Advice On Preventing Winter Insects

Many insects live and thrive in dark, damp places. These areas are effective hiding nooks. They’re also perfect breeding grounds for mold, mildew, algae and bacteria, which are food sources for many of these creatures.

So don’t be surprised if you discover silverfish or a centipede hanging out within the folds of a damp towel you left in the corner some week back – for those insects, that towel is an easy source of both food and shelter.

Other places and conditions that offer the right mix of moisture and lack of light for various house bugs:

– High-humidity areas

– Water leaks, moisture and ventilation problems

– Wet or damp clothing left unattended for some time

– Basements and other dark rooms without proper ventilation

If you have these areas and conditions in your home, watch out for the following insects that love damp, dark places:

Silverfish

A constant annoyance among (human) bookworms, silverfish eat paper and other objects with polysaccharides. Thus, they also feed on glue, sugar, clothing, hair and dandruff. They’ll also feast on synthetic fibers, dead insects and the very exoskeletons they regularly shed. They don’t bite humans, but they can cause damage to belongings. While they may seem like champion snackers, silverfish can also live without food for a year or more.

Centipede

These creatures with a hundred feet eat meat – their pincer-like appendages may be tiny, but they can be venomous. They like eating silverfish, but are also known to bite humans. Their bites can cause serious pain, swelling and redness. Bathrooms and basements are their favorite hangouts.

Booklice

As their name suggests, booklice are winter insects that love to burrow inside the pages of books, especially those that have been left untouched for a long time. The glue, leather, paper and bindings of old books attract the growth of mold and mildew, making your favorite classics the preferred home and food of booklice.

Woodlice

Another popular name for this insect is armadillo bug, which describes its appearance. Outside the house, such as in the garden, they’re actually useful because decaying organic matter is their chosen breeding and living spot. Damp is important to them because it assists them in breathing.

To reduce the presence of damp- and dark-loving insects in your home, the following can help:

– Keep your surroundings clean. Don’t forget to completely sanitize the nooks and crannies that don’t receive much sunlight.

– If you have a moisture problem in your home, have it checked and addressed by a professional.

– Improve your insulation and ventilation system.

– Establish the optimal air cooling and heating control for each room in your house.

If you are experiencing an infestation of winter insects, call your trusted Modesto pest control company to finally get rid of these problem pests for the long term.