Like many other homeowners, you likely think of your home as your safe haven. There could be creepy crawlies lurking outside but you want to keep them as far away from your home as possible.

Unfortunately, with no action plan on how to address them, that could be wishful thinking. Due to their never-ending search for food, water, and shelter, pests are known to venture out of their natural habitats and make their way into homes as unwelcome guests.

Of course, some pests are more likely to make their way into homes than others. To give you a stronger sense of what you’re dealing with, we’ve rounded up a list of the 7 most common pests in Virginia so that you can look into pest control in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA and prepare to get rid of them.

Common Household Pests in Virginia

Of the various pests that you might come into contact with, these are 7 of the most likely to make their way into your home.

1. Ants

In the United States alone, there are more than 700 species of ants. For the most part, ants don’t bother people unless they make their way into your home or you have an infestation in your yard or around the foundation of your home.

When this happens, they can start to multiply and become an issue. Odorous House Ants often build colonies near the foundation of homes and can number up to 100,000 or more ants with thousands of queens. This problem will only continue to worsen, hence the need for ongoing reduction through a Perimeter Pest Defense program.

2. Centipedes

These slender pests appear to have hundreds of long, thin, legs bursting from all around their bodies. For this reason, they have been given the exaggerated nickname “thousand leggers.” Centipedes, which in reality only have 15 legs, can show up in various spots around the house but prefer damp, cool areas and are therefore common in mulch beds.

The plant beds around your home not only provide them with an environment that they prefer but also plenty of other insects to prey on. When it gets hot and dry outside, these pests will often try to squeeze their way inside for shelter. While they tend to really creep people out, these pests are harmless. Even so, the last thing that you want is them multiplying in your home. A typical indoor centipede's reproductive cycle produces up to 35 eggs.

3. Millipedes

Like Centipedes, millipedes pose no real threat to humans. They do not bite, sting, or cause any sort of damage to your home. However, homeowners find them unsettling based on looks alone.

They are characterized by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments. Millipedes tend to show up in damp spots around the house, such as in the basement.

4. Spiders

Spiders are not actually insects but are classified as “arachnids,” and if you’re like a lot of people, you don’t like them. Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is the oldest and most common phobia in Western culture. While most “house spiders” that you’ll find lurking around your home pose no major threats, they can begin to multiply over time. Spider mating can occur at any time of year.

Common house spiders deposit as many as 250 eggs into a silken sac. Females produce up to 17 of these sacs in a lifespan which can result in more than 4,000 eggs. Spiders enjoy the “comforts” of indoor life and as long as they have something to eat (other bugs) will remain in your house as long as you’ll let them!

5. Pill bugs

Pill bugs have the unusual ability to form their bodies into a ball shape, in a process known as conglobation. Pill bugs are often confused with “pill millipedes,” which also have this ability. Not a bold pest, pill bugs wait until the cover of night to crawl out of their natural habitats. They have been known to invade crawl spaces, damp basements, and first floors of houses.

6. Stink Bugs

Given their name for the unpleasant odor they omit when threatened or crushed, stink bugs are an annoyance, but not a threat. The kind you’ll most likely find in your home are Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs and they do not bite, sting, or cause structural damage.

Even so, they are an unwelcome pest that you’d like to keep away from your home. For the most part, stink bugs are interested in feeding on outdoor plants. However, they’ll try to get inside when it cools off in the fall for winter shelter. This is why spraying the exterior of your home as part of a Perimeter Pest Defense program can help.

7. Silverfish

Silverfish are thought to be one of the oldest insects in the world. They are believed to pre-date the dinosaurs. Silverfish prefer warm and moist spaces, like basements and crawl spaces.

They are particularly like paper and damp clothing and are often found in stored boxes in garages and sheds.These pests can also enter homes through foundation cracks, torn screens, or gaps around doors. These pests do have destructive feeding habits oftentimes ruining papers, clothing and wallpaper.

Finding Pest Control in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA

If you’re getting the heebie-jeebies just from reading this article then you might be wondering what you can do to keep these pests away. After all, as a homeowner, you have enough to worry about. Keeping outdoor pests outdoors shouldn’t have to be one of them.

When you think of pests, you might automatically think of an exterminator. But a better solution might be working with a pest control company that handles exterior services such as Perimeter Pest Defense. That’s because you want to address pests where they reside—before they even get the chance to become unwelcome house guests. In other words, you want to prevent the problem, not deal with it once pests have already worked their way in.

Don’t give pests the chance to cause you any undue stress. By working with professional pest control for your Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA home, you can feel confident that there’s no cause for concern. With a barrier guarding your house against these unwanted visitors, your home can go back to being a safe and comfortable place for you and your family.

Ready to protect your Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA home from pests? Get started today! Request a free quote and let us give you the royal treatment! 

Image sources: ant, centipede, millipede, spider, pill bugs, stink bug, silverfish