Apr 18, 2023 | Pest Control
As we gear up for spring, most homeowners are looking forward to spending time with family in their yards. Unfortunately, spring pests will also emerge as the weather warms up. While spotting one near your home is not a big deal, if they’ve infested in large numbers, they can quickly become a nuisance and cause property damage. Check out our list of common spring pests and how you can avoid them.
Termites
In Alabama, termite activity increases in early spring. These pests can cause severe property damage by destroying the structural integrity of your home. Once termites infest your home, it can be extremely difficult to eliminate them, and their repair often costs billions of dollars. Common termite types include subterranean and drywood termites. Drywood termites will inhabit sound wood and will infest wood furniture. Subterranean termites need soil to live, creating mud tubes for a food source above the surface and invading the foundations of homes.
Ants
Ants thrive in humid, hot weather. During the spring, ants are looking for any food source for their nests, often invading our homes to find it. These pests can be extremely persistent and take over our yards. Common ant species found in the Alabama area include fire ants, pavement ants, crazy ants, and more. You can often find these ants near their food sources, behind window frames, under appliances, in the bathroom, and the kitchen.
Wasps
Wasps are common during the springtime and can become a problem when they have nested on your property. There are several wasp types common to the Alabama area, including the blue-winged wasp, cuckoo wasp, spider wasp, paper wasp, and more. Depending on the type of wasp, you can find their nests underground or hanging from branches, eaves, door frames, railings, and more. While not always aggressive towards humans, wasps will attack if their nest is disturbed. If stung, it can be extremely painful and will sometimes need medical attention, depending on the severity.
Mosquitoes
Alabama’s weather during the spring months is hot and humid, making it the ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to lay their eggs, and if found on your property, you will soon have a full-blown blown mosquito infestation. Mosquitoes can not only be a major nuisance if they invade your yard, but they also pose a health risk to humans, dogs, cats, and horses by transmitting diseases. Mosquitoes need a blood meal to survive, often looking at us and our pets to get it. If they feed off a diseased host, they can spread pathogens that can infest other hosts they bite later.
Preventing Spring Pests from your Alabama Home
Being on top of pest prevention is one of the best ways to keep spring pests from invading your yard. Consider the following do-it-yourself preventative measures for keeping pests away:
- Keep your trees and shrubs trimmed away from your home
- Seal any cracks and holes in your home’s exterior
- Bring in your pet food and water bowls overnight
- Fix any leaks and eliminate any other sources of excess moisture
- Take the trash out regularly and place them in trashcans that have a tightly sealed lid
- Eliminate wood-to-soil contact around foundations; consider creating a 4-inch barrier between wood mulch and your home
- Remove standing water around your property, including items that can hold water, such as buckets, old tires, tarps, etc.
Don’t let these common spring pests invade your home! If you notice an increase in pest activity or want to get ahead of prevention, consider contacting your local pest control company which can help identify entry points and pests, recommend a treatment plan, and prevent them in the future.
Apr 13, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Miami, Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, lively city, and hurricanes! Unfortunately, hurricanes can bring in an influx of certain pest problems that can cause significant damage and be a nuisance. Check out the common hurricane pest problems that you could see after a storm and how to prevent them.
Common Pests After a Hurricane
Check out the most common hurricane pests you could see after a storm which include:
- Mosquitoes: Standing water left behind by the storm will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Items that hold water are a huge attractant to these pests, including toys, overturned trash lids, bird baths, flowerpot sauces, and more.
- Cockroaches: Flooded areas are an ideal living environment for cockroaches to inhabit as they prefer damp climates and areas. Likewise, once they invade, it can be difficult to control them as they reproduce at a rapid pace.
- Termites: Flooding and moisture can weaken the structure of homes, making them more susceptible to termite infestations. Termites will cause significant wood damage and destroy the structural integrity of your home by eating it from the inside out.
- Rodents: These wildlife creatures will seek out damaged or flooded areas. Rodents, such as rats, carry many diseases and can cause damage to your home, including chewed electrical wires and destroyed insulation.
Preventing Pests Before a Hurricane
Taking precautions before a hurricane or storm arrives is the best way to prevent hurricane pests from invading your home. Check out our top pest prevention tips:
- Keep your gutters clear of debris and standing water
- Place wood debris and tree stumps away from your house.
- Keep your home clutter-free by removing any old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
- Eliminate standing water around your home by checking for any leaky faucets, pipes, sinks, and appliances.
- Remove any items from your yard that can collect water, such as toys, buckets, old tires, tarps, etc.
- Seal up any cracks and holes outside of your home, including the areas where utility and pipes enter.
- Ensure your vents are screened and any gaps around your windows and doors are sealed.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated it at least 5 inches off the ground.
- Keep your home clutter-free by removing any old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
If you’ve seen an increase in pest activity after a storm, it could be time to reach out to your local pest control company for a thorough inspection and treatment plan.
Mar 13, 2023 | Pest Control
Tennessee Pest Control: Spring Pests
Spring season brings fresh air, warmer weather, and pests! Because of spring’s climate, household pests, including ants, roaches, mosquitoes, termites, rodents, and other pests start emerging from hibernation, looking for a food source and a place to nest. Before these pests emerge in droves, now is the perfect time to prevent them. Check out our tips on keeping unwanted spring pests away from your Tennessee home!
Seal All Entry Points
The smallest crack, crevice, or hole can let pests inside your home. Check around the exterior of your home, including your foundation, pipes, windows, doors, and HVAC units for these areas. Cockroaches, rodents, wasps, ants, and more will gain access and cause several problems in your home. If you notice any openings, seal them tightly with caulk. For doors, consider utilizing a sweep to seal the gap between the floor and the door. Utilize screens on doors and windows and make sure they’re always in good repair.
Eliminate Stagnant Water
The combination of warmer weather and standing water will attract pests like mosquitoes and roaches to your property. Standing water is a major pest attractant and allows them to multiply and thrive, making it essential to remove it. Check your exterior and interior for leaks. Even dripping faucets and loose fixtures can attract pests. Check your yard for any items that could collect water and remove them, including flowerpots, old tires, tarps, toys, etc. Also, consider enclosing your crawlspace to help reduce moisture and control temperatures inside your home.
Store Your Woodpiles
Many pests will utilize our firewood to hitchhike their way inside our homes. Place and store your woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your home. For extra protection, consider placing them in plastic containers with lids and elevate them off the ground to prevent termites and roaches from living in them. Before you bring it indoors, inspect it for pests and brush them off.
Clear Clutter
Starting early on your spring cleaning could pay off in keeping pests away! Consider starting at the lowest level of your home and working your way up to declutter. Clean the floors, dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and remove unnecessary items from your closets and drawers. Get rid of old newspapers and cardboard boxes in storage, as these can attract rodents looking for a place to nest. In your yard, remove old tree stumps, twigs, and other debris. Likewise, rake up all the leaves and continue mowing on a regular basis.
Clean Up & Properly Store Food
Mice and rats are looking for food to survive, invading our kitchens to find it. It’s important to clean your kitchen and safely store leftover food. After each meal, wipe down your counters and clean up any leftover crumbs or spills. On a regular basis, sweep and mop your kitchen floors, and don’t forget to clean under your appliances too. Take your garbage out regularly, using trashcans with lids. When storing food, make sure you utilize airtight containers.
While utilizing these pest prevention tips will always help keep bugs from invading your home, sometimes it’s best to call a professional for extra protection. Your local pest control company can assess your home, identify any sources of pest problems, and provide you with a pest control and prevention plan.
Mar 8, 2023 | Pest Control
Macon Pest Control: Preventing Spring Pests
A household pest is any undesired animal that has a history of living, invading, causing damage to, eating food from, acting as a disease vector for, or causing any other harm to a human habitat. While most are considered a nuisance, household pests become dangerous when they pose a risk to health, property, or lifestyle.
While they can be common year-round, some are common in the spring months. Here are a few common spring pests you can find in your Georgia home:
Termites
Termite swarming season begins in the springtime. Swarming season is when young termites leave their current colony and go off to find mates and establish new colonies. If you begin to see swarmers, it might mean a colony is nearby.
Ticks
Ticks are problematic to humans and pets because they spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. You might begin to see an increase of tick bites in the springtime. The mild winters in Georgia don’t help with keeping ticks away for long, so you should always be aware of ticks at any time of the year.
Ants
With heavy rainfall in the early spring, you can expect to see ants finding their way inside your home. They will begin to search for food and water, which your home has plenty of.
Flies
These pesky pests will find their way inside once the weather begins to warm up. They can spread many pathogens by picking them up on their feet when landing on different items.
Prevent