Termites are wood-destroying insects that can cause serious damage to homes and buildings. Often called “silent destroyers,” termites feed on wood, paper, and other materials that contain cellulose. They can go unnoticed for months or even years, eating away at the structure of a property from the inside out.

Closely related to spiders, ticks also belong to the arachnid group. Relying on the blood of their hosts, ticks are likely to move from one mammal to another in order to survive. Due to their transient behavior, these pests are vectors of a number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.

Most likely to affect your four-legged friends, fleas can also latch on to human hosts, exposing you to diseases like typhus and tularemia. In addition to applying flea treatment to your pets, it’s also a good idea to safeguard your home.

Including mice and rats, rodents can present a number of threats to homeowners. Known to chew through wires, causing electrical fires, transmit diseases, and even track in ticks, it’s always a good idea to prevent these pests before a problem occurs.

Contrary to popular belief, spiders are not insects; they are actually arachnids, closely related to ticks and scorpions. Possessing the signature trait of eight legs and known to leave behind webs, spiders are notorious for spooking many homeowners.

Silverfish are tricky pests to deal with. They reproduce quickly and are great at hiding, which makes them tough to eliminate once they’ve made their way into your home. That’s why preventative pest control is so important. True to their name, silverfish have a silvery, fish-like appearance—and they’re definitely not something you want creeping around your home!