7 Common Pests in London Homes

Pests are a common problem for homes around the world. Although the type of pests that can make their way into your living space will vary depending on your location, one this remains unchanged - they are certainly not welcome and can cause a lot of damage. One of the options that you can take advantage of to prevent pest infestations in your home is to be informed about the pest types and the risks of attracting them into your house. And if you’ve already spotted one, don’t waste any time and get in touch with a local pest exterminator to eliminate the problem and prevent future damage.

Let’s uncover the most popular types of pests in London homes and see what can attract them to your property.

Bed Bugs

Don’t be fooled by the name, which suggests that this nuance can only attack your bedroom. Bed bugs can break into your home easily as they are passed on from person to person. This usually happens when they hide in your clothing or other fabric. Once you return home, they quickly spread and establish a new habitat.

These pests survive by feeding on human blood, which means that they won’t go hungry, especially if you share a home with your family or flatmates. They travel via floors, walls, and ceilings and often live on your couches, sofas, luggage, and other items. They are most active during the night and normally bite while you are sleeping. The bites usually cause skin irritation, itching, and red spots. They can quickly reproduce and cause a lot more trouble than you could expect.

Mice

Mice are one of the most popular rodents that can be found inside homes around the world. At first, they may seem cute and harmless, but these furballs could truly wreak havoc inside your home. Not only can they contaminate your food and spread diseases and viruses to you and your loved ones but they can also chew and destroy cables. They may even become a fire hazard due to their chewing skills. Mice are usually attracted to food that has been left uncovered and warmth that they use for shelter and protection. These rodents are capable of hiding in the most unexpected places and often find secret holes and gaps to make their way into the walls and beneath the floors, making them merely impossible to catch without the help of an expert.

Rats

Most people mistake rats for being exactly the same as mice, but this is not entirely true. Rats can be considered the larger and worse version of mice. London is a very popular living environment for rats, as the pest is a common problem for Londoners. As they are larger in size, it is more difficult for rats to hide in the secret places that mice do. They are likely to be spotted in your garden or basement and can be very dangerous as they could carry diseases such as salmonella and tuberculosis.

If your London property suffers from a rat infestation you are likely to start seeing dead or living rats inside or around your house. You can also identify their presence by spotting large holes on the floor or damaged materials that they’ve chewed on. They can reproduce fast and it is essential that you eliminate them before the problem worsens.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are probably one of the most appalling pests of them all due to their unsightly appearance and frightening body structure. The common signs of a cockroach infestation are usually seeing droppings, eggs, or large numbers of the pest inside your property. If you’ve already spotted a few cockroaches in your home, it’s almost certain that they’ve already made a nest somewhere near.

Some of the most common places that you can spot cockroaches around the house include the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement. They are great at squeezing through cracks, making their way through holes, and hiding from the human eye. If you’re struggling from a cockroach infestation and are asking yourself what you have done to deserve this, here are a few things that cockroaches love:

• Dirty dishes with food leftovers;
• Bread crumbs on the floor;
• Smelly garbage;
• Pet food;
• A moist environment.

Fleas

Next up, London homes are a popular get-together place for fleas. Although most people who suffer from this type of infestation are homeowners, if you don’t own a pet you are certainly not exempt from the list of potential victims. In most cases, fleas enter your home by using your furry friends as transport. They hop on, hide inside the fur, and cause damage once inside your home.

Their usual hiding spot is your pet’s bedding and any carpets or rugs that they love to sleep on. This is also the area that fleas typically use to reproduce and lay their eggs. Although their main preference for food is pets, they can also bite humans and feed off their blood. The bites are extremely irritating and itchy and leave red marks behind. You can use these skin signs and your pet’s behaviour to spot a flea problem.

Wasps

Wasps are another popular pest found around London homes. This flying insect is an extremely dangerous stinger and can certainly be a risk to your health, especially if you have an allergic reaction to bees and wasps. Unfortunately, you won’t know about it unless you’ve been stung before. Nonetheless, as soon as you spot a wasp inside your home or around your garden you should contact a professional for an inspection.

Wasps normally create nests where they feel the environment is appropriate for living. They are attracted to sweet smells, fruit, uncleaned garbage bins, and food leftovers. It is easy to attract them to your home but what's important is to act fast before they attract more of their kind.

Moths

Moths are the pest that most people don’t find necessarily dangerous until they suffer from a moth infestation. These flying creatures don’t appear very threatening visually nor are they popular biters. However, moths can quickly destroy your clothes and eat other fabric found around the house. They are attracted to soiled clothes, uncovered food, drink spillages, and human hair on carpets and rugs. Moths also love to creep inside open packs of flour or sugar and cereal boxes.

Their reproduction takes place as female moths lay eggs in a chosen location where they grow their larvae. This normally happens in dark and humid places. Moths can hide inside your closet or your kitchen cupboards. As soon as you spot even a single moth it’s worth taking the necessary measure to prevent a further infestation, like calling a local pest exterminator in London.

We’ve come to the end of our list of most popular pest types that cause infestations in London homes. Some of them are scarier than others but it’s a fact that none are completely harmless. They certainly deserve your attention if you’ve encountered them inside your home.

Anna Bennet is a marketer for Archers Pest Control and her mission is to spread knowledge about pests and how to avoid getting them at home.