Household Insects

Household insects are as numerous as the stars in the sky and can flourish anywhere, both in and around the house, wherever they can find food. Just because a household insect may be small, does not mean it is not dangerous.
At the very least it can be a nuisance. Though pesky little creatures, common household insects actually play an important part in our lives. Insects, like the honeybees, aid man just by getting their food – so it is import to know them by insect identification.

Common Household Insects

Unfortunately, many insects are extremely destructive and harmful. Houseflies, fleas and mosquitoes are quite annoying but also spread deadly diseases. Termites destroy the wood in a home. Carpet beetles, silverfish and moths feed on various textiles. Many insects can be both harmful and, at the same time, beneficial to the environment and to man. Bees, moths and flies help to pollinate plants and fruit trees. If all the bees, moths and flies were to be demolished, thousands of plant species would also disappear and orchards would cease to yield. The pollination they provide produces the new seeds from which new plants develop.

Flies are pests of major proportions, but they are helpful scavengers that remove waste material and decaying animals. Actually, ants serve the same purpose as flies, cleaning up the leftovers, so to speak. Spiders give most people the creeps and have a very bad reputation for death and disfiguration.

Actually, very few spiders are dangerous to man and their voracious appetite helps keep the population of insects under control. Not only do they feed ravenously on bugs we consider to be pests, but they, too, are below some animals, birds and fish on the food chain.

Insects in your house can include ants, bees, flies, lady bugs, spiders, mosquitoes, bedbugs, centipedes, roaches, beetles, gnats and crickets. Carpenter ants gnaw into wood to create their habitats, thereby damaging the structure. Termites create the same type of wood damage, but they actually eat the wood, leaving behind structures that are soft and spongy.

Bedbugs feed on human blood and are usually found in upholstered furniture, mattresses and behind damaged walls and wallpaper. Carpet beetles and clothes moths feed on clothing, hair, fur and wool fabrics such as carpeting. Cockroaches are typically nocturnal foragers that contaminate food items. House centipedes, though unattractive, are not dangerous to humans. Normally found in damp interiors, such as basements, they feed on other insects, but most people still consider them unwelcome in their home. An infestation of mosquitoes should be controlled. They can carry dreaded diseases such as malaria and encephalitis and they can transmit these diseases to humans through their bloodsucking bite.

Household Insects Identification

Insect identification is not always easy. You may have a reference book showing insects pictures, but may still not be sure what type of bug you have. This is understandable. Entomologists (zoological insect experts) have classified insects into more than thirty-five separate orders, according to their resemblances to each other in certain ways.

Each insect family or order has many varieties, often with vague differences in appearances, making it difficult for even the professional to rapidly identify insects in your house. For instance, there are many common species of bees, from the bumblebee, to the honeybee, wasp and yellow jacket. Bees are fairly easy to differentiate, but variances in other insects, especially small ones, can be much harder to detect. The descriptions within the classifications of the orders enable professionals to correctly provide household insects identification.

Household Insects Pictures

Insect pictures are a good way to educate yourself and your family. Most pictures of insects are clear but some may be so vague as to make insect identification difficult. Insect pictures found on the internet or in resource books can be helpful in identifying exactly what type of bug you have. You may want to actually print the picture to compare with the insect, preferably dead, but hopefully not flattened to the extent that identification is not possible. Insect repellent sprays for your household are a good way to kill a bug while keeping it intact for identifying.

Identify Household Insects

Since identifying insects can be difficult for the average person, there are helpful resources. If you cannot identify the pest using pictures of household insects from other sources, it may become necessary to obtain professional assistance. Not only can they identify the culprit, but they will also be able to recommend the best solution for safely ridding yourself of the pests.

Insects are a part of daily life that includes everything in existence on earth. They aid in the plant and animal life cycle by fertilizing flowers and plants that provide fruit and seeds. They often carry disease, but they are also beneficial because they provide food for fish and birds and other animals. Without them, our food supply would be diminished. To keep the  insects in your house at bay within the home requires good housekeeping practices. For instance, a flea’s worst enemy, within the home, is the vacuum cleaner. Not only does it suck up the errant fleas, but also the thousands of eggs and larvae produced by one lone female flea. If you determine that an insecticide will be necessary, be sure to read all instructions carefully to avoid contaminating the surroundings and harming people and pets. If you need help in identifying insects in your household or if an infestation is unmanageable, it is best to consult a professional.

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