Most people have a strong aversion to all types of spiders, but seeing a wolf spider scurrying along the floor can be especially frightening. Wolf spiders can grow to just over an inch and look like small tarantulas, and if they get up close, can give you a nasty bite. A wolf spider’s bite on a human can leave a swollen red bump on the skin that can be quite painful.

Drain flies are annoying flying pests that you might notice around your sink or shower drains. Drain flies are sometimes called moth flies, sewer flies, sink flies, or sewer gnats (Psychodidae) and they inhabit the dark, damp conditions in drains. You will most likely notice these tiny flies in kitchens and bathrooms where they feed on decaying organic matter in drains.

German roaches (Blattella germanica) are a small species of cockroach that are one of the most common types of roaches found in homes. German cockroaches (like most cockroaches) love to live and colonize warm, dark places. If you have an infestation of German roaches, you can often see them scurrying away when you turn on a light or open a cupboard door. Because cockroaches can spread germs and cause allergic reactions, it’s important to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Cockroaches are omnivores that love to feed on anything. Unfortunately, cockroaches are also known to bite humans, and cockroach bites can leave you with a nasty, red swollen lump on your skin. Cockroaches carry around bacteria and germs and if one bites you, you could also develop an allergic reaction or skin infection.

Waterbugs or water bugs are often called roaches, however, true waterbugs are from a different order of insects called Nepomorpha. Even though there is a difference between cockroaches and waterbugs, no one likes to see either insect scurrying across the floor. Some common types of waterbugs are the giant water bug, back swimmer, water scorpion, and water boatman. Some species of waterbug can even grow up to 4 inches (10cm) in length.

Ants rarely come into your house in ones and twos, but they can infest your home in their hundreds. Getting rid of ants with natural, homemade insecticides is fairly easy and effective. In fact, killing off ants with natural ingredients not only works quickly, but it helps to look after the environment and keep your family members and pets safe.

Gnats around the home can become a real nuisance and getting rid of them can be tricky. One or two of these tiny flying creatures can turn into a large infestation of gnats if they start breeding. Gnats and fruit flies are attracted to rotten fruit in garbage bins and because of this, you will often find gnats flying around your kitchen. Gnats love to live in damp places like drains, and there is even a fungus gnat that can destroy the roots of your houseplants.

If your dog or cat has been scratching lately and you think they may have fleas, you can use diatomaceous earth (DE) as a natural, safe insecticide to get rid of fleas. Fleas are so tiny that they are very difficult to catch and destroy. Many chemical treatments for flea removal from the home can be harmful to your pet, your family members and the environment. The benefit of food grade diatomaceous earth is that it is safe to use around the home and is an effective home treatment for killing fleas. Diatomaceous earth powder kills fleas by causing them to dehydrate when the abrasive powder gets onto their outer shell (exoskeleton).

Sugar ants are tiny black or brown ants that love to feed on sugar and sweet food. There is a species of ant called the banded sugar ant (Camponotus consobrinus); however, many people refer to Pharaoh ants, Pavement ants, and Little black ants as sugar ants. These small insects love to invade homes where they search out sweet foods, bread, and other fatty items. Sugar ants usually get into homes through window openings, cracks under doors, and seams between baseboards. They live in dark and damp places, especially under kitchen cabinets and sink units.