Home Water Bug How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in House, Pool, and Yard

How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in House, Pool, and Yard

An infestation of water bugs in your pool or anywhere else in your home isn’t a situation anyone can be proud of. Though these insects are not considered pests, they can bite when disturbed hence the need to get rid of them. If you’ve been looking for a way to clean out your home and eliminate these aquatic bugs, you are in the right place.

Herein, learn about the different ways you can eradicate these bugs from your house, pool, and yard. What’s more, you shall also toss about ways you can prevent further infestation in your home.

Table of Contents

Get rid Methods

If there are things harder to eliminate other than rats are insects. With thousands and thousands of species of insects everywhere feeding and breeding in different areas in the homes, you ought to be extra careful. In this case, the water bugs have a special liking to water and highly humidified areas, so that should be the first place you should look to cleanout.

Below, are the different techniques you can use to eliminate water bugs.

Borax – an active ingredient in chemicals especially insecticides used to kill them instantly.
Home hygiene – you want to ensure your home is not a habitable environment for these insects.
Use of baits and traps – all animals can be trapped and caught somehow. the same goes for insects.
DIY methods including baking soda, sugar, and other ingredients

Those are only but a few methods you can use to eliminate the water bugs.

How to Get rid of Water Bugs in the House

Your home should be hospitable and free from insects. Here are a few things you can do to get rid of waterbugs from your home;

First and foremost, it’s essential to check your surroundings to spot where exactly the water bugs are coming from. This could be from the dark hidden corners in the yard, near the pool, from your porch or somewhere else.
Determine the size or number they are. It’s very likely that they are many hence they will form nests where they breed from. Once you can identify where they are hiding, look to exterminate them.
Now you have the choice between using natural pesticides or chemicals. The natural type can be anything from distilled white vinegar; a mix of equal parts sugar and baking soda; borax and boric acid, which destroys the insects’ digestive tract; and essential oils like citronella.
You can use any product you desire do long as its eco-friendly to ensure the safety of the environment. Add it to your kitchen, bathroom, or wherever else is infested.
You can use liquids, spray-on, powder. Put them near the nest and other breeding places regularly until they die. Remember proper application is key otherwise, you’ll be indulging in zero work.
Synthetic chemicals will have buyers beware tips as well as other precautions to cause to guide you with the use. They can be found in the form of gels, traps or sprays

Be keen on the ingredients you use. This is because since it’s indoors, you want to ensure it will not have adverse effects on your health especially if you’re inhaling the product. If you’re unsure, the natural way can be a start.

How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in the Pool

The pool is another dangerous breeding area for various water bugs. What many don’t know is that even chlorinated water can be a breeding space for the water bugs, the secret is to ensure the chemical levels are good enough to keep them away. In this section, we take a look at how you can get rid of these water bugs from your pool.

1. Chlorination

Many people could be visiting the pool on a daily basis not to mention the activities carried out like peeing, dirt from the environment, and the fact that the water is still. This alone requires your pool to be chlorinated.

With this method, the chemicals added to the pool will eliminate the diet which water bugs use to stay alive in the pool. Of course, with no food, the insects can’t remain alive or at least not in the pool. Invest in a chemical that will remove all the algae, moss, as well as small insects that can be fed only the insects. Do it at least twice a week.

2. Using Algaecide

Another great way to cut the food supply for the water bugs is to use an algaecide. No green matter can survive with these chemicals.

3. Poolside Lighting

Many critters love light, maybe because of the warmth from the light or just the appearance. But if you want to get rid of these insects you have to cut off the lighting so the cold-blooded insects have nowhere to turn to. Alternatively, you can use an ultraviolet bug zapper to attract then kill the bugs. It’s fast, efficient, and mess-free.

4. Clean-Up

Keeping the pool clean is a load of work. You have to regularly brush, vacuum then skim. Keeping the walls clear from algae, but that’s the secret to a bug-free pool. Purchase a chemical cleaning product to thoroughly clean the pool after which you can invest in regular maintenance now and then.

