If you’ve ever wondered why where there is mold there are bugs, you’re not imagining things. There are a few reasons why mold and bugs seem to go hand-in-hand.

Learn why if you have mold, you’ll attract several types of unwelcome bugs.

Environment

Both mold and bugs are attracted to and invade spaces with warm, humid, moist conditions. When outside temperatures heat up, humidity levels rise, as does moisture and condensation. Damp, dark conditions are excellent breeding grounds for thriving colonies of both mold and bugs.

Food Supply

Both bugs and mold need food to live.

Bugs love to eat decaying organic matter, everything from spoiled food to over-ripened fruit. To make things worse, there are even bugs that eat mold, such as fungus gnats and mold mites.

Mold is equally easy to feed. Much like bugs, mold thrives on rotting organic matter or spoiled food. However, mold takes it a step further and can find a food source in drywall, newspaper, even wet laundry.

Anywhere there are dark and damp conditions mold can sink its roots into will enable it to thrive.

Types of Mold and Bugs

Mold

There are several different types of mold you may find lurking in your home. The most commonly identified is black mold, but the colors can range from brown to green to orange.

When active mold is disturbed, it releases microscopic spores, which become airborne and further spread mold. You’re then in a rinse and repeat cycle and before you know it, you could be facing a mold infestation.

Bugs

You’ll find bugs chasing after crumbs or sticky spills left behind on countertops. Bugs like to hang out in sink drains, under sinks, in the pantry, and in garbage pails.

The musty smell of some types of mold, which is produced by released gas, signals a food source to bugs in search of something to eat. This is especially true of termites in search of wood since mold also feeds on wood.

In addition to termites, mold attracts a variety of other bugs, including slugs, booklice, millipedes, and cockroaches.

If left untreated, mold destroys the very structural components of your home. In many cases, bugs add to the destruction by tunneling into wood or feasting on moldy paper materials.

Conclusion

While it’s true that where there is mold there will be bugs, the most important thing is to keep humidity levels low and eliminate sources of extra moisture inside your home.

If you are dealing with mold and bug infestations, it’s time to call in the professionals. For safe mold removal and expert advice, contact RCS in Santa Rosa.