We Asked A Pest Control Expert About The Worst Kind Of Infestations

Discovering a pest infestation in your home is the worst. Even when you're diligently using our deep cleaning checklist to make every room in your home sparkle, all it takes is one little crumb, one leaky pipe, or one broken seal before bugs start moving right in. Resolving pest infestations is important for your health, not just because of the jump scare potential every time you open a cupboard. Allergies can be triggered by cockroaches or other creepy crawlies, and serious infectious diseases can be spread by rodents or other animals. Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist at Mosquito Squad, has seen it all. When we asked the pest control expert about the worst kind of infestations, she shared some horror stories before offering important tips for dealing with pest infestations in your home.

"The worst infestation I have ever seen involved German cockroaches," Crumbley told House Digest in an exclusive interview. "I saw the infestation when I was visiting friends last year who had recently moved into a new home. When I got to their front door, I spotted two German roaches scuttling across their porch ... a bad sign." She explained that German cockroaches are different from the larger American and Smoky Brown species because instead of sneaking in through unsecured entry points, they hitch a ride on infested items. "The roaches likely came from egg cases laid in the folds of old cardboard boxes used when my friends moved in ... The hotspot for the infestation was their Wi-Fi router. German roaches have an affinity for areas of warmth, so routers, gaming consoles, ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, and other electric gadgets are all susceptible."

"I have colleagues who have also told me about the severe infestations they've seen," Emma Grace Crumbley said during her exclusive interview with House Digest. "The story that I think about the most is of a roach infestation in a manufactured home that was so severe, roaches were "raining" from the ceiling." The pest control expert added that even gardens are at risk of hostile takeovers from plant-chewing Japanese beetles and pesky spider mites. 

According to Crumbley, to deal with a pest infestation yourself, there are some important things you need to know. "Identifying your pests is the first step ... For example, if you identified that you were dealing with German roaches, knowing their biology and behavior can influence the actionable steps you can take to get rid of them." This advice goes back to Crumbley's explanation of how different kinds of roaches are likely to intrude. Sealing unwanted gaps or checking your attic and basement for signs of entry are the right steps if you spot large roaches, but this won't be effective if they're hitching a ride on infested materials. 

The pest control expert said that after identifying your pests, it's time to take action. "Oftentimes, removing exposed or infested food and reducing standing water have a significant impact on pest infestations, especially for mosquitoes, flies, and ants," she explained. For other pests, deeper cleaning or trimming your lawn may solve the problem. Crumbley suggested exploring what she dubbed "cultural controls" before resorting to pesticides. 

No matter how hard you try to keep insects out of your house, sooner or later, you may find yourself dealing with a serious pest infestation. The vast majority of us have experienced this unpleasant situation. Along with avoiding the sheer terror of finding a bug perched on your toothbrush or feeling something crawling across your bed in the middle of the night, it's important to quickly get pest infestations under control to avoid serious sicknesses, structural damage, or both. 

There are a lot of good (and some questionable) hacks out there that may do the trick if you catch a pest infestation early. But according to Emma Grace Crumbley, there are other times you may not be so lucky. "It's important to recognize when you need help with a pest problem," she told House Digest during her exclusive interview. "With German roaches, connecting with a pest management professional (PMP) is almost always the best way to not only control but also get rid of the infestation altogether." The pest control expert added that calling a PMP is a must if you're seeing telltale signs of an infestation or a bunch of bugs, but you aren't sure how they're getting into your home or yard. Crumbley said a pro "can help you inspect your home thoroughly and prescribe a treatment tailored to your specific pest problems." Whether you hire one for prevention or problem solving, it's money well spent. While the average pest control visit costs under $200, fumigating an entire house can cost you thousands.