You’ve noticed something is not quite right in your home, and after some investigation, you’ve discovered signs that could mean you have a pest problem.

It’s never a nice discovery, but it’s something that you need to deal with, or get some professional pest control management to deal with – and that needs to happen sooner rather than later. So what are the signs that you have a pest problem at home?

Termites

Termites are particularly voracious insects that resemble ants, but do a lot more damage. They’re pale, have soft bodies, and some are able to fly. They feed on wood, especially near damp ground, and around heaters or fireplaces, so invariably the first place you’ll find evidence of a termite infestation is in the foundations of your house, and your floors or windowsills. Affected wood will appear blistered, and there will be sawdust-like deposits next to beams or studs. If you break infected wood open as part of your termite inspection, you’ll find small tunnels running through it, and this is a sure sign that it’s time for some termite treatment.

Rodents

Rats and mice are seasonal pests, and like to infest your home during autumn and winter, when it’s not so nice outside. They nest in your roof, walls and cupboards, and find their way into your food supplies. As they rummage and scratch in your walls, they can damage your skirting boards, plaster and electrical wiring. They also carry diseases, fleas and worms. They’re active at night, and breed six to ten times a year. House mice are usually dark grey and quite small, field mice sandy coloured and a little larger, and rats are much bigger and usually black in colour. Once they’ve settled in your home, they’ll stay put, until you get the pest control experts in.

Fleas and bed bugs

Fleas are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals. That means mice, rats, and your pets. Fleas thrive in summer; the high humidity helps larvae develop. Adult fleas can jump from host to host and start feeding immediately, and their bites can be irritating and often transmit disease. It’s always a good idea to keep your pets flea-free year round, but especially in summer. Bed bugs also feed on mammals’ blood, and their bites can be irritating, but don’t necessarily carry disease. They’re usually brought into your house by someone who has travelled recently, and are associated with hotels and hostels. They hide in cracks and crevices close to beds, and emerge at night when you are sleeping.

Cockroaches, silverfish and ants

Cockroach infestations are hard to spot, and are usually found in walls, behind heavy furniture, and in cracks behind sinks, water heaters or door frames. They are nocturnal, and can contaminate food sources and utensils. Silverfish feed on materials such as linen, rayon, clothing, paper and book bindings and leave small holes in these items. Silverfish live in closets, drawers and bookcases. Ants are highly organised insects that build nests, and scavenge for food. They can infiltrate your home, and thrive in moist areas, such as garbage bins and can find their way into kitchen easily.