Pests to Watch Out for During Your Quarantine

What are some pests you should look out for during quarantine?

1. Rats
2. Cockroaches
3. Termites
4. Ants

Many countries around the world have begun imposing measures to curb the effects of the pandemic and to prevent its rapid spread across populations. In the Philippines, for example, an Enhanced Community Quarantine has been one of these measures. Staying an indefinite period around the home may lead individuals to notice pests during quarantine, which they might not normally notice in earlier times.

Coupled with the high level of activity in residential spaces nowadays, there is a higher possibility that these pests can compromise the quality of life inside the home.

While it can be a challenge to deal with both the pandemic and the spread of pests in the household, one need only know what to look out for. Continue reading to learn more.

 

Rats

While many of the pests on this list would prove to be quite challenging to completely eradicate, one should definitely watch out for the spread of rats, or mice populations. For those who may not be working from home and are just relaxing in their house, there is a tendency to do nothing but to eat snacks or just simply watch television. Persisting in this kind of lifestyle would lead to instances of many crumbs falling on the floor, as well as different kinds of food wrappers just strewn all over the room.

This kind of environment is precisely a breeding ground from rats that can easily creep in the night and disturb the peace. Luckily, getting rid of rats isn’t difficult, so long as the proper materials and strategies are employed. Using humane rodent traps can solve your problem with ease. It’s best to place these traps in locations where these pests are most frequently spotted. The kitchen would be a good place to start. For a more effective solution, you can use this technique with a combination of other tools such as rodenticides, snap traps, or baiting traps.

 

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are another kind of pest one should definitely watch out for during quarantine.

The sedentary lifestyle that most people are enjoying due to the circumstances might lead them to put off such chores like washing dishes after use. As mentioned before, the increased activity in the kitchen would lead to cockroaches roaming this area of the house more freely.

If you want to avoid this from happening, one simple practice you can do is thoroughly clean your kitchen floors and the kitchen table. This task ensures that no food bits are left out and prevents the spread of cockroaches. Another practice you can do is by religiously washing your dishes and not leaving them to sit in a sink for long periods.

Sometimes, preventive measures can already be too late. If necessary, you might have to end up using insecticides or pesticides to completely eradicate cockroaches. Just ensure you’re using chemicals which are not harmful to the environment, as well as to the people around you.

 

Termites

Flying termites are some of the most common kinds of pests that frequent Filipino households. Fortunately, you can practice several home remedies to get rid of these pesky creatures.

One thing you can do is to locate flying termite mounds lying around your house. They’re easily identifiable, since many of these flying termites flock around these spaces. Another thing you should know about flying termites is that they’re easily attracted to light sources, similar to many insects. Prevent them from entering your home by installing thicker curtains that prevent the entry of light through your windows. You can also use a bug zapper for maximum effect.

 

Ants

Finally, an insect you should keep an eye out for during the lockdown is the ant. Similar to cockroaches and rats, ants are attracted to food crumbs, especially those coming from sweet snacks like biscuits, cookies, pastries, and the like.

As a preventive measure, you should properly dispose of your food wrappers after immediately consuming the contents. You should also make it a habit to sweep your kitchen and dining room floors in order to get rid of pieces of food that have been scattered all over the area.

It’s not uncommon to find a trail of ants on the walls or floors in your house. You can easily get rid of this trail by applying a solution of glass cleaner and a mild liquid detergent. This mixture works to remove the trail of scented pheromones which the ants leave behind as they crawl.

 

Key Takeaway

Your home might be more vulnerable to pests during quarantine because of the long durations you spend inside the many parts of your house. Some places you should definitely watch out for include the kitchen, dining room, and the bathroom, due to the increased level of movement in these spaces. As such, these areas are more prone to pests like ants, rats, cockroaches, and the like.

The guide above has hopefully equipped you with information on some of the pests you should divert your attention towards, especially during the quarantine. With a combination of these methods, you’ll be able to prevent their spread in no time.