Bugs #14 - Bug House

Small  container with  log only. BYOP 

Please do not try and remove the bug. It will bite you and suck your blood dry. 

Top House Pests

Do you want to know which are the most common pests found around the home?

Take a look at Rentokil's list of the Top 10 Pests most commonly found in and around South African properties.

Rentokil are the experts in pest control. Our professional services protect your home and family from the wily ways of pests, and keep your property pest-free. 

Termites

Termites are widely regarded as a damaging pest to have in your home or business. Termites (sometimes known as ‘white ants’) can cause extensive damage to the structure of a building if they are not managed or controlled by qualified pest professionals.

All parts of South Africa are at risk. Densely populated areas face a greater risk due to the large concentration of buildings and associated climate.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are well known for spreading disease and are associated with various other health risks. Exposure to this insect could put you at risk of Salmonella, Dysentery & Gastro-enteritis. Increases in eczema and childhood asthma have even been linked to cockroach droppings.

Textile Pests

Textile pests include moths and many beetle species that feed on the natural protein 'Keratin'. This can be found in any textile of animal origin including wool, mohair, silk, animal hair, leather and feathers.

It is only when these insects become established in your property, and are left untreated, that they cause serious harm, such as:

• Damage to historic artefacts.
• Damage to clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture.
• Contamination of foodstuffs and fabric–based goods.

Bed Bugs

A traveller’s biggest fear is waking up in a hotel bed (or even your own bed!) with tell-tale bed bug bites and droplets of blood on the sheets. As more and more South Africans travel abroad and international travellers visit this country, so the chances of a bed bug infestation in South African hotels and homes increase.

Over 40% of respondents of a Travel Survey did not realise that bed bugs could travel with them once they have left an infested establishment. 

Spiders

There are more than 35,000 species of spiders worldwide, a few thousand of which are found in South Africa alone. Spiders can be a particular nuisance in the home. They are attracted to warm, dark small spaces, like wall cracks, corners, air vents, and in the eaves of your home. Other species prefer to stay closer to the outdoors, weaving their webs in your garden or near your outside lighting. Most spiders are a nuisance primarily because of their webbing.

Ants

As the majority of ant species prefer sunny climates, our environment is perfect for ants to thrive in.

Although black or garden ants aren’t thought to carry diseases, they can be a particular nuisance when they get into your home. Considering that ants frequently travel through unsanitary areas before they end up on your countertops, you won’t want them marching through your food cupboards.

Flies

Flies such as fruit flies, drain flies and ever-present house flies can transmit a multitude of different pathogens, causing significant risk to health and severe impact on your customers, your business and your bottom line. They pose a health risk to humans, pets and livestock and can infest your home or business and spread diseases like Salmonella and E. Coli. A few species like the mango fly may even bite humans and animals.

If a small fly problem is left uncontrolled, it has the potential to turn into a serious pest infestation. Some fly species are able to mature from eggs to adults in just seven days.