When you have pests in your home, it sometimes seems that keeping their numbers under control is a never-ending battle. It's tempting to wonder what would happen if you simply stopped fighting them. However, if you let pests invade your home, you are setting yourself up for a number of losses, from your health to your home.
Here are some of the harmful effects of pests.
Disease
Fleas, cockroaches mosquitoes and rats are all common vectors of disease, as are many other insects and rodents. Insects can be vectors of Lyme disease, strep throat, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, salmonella, malaria, dengue fever and more. Mosquitoes, in particular, can carry diseases such as West Nile virus or Zika virus. Rodents, including bats, can carry plague, hantavirus and several other extremely serious diseases. Rats and large mammals can carry rabies. Not only can these types of pest house can carry diseases, but they can also transmit them to your beloved animal companions inside and outside the home.
Some people experience severe strep problems when flea-laden desert sand was brought near their home. The sand being intended to fill a sandbox. The cat in the house transferred the fleas from the sandbox to the house, where family members were bitten. Disease is not the only threat that pests pose to humans. Many rodents and insects can cause allergies and some have toxic venom that can injure and sometimes kill people.
Allergies and venom
Allergens are another problem. Pests can carry allergens into the home. Their droppings can also cause allergic reactions and their runny skin can pollute your indoor air. Dust mite dander and droppings are among the most common indoor allergens.
However, other pests can also cause allergic reactions. Black widows and brown recluse spiders are two venomous spiders whose bites can cause significant health problems or even death if left untreated. Insects such as wasps, hornets and bees can also sting, which can cause a severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction in humans.
Damage to the home
Bugs can also cause structural damage to your home. If you have a wooden structure in your home that is not treated for insects and these pests take over, you will quickly find yourself paying high repair costs. Mice and other rodents often chew through electrical wires, causing short circuits that can start fires in your home.
Keep in mind the level of destruction and damage caused by pests in your life. Termites are another serious problem when it comes to structural damage, especially since they are attracted to damp environments. They live and feed on cellulose (which is found in wood), and can be a serious problem for primarily wood homes. Termite damage costs homeowners an estimated five billion euros each year. It is estimated that these annoying bugs affect 600,000 homes and the average price to repair termite damage is €3,300. Think about how much damage they can cause if they are allowed to reign freely in your home and the cost of repair.
