Has your home become a haven for pests that crave humidity? Are you seeing a sudden influx of insect behaviour in and around your home? Although all insects become much more active in the warmer summer months, they usually remain outdoors. Therefore, if you are seeing more insects than usual lately, you could have a humidity issue on your hands.

Did you know that insects have inbuilt humidity detectors? While they prefer to be outdoors, if they detect ideal conditions for living and breeding within your home, certain insects will pop in to stay long-term.

1. House Centipedes

Although these critters only grow to about six centimetres and don't pose any threat to you or your home, their appearance doesn't bode well for your house. They usually appear when humidity is high and when other insects are abundant. Those other insects could also be there due to the high humidity.

2. Earwigs

Nature's night pollinators, earwigs are abundant in Australia. Although they usually stick to flowerbeds and woodpiles, they do have a special fondness for rotting wood. These insects may also serve as a food source for the house centipede if they are both entering your home to enjoy the humid conditions.

3. Termites

These insects need no description, except to say that they are the nemesis of many a homeowner across the country. House centipedes and earwigs will feed on termites while they enjoy the sauna-like conditions in a humid part of your home.

But how can you keep these pests at bay? Control humidity in your home.

Seek out and Fix Leaks

Check all the taps in your home, above and below sink level, to ensure that they aren't leaking. Even a slight leak can soak the wood under your sink, causing it to rot. This rotten wood could attract termites and earwigs. Then later, a house centipede may take up residence under your sink due to the abundance of moisture and food.

Invest in a Humidifier

If certain rooms in your house receive little to no ventilation, and they smell musty, there could be a humidity problem. This usually happens in basements. And, if you store anything that soaks up moisture, like old newspapers, earwigs and termites will be more than happy to take up residence. The problem is, they may spread further afield later.

Invest in a dehumidifier for badly ventilated rooms or rooms that attract humidity to keep humidity-loving pests away.

Ventilate Your Home

If a particular part of your home is ventilated poorly, humidity may build up there. You need to make an extra effort to ventilate that area. You can provide areas with better ventilation by opening windows and doors, and even by using fans. However, you should consider investing in a long-term ventilation solution that ventilates your entire home if ventilation is a house-wide issue.

Are humidity-loving pests invading your home? Then you need to call in a local pest control expert to eradicate the problem before it spreads.