Do your kids love little creepy-crawlies? Or maybe they are scared of little critters. It’s important for kids to be knowledgeable of the pests that they may stumble across in the home. But it’s also important to teach them not to be afraid of any bugs they may find. Whether it be scorpions, spiders, or fire ants, Apple Pest Control wants to help you teach your kid how to be safe around pests.
It’s no secret that some critters sting or bite. But it’s also important to note that there are helpful critters that are often hanging around the house.
One fun way to teach kids about bugs and pests is to look them up when you come across them. If your child finds a spider in the mouse, sit down with them and research that spider. It allows for an engaging way for your child to learn about common bugs found in the house and can help them identify that spider in the future.
A Friend or Foe?
One of the first things you’ll want to teach your kids is to identify the pest. They will not know every single pest they come across. But with some guidance, they can learn to recognize some of the common ones in your home.
Like kids, bugs behave differently from each other. It’s important that kids learn to stop and look when they find a critter. Some pests look very similar to each other but are very different.
For example, the Coral Snake and Scarlet King Snake are two very different snakes but they look very similar. The Coral snake is dangerous with its lethal venom, whereas the Scarlet Kingsnake is harmless. The difference between the two is that a Coral snake has red and yellow patterns that touch. A Scarlet King has red and black patterns that touch. One way to help your child remember this is the nursery rhyme, “Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, a friend of Jack!”
There are other pests that are actually helpful to the environment. It’s important your kid doesn’t try to squish these friends, such as bees or butterflies. If you want to know more beneficial pests in Texas, Apple Pest Control has a blog all about some of the common pests that help their ecosystem.
Do Pests Bite?
Some do. Some sting! Some do nothing at all.
Fascination can sometimes lead to fear if your kid gets stung or bitten. Pests can carry diseases that can transmit through bites. Diseases such as the Zika virus, Lyme disease, and rabies can all carry and spread by vectors. Some disease vectors include mosquitos, ticks, and rodents. These are just a few diseases and vectors so it’s important to instill caution in your kids.
Talk to your kid about some of the critters that sting or bite. Try to avoid phrasing these things in a fearful way so your child doesn’t become scared of pests.
One good lesson is to stay away from any pests they may find or to grab an adult if the pest inside. If they don’t know what the bug is, they should keep their distance. Staying away from the pests means they will stay away from you.
Contact a Professional
If the critters around the house have gotten out of control, contact your local pest control company to come to handle the problem. Depending on the pest, some places move the critter or exterminate.
Apple Pest Control is dedicated to handling pests in San Antonio. Contact us today!
