All home pest infestations are bad. If you have pests, you should get rid of them as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Period. Just because all home pest infestations are bad, however, does not mean all pest infestations are equally bad. We’re not talking most damaging or most immediately destructive, though there’s some overlap. We’re simply talking about the pests you least want in your home.
Worst Home Pest Infestations
From nocturnal flying mammals to slithery limbless reptiles, these extreme pest infestations will make you want to have your home inspected again and again. And again. Just to make sure.
Wasps & Stinging Insects
No common neighborhood pest inspires terror quite like the wasp. It’s not difficult to understand why. Virtually everyone has a wasp sting horror story. The insects are notoriously territorial, aggressive, and unafraid to sting. Wasps are at their most frustrating and dangerous when they build nests near homes. When a wasp nest is right outside your door, it’s all-too-easy to seem threatening to its defenders. Wasps are especially prone to attack people during and after breeding season.
Common Nesting Locations:
- Building overhangs and eaves
- Gutters and downspouts
- Chimney areas
- Protected corners of structures
Wasps gather materials from weathered wood surfaces to build their colonies. They prefer locations that offer safety from predators while providing easy access to food sources. Their territorial nature makes them likely to attack when they perceive threats near their nesting sites.
The breeding season intensifies their aggressive behavior. During this period, the insects become more likely to sting multiple times when defending their territory.
Roach Infestation
Cockroaches are a problem all over the country, but especially in big cities. If you see one, usually in the kitchen or bathroom, you can be sure there are many more unseen. Once they’ve moved in, cockroaches are difficult to dislodge, so take strong, swift, and sustained action.
Bed Bugs Infestation
Bed bugs reduce the attractiveness and livability of any home. While bed bugs are not known to carry disease, their presence is highly undesirable and causes soiling of bedding, home and furniture. Like with pantry pests, most bed bug infestations begin when a homeowner inadvertently brings them inside themselves. Bed bugs infiltrate homes by sneaking in on packages and bags. They hide out in dark, inaccessible areas and wait until night to move. Once they’ve found a more permanent hiding place near a food source (that’s you!), they start reproducing. There are all kinds of ways to keep bed bugs out, but they all come down to diligence. Keep a close eye on what you’re bringing indoors, especially if you’ve been traveling.
Carpet Beetles Worst Pest Infestation
An adult carpet beetle won’t cause your home any harm. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their larvae. Carpet beetle larvae can eat holes in rugs, curtains, upholstery, clothing, and books. You may not even know you have an infestation until you notice the damage the pests have already caused. If you spot something suspect, roll up your sleeves and clean. Thoroughly dust and vacuum to remove dust bunnies and cobwebs that shelter these pests. Then, remove clothes from your closet and storage bins, and wash everything or send it to the dry cleaners. Finally, treat your rugs with an insecticide, boric acid, or diatomaceous earth to kill any larvae that remain.
Rats and Mice Problems
Rats and mice in your home are some of the most unhealthy and damaging pests around. Ignore these little critters at your own peril. It’s estimated that a single cute little house mouse leaves behind 3,000 microdroplets of urine a day. This urine, which contains a host of bacteria and viruses, ends up wherever the mice travel.
Their larger rat cousins, the roof and Norway rats, also leave behind feces and urine with pathogens capable of spreading salmonella, murine typhus and other maladies. Even worse for your home, rats will damage and contaminate insulation and chew on attic wiring.
Termites
There’s one, very clear reason why you never want termites: they’re the most destructive wood pest in the US. Termite colonies eat and bore through wood, creating cavities that compromise wood’s structural integrity and cause property damage. Every year, termites cause billions of dollars of structural damage. Sometimes, termites can inflict wood damage so significant that it can seriously compromise a home’s safety.
Silverfish
The shimmery and slithering silverfish is one bug you never want to see indoors. This pest will feast on fabric, paper, glue, and cardboard boxes. Silverfish are survivors. They even predate the dinosaurs, so it’s a challenge to get them out of your home once they’re there.
Ants
Ants are tiny but relentless home invaders. They enter your home in search of food, water, and shelter, which means your kitchen and bathroom are their prime targets. While baited traps are very effective at eliminating ants, they’re not completely safe to use in areas that small children or pets can access.
Dust Mites Treatment
Unpleasant though they may be, every house has dust mites. Because they feed off dead skin cells, dust mites can thrive in any plush surface that can hold tasty particles, whether carpet, upholstery, bedding, or kids’ toys. While you can’t completely eliminate mites, you can keep their population down by practicing routine cleaning.
Indoor Ants & Fire Ants
Indoor ants may not physically damage your home, but they reduce the pleasure of living there. Knowing what kind of ant you have is an important step in control. Some ants live mostly outside, and some ants are finicky about what baits they will feed on.
Besides reducing the aesthetic and recreational value of your home, fire ants can damage transformer boxes, air conditioning and other electrical relay switches, causing power outages. The good news is that fire ants are not that difficult to control.
Choose ABC Termite & Pest Control – Local Exterminators in Omaha & Lincoln
Protecting your home starts with choosing the right experts. ABC Termite & Pest Control delivers dependable service from licensed pest technicians who understand how to eliminate infestations efficiently and safely. Our exterminators in Omaha and Lincoln use advanced techniques, eco-conscious products, and proven strategies to handle pests of every kind.
From routine maintenance to emergency pest services, we provide custom solutions designed to protect both residential and commercial properties year-round. Our focus on precision and prevention helps ensure lasting results, so your home remains pest-free long after treatment.
Avoid the risks of DIY methods and rely on a local pest management team with a trusted reputation built on reliability and results. Contact ABC Termite & Pest Control today for a thorough inspection, professional treatment plan, and the peace of mind that comes from working with Nebraska’s most trusted pest experts.
