Top 5 household pests in Kenya
Many Kenyan households have had to deal with a pest infestation. Some have only dealt with small infestations while others have faced large infestations. In Kenyan homes, some pests are more common than others. Some pests also pose more serious threats than others. In this article, you will gain insights into the top household pests in Kenya.
Let’s dive in.
Top 5 household pests in Kenya
Cockroaches
Out of a total of 4,600 cockroach species, only about 30 species are associated with human habitats. In Kenya, the most common species are the German cockroach, the American, and the Oriental cockroach.
Cockroaches thrive in warm tropical climates. Kenya, located rights at the equator, provides an excellent environment for these filthy pests. That is why you will find cockroaches in most Kenyan homes. The German cockroach in particular is spread throughout the country. You will find it in the homes of both the rich and poor in society.
What makes cockroaches resilient is their hardiness. As Russia and Ukraine square it out on the battlefields, some people are concerned about Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons. Can the human race survive a nuclear war? That’s quite worrying for many of us. Legend has it that cockroaches are so hardy that they can survive a nuclear war. While that may be debatable, what is not debatable is that a cockroach can live for weeks without a head. If you chop off its head, it is not an immediate end to its life. The wound is quickly sealed off and the nutrients are not lost. It breathes through holes in its body called spiracles.
Another feature that makes cockroaches hardy is that they can survive for long periods without feeding. Being opportunistic feeders, they have a wide variety of diets on their menu. They can find something to eat from almost anywhere where humans live.
When faced with a cockroach infestation, many Kenyans resort to buying pesticides from Agrovets. However, they soon discover that those pesticides are not effective. The reason why these pesticides don’t work is that cockroaches have become resistant to most ingredients used to make pesticides. For instance, The German cockroach is resistant to more than 42 unique active ingredients in insecticides and is ranked as the world’s No. 2 insecticide-resistant urban pest. Getting rid of the German cockroach is a challenge to many Kenyans because of this insecticide resistance. With this toughness, cockroaches have become one of the top pests in Kenyan households. As they can spread diseases, you should not ignore these pests. To get tips on how to deal with cockroaches, read this article here.
Bedbugs
Bedbugs are one of the most loathed pests in Kenya. Just spotting a bedbug walk across you’re your sofa will get you worried a lot. Do I have a bedbug infestation? Where did these terrible pests come from? What do I do now? In such a situation, you are probably not alone. Thousands of other Kenyans are exactly in the same situation as yours.
Bedbugs spread easily from one place to another. They are excellent hitchhikers. They will get into your clothes as you sit in an infested area like a matatu or a friend’s house, and thereafter you will carry them home. Despite their small size, these pests are tough. They can go for months without feeding and are resistant to many pesticides used in Kenya. With a female bedbug laying up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, a small infestation can turn into a large infestation within a short time. The ease of spread and quick reproduction has made bedbugs one of the top household pests in Kenya.
If you spot a bedbug, it can be a sign that you have an infestation. They could probably be the cause of those red, itchy welts in your body. Do an inspection all over your house. Check the bed frame and the headboard. Check the baseboards, mattresses, pillows, walls, sofas, furniture, and all other hotspot places around the house. If you confirm that indeed you have a bedbug infestation, take immediate action. You can try eliminating the bedbugs yourself or you can call professional pest control experts to come and exterminate the pests. Booking professional pest control services is much better because experts are more effective at controlling pests. The inappropriate use of pesticides has made bedbugs resistant to most pesticides in Kenya. The common phrase of clients asking for bedbug extermination from pest control companies is “I have tried everything, but it’s not working”. Don’t wait until the situation gets really bad for you to seek assistance for a bedbug control service. Ask for help early before pests establish themselves. Controlling a large established bedbug infestation is less effective and takes more time.
Rodents
Rats and mice are one of the top household pests in Kenya. These pests can spread easily from your neighbor’s house to your house because of their exploratory nature. Rats are on a constant lookout for new territory, new feeding sources, and new nesting places. They can come to your house through the doors, windows, chimney, or any other opening they can get. Rats are excellent swimmers. They can swim up sewer pipes into toilets. As long as they can find food and shelter in your home, they will thrive.
Rats have a very high birth rate. A female rat normally births six liters a year. Each liter usually consists of 12 pups. With such a high birth rate, a rat population can grow exponentially in your yard and spread quickly to the entire neighborhood. This is one of the reasons why rats are one of the top household pests in Kenya. To get rid of rats, buy and deploy rodent bait stations. Another great alternative is to book the services of pest control and fumigation companies in Kenya. Most of these companies offer excellent pest control services that include rat and mice extermination.
Termites
Termites are found in many Kenyan households, especially subterranean termites. These termites build tunnels both underground and above the ground. The tunnels above the ground are sometimes referred to as “mud tubes” by pest professionals. The termites build these “mud tubes” to enable them to safely reach food sources that are higher up from the ground.
In an established colony, a termite queen can lay about 1,000 eggs in a day. In some species, a termite queen can lay up to 40,000 eggs a day! That implies a very reproduction rate. A termite queen has a long lifespan. It can live between 30 to 50 years, producing millions of eggs in her lifetime.
Each year as the rains begin, termites establish new colonies. Termite alates take a nuptial flight and establish a nest in a suitable place where they land. If they land in your home, woe unto you! – you will be dealing with a termite infestation sooner or later. The fact that they can fly, land, and establish a nest anywhere has made termites one of the top household pests in Kenya.
The biggest threat of termites in your yard is that they will destroy structures. The best defense against these pests is inspection and early detection. The pest control services in Kenya offered by pest control companies include a termite inspection. Make use of these vital services to keep your home free from termites.
Ants
From urban homes to rural homes in Kenya, you will find ants. Kenya is not the only country on earth with a high population of ants. Ants are present all over the world and have colonized every continent except Antarctica and a few inhospitable islands. In Kenya, you will find sugar ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, pharaoh’s ants, safari ants, garden ants, and many other ant species. Many homeowners call in pest control professionals to come and get rid of ants.
Ants thrive because they can utilize resources in any environment that they find themselves in. Moreover, they have elaborate social organization and teamwork capabilities, making them successful in operations that a single ant would not achieve. Together, ants can bring down preys that are way larger than themselves like grasshoppers and even rodents.
Ants can cause havoc in your home. To get rid of them, seek ant control services from pest experts like Agile Pest Control Company.