Seven Pest Myths You Probably Still Believe (But Definitely Should Not)
When it comes to dealing with pests, it is easy to get the facts wrong. When they appear in our homes, we tend to react based on our gut instinct or outdated advice, social media tricks or the myths that have been passed down to us. Turns out, some of the ‘facts’ we think we know about pests are just… wrong.
However, here is the thing: SC Johnson has spent more than 60 years studying insects and developing methods to keep them out of your home. As one of the world’s largest makers of pest-control products, it runs one of the world’s largest private insect research centres. Understanding insects and the science behind them is their business every day. So, when it comes to separating fact from fiction, they know a thing or two about bugs.
Here are seven myths about pests, what is actually true and what to do instead to avoid accidentally inviting more in.
1. ‘If I squash this ant, it will scare the others off.’
Not really. When you squash an ant, you are basically setting off an alarm system. Ants release pheromones (aka bug signals) when crushed, which actually attracts more ants to the scene. That means more ants will likely show up to investigate.
👉 Try this: Clean the area with soap and water to remove scent trails, use ant sprays or baits to treat the problem, and monitor for a decrease in activity. If you are still seeing a variety of ants, it might be time to bring in a professional.
2. ‘Flies (like fruit flies or houseflies) only land on food because they are hungry.’
False. Flies are often looking for places to lay eggs and are attracted to moisture and strong smells, which indicate a suitable breeding site, which is why they love uncovered food. Unfortunately, they may have just come from somewhere way less appetising, like a rubbish bin, which is also a preferred breeding site.
👉 Try this: Cover food and use containers to keep food tightly sealed. Rinse recyclables when you are finished, and keep rubbish sealed when you take it out.
Nope. While mosquitoes do have a slight attraction to your light, they much prefer your carbon dioxide, heat and sweat. So if you are warm, breathing and maybe a little sweaty, you are basically a mosquito magnet. The light is just there for ambiance.
👉 Try this: To repel mosquitoes from your patio, you can use a combination of methods including DEET or plant-based insect repellents. And make sure there is no standing water around your patio that could breed mosquitoes.
4. ‘Clean homes do not get pests.’
Keeping a clean house helps, but pests are not picky. Even spotless homes can attract insects if they find food, water or shelter. Think leaky taps, crumbs behind the oven or open cereal boxes.
👉 Try this: Cut off their supplies by using storage bags or containers to keep snacks sealed. Seal cracks and consider using a bug barrier spray around entry points to keep crawling pests out.
5. ‘That spider crawled up through the drain!’
Probably not. Most spiders fall into baths or sinks from the wall or ceiling while looking for water and then get stuck there. It is more like accidental bug parkour gone wrong.
👉 Try this: Reduce humidity with a bathroom fan or dehumidifier. When cleaning your shower and toilet, be sure to clean around corners, under sinks and along skirting boards, where spiders often hang out. And if you do see a spider, try to relocate it instead of killing it since most are harmless and can actually help control other pests (like flies, mosquitoes and even mites on your plants).
6. ‘Fruit flies only come from fruit.’
Fruit flies are all about moist, fermenting places. They are drawn to fermenting gunk like damp sponges, drains, waste disposals and even empty beer and wine bottles. Fruit is just the tip of the banana.
👉 Try this: Clean the source: Scrub out your sink and pour boiling water, vinegar or a kitchen drain cleaner down the drain to keep it fresh and clean. Wash your fruit and vegetables as soon as you can after coming home from the supermarket and rinse recyclables before binning them. If some have already hatched, you can use fruit fly traps to catch them quickly.
7. ‘You can starve cockroaches out.’
Good luck with that. Cockroaches are survival pros. They can survive for weeks without food and will munch on anything, including paper, glue and soap.
👉 Try this: The key is sealing up entry points, cutting off food access as much as possible and using traps if needed. Place cockroach bait in dark, damp spots where they hide. Seal food tightly in storage bags and containers and fix leaks to cut off their water supply. Residual insecticides in areas that cockroaches may frequent are also a good option.