Being a homeowner requires you to live with some unpleasant guests. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about strange people hiding in your crawlspace. In actuality, we are discussing annoying insects that you might encounter. Let me begin by stating that, although I’m sure a lot of you share my sentiments, I personally detest having earwigs, spiders, or ants live in my house.
Still, there is nothing we can do about it. These small critters don’t see it as a planned home invasion, at least I hope not. It’s just where they should be. Even though I’ve learned to tolerate the most of the insects that have taken up residence in my walls, ticks are one pest that I simply cannot stand.
I’m willing to bet that no one finds ticks enjoyable. These are truly disgusting bugs that propagate disease quickly. This makes it essential to know how to identify tick egg clusters and what to do in the event that you find them in your grass. Thankfully, we’ve gathered some useful information to help us respond to your urgent questions.
Identifying Tick Eggs
Tick eggs are roughly the size of a poppy seed and are so little that they are almost invisible to the human eye (0.5mm in diameter). They are translucent and frequently have an oblong or pear shape. They are usually seen in clusters attached to plants, leaves, or other surfaces close to the ground.
As they age, these eggs become more opaque and smoother. They feel shiny and may be light brown or pale yellow in hue.
What to Do If Tick Eggs Are Discovered
Panic ensues when you find what looks like a clutch of tick eggs. Unless I’m alone, tick eggs are a major issue. Because ticks can transmit illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, it is best to safely remove the eggs.
Consult a local veterinarian or a professional pest management specialist for correct diagnosis and guidance on what to do next.
Keeping Your Yard Tick-Free
Nobody like finding tick eggs in their backyard or any other yard, it’s a fact. It is therefore essential to take action to lessen the possibility that they will be present.
Since ticks love to feed on deer, being preventive includes getting rid of plants that attract deer. These kinds of plants include tulips, azaleas, and hostas. You can also grow herbs and plants that repel ticks, such rosemary, mint, and chrysanthemums.
It’s also important to keep your yard well-groomed and remove any foliage that could serve as a tick hiding place. Additionally, keep wood piles off the ground since ticks like to lay their eggs in moist, dark places.
Using natural tick repellents and adopting preventative measures to keep small mammals like mice and rabbits out of your garden will also help you achieve tick-free yards. If required, insecticides are an alternative, but proceed with caution at all times to preserve the habitat.
Did you know what tick eggs were? Please share this information with your family and friends if you believe they would benefit from it.
5 Creatures That Can Crawl In Through Your Toilet and How to Stop Them
If you are wondering why bugs and other pests pay your bathroom a visit, it’s because of all the moisture. And when we’re talking about the toilet seat, in particular, many people fail to clean it consistently and in detail. Flushing isn’t enough, since there is the residue left behind and that is enough to attract all the wrong guests.
Bright Side wants you to know that many pests can crawl into your house through your toilet and that there are ways to prevent this from happening.
1. Snakes
Snakes just love cool, wet, and dark places and that’s why your toilet pipes can be very intriguing to them. But, what drives them there in the first place is the sewer that has food remnants that they can feed on. When they are finished with their food in the sewer, they will look for a way out and the pipes are the easiest and quickest route. However, you shouldn’t be afraid if you live in a cold environment, since snakes will only sneak up in toilets in warm countries.
It’s usually harmless snakes that crawl through the pipes, like garden or tree snakes. That’s because these snakes are slimmer than venomous ones and can fit through the pipes. Although, some anacondas have appeared in people’s toilets in South America and Australia.
2. Rats
Like snakes, rats are also in constant pursuit of food and our pipes can be very appealing to them. In houses where the toilet and garbage disposal end up in the same pipes, rats are more likely to find a way in. And because their anatomy is very bendy, they can swim through the pipes and hold their breath for minutes before they need air.
So, it’s not just important to discard your food remnants in a trash bag but to also never flush food down the toilet. If there is no food in the pipes, rats won’t have any reason to try and enter your sewage system. You should also keep the toilet cover closed at all times and maybe install a rat guard. This allows water to exit the pipes whenever you flush, but nothing can come up in the opposite direction.
3. Spiders
With spiders, things get a bit more complex, since they can’t swim in your pipes, but they can appear in your bathroom through another passage. And when they get in, they will probably sit outside the toilet seat. Only black widows will crawl inside the toilet and weave their web from side to side. But, that will happen only in an outdoor toilet that doesn’t have plumbing and that isn’t connected to a sewer system.
That’s where these venomous spiders thrive since there are many flies that they can catch for food. That’s also why you need to always check the seat thoroughly before using an outhouse toilet. Spiders, like the black widow, the brown recluse, and the hobo spider won’t have any trouble biting you.
4. Lizards
In the Southwest United States, lizards coming through the toilet pipes are a quite common occurrence. That’s because these creatures love water and they try to find food wherever they can. Crickets and other insects (like flies) can be found a lot in your toilet’s plumbing if it’s not kept decently clean. The lizards that can achieve this are usually small enough that they can fit through the pipes.
5. Possums
In 2008, a man was in his bathroom in Australia when he saw the water in the toilet gurgling. Moments later, a baby possum appeared and this is not the first time this has happened. On another occasion, a woman found a dead possum in her toilet. These unusual guests are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for a long time — that’s why they can crawl into your toilet.
How to prevent and react to these occurrences
- Keep your toilet clean: This may sound obvious, but you really need to clean your toilet often and neatly. Disinfecting cleaners are perfect for that job and if you want something cheaper you can resort to white wine vinegar or baking soda. You can also get one of those fresheners that stick on the side of the toilet and release a nice smell every time you flush.
- Keep it dry: Most pests love humidity and that’s why they will be attracted to wet bathroom floors. So, it’s important to get rid of any standing water from the sink or the floor after you’ve taken a shower. If you notice any leaks in your plumbing, call a technician immediately and get them fixed.
- Clean your pipes naturally: In a bowl, add equal parts of sugar, water, vinegar, and 5-10 drops of dish soap. Mix all of this together and pour it down the toilet or in your bathroom sink. You can also pour some boiling water into the toilet.
- Call a pest control company: If you don’t have the time or courage to deal with pests yourself, call professionals and let them use their heavy cleaners. After that is done, you can occasionally throw water mixed with a cleaning solution down the drain to make sure no pest will climb up into the toilet.
Have you ever found an uninvited guest in your toilet — if so, what was it and how did you react?
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