New York City is full of all sorts of unwanted pests, and some are worse than others. Here, you’ll discover:
- What the most challenging pest problems are, from least to worst
- How to identify each type
- Possible health threats
- Common ways to control pests around your home
#5. German Cockroaches
German cockroaches (kitchen roaches) are some of the most prolific pests in NYC. They can reproduce at an alarming rate, and they are one of the most adaptable species within the insect world.
Here’s how can you tell if you have German roaches:
- Light, golden-brown color
- Two black stripes behind its head
- Fecal matter looks like ground black pepper and is often smeared on the side of walls, cabinet doors, and underneath shelving
- Females carry large pill-shaped egg sacs
German roaches don’t bite people. So, they are not disease carriers. However, food contaminated by their feces can transmit salmonella to humans.
It’s best to get rid of German cockroaches this way:
- Vacuum live insects along with egg sacs and fecal material
- Wipe down surfaces with bleach and water
- Seal food sources tightly
- Use solid bait stations in areas where you’ve noticed activity
#4. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs were fully eradicated in the U.S. back in the 1950s. However, due to an increase in international travel, they’re making a comeback, and New York is one of the cities getting hit the hardest.
This is what bed bugs look like:
- Tiny, about four millimeters long
- Reddish-brown in color
- Black blotches on sheets are a common sign
- Also, look for shed skin from molting instars
Bed bugs are parasites, meaning they bite people and suck their blood for food. While they don’t carry diseases, the bite areas can cause large welts on the skin.
Exterminators use these techniques for getting rid of bed bugs:
- Pyrethrin sprays for quick elimination of adult insects
- Residual insecticides for long-term control
- Insect growth regulators to disrupt the bed bug’s life cycle
- Heat treatment technology as an eco-friendly alternative
#3. Pigeons
Pigeons are a non-native species to the U.S. They arrived from Europe in the 1600s, and they’ve since adapted well to urban environments.
Pigeons have the following features:
- Mostly dark-gray to black
- Rounded bodies
- A little larger than a crow
- Males sometimes have a distinctive turquoise band around their necks
- Characteristic head-bobbing behavior
Pigeons roost almost anywhere in the city. But their favorite areas are:
- Ledges
- Window sills
- Eaves
- Roof peaks
- Indoor rafters
Pigeon flocks don’t normally affect human health. However, breathing the dust from their dried fecal matter can cause histoplasmosis.
The disease is a virus that shows up as:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Chest pain
- Death in extreme cases
Pest control professionals get rid of pigeons this way:
- Keep pet food and birdseed stored in sealed containers
- Screen entrances to attics, vents, and eaves
- Use metal spike strips to keep birds from roosting on ledges
- In extreme cases, licensed exterminators utilize repellent baits that don’t typically kill birds
#2. Sewer Rats
Norway rats (sewer rats) live underground near water sources. They eat almost anything. However, they prefer cereal grains, meat, fish, and nuts.
The following characteristics identify sewer rats:
- Light gray to brown
- Thick, heavy body
- Blunt nose
- Small eyes
- Small ears
- Droppings are large and tapered at one end
Rats are disease vectors. They carry:
- Rat-bite fever
- Salmonella
- Leptospirosis
Methods the pros use to eliminate rats:
- Keep trash containers closed at all times
- Use screen material to keep rats out of buildings
- Install sewer drain covers
- Seal food storage containers
- Rodenticide baits work best to eliminate rat populations
#1. Mice
The common house mouse is the hardest pest to get rid of in New York. It’s even worse than the sewer rat due to its ability to adapt to any environment, and you can find them living anywhere in the city.
Here’s how you can identify mice:
- Five to seven inches long
- Grayish-brown fur
- Large ears compared to its body
- Small, black eyes
- Tail is about three to four inches
- Droppings are small, black, and tapered at both ends
Mice carry several diseases such as:
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- Hemorrhagic fever
- Leptospirosis
- Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM)
Standard control measures for mice:
- Remove access to food sources
- Seal pipe entry points
- Caulk windows, doors, and foundation cracks
- Use snap traps baited with peanut butter
- Utilize rodent baits for long-term control