Arthropods are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. This diverse group includes insects, arachnids like spiders and mites, and myriapods such as centipedes. An infestation occurs when these creatures appear in large, unwanted numbers, creating a nuisance, causing property damage, or presenting health risks. This becomes a problem when their population is too large to manage through simple means.
Common Infesting Arthropods
Arthropods that infest human environments can be grouped by the problems they cause. Household pests are a frequent issue, including cockroaches, which are nocturnal and hide in dark, moist areas, and ants that create chemical trails to food. Bed bugs are another pest, known for hiding in cracks and crevices close to where humans sleep to feed on their blood at night.
Wood-destroying pests represent a threat to a building’s structural integrity. Termites consume cellulose, the primary component of wood, often causing extensive damage from within walls and floors that goes unnoticed. Carpenter ants do not eat wood but excavate it to create galleries for their nests, leaving behind a sawdust-like material called frass. Their presence indicates a moisture problem, as they prefer to nest in damp or decaying wood.
A third group consists of parasitic arthropods that rely on a host for survival. Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds, with pets being a common vector for bringing them into a home. Ticks are arachnids that also feed on blood and are known for transmitting diseases, attaching to hosts in wooded or grassy areas. Scabies mites are microscopic arachnids that burrow into human skin, causing intense itching and a rash.
Identifying an Infestation
Confirming an arthropod problem involves looking for signs beyond a single bug. One of the most direct indicators is the repeated sighting of arthropods, either dead or alive. Seeing nocturnal insects like cockroaches during the day can suggest a large population competing for resources.
Physical evidence left behind by pests is a reliable sign of their presence. This includes their droppings, which vary from the small, pepper-like specks of cockroaches to larger pellets. Many arthropods shed their exoskeletons as they grow, leaving behind cast skins. Finding egg casings in sheltered locations like behind furniture also confirms reproductive activity.
Damage to property is another clear indicator of an infestation. This can manifest as gnaw marks on food packaging, baseboards, or electrical wiring. Some insects damage fabrics, leaving behind small holes in clothing or upholstery. For wood-destroying insects, evidence might include hollow-sounding wood, sagging floors, or the appearance of fine sawdust.
Unusual sensory cues can also point to a hidden infestation. A persistent, unexplained odor may be present, such as the musty smell associated with a large cockroach population. Some infestations create distinct sounds, like faint clicking or rustling noises from within walls, which are more noticeable at night. In dusty areas, you might notice faint tracks or trails, revealing the paths pests use.
Factors Contributing to Infestations
The presence of an arthropod infestation is often the result of conditions that attract them. A primary attractant is an available food source. Crumbs on floors, unsealed food containers, leftover pet food, and poorly secured garbage cans provide a reliable buffet for many pests, encouraging them to multiply.
Consistent access to water is another powerful draw for many arthropod species. Leaky faucets, dripping pipes, and areas with poor ventilation that lead to high humidity create an ideal environment for pests. Standing water in or around a property, from over-watered plants to blocked gutters, can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.
Arthropods require safe places to hide and reproduce, known as harborage. Clutter, such as stacks of newspapers, cardboard boxes, or piles of clothing, offers many hiding spots. Outside, dense vegetation, unraked leaves, and woodpiles close to a building’s foundation provide shelter and a bridge for pests to move indoors.
Pests must have a way to get inside, and even small openings can serve as an entry point. Cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, torn screens, and openings where utility lines enter the building are all potential access points. Some pests can be unknowingly carried inside on firewood, grocery bags, or used furniture.
Management and Control Strategies
When facing an active infestation, a structured approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is effective. This strategy combines different methods to achieve long-term control, starting with the least invasive options. It focuses on understanding the pest’s life cycle and habits to implement targeted and sustainable solutions.
Physical and mechanical controls are direct interventions to remove or block pests. This includes using traps, such as sticky traps for crawling insects or baited traps for cockroaches and ants, to monitor and reduce pest numbers. A vacuum cleaner can be a useful tool for quickly removing a visible cluster of pests. For specific items, heat or cold treatments can eliminate pests like bed bugs from infested clothing or furniture.
Chemical controls involve the use of insecticides, which are available in formulations like sprays, dusts, baits, and fogs. When using these products, it is important to read and follow the label directions carefully for safe application. Baits are a preferred method for social insects like ants and cockroaches, as pests carry the toxicant back to the colony, helping to eliminate the source.
In some situations, professional intervention is the most sensible course of action. If an infestation is widespread, involves a pest that poses a health risk, or is caused by a structurally damaging organism like termites, a licensed pest control professional has the expertise and equipment to handle the problem. They can accurately identify the pest, determine the extent of the issue, and apply treatments that may not be available to the public.
Preventative Measures
Long-term prevention focuses on making a property less inviting to arthropods. A primary strategy is exclusion, which involves sealing potential entry points to deny pests access. This can be done by using caulk to fill cracks in the foundation and around window frames, installing weather stripping on doors, and repairing holes in screens.
Proper sanitation is fundamental to preventing infestations by removing the resources pests need.
- Store food, including pet food, in airtight containers made of glass or hard plastic.
- Clean up spills and crumbs promptly, and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- Regularly empty indoor trash cans.
- Ensure outdoor garbage bins have tight-fitting lids to keep pests out.
Modifying the environment both inside and outside the home can reduce the risk of infestation. Indoors, reduce clutter by organizing storage areas and recycling old boxes and papers. Use a dehumidifier in damp basements or crawl spaces to control moisture. Outdoors, trim tree branches and shrubs so they do not touch the house, and maintain a clear space around the foundation.