


Possibly, you may also encounter them in your pastries. You may encounter these bugs while sweeping the base of the kitchen cabinet, floors and under dishwashers.

One of the commonest pests that are dangerous to your health and found in the kitchen are bugs. However, there are instances where it will be so hard to fully get rid of this dirt and pests. You must always ensure that your kitchen is free of dirt, contaminants, and pests. Since it is where food items are prepared and/or stored, they must be taken care of. “Also, establish a schedule to regularly clean drain lines, garbage disposals, and any location where food waste accumulates,” he says.One of the most important places that must be treated with the utmost care in the house is the kitchen. “Fruit flies also may breed and develop in drains, garbage disposals, trash cans, and mop buckets,” he adds.Ĭan they harm you? In general, Russell says that fruit flies are just a “nuisance.” But they have the potential to contaminate your food with bacteria and other pathogens, Ramsey says, which is why it’s so important to store produce in air-tight containers or refrigerators and inspect any fruits or vegetables brought into your home. Where you’ll find them: Fruit flies like to hang out around fruit and produce, especially when it’s ripe, rotting, or decayed, and they’re also attracted to fermented items like beer, liquor, and wine, Ramsey says. “There are two main types of fruit flies: the common red-eyed fruit fly and the dark-eyed fruit fly,” Ramsey says. They’re usually very small-about 1/8 of an inch. What they look like: Fruit flies look like light brown flies, says Russell. They can also trigger asthma “because of a protein in their saliva, droppings, and on their body,” Troyano says. While cockroaches don’t give people diseases through bites, they can transmit foodborne illnesses from one place to another. They could pop up in the bathroom-they love to snack on soap residue-dark places in your kitchen like cupboards and cabinets, laundry rooms, basements, and drains, she says.Ĭan it harm you? Unless you have a serious infestation, cockroaches won’t normally bite you. Where you’ll find it: You can find cockroaches in a lot of places in your home, Troyano says. “However, most winged cockroaches are not particularly adept at flying,” Ramsey says. They have six legs, two antennae, and some even have wings. “Cockroaches can measure over two inches length, with tropical species tending to be larger than those found in other climates,” Ramsey says. What it looks like: There are different types of cockroaches, but the most common are the American, German, oriental, and brown-banded cockroaches, Ramsey says. However, “many bites can leave no mark and go completely unnoticed.” “While bed bugs have not been found to transmit any diseases to humans, their bites may cause symptoms such as itching, red welts, or swelling the day after being bitten,” Ramsey says. “They can travel from place to place with ease, including items such as luggage, purses, and other personal belongings,” Ramsey says.Ĭan they harm you? Yes. Bed bugs are normally nocturnal, and they’ll come out of hiding from places like a mattress to feed on sleeping or quietly resting people. “Blood is their only food source,” says Glen Ramsey, a board-certified entomologist and senior technical services manager at Orkin. Where you’ll find them: In general, you’ll find them around people. Bed bugs can range in color from a mahogany-red to light brown, “depending on when they last fed,” Troyano says. “They are often compared to the size of an apple seed,” says Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., a board-certified entomologist with Western Exterminator. What they look like: An adult bed bug can be anywhere from ⅛ - ¼-inch in size.
