Summertime can be great: the birds are chirping, the weather is getting warmer, and the bugs are out in force!

Here are five common household pests that you should be wary of during the summer months.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are not nice to have around. They can make sleeping near impossible and leave bites marks on the skin that can be very irritating for whoever is their victim.

While bed bugs aren’t something that most homeowners will ever encounter, they can come out in the summer and a few bugs can quickly turn into an infestation, especially if you’ve unwittingly brought them home thanks to a stay in less-than hygienic accommodation.

Thankfully, they are simply eradicated by contacting professionals such as the good folks at Toxic Respond, one of the best companies for pest control London has to offer.

Spiders

Those little brown eight-legged arachnids tend to come out more in the summertime, ruining a lovely breezy summer’s day with the window open.

If you’re an arachnophobe, it’s enough to have you huddled up with all of the doors and windows closed, but it’s worth remembering that most spiders in the UK are harmless and don’t bite.

As the old saying goes, they are more scared of you than you are of them. At least, that’s what arachanophiles want you to think!

Mosquitoes and Midges

Mosquitoes are a pain for everyone in the summer, and both are worse if you live near water or have a garden pond.

While most UK mosquitoes and midges are harmless, they can leave a very irritating bite that will take a few days to go down, this is especially true for the particularly nasty midges in the Scottish Highlands.

Fun fact: the London Underground has its very own species of mosquito that has evolved to live down in the dark tunnels. As if commuting couldn’t get any worse, right?

Wasps and Hornets

It’s really important to distinguish between wasps, hornets and bees. Everyone knows what the fluffy and dopey bumblebee looks like and will easily tell them apart from their stingy hornet and wasp cousins, but it’s not always as easy to tell if you see a honey bee or a solitary bee.

Bumblebees, honey bees, and solitary bees are good for the ecosystem and should be left alone.

Wasps and hornets, on the other hand, can leave a very nasty sting if they’re annoyed, so it’s best to avoid them and don’t risk getting them angry, which will encourage them to be defensive and sting.

Ticks

Ticks aren’t often found inside the home as a general rule, but if you have pets then you may unwittingly bring ticks home if you’ve been out walking with them or they have been roaming.

Ticks generally live in long grassy areas, and you should check your pet’s legs (and your own legs) after every outing if this is where you like to walk. Ticks should be removed with a special tool, if in doubt ask a vet (or doctor).