Do Apartments Have Less Spiders, Insects, & Bugs? (We Checked) | GoDownsize (2024)

Living in an apartment has benefits, such as not having an outdoor area to regularly maintain and a driveway to clean. Are critters and pests also the least of your concerns when you live in an apartment?

Having pests like bugs and insects in the house can be quite annoying. Not only are they unpleasant to see, but they can also destroy furniture, floors, walls, and other surfaces.

In addition, they are potential health hazards as they can cause allergies and spread diseases.

Do apartments have fewer spiders, insects, and bugs? Let’s find out in this article!

What to Know About Spiders, Insects, and Bugs in Apartments:

Compared to standalone houses, apartments generally have fewer critters, such as spiders, insects, and bugs, especially if they are well-maintained. The higher your apartment floor is, the fewer you will get because it can be challenging for these pests to travel up to higher floors.

Are There Fewer Insects in Apartment Buildings or Houses?

An advantage to living in apartment buildings is that there are fewer insects, especially if the building is well-maintained.

You will also get fewer insects or bugs if your apartment is in a clean area in the city. Dirty and polluted areas can lead to more pests, such as co*ckroaches. Mosquitoes, ticks, and mayflies can be annoying if you live close to nature and wildlife.

It can also depend on the season. Although you can encounter insects at any time of the year, spring and summer are when you’d get an influx.

Most insects thrive in warm and dry weather, giving them perfect conditions to multiply.

Do High-Floor Apartments Have Fewer Bugs and Insects?

High-floor apartments have fewer bugs and insects compared to apartments on lower floors.

That is because these apartments are not easily accessible for critters. It can be difficult for insects to travel all the way up on high floors.

Also, bugs are attracted to food scraps that accumulate in garbage cans, compost bins, and outdoor areas. However, there are typically fewer food sources for insects and bugs on high floors, and residents are less likely to leave food out in the open.

Also, high-floor apartments often have screens on their windows and doors, providing additional protection against insects and bugs!

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What Types of Bugs and Insects Can Live in High-Floor Apartments?

Although high-floor apartments have fewer bugs and insects than those on lower floors, they are not bug-free.

Even if you live in an apartment on a higher floor, there’s still a chance of encountering bugs and insects, especially if you don’t keep your apartment clean.

Here are the common types of bugs and insects that can live in high-floor apartments:

co*ckroaches

These insects are probably the most annoying and disgusting critters to have in your apartment.

co*ckroaches are typically brown and can grow up to 1.5 inches long. Some of them can even fly!

Apart from being unsightly, these insects can be hazards as they help spread bacteria and intestinal diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.

co*ckroaches normally enter apartments through small cracks in the wall or under the door. They can also enter apartments through drains in bathrooms and kitchen sinks.

They travel through walls, floors, and the ceiling and can squeeze through the tiniest cracks, making them hard to remove.

Silverfish

These insects come in gray and appear to be covered in tiny scales. They have long lifespans and typically measure 0.75 inches long, not including their antennae.

Even though they are not dangerous, they can cause allergies and damage furniture. They can also contaminate your food by leaving their poop behind.

Silverfish can be found in bathrooms and kitchens. They can usually enter apartments through cracks under the door or windows.

Centipede

These critters are arthropods that come in a yellowish-brown color. They are about 1 inch long and have 30 pairs of legs.

Centipedes typically thrive in areas of damp apartments or with excess moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.

They prey on smaller insects and spiders, so if tiny critters are in your apartment, you can expect to also encounter a centipede. Because they are small and almost flat, they can easily enter your apartment through tiny cracks.

They are generally harmless, but they can bite, which would cause swelling and mild pain in the area that’s been bitten.

Earwigs

These brown critters are roughly 1 inch long and look like beetles with huge pinchers on their back end.

They eat plants and smaller insects and use their pinchers for defense.

Earwigs are harmless. They aren’t poisonous and don’t transmit diseases, but they are still annoying inside the house.

Even though earwigs live outside of apartments, they can enter through small cracks under the doors or windows.

Ants

Ants may be commonly seen on the ground or in apartments on the first floor, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot reach higher-floor apartments. After all, ants are pretty good climbers.

Because they are quite tiny, they can enter apartments easily. They will be attracted if you leave food items lying around the house or if there are food spills that you didn’t clean.

Ants appear to be harmless, but they can actually carry bacteria and diseases. They can also contaminate food and water, which can cause illnesses.

Termites

Termites may seem very unlikely to infest higher-floor apartments, but it can still happen.

These pests can travel upwards and go from one unit to another.

Among all the other insects living in apartments, termites are among the most destructive.

They can destroy your home by eating furniture and surfaces made from wood. They can also damage paint and wallpapers.

Spiders

Just like ants, spiders are less likely to be seen in higher-floor apartments, but it isn’t impossible. Spiders are quite good at climbing and crawling on walls.

Spiders can enter your apartment through cracks in the well and under the doors or windows.

Common house spiders are generally harmless to humans. They have venom glands but use them for their prey, typically small insects.

Some species of spiders, such as the black widow, harm humans. However, you would rarely encounter them in the city as they often thrive in areas close to nature.

Can You Make an Apartment 100% Bug-Free Without Chemicals?

The easiest and most effective way to get rid of bugs and make your apartment bug-free is by using chemicals to exterminate them.

However, these chemicals can harm humans, pets, and plants.

So can you make your apartment bug-free without chemicals? Yes, you can!

Here are some tips and chemical-free methods to rid your apartment of bugs and insects:

• Prevent bugs from entering your apartment by sealing cracks in the walls, windows, and doors.
• Install weather stripping to fill gaps and keep the bugs out.
• Patch holes and gaps in pipes and vents.
• Install window screens to let the breeze in but keep the bugs out.
• Keep your kitchen and bathroom clean by wiping and disinfecting the surfaces.
• Store your food in air-tight containers and fill in any gaps in your storage cabinet and pantry doors.
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink.
• Clean spills immediately.
• Ensure your apartment has proper ventilation, as bugs often thrive in damp areas.
• Regularly clean your apartment, including the surfaces under rugs, and vacuum at least once a week.

The trick is to make your house unlivable for bugs and insects by cutting out their food supply and keeping all areas clean and free from excess moisture.

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How Far Above Ground to Avoid Spiders and Insects?

Even apartments on high floors can have critters, but the farther your apartment is from the ground, the less likely you would have them in your home.

If you want the best chances of avoiding spiders and insects, getting an apartment at least 20 floors up is recommended.

Remember that cleanliness still matters.

Even if you live on the highest floor in the building, you can still get spiders and insects in your apartment if you don’t keep it clean.

Sources:

Are There Bugs In High-Rise Apartments? Here’s Our Experience So Far

Are There Fewer Bugs On Higher Floors?

Chemical-Free Ways To Keep Bugs Out Of Your House And Yard

How To Seal Cracks For Home Pest Control

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