a few days, preferring to live outdoors. Usually, when the factors that drove them indoors have been resolved, these insects and arthropods will leave your home voluntarily.

Occasional pests prefer dark and damp environments and, according to an exterminator in Stockton, will typically seek out such areas inside homes like the crawlspaces or basements.

If you want to get rid of these creatures immediately, Stockton pest control experts recommend placing glue traps in the areas these insects and/or arthropods may be hiding. Alternatively, you can buy and use pesticide from your local store, but you must be careful in using this.

Prevention

The easiest way to prevent the entry of these unwanted guests into your home is to seal all potential entry points. For instance, foundation walls and windows with a variety of solutions. These solutions may include screens, caulk and hardware cloth.

Another way to prevent the entry of these pests into your home is to create a barrier between the main structure of your house and organic matter. This means ensuring that soil, plants, leaves, grass, and mulch are positioned at least two feet away from your house.