Pest control involves a number of different services to help remove and prevent many varying pests and rodents, making pest control open to a lot of false information and beliefs. While some of these stories and ideas are extremely farfetched and outrageous, others are much more convincing. We are going to help you determine if the things you have heard about pest control are true or false. Let’s review some pest control myths that we have heard most often.
Pest Control Myths
A myth is a popular belief or tradition that has been told and passed along to someone, which is actually false. Being familiar with common pest control myths, can help you prevent a pest or rodent infestation in your Arizona home. Pests and rodents can carry disease, cause damage to your home and property, and make your family feel unsafe, making it important to know how to identify an infestation and remove and/or prevent the threat.
We are going to help you identify some pest control myths and whether they are true or false.
- Pests and rodents will go away on their own. FALSE. While we may all want this myth to be true, it unfortunately is not. If you have signs of pests and rodents, in your Arizona home, they have likely moved in for the long term. These nuisances took up residence within your home for a reason and will not want to leave. Keep in mind, many pests and rodents reproduce rapidly and even a small infestation can grow extremely quickly. With most infestations being well established before they are noticed and/or any damage is detected, if you have indications that you are not alone in your Phoenix or Tucson home, you will want to contact a pest control company as soon as possible to help you take back control of the situation.
- Having a clean home keeps pests and rodents away. FALSE. While cleaning up food, clutter, and other items, can help to lower your chances of having pests and rodents, it doesn’t fully eliminate the threat. When pests and rodents come inside, they usually aren’t looking for dirt and grim, they are looking for three basic things: food, water, and shelter, and those can usually be found in both clean and dirty houses. In reality, even the tidiest spaces can fall victim to invasion by these unwanted critters, especially if the outside conditions are less than desirable for them.
- Pets keep away the pests. FALSE. Having pets can actually attract more pests to your home, because they can carry fleas and other unwanted bugs into your home, and their left over food and water can attract hungry scavengers. Another myth connected to this one is that pets will hunt out pests and rodents. While that may be true in some cases, for the most part, domesticated pets are unmotivated to hunt out pests and rodents as a food source, since they are well nourished and taken care of.
- Most pests and rodents won’t bite a human or pet unless provoked. TRUE. Most pests and rodents are not aggressive and will only bite or sting a human or pet if they feel startled or provoked. While some pests, such as bed bugs, may bite without being triggered, the majority of them do not. Keep in mind, these critters like to hide in dark corners, so be careful when going through clutter and areas of your home where they are more likely to be. If you come across an unwelcome visitor contact a pest control professional to help you alleviate the situation and to avoid any chance of harm.
- Mice are attracted to cheese. FALSE. This may be mind-blowing since we have all seen the cartoons before, and while it makes for good television, cheese is actually not a mouse’s favorite food. Mice will eat just about everything; however, tests have shown, that mice actually prefer sweeter foods that are high in carbohydrates. Mice prefer things like peanut butter, candy, honey, or dried fruit. Having things like candy wrappers around, which may contain crumbs and smell sweet, can attract mice into your home.
- Termites can’t and won’t damage a home with a concrete or brick slab. FALSE. This myth is true in that termites do not eat concrete or brick; however, structures with concrete or brick slabs are not immune from termite problems, as they will try to make their way in if they want to. The structure behind your concrete slab and the brick exterior is made of wood. Termites have no trouble finding their way over the brick and concrete and into the wood, which can cause significant damage to the structure.
- Bed bugs only come out in the dark and when people are sleeping. FALSE. One of the most common myths surrounding bed bugs is that they come out only in the dark, so if you keep a space bright and well lit, you won’t be bitten or have an infestation. Unfortunately, that is not true. According to the EPA, bed bugs do prefer darkness, but keeping lights on won’t stop them from infesting your home and biting you and your family.
- If there is one pest or rodent, there is likely more. TRUE. As mentioned, pests and rodents reproduce quickly, so if you see one, there is almost always a larger infestation. The truth is, most people don’t realize that they have a pest or rodent issue until it has grown in size, making the problem noticeable.
By knowing pest control myths, you can help prevent and/or stop a pest and rodent infestation in your Phoenix or Tucson home. At Bucksworth Home Services we are here to help with all of your pest control needs and to help you protect your home and family.
Are you unsure of what to do when pests show up? Do you have pests around your home that keep coming back? Are you dealing with termites, mice, cockroaches, scorpions, spiders, bed bugs, or another pest? Pest control can help you protect your Arizona home and family. Pest control is a process wherein one eliminates or manages unwanted creatures like pests. Eliminating and keeping these undesirable pests and rodents out of your home is important because these unwelcome visitors can cause health issues for your family and create property damage.
Contact us to learn more or to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you take the first step to protect your home and your time.