common garden pests

Common Garden Pests That May Also Invade Your Home

Are you experiencing a pest problem in your home? You aren’t alone, as millions of homeowners across the United States regularly battle with unwelcome pests in their homes. According to Census data, for example, 14 million homeowners in the country reported seeing cockroaches in their homes in the past 12 months, along with nearly 15 million who reported seeing rodents.

St. Louis is no different than other parts of the country when it comes to pests. Many “outdoor” pests that live in our gardens may also seek shelter within our homes. When that happens, it’s important to take quick action to eradicate the problem and reduce the risk of damage and health issues.

In this blog post, we’ll look at common garden pests that may also invade your home, including flying pests and crawling pests. If you are wondering what pests you should watch out for in St. Louis, keep reading.

Rats and Mice

There are many reasons why rodents such as rats and mice like to live in gardens. Urban gardens provide safety, water, and food. Rodents love to burrow into earthen space that is close to food and make their nests, which is why gardens are such a popular option for them.

There are also a number of reasons why rodents may enter a home—the two main reasons being shelter and food. During the colder winter months, rodents seek shelter indoors so they can avoid the worst of the cold. If you aren’t careful tidying up wood waste on the floor or other surfaces of your home, this can also attract rodents to enter.  

Rodents carry many diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, and Salmonella. If you find that you have rodents visiting or residing within your home, it’s important that you hire an experienced pest control company near you.

Termites

600,000 homes in the United States are damaged by termites every single year, causing $5 billion in repair costs and prevention efforts. They are a highly destructive pest that can easily infest both our gardens and our homes.

Termites are attracted to gardens because they serve as a good source of food. They love to feed on cellulose, a component of plants, shrubs, and trees, as well as plant roots.

Termites are also known to come inside the home, attracted to wood as well as moisture. Gaps in the foundation, wood touching the house, and excessive moisture all incentive termites to enter a home.

The best way to deal with a termite problem on your property, whether in the garden or the home itself, is to hire a pest control company.

Spiders 

Arachnophobia is the intense fear of spiders. Millions of people in the United States have arachnophobia, making it one of the most common phobias.

However, the reality is that spiders in the garden can be considered beneficial insects. They can actually help to improve the overall health of your garden. Just some of the pests that spiders in the garden eat include wasps, aphids, mosquitoes, caterpillars, flea beetles, and spider mites.

Spiders, however, are also prone to entering the home. As with other pests, they do so in order to fulfill basic needs, including shelter, water, and food. Spider bites can be dangerous and cause severe health issues, while—as we have noted—their very presence can strike fear and panic into people.

If you have spiders in your home, our expert team can help.

Bald-Faced Hornets

Bald-faced hornets are a type of stinging insect. Despite their name, they are not true hornets but rather a species of yellowjacket wasp. These striking insects are known for their distinct black and white coloration, with a predominantly black body and white markings on their face and abdomen.

They are known for their aggressive nature when their nests are disturbed, and they can deliver painful stings. They are attracted to residential properties for a number of reasons, including when there is a water source available on the property. 

While they typically build their nests outdoors, usually in trees, shrubs, or other elevated locations, it’s not uncommon for these hornets to accidentally find their way indoors. This may occur when there are gaps or openings in windows, doors, or other entry points that allow them to enter a building.

Given their aggressive nature, it’s important to hire a professional pest control service to safely remove them from your property.

Ants

It’s estimated that there are around 20 quadrillion ants in the world (that’s around 20 million billion!). Ants commonly live in gardens, where they find a suitable habitat thanks to the variety of food sources, such as fallen fruits and plant nectar. They also like to build nests in the soil, leaf litter, or under rocks in garden beds.

Ants may enter houses for several reasons. These include food, water, shelter, nesting sites, and scent trails. For example, in terms of food, if ants discover accessible food in or around a house, such as crumbs, spills, or improperly stored food, they will follow scent trails to find these food sources.

There are a number of steps that homeowners can take to prevent ants from entering their homes, such as practicing good sanitation and addressing water leaks. To address an ant infestation, it’s best to leave this job to the professionals and contact a pest control company.

Cockroaches

While cockroaches are generally associated with indoor environments, there are some species that can be found in gardens and outdoor areas. These species, which include the American cockroach and the Smokybrown cockroach, are well-adapted to living in outdoor habitats.

These cockroaches generally do not infest homes in the same way as indoor cockroaches. However, if garden conditions are favorable and located near a building, they may occasionally enter indoors in search of food or shelter.

The best way to minimize the chances of encountering cockroaches in outdoor spaces is to practice proper garden maintenance. This includes sealing entry points into homes, removing excess organic debris, and reducing moisture sources. 

Ladybugs

As with spiders, there are benefits to having ladybugs in your garden. They have a voracious appetite for garden pests such as aphids, mites, and other unwelcome insects which can cause damage to plants.

As with other insects on this list, ladybugs primarily inhabit outdoor environments though they can occasionally find their way inside homes. This is especially true during the colder fall and winter months when they can seek warmth and shelter inside people’s homes.

Generally speaking, ladybugs inside the home are harmless. They do not pose a significant risk to human health or property. However, as with other insects, their presence can be an annoyance, especially if they are present in large numbers. 

Some of the above-mentioned tips can help you to reduce the likelihood of seeing ladybugs in your home. These include sealing cracks, gaps, and other potential entry points.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are another example of an outdoor pest in St. Louis that can occasionally enter homes through gaps or openings. These solitary bees are typically attracted to untreated or unpainted wood that is weathered and easy to burrow into.

While they are important pollinators and can play a beneficial role in gardens, their behavior can also be problematic. For example, their tunneling behavior can sometimes result in damage to wooden structures.

Generally, carpenter bees only unintentionally enter into indoor space and will seek an exit if given the opportunity. Still, if you are experiencing an issue with carpenter bees, whether in your garden or within your home, it’s best to contact a professional pest control company to quickly deal with the issue.

Paper Wasps

More than half of American adults (52%) say that they have been bitten by a wasp at some point in their lives. Only bees and mosquitos have stung or bitten a greater percentage of people in the U.S.

A common outdoor pest in St. Louis is the paper wasp. They are commonly found in gardens and are known for building distinctive paper-like nests, hence their name. Once again, paper wasps can be considered a beneficial insect in the garden, given that they are predators of other pests like caterpillars, flies, and spiders.

It is not common for paper wasps to establish nests inside homes, though they may occasionally enter homes through openings. As with other species of wasps, it’s best to approach them with caution if you encounter them indoors. It’s best to contact a pest control company to assess the situation and implement appropriate measures.

Common Garden Pests That May Invade Your Home

Around 55% of households in the U.S. have a garden. There are, of course, many great benefits to having a garden, however, there is also a risk of common garden pests will also find their way into indoor spaces. This can result in pest damage and health risks.

Here in St. Louis, your premier choice for professional pest control is Amco Ranger. Contact our team today for a free inspection and learn more about the types of pests that can enter your home from the garden.