What Local Pests Can Damage Your Home?

Wilmington, NC is home to beautiful restaurants, homes, and attractions. But it's also home to plenty of pests that can cause damage to your property. Common pests in Wilmington include ants, termites, cockroaches, silverfish, rodents, and spiders. These pests can cause damage to both the interior and exterior of your home if not taken care of properly.

Termites

Termites are small, cream/white insects that live in large colonies. They have an elongated head and body, with six legs and two long antennae. Their wings may be visible when they swarm. They are most active in the spring and summer months and can cause significant damage to homes. These pests feed on wood, drywall, insulation, and other parts of your home, resulting in costly repairs. They are responsible for over $5 billion in damages to homes in the United States every year.

Termites feed on wood and other materials found in homes such as insulation and drywall. If left unchecked, these destructive insects can cause serious damage to your home’s structural integrity.

The best way to protect your home from termites is by scheduling regular inspections and pest control treatments with a qualified expert. Additionally, reducing excess moisture around the foundation of your home and making sure there are no wood-to-soil contact points can help mitigate the risk of a termite infestation.

Rodents

Rodents are estimated to cause 20%-25% of undetermined house fires. This is equal to $1 billion in damages every year. Rodents tend to chew on electrical wires and gas pipes to file down their teeth; this causes a perfect storm for a house fire.

Rodents chew on insulation, walls, and furniture, potentially leading to costly repairs. They also contaminate food sources with their droppings and urine which can spread diseases like salmonella and E. coli.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are large, robust insects with black and yellow stripes on their bodies. They have a shiny abdomen and a fuzzy thorax. They are often mistaken for bumblebees, although they lack the white markings that bumblebees possess.

Carpenter bees can be destructive to homes as they bore holes into wood to make their nests. These holes can weaken the structural integrity of wooden structures and result in costly repairs. Carpenter bees are also known to return to the same spot they nested in the previous year, making them even more destructive over time.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large, black ants that can range in size from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length. They have a two-segmented waist and three pairs of legs. Their antennae are bent, and their wings are clear with darker veins along the edges. Carpenter ants also have an oval shape when viewed from the top.

Carpenter ants can cause significant damage to homes. They build nests in wood, windows, and walls, which leads to structural weakening and rotting of the wooden frames. They may also tunnel through insulation and electrical wiring, resulting in further damage to a home’s structure. Carpenter ants also consume sweet substances such as honeydew from aphids and sugar from plants. This can lead to an infestation that is difficult to eradicate without professional help.

Powderpost Beetles

Powderpost beetles are small, ranging in size from 1/8th of an inch to 3/8ths of an inch long. They have a reddish-brown color with black or brown scales covering their wings. The larvae are creamy white and grub-like in appearance.

Powderpost beetles can cause severe structural damage to homes. They feed and lay their eggs in wood, which leads to extensive tunneling. This can weaken the wood, resulting in cracks and holes that weaken the home's structure. Additionally, powderpost beetles excrete fine powder-like dust from their bodies, which often discolors wood and can be difficult to clean up.

How To Prevent Pests From Entering Your Home

The best way to prevent pests from infesting your home is to keep them out in the first place. This can be done by sealing all entry points such as cracks and crevices around windows, doors, and other openings. Additionally, it is important to reduce moisture levels in wood to make it less attractive to insects. Finally, it is important to inspect any wood or furniture that comes into your home before bringing it inside, as these are great transport for pests.

Do I Need Professional Pest Control?

If your home has been infested with pests, it is recommended that you contact a professional pest control company to safely and effectively eliminate the problem. Professionals have access to products and equipment that homeowners do not, which makes them more effective at eradicating pests from the premises. They can also offer advice on preventative measures to take to ensure the problem does not reoccur.