Thursday, May 2, 2024

Water Bugs: Why You Get Them, Removal Methods, and More

waterbugs in house

Online retailers provide traps, temptation, and repellents in powder or spray—place traps and tricks in high-activity locations. Bug-killing synthetic insecticides are yet another fantastic option. They are available as powders or sprays that include potent insecticides.

Where Do Water Bugs Live?

It’s a well-known fact that termites consume wood, but did you know that they’re also attracted to cardboard? Like wood, cardboard contains cellulose, which attracts termites. To prevent a termite infestation, avoid keeping cardboard boxes in your home long term, especially ones filled with food or plant-based materials. Instead, opt for plastic storage bins, which keep their contents safe from pests. To prevent an infestation, store pet food and bird seed in tightly closed containers. Feed pets indoors at regular times—don’t leave food sitting out all day.

Can water bugs bite you?

Although Oriental cockroaches do not cause structural damage, they can leave behind a distinct musky ‘roachy’ odor in extreme cases when there are infestations. Oriental cockroaches have been known to hang out in wall voids and empty spaces around decks. If you have found them around, take the time to seal off any areas they are accessing with caulk.

Oriental Cockroach Insect Facts Blatta orientalis - AZ Animals

Oriental Cockroach Insect Facts Blatta orientalis.

Posted: Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

How to get rid of a water bug infestation

You know that a water bug wants a dark, warm, protected environment with plenty of moisture and easy access to food. Now, outsmart these bugs by closing all of their entry points, sealing up your food and reducing damp areas wherever possible. Now, apply powerful gel bait to cracks, crevices and other hotspots you’ve identified to target the colony at its core.

Editorial: L.A. may not get another wet winter for a while. We should prepare for drier times

As soon as you spot one waterbug, there are likely many others elsewhere. Fortunately, in many cases your water bug problem can be easily resolved with some simple preventative measures that will render your home less inviting to these pests. Even if you prefer to avoid calling an exterminator, you can likely still rid your house of these pests on your own. Water bugs have elaborate mating rituals that involve underwater dances and sparring.

Very bright lights can also attract water bugs, especially parking lot lights. If this is the source of your infestation, turning the lights off at night can help, provided that doesn’t compromise security. While water bugs typically live outside, they migrate indoors for warmth when the temperature drops. They can enter your home through cracks and holes in your walls and foundation. The giant water bug is a predatory insect that hunts aquatic creatures.

waterbugs in house

Keep papers organized, clean and dust regularly, and purge unused stuff. Mice, squirrels, raccoons, birds and other critters can easily enter the home through a chimney, so be sure to close the damper when it’s not in use. Install a mesh-covered chimney cap, and inspect it each spring and fall to make sure it’s in place and intact. Even though baits are safe for children and animals, but there are no natural components in the composition.

Be careful if you have children or pets because it can also be toxic to them if ingested. Vinegar acts as a natural insecticide to eradicate waterbugs from your home. The acidic nature of vinegar is poisonous to waterbugs and will kill them off in no time at all.

What Are Water Bugs and What They Look Like

Not only is moisture like this bad for your house, it can be extremely inviting for roaches, so it’s absolutely vital that you dry these issues up. Repair leaking faucets and drains, and consider a dehumidifier for moist basements or other areas prone to this problem, like laundry rooms. Peppermint oil is great for many uses around the home and is an effective way to kill existing waterbugs and repel any new bugs from coming into your home. It takes commitment and vigilance to keep water bugs from staging a counterattack, but it’s worth the effort to purge the home of this creepiest of all crawlies. Pelocoris femoratus are bugs that have a dark brown body with yellow margins. Flying at night, the water bugs prefer to be truly physically active when they can’t easily be seen by predators such as birds.

If it's something that could provide an Oriental cockroach with rotting organic material or moisture, it needs to go. Although water bugs may invade a clean or dirty home, it's best to cleanse your residence the best you can to eliminate the different types of grime they can feed on. For instance, you can start by wiping away the scum from the sinks and drains found in your kitchen and bathrooms. Then, pour it down and allow it to work its magic for 24 hours. Once time is up, boil some water and pour it down to simultaneously kill the bugs and clean your pipes.

Now that you know exactly what waterbugs are, we can start talking about how to get them out of your home. Sam Wasson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Film and Media Arts with an Emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Sam brings over four years of content writing and media production experience to the Today’s Homeowner content team. He specializes in the pest control, landscaping, and moving categories. Sam aims to answer homeowners’ difficult questions by providing well-researched, accurate, transparent, and entertaining content to Today’s Homeowner readers. For those who prefer not to use pesticides, trapping and exclusion can also be effective.

While some types of water bugs can be found indoors there are many species of true water bugs that are only found next to streams, rivers, and lakes. You’re going to start by emptying all of the cabinets, drawers or shelves in the rooms where you’ve seen water bugs. If you’re emptying kitchen cabinets, discard any food or ingredients that water bugs might’ve gotten into. If you’re cleaning the bathroom, throw away your toothbrush or disinfect the body and replace the head.

For instance, water bugs are typically dark brown, oval-shaped critters with long antennae. They also tend to repopulate quickly and will leave egg casings throughout your residence. If it seems that water bugs have invaded your home, you may be wondering what you did to attract this pesty creepy crawly. However, they tend not to discriminate against clean or dirty homes as long as there is a bit of food and a source of water they can survive on. They need this vegetation for harborage and hunting, and they can grow to be more than 4 inches long depending on the species.

The most common are waterbugs in the shower, under the sink, near the garbage can, and the pipes. You will be surprised, but there may be whole colonies of these insects in the riser pipe or behind the toilet. They are usually bigger than domestic pests and other hated insects. They can be seen even in darkness, thanks to the faceted eyes.

Because water bugs can spread quickly and survive for up to two weeks without water, it’s best to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Standing bodies of water like ponds and puddles can attract aquatic water bugs to your yard. And leaving bright outdoor lights on at night can cause water bugs to swarm outside your house.

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