If you prefer using homemade detergents then you can make one for yourself with the ability to get rid of all the dirt from the pool as well as the water bugs. To make this detergent; simply mix 3 tablespoons of liquid dish detergent, water and add to a spray bottle. Spray the mixture all over the pool and leave it on for some hours, skimming what’s left on the surface of the pool

5. Shock the Pool

Purchase a pool shock such as calcium hypochlorite to completely eliminate the dirt, algae and eventually bugs from the pool. The shock will get rid of and food source from the pool. Simply follow the instructions from the chemical product. You will notice most products will recommend a nighttime routine to avoid the chemicals getting burnt off by the sun before they get to do their work.

The hard part is done, you’ve removed all the water bugs from your pool, now how can you prevent them from infesting again? Here’s how.

Maintain proper chemistry levels – the water has to balance to ensure the pool doesn’t create a conducive environment for the water bugs. The recommended levels are; pH: 7.4 – 7.6, Chlorine. 1.0 – 3.0 ppm, and Total alkalinity. 80 – 140 ppm.
Regularly skimming and vacuuming the pool – use your net to remove debris every chance you get otherwise the water bugs will be attracted to the algae and dead feed laying on the surface of the water.
Always use a repellent and algaecide.
Cover your pool – especially if you know you won’t be able to properly and regularly maintain it.
Pump the pool to ensure the right water and ph balance.
Turn off your pool lights – numerous insects are attracted to light, hence if the lights are off, you can avoid attracting them.

How to Eliminate Waterbugs in Home Yard & Garage

Your yard or lawn needs just as much attention as any other area in your home. The open environment can, however, be harder to control and maintain than the interior, but it not impossible.

First, you have to identify the areas that pose a threat to infestation. This could be stagnant water, wood, and other pesky areas in the home.
Clean up these areas to ensure water is free-flowing and there are no hidden dark areas, especially the garage.
Cut the bushes and lawn tuna manageable height.
Use insecticide sprays or your homemade DIY methods to eliminate the bugs.
After all is done, invest in preventative methods.

How to Prevent them From Infesting Your Home

They say prevention is better than cure. In this section, you shall read about simple things you can do to prevent a watering infestation in your home.

Keep your food well covered – especially for pet foods the water bugs tend to feed on it. Refrigerate or box the food if it’s not in use.
Invest in airtight containers to store food that can’t be kept in the fridge. This will avoid attracting these insects in the first place.
Use airtight garbage bins to trap the pungent smell which attracts these insects. If you can’t get the bin, use paper that can be closed when not in use.
Maintain cleanliness and organization as well as tidiness especially in the yard and garage.
Remove and recycle old papers, boxes or items that could equivalent to hiding and breeding areas for these insects.
Destroy any inhabitable spaces or areas outside the home such as water flooded corners, empty bottles or dishes. Don’t leave any area open for the water bugs to breed and multiply.
Cover water jars containers and tanks to ensure it remains clean and inhospitable to the insects.
Limit leaving food particles everywhere. You could invest in a dining table where everyone sits to eat, cleaning of appliances that could accumulate for particles such as toasters, wipe the cabinets and drawers to remove the extra debris.
Clean the rooms and other home units thoroughly and regularly to ensure there are no unlikely breeding spaces in the home.
Check your home thoroughly for water leaks by faucets, ill-fitting doors or windows, or other crawl spaces, the water bugs could most likely be hiding there.
Cover the gaps, holes, and spaces from the insulators or on the walls that could be nesting places for the insect.
Invest in insecticides and other drainage cleaners to get rid of nasty debris that could attract the water bugs.
If you happen to suspect an infestation, quickly use any method of eliminating the water bugs, this includes using borax or chemical agents with boric acid.
Schedule exterminator visits at least once in three months to get rid of any insects that could be hidden in areas out of reach. Their aggressive chemical treatment could be all you need to keep your home squeaky clean.

These are only but the known measures you can use to ensure your pool remains insect-free.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it. Nobody said it will be easy, but taking the leap to get rid of these insects that could cause you harm is essential for your day to day living. Add a keen eye to the preventive measures and you won’t need to eliminate them anymore.

Sources:

Aquaticglee.com

Further Reading