You may wonder, with all the plants outside, how and why do pests infest my favorite houseplants and what should I look out for? Most pests aren't too particular about areas they live in, as long as it provides the essentials – organic matter and a nesting place. Your indoor potted plants provide those.

Pests can find their way to your houseplants through several routes but you can take some proactive steps to prevent them.

• Produce bought from stores or farmers’ markets can carry pests and be unknowingly brought into your home. Take a moment to briefly look over any fresh veggies or fruit and consider keeping them in the refrigerator to prevent any hidden pests from getting the chance to migrate to your houseplants.
• Pests can hide in bags of potting soil and you may not even know they're there. When you decide it's time to do some repotting it's important to know you may be introducing hidden pests in the soil to your unsuspecting houseplants. Look for any sign of pest activity in the soil and avoid bags that show signs of damage such as holes in the bag or mold.
• Moving a plant from outdoors to indoors puts other indoor plants at risk of infestations. It's common to bring indoor plants out during the warmer seasons, but you may be exposing other houseplants to pests when bringing them back in. Keep a lookout for signs of pest activity near your plants before bringing them in and if you see any, consider repotting them and trimming any dead leaves or branches that look suspicious.

Some common houseplant pests to look out for include:

1) Spider Mites
Spider mites typically start feeding on the underside of plant leaves and can destroy all the foliage before you notice them. They make webs that are tiny that may resemble spider webs. Light-colored spots on the surface of leaves are one sign of their destruction. The invasive spider mite species are a little different than other houseplant pests since they like hot, dry soil rather than damp soil.

2) Ants
Ants easily find their way indoors and can quickly infest houseplants. It's their ideal environment, providing lots of soil free from flooding or excessive heat. Since houseplants are usually kept near windows or on window sills ants don't have to travel far from the outdoors to invade them. Once they find a houseplant, ants will leave pheromone trails and others will follow.

3) Fungus Gnats
If you have houseplants you've likely seen this pest. Fungus gnats can find their way in through small spaces around windows. They look very similar to fruit flies. The organic matter in plants provides all they need to feed and nest. They are a real nuisance and can be a challenge to eliminate since they fly around and don't stay on the plant or in the soil the entire time.

Many species of insects can infest exterior and interior spaces and they often go unnoticed until they have become severe. Managing pest problems at that point can be a challenge without the proper equipment and experience that a professional pest control company offers.

Eagle Pest Services is committed to providing excellent customer service and effective pest control. Our customers are our top priority. Give us a call today at 1-888-616-8739 and let us help you get your pest problems under control.