Have you ever stopped to consider there might be pests living inside your walls? To be honest, it’s not really top of mind for most homeowners but maybe it should be. The reality is, the presence of insects in the walls could lead to serious problems right away or even down the road. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the more common wall-infesting pests and what you should do to protect your home and family from them.
Carpenter ants
Let’s start with a wood-destroying insect – the carpenter ant. These large black ants are a common pest problem in New Jersey homes but may avoid attention as they often nest out of sight in wall voids and other unobtrusive parts of the house, especially in areas that are damp or that have water damage. Capable of causing both minor cosmetic issues and more extensive damage over time, carpenter ants are not pests you want within ten feet of your home.
Termites
Moving on to another wood-destroying pest, let’s talk about termites. Although these insects establish colonies in the soil, they will infest homes, traveling through mud tubes that prevent air and predators from harming them. Once inside the home and walls, these pests will start eating away at the wood that has been damaged by water but may also move on to sound wood. The end result, if left untreated, is significant and costly termite damage that most homeowners insurance plans won’t cover.
Lady bugs, box elder bugs & other overwintering pests
In New Jersey, there is a group of pests that spend the majority of their time outside but will move indoors when the cold weather sets in. Called overwintering pests, it includes, but is not limited to lady bugs, box elder bugs, and stink bugs. Although these insects take up residence in the walls and other parts of the home, they do not cause damage. Still, they’re bugs in the walls and who wants that?
Let’s not forget about rodents in the walls too
Though they’re not bugs, mice and rats sure are pests that infest walls, and are destructive ones at that. While they don’t necessarily nest just in wall voids, they do use those open spaces to travel from their nesting sites to potential food sources in houses. Rodent infestations are never a good thing and in fact, can jeopardize health, damage belongings, and cause extensive damage to the structure of the home. They can also create fire hazards when they chew on electrical wires.
How to keep insects & rodents out of the walls
Here at Arrow Pest Control, we’re celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. As you can imagine, over the years we’ve dealt with a lot of pest problems inside walls and know a thing or two about keeping them out. To prevent pest activity in walls, we recommend:
- Sealing any openings on the exterior that pests might be using to get inside
- Replacing bulkhead doors that are rotting or otherwise damaged
- Trim back any trees, shrubs, or other landscaping elements that touch the house
- Remove dense overgrowth
- Pick up animal waste and other debris that attract pests
- Eliminate standing water
- Harvest gardens and pick up any fruit that has fallen off trees
- Keep your kitchen spic and span
- Fix moisture problems indoors
- Replace water-damaged wood
Call an exterminator at the first sign of a problem
If you’re concerned that your walls are harboring insects and/or rodents, contact Arrow Pest Control right away. Our locally owned and family-operated pest control company offers home pest control services in Tenafly, Paramus, and Edison as well as throughout our multi-county service that offers year-round pest protection! Check out our residential plans and pricing below or simply give us a shout to discuss your pest problem(s).
