- Author: Elaine Lander
It's often easier to prevent pests before they become a problem than to try and get rid of them once they infest a home. While some pests can be active year-round, cooler temperatures trigger some pests to find shelter indoors.
Creatures such as rats or insects are typically looking for food, water, and shelter. Eliminate or reduce access to these resources to deter pests. There are a variety of tools that are readily available which can help block or limit a pest's entrance into the home. Here are a few suggestions to prevent creatures from stirring in your home this season.
Rats,
![Female German cockroach with egg case. [J.K. Clark]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/43940small.jpg)
Most of us have clutter we've hidden away in closets, drawers, garages, or in other storage space. Although you may not have the time or energy to go through these excess “stuff” and cluttered areas, we have an incentive for you: pest reduction and prevention.
Consider the following pests when thinking whether you should reduce clutter and get rid of unneeded items in your house:
Cockroaches may come into contact with human and pet excrement and can transmit bacteria to food. They prefer to hide in warm, moist environments. The German cockroach female is capable of laying over 30,000 eggs per year,...
If you have insects invading your kitchen or pantry, or if you've ever opened stored food products and discovered pests inside, you'll want to watch this new video from UC IPM. It describes several types of pantry pests, foods they are attracted to, and includes steps on how to prevent, manage and eliminate them from your home.
For more detailed information, read the Pantry Pests Pest Note. You can also read an article about pantry pests in the Retail and Garden Center IPM News at
- Author: Anne Schellman
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
May 17 is World Packrat Day, a designated date for those who revel in collecting and keeping large amounts of “stuff.” Unfortunately, when your home, garage, or storage areas are full of extra items, it can create clutter and foster an environment that attracts and harbors pests. Below is a short list of some household pests that are also happy to celebrate this day.
Cockroaches prefer warm, moist environments with places to hide. There are several species of cockroaches, so identification is the first step in management. Consult the Pest Note: Cockroaches for help.
Clothes moths may...
- Author: Steven Swain
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[From the July 2015 issue of the UC IPM Retail Nursery and Garden Center IPM News]
Pantry pests sometimes find their way into our homes undetected and can infest stored products like flour, cereal, pasta, dried fruit, nuts, and even pet food. Often, by the time these pests are noticed, they have infested and contaminated foodstuffs and may already be reproducing in your home, making management difficult. Below are some tips to help you clean up, monitor, and prevent pantry pest problems.
What are Pantry Pests?
Beetles and moths are the two...
