Take a closer look in the corners and crevices of your home and you’re apt to see all manner of creepy crawly critters.

According to a CBC television report from July, 2018, the average Toronto house has 112 distinct insect species scurrying about it walls, basements and rafters. The Great Wild Indoors, which aired on the Nature of Things, chronicled a team of bug experts aka entomologists who explored a typical Toronto house in search of insects. What they found was pretty typical.

And even though Toronto homes are on par with their U.S. neighbours in terms of the quantity of critters, that doesn’t make enduring them any easier. Let’s take a look at some of the more offensive ones:

Bed bugs:

These small, oval creatures are flat and brown, though they turn a red-blood after feeding. They live inside electrical outlets, mattress seams, sofas and baseboards. Although bed-bug bites rarely result in serious medical concerns, their presence wreaks psychological havoc, causing anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation.

Because bed bugs transfer so easily be sure to inspect second-hand furniture that is coming into your home. Also use mattress covers on your mattress and box spring to eradicate their hiding spots.

Cockroaches:

These hated pests range in colour from light brown to almost black. These nocturnal insects sleep in crevices and cracks during the day and come out at night to search for food. They can be found anywhere in your home or in warm, damp areas. Cockroaches don’t bite or cause structural damage to your home, though they are known to spread disease.  To prevent cockroaches, keep dark and damp areas in your home clean, especially those close to food sources. Dispose of your garbage every day. Wash dishes immediately after use.

Termites:

Damage by these bugs is typically not covered by insurance. These secretive insects are difficult to identify, though often compared to ants. Often a homeowner only becomes aware of termites by seeing the damaged they’ve done. In spring, you may see small flying bugs, which leave discarded wings. Look for floors that sag and blister, unexplained cracks in walls, ceilings and cornices, sticking windows and doors and mud tubes outside your home.

You will never eliminate all bugs but you can help discourage them from finding a home in your house. Here are some general ways to deter pests:

• Keep your home free of clutter.
• Clean kitchens and bathrooms regularly. Pests are attracted to warm, damp places or places where food is available.
• Vacuum regularly under rugs and beneath furniture.
• After travelling, check luggage carefully for the spread of pests.
• Seal cracks and crevices with caulking and ensure that windows and doors are weather- proofed.
• Avoid picking up mattresses and furniture from uncertain sources as bugs might hitchhike on them.
• When receiving deliveries of furniture, check the packaging. For mattresses, ensure the mattress comes wrapped in plastic to avoid the spread of bedbugs from the transport truck to your home.
• Store foods in sealed plastic or glass containers in kitchens.

Sources: www.torontotenants.org, www.pestend.ca, www.pesthow.com