If you missed part one of our spring pest series, make sure to check it out here. This post will tell you everything you need to know about the pests that come out in the spring. If you’re already up to date, read on!
Now that you know to look out for ants, termites, stinging insects, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes (along with other year-round pests like bed bugs, of course), it’s time to learn how to combat them.
Let’s look at what attracts each of these nasty critters to your house and what you can do to help keep them outside, where they belong.
Ants
Ants are attracted to your home because of the abundance of food inside—meaning the best way to make your home unappealing is to make it spotless. Ants can often be found in your kitchen, so it’s a good idea to concentrate your efforts there. (That being said, these tips apply to anywhere you eat in the house.)
To keep ants from making your house a summer home, we recommend these tips:
- Wash dishes every day
- Wipe up crumbs and spills promptly
- Clear out your pantry regularly, throwing away any spoiled food
- Store pantry items in sealed plastic containers.
- Don’t leave overripe fruit on the counter
- Empty the trash regularly
Termites
Termites are attracted to wood, their primary food source. Unfortunately, that means that there is little you can do to make your home less attractive to termites (short of bulldozing it and rebuilding it entirely out of metal!). Still, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do.
To help avoid a termite infestation, we recommend the following:
- Cut back trees and prune plants so that they do not make contact with your house
- Remove stumps and debris around your home
- Move firewood away from your house
- Fix leaky gutters or A/C units, as these can give needed moisture to termites
- Divert water away from your home’s foundation
Stinging Insects
Bees can (and should) be left alone as much as possible unless they are building a nest on or in your house. It’s like we tell our kids: as long as you don’t hurt the bee, it won’t hurt you. Other stinging insects, however, are more aggressive—and less beneficial—and you’ll want to get rid of them.
Stinging pests are attracted to light, flowers, and food (especially if sweet or meaty). You’re sure to see them if you spend a lot of time outdoors in your garden or if you host a lot of outdoor picnics.
To prevent them from colonizing your house, consider the tips below.
- Seal cracks and crevices around the exterior of your house to prevent stinging insects from making a nest in your attic (a common nesting spot)
- If possible or desired, plant grasses or other non-flowering plants (or plant flowers far away from your house)
- Mow your lawn regularly and avoid letting areas become overgrown
- Avoid having picnics outside (or cover food and drinks when doing so)
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks can be very bothersome to your pets (and even you). Homeowners with pets are especially vulnerable to fleas and ticks—although any homeowner can get fleas from mice or other rodents.
To keep these blood-sucking creatures off your pets and out of your home, it’s important to take the following steps:
- Bathe your pets and wash pet bedding regularly
- Inspect pets for fleas and ticks often
- Use a vet-approved flea and tick control medication on pets
- Vacuum frequently to get rid of flea eggs and adults
- Avoid over-watering your lawn, as fleas thrive in moist environments
- Mow the lawn regularly and remove debris to discourage tick infestations
- Wash clothes after spending time outdoors (particularly after spending time in wooded areas)
Mosquitos
Mosquitos are, unfortunately, attracted to you—their meal. They rest during the day and come out at night to feed.
To protect yourself from their painful and annoying bites and any diseases they might be carrying (like Zika virus), you should do the following:
- Get rid of any sources of standing water where mosquitos can lay their eggs, like bird baths, watering dishes for potted plants, clogged rain gutters, inflatable swimming pools, and debris that can hold water
- Fill in low areas in your yard that collect water after it rains
- Seal cracks or crevices in your home’s exterior that would let mosquitoes inside
- Don’t leave windows or doors open; instead, install screens
- Use mosquito repellants when outdoors
We hope these tips help you stay pest-free this spring!
Concerned you might have an infestation on your hands? Contact Scherzinger Pest Control, a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton, OH, and now Columbus, OH. We’ve been pioneers, engineering new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or through our website, Facebook, or Twitter.