Ongediertebestrijding

Common pests and how to control them

A beetle, wasp or mouse may be interesting in a nature documentary, but you would rather not have them in your home. However cute a mouse may be, as soon as it has taken up residence in your home, you are simply plagued by pests. And vermin, we humans simply do not like to live with. We find these animals dirty, annoying and sometimes even dangerous to our health. So it is high time to call in a pest controller. But what kind of pests actually find their way into our warm homes? And above all, how can you best combat them?

Common types of pests in the Netherlands

1. Mice

The number one nuisance causing animal is the mouse. Mice have the nasty habit of gnawing away at anything they come across, including, for example, insulation material or - even worse - electric cables. Many a short circuit has been caused by mice and, as mice have a preference for older houses, fires are not unthinkable. Mice can also transmit diseases such as salmonella and Weil's disease through their droppings. Make sure that your food is locked up and that mice cannot get to your waste. It is also important to close all holes of 0.6 centimetres and larger, as holes of this size are like open doors for mice. Also make sure that trees and bushes don't touch your house, as these are excellent ways for mice to get into your home. If, despite this, you do experience an increase in the number of mice, it's time to think about exterminating them.

2. Bedbugs

As the name suggests, bedbugs love to live in and around your bed. Bedbugs need the blood of mammals to feed. They sting humans with their snouts, after which the animal sucks the blood. Bedbugs are originally tropical animals, but nowadays they can be found all over the world. Although the bedbug was rarely seen in the Netherlands until recently, they are becoming more common as we travel more and more. The bedbug is a tough cookie. They can go for months without food, they reproduce at lightning speed and once you have a problem with bedbugs, you have no choice but to call in a pest controller to combat them. The entire area where the bedbugs are found will need to be treated, as their eggs and nymphs are often already present in the room. If they are not killed, they will eventually cause the infestation to reoccur.

3. Ants

Ants are seen as hard workers, but when they come marching into your kitchen, they are suddenly less fairy-tale like. They are attracted to anything edible and will quietly climb to the highest kitchen cabinet to get there. 
You can prevent a lot yourself if you keep your food sealed off, don't leave any food waste lying around and make sure the insects can't get at your waste. It is also wise to seal holes in your cavity walls, so that they cannot move in there. If they have nevertheless chosen your house and garden to live in, you can try to control them by using ant bait. These boxes smell delicious to ants, but contain a poison. Because they take the poison to their nest, the other animals will also die. If you prefer a more natural way, you could choose to pour water with vinegar around the nests. If all this is not enough, you can of course opt for professional ant control.