Get matched with top pest control specialists in Orangeville, IL

While carpet beetles won’t bite you like bed bugs do, they still aren’t pests you’d want to find in your home. Carpet beetles in their larva stage can be voracious and cause a lot of damage as they eat through fabrics on furniture, clothing, bedding, rugs, and other materials. If you see carpet beetles, you’ll want to have an exterminator come by to assess the damage and control the infestation.

Squash bugs technically aren’t invasive, as they are native to North America. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t incredibly destructive. These pests can cause significant damage to squash, pumpkins, and other cucurbit crops by feeding on plant sap and injecting toxins that cause leaves to wilt, dry out, and die. In large numbers, squash bugs can decimate entire plants (especially younger ones), making them a major nuisance for home gardeners and commercial growers alike.

Hornets are attracted to bright colors that look like flowers, including purple, pink, white, green, and yellow. They are least attracted to dark colors, such as blue and black. 

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.