Many homeowners do not remember the garage when they clean their home and call the pest control services.
These kinds of places that are often forgotten become the shelter of mice, snakes, and insects as they are unfinished and unclean spaces.
They seek their prey and food in the open garage that has trash, stored goods, and cardboard boxes.
The scent and the warm light of the garage attract them.
You need to beware of their presence and nip them in the bud so that they cannot crawl or slither their way into your house.
Do not take it lightly. Once they enter your garage, they will be in your home in no time.
The top 10 common pests and bugs found in your garage are as follows:
Quick Navigation
Mice
In winter, mice begin to search for a place or space to bed down.
A garage is the best accommodation for mice that live in the vegetation around a home, especially when it finds the smell of tasty birdseed, grass seed, or dog food to feast on.
You will find holes gnawed in bags of stored foods or seeds if they have taken shelter there.
Take action as soon as possible to get them out of your garage. Setting mouse traps or using poison can be a good idea to eliminate them.
Do not delay if you want to keep your home safe and sound. You’ll find some ideas here on how to easily eliminate them.
Termites
Termites are one of the most dangerous insects for any homeowner.
They feast on the cellulose in the wood of your home’s framing. A colony of termites can do serious damage to your house in 3 to 5 years.
They can remain undetected for long periods if you do not pay attention to the cleaning and renovation of your garage.
Whenever you discover them, call in the pros to terminate the colony before any serious damage happens.
Crickets
The sound of crickets chirping may seem soothing sometimes, like on a cool fall evening or summer's eve.
But, remember, they are pests that can damage your property.
They can lay hundreds of eggs at a time, which can cause a veritable cricket symphony in your garage later on.
They love moist and warm areas. So, to keep them at bay, eliminate any damp conditions that are preferable for them and get a peaceful surrounding.
Snakes
Snakes are the most dangerous among all the guests in your garage. Some of them might be harmless as well.
But, you will not love to see one in your garage taking it as its residence.
They eat rodents. So, if you do not take care of the rodent problem now and then, they would love to slither through the cracks of your garage door.
You can keep them away by keeping your garage door closed and sealing any cracks or crevices that make a path to the outside.
Spiders
Like the other pests and bugs, spiders also visit your garage for food and shelter. If they find a proper environment, they will love to live there for a long period.
If you do not effectively control the pest population of the garage along with your home, the spider will find their way to live there instead of the cleaned house.
You may use spider repellent to keep them away from your garage. But, the best option will be eliminating the insects they are feeding on.
Pill Bugs
Do you have wet cardboard boxes or rotting wood in your garage? If so, your garage has become the perfect place to attract pill bugs as they require moisture to survive.
They feed off the damp cardboard and paper or rotting wood. Their presence indicates that your framework near the foundation might be rotting.
Thank them for alerting you. Remove them from your garage to keep your place insect-free.
Silverfish
These bugs are tall and slender, with a silvery color, as the name implies.
They slip easily into tiny cracks and love hitching a ride inside plastic containers or cardboard boxes.
It feeds on pet food, paper, clothing, glue, and sometimes on other silverfish.
They can lay three eggs a day, which causes a fast infestation. You can use pesticides and glue traps to remove them.
Natural options like mothballs, essential oils, cinnamon, and citrus sprays can be a great way to drive them away from your garage.
Carpenter Ants
Unlike the other usual ants that only infiltrate your homes and garages, carpenter ants can wreak havoc.
As their names suggest, they love to nest inside wooden structures.
This process turns the home’s framing or wooden shelving into Swiss cheese.
To eliminate these dangerous ants, try using ant control treatments like spray products or other liquids.
Ground Beetles
Along with the other insects, you might find ground beetles in your garage. They are the least concerning ones.
They do not cause any harm or structural damage to your garage.
They will not reproduce indoors and bite or sting. But, still, you do not want them as your house guests.
So, to keep them away from your home, remember to keep the garage door closed at night, turning off the lights as they are attracted to them.
Prevent them from coming into the garage by sealing up all the crevices or cracks around the door opening.
Cockroaches
They are one of the most annoying insects. Due to their large size, they can cause a chill to run down your spine.
When you see one, be sure that others are lurking around too. They can cause allergic reactions and transfer pathogens.
Eliminate the food sources from your garage, if there are any, as they are the main reason that attracts the cockroaches most.
Set up roach traps or use spray products regularly to keep your garage and home safe and secured.
The Reason that Attracts the Bugs to the Garage
Several reasons can make your garage suitable for pests and bugs.
They have easy access to your garage as it is constantly opening because of the movement of the vehicles and the people.
If your garage is cozy and you do not clean it often, it can become the best place for them to live in.
Storage boxes and wall voids are usually suitable residences for silverfish, mice, and other pests.
Bugs like ground beetles are attracted to lights. So, any lights left on overnight can also draw them to your garage.
Tips to Keep Pests and Bugs Out of the Garage
To keep away all kinds of bugs and pests, make sure you are following these essential steps.
- Eliminate them using spray products and other effective strategies.
- Use outfit doors and windows with effective weather stripping. Seal the holes or cracks with steel wool, silicone-based caulk, or a combination of both.
- As some of the bugs are attracted to moisture, fix the leaky pipes as well as use a dehumidifier if it seems necessary.
- Clean your garage from time to time to prevent any kind of infestation.
- Organize your belongings well and try to keep them off of the floor.
- Use resealable plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes when possible.
- Vacuum or sweep the garage regularly to remove spider webs, eggs, and food crumbs.
- Always inspect every item before storing it to make sure there are no bugs or pests to infest your garage.
Getting Rid of Bugs from the Garage
To get rid of bugs in the garage, the most effective way is to call a licensed and well-known pest control professional.
A qualified professional can conduct a proper garage inspection and identify the source of the problem recommending a proper course of treatment.
They will look for signs of pest damage to storage, entry points, and more.
If they find sow bugs or something alike in the garage, they can use a vacuum to remove it.
Get help as soon as you notice anything. Check and clean your garage regularly to get rid of any kinds of harmful insects.
Bugs and pests will not visit your garage if you take care of it as much as you take care of your home.
As it is also a part of your home, make sure you are paying proper heed to it too.
Thus, you can make your home and surroundings insect-free and live a peaceful life.