Have you ever heard something about pests that sound too strange to be true? Well it might actually be a myth. Check out this article to learn more about some common myths about household pests.
Cats will help keep the mice away:
Cats are not pest control technicians and cannot effectively keep mice populations down or combat them on your property. Cats might catch one mouse, but they will not be able to handle an infestation. Domestic cats are regularly fed and they tend to utilize less of their hunter instinct, so they might not be interested in the mouse or mice. Additionally, it is not good for the cats to catch mice, because mice carry bacteria and can transmit viruses and diseases that can make your cat sick. If there are mice in your home, you will need to have a professional pest control company come out and do rodent treatments.
Bed bugs only live in dirty homes and beds:
Bed bugs are nuisance pests that will cause itchy bites. People often think that bed bugs are prone to appearing in dirty homes and beds, however that is not always the case. Bed bugs will go wherever they can whether it is a clean or dirty home because they are drawn to anywhere they have access to blood. Most people think that bed bugs can’t be seen, but they actually can. Some signs of bed bugs are itchy spots or bites on the face, neck, hands and arms, brown droppings and blood stains in the sheets and bed linens and seeing the bed bugs. Some places that are more prone to bed bug activity are hotels, motels and public transportation.
People will bring bed bugs home with them from trips or vacation. Some things you can do to prevent bed bug activity are to wash your clothes in hot water when you return from trips, check your luggage and make sure to keep your home tidy. If there are bed bugs in your home, you will need to have them exterminated. Summit Pest Control provides bed bug treatments in Fairfax, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia.
Fleas need a host to survive:
Fleas can actually survive several days without a host and their eggs and larvae can survive even longer, it is believed that flea pupae can live up to 100 days without a food source. Fleas will feed off of pets and also people.. Some signs of fleas in your home are seeing their skin, seeing bites or your pets scratching more. When there are fleas in the home, you will need to have pest control treatments for fleas. The only way to effectively treat fleas is to hire a professional pest company. For more information about fleas or to schedule an inspection for your home, give us a call.
Moths can damage clothing:
Moth larvae can damage clothing but adult moths cannot. The larvae are known for eating away at cloth material and can in fact damage clothing. However the moths, we know, the ones that fly are not capable of damaging fabrics. Cotton and wool are fan favorites of the larvae. It is important to store your clothing properly and inspect it for larvae or other pests. In addition to biting clothing, moth larvae can also bite people and may cause skin irritation. It is important to keep moths and their larvae out of your home.
You swallow several spiders every year while you sleep:
There is a myth that people can swallow up to four live spiders in their sleep every year. This is very unlikely that you will ever swallow a spider in your lifetime. If there are spiders in your home however, it is important to have them controlled by a pest control company. Spiders are helpful for controlling other pest populations like flies and mosquitoes but there are also venomous species that can be a health and safety concern for you and members of your household.
Wasps will not sting unprovoked:
Wasps are actually aggressive and will sting whether you leave them alone or not. If there are wasps or other stinging insects in your yard or on your property, you will need to hire a professional pest control company for wasp nest removal and prevention and wasp treatments for your home.
Only people with filthy homes have pest problems:
Pest affects all of us regardless of the state of cleanliness of our home. If you have pests in your home, it has nothing to do with you personally or your habits. Pests can get into homes in a variety of different ways. Summit offers pest control services and exclusions to prevent them from coming back in the future.
Cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast:
Cockroaches can handle large amounts of radiation, however they are not invincible. Additionally, not all cockroaches are created equally and some species are more resilient than others. Cockroaches are very difficult to control but just like they can handle large amounts of radiation, they can also handle a large amount of pesticides and some are ineffective. Professional pest control companies however have the necessary supplies and resources to combat a roach infestation effectively.
All bees die after stinging:
Not all bees actually sting and those that do, not all of them die after they sting. In fact there is only one species of bee that will actually die after stinging and that is the honey bee. Female honey bees can sting and when they do their stinger comes out and it is attached to their digestive tract so it will kill them. If there are honey bees on your property, you will need to hire a professional beekeeper to remove them. If you have other bees, wasps, hornets or stinging insects, feel free to call Summit Pest Control and schedule a free estimate.
Did you think any of these myths were actually true? There are other pest myths but these were some of the most common. Let us know what pest myths you have heard.
In addition to pest control services, we offer wildlife removal and trapping, waterproofing, insulation and crawl space services. Give us a call and schedule an inspection for your home in Northern Virginia today. Contact us at 703-884-2124 or fill out our contact form.
