If fruit flies are invading your kitchen, try this trick of how to kill bugs: Mix a small squirt of dish soap with some vinegar (apple cider vinegar works great) or even some wine to get rid of this flat black bug. Place it in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Poke some holes in the top. The fruit flies will get in and become trapped.

You are here:The NaturePlus Forums will be offline from mid August 2018. The content has been saved and it will always be possible to see and refer to archived posts, but not to post new items. This decision has been made in light of technical problems with the forum, which cannot be fixed or upgraded.We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the very great success of the forums and to the community spirit there. We plan to create new community features and services in the future so please watch this space for developments in this area. In the meantime if you have any questions then please email:Fossil enquiries: esid@nhm.ac.ukLife Sciences & Mineralogy enquiries: bug@nhm.ac.ukCommercial enquiries: ias1@nhm.ac.uk. There may not be a food supply to find at present. The eating stage of most insects is the larva.

They pupate in various crevices and then emerge as the adult which is the dispersal stage (and they are dispersing all over your bedroom). Sometimes the larvae disperse before pupating, I'm not familiar with the exact habits of Stegobium. The rug may have been the breeding ground, and you have got rid of that. If they appear round a fireplace then they may be coming from there, especially if you have a traditional chimney which is unused. Birds can nest in it and then something else comes along and eats the nesting material. As long as you clean up the current brood of insects, you will probably be rid of them next season.

Unpleasant though they may be, every house has. Because they feed off dead skin cells, dust mites can thrive in any plush surface that can hold tasty particles, whether carpet, upholstery, bedding, or kids' toys. While you can’t completely eliminate mites, you can keep their population down by practicing routine cleaning. Wash bedding in hot water at least once a week, and vacuum carpets and furniture regularly. To remove dust mites from plush toys or delicates you’d rather not wash, look to your freezer. Seal the items in a ziplock bag, and place the bag in the freezer for at least 48 hours—dust mites won’t survive a deep freeze.Related:. Weevils.

Weevils usually get into your house by hitching a ride in your groceries. Adult weevils burrow into rice and other grains to lay their eggs, so you may not know you've brought home pests until they hatch and crawl all over your pantry! The fastest remedy for an infestation? Get rid of any unsealed dry foods, including flour, cornmeal, oats, rice, pasta, and prepackaged items that don’t have sealed pouches inside. Then, throw away all the boxes of sealed items like soup mixes or gelatin. Even if don’t eat these items, they could enter the boxes to hide, only to reemerge later to contaminate your food.

After you've tossed the affected foods, clean the pantry shelves and spray a household insecticide around the area. Once the liquid has had a chance to dry, you can restock.

Carpet Beetles. An adult won't cause your home any harm. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their larvae. Carpet beetle larvae can eat holes in rugs, curtains, upholstery, clothing, and books. You may not even know you have an infestation until you notice the damage the pests have already caused. If you spot something suspect, roll up your sleeves and clean. Thoroughly dust and vacuum to remove dust bunnies and cobwebs that shelter these pests.

Then, remove clothes from your closet and storage bins, and wash everything or send it to the dry cleaners. Finally, treat your rugs with an insecticide, boric acid, or diatomaceous earth to kill any larvae that remain.Advertisement. Centipedes are actually one of the good guys. They don’t destroy your home or contaminate your pantry, but instead feast on the bad bugs like termites, moths, and roaches. But if you just can’t stomach coexisting with these many-legged neighbors, trap them or spray an insecticide around baseboards, doors, and windows.

Meanwhile, prevent a future infestation by removing brush and debris from the perimeter of the house and sealing up cracks and crevices where they could enter your home. Thrive in moist environments, so you may want to invest in a dehumidifier as well.Related:. Fruit Flies. It's amazing how quickly a fruit fly infestation can get out of hand. You may notice one fly buzzing around your fruit in the morning, then come home from work to see half a dozen more.

It's not your imagination; those flies are multiplying—and fast! Larvae hatch just 24 hours after eggs are laid, so you'll want to act fast to take them out. Cut off their food supply by storing soft fruits in the refrigerator.

Also, immediately wipe down cutting boards and counters after food prep, and empty your garbage and recycling cans daily. If, in spite of these preventive measures, you spot a few fruit flies, create a simple DIY trap by filling a small tumbler halfway with apple cider vinegar. Then, add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and fill the glass the rest of the way with warm water.

The flies will fly into the tumbler, but they won't fly out.Related:. Ultimate tic tac toe board. Stinkbugs.

Are tiny but relentless home invaders. They enter your home in search of food, water, and shelter, which means your kitchen and bathroom are their prime targets.

While baited traps are very effective at eliminating ants, they're not completely safe to use in areas that small children or pets can access. If you’d rather not use traditional poisons, there are a number of natural remedies you can try. Once you've managed to banish these pests, discourage them from returning by vacuuming regularly, wiping down surfaces every day to remove the scent of their trails, and taking out the trash every day. Cockroaches. Cockroaches are a problem all over the country, but especially in big cities.

If you see one—usually in the kitchen or bathroom—you can be sure there are many more unseen. Once they've moved in, are difficult to dislodge, so take strong, swift, and sustained action. Lay down insecticide or roach traps under the sink, behind the toilet, alongside the fridge, or in other places where they may lurk. Change traps and reapply insecticide on a regular basis to combat new cockroaches as they hatch. In addition, take preventive measures to make your home less attractive.

Eliminate their food sources by cleaning up immediately after meals, storing your food in sealed packages, and taking out the trash daily. To be especially thorough, you may also want to remove any leftover kibble from pet bowls when dogs and cats have finished eating.Related:.

Drain Flies. Drain flies live where you'd least expect to find a winged creature—within the depths of your sticky, gunky drains. The reason you'll find inside your sink or shower drains is because they feed on and lay eggs in the decomposing gunk that lines slow or clogged drains.

If you spot drain flies buzzing around your sink, here's how to remedy the situation. First, determine which drain they’re flying out of. Chances are there's a clog in that drain. You'll need to clear it before you can lose the bugs.

Use a pipe snake or pipe brush to scrub away the built-up slime, then open the P-trap underneath the sink to remove any remnants of the clog. Close the system again, and finish by pouring an enzyme cleaner down the drain to remove the rest of the residue and any lingering drain fly eggs.Related:via Alvesgaspar Advertisement. The shimmery and slithering silverfish is one bug you never want to see indoors. This pest will feast on fabric, paper, glue, and cardboard boxes. Are survivors—they even predate the dinosaurs—so it's a challenge to get them out of your home once they're there. You can, however, get rid of them with traps, insecticides, or a natural substance like boric acid or diatomaceous earth. To make sure silverfish stay out, make a few small changes to make your home less hospitable to them.

Remove piled up newspapers, junk mail, and old cardboard boxes. Store off-season clothing and supplies in plastic bins, and take your dry goods out of their boxes and store them in containers with tight-fitting lids. Don't Miss!