Adult fleas can live a few days to a couple of weeks on your couch if they don't have a host to feed on. However, flea eggs, larvae, and pupae can live much longer, even several months, with the right conditions. That is why it’s vital to eradicate them from your couch and other upholstered furniture.

Finding mouse droppings without seeing any mice is a common sign of an infestation because mice are nocturnal and skilled at hiding from humans. Droppings are often the first and most visible evidence of their presence. The location, quantity, and freshness of the droppings can help you determine where the mice are most active and how severe the infestation might be. Since mice are active at night and often travel through hidden pathways like inside walls, you may not see them directly. It's important to look for other signs of an infestation, such as gnaw marks, scratching sounds, or greasy trails along walls. If you find droppings, consider setting traps or contacting a professional exterminator to address the issue.

Both insects can damage wood, but there are key differences between termites and carpenter ants that tell them apart. Carpenter ants tunnel through moist wood, leaving behind smooth tunnels and sawdust-like piles, as they don't eat the wood but rather carve it for nesting. In contrast, termites actually consume wood, creating irregular galleries filled with mud and dirt, and leaving behind mud tubes as their signature. In terms of appearance, carpenter ants have segmented bodies with heart-shaped heads and larger front wings, while termites have more oval bodies with straight antennae and equal-sized wings.

Cockroaches are attracted to the smell of food. They're particularly attracted to grease, meat, cheese, sugar, and starch. Any rotten food such as fruits or vegetables puts off a strong odor that attracts the pests as well. Even dirty clothing can be enticing for cockroaches, which is why they're often found in laundry baskets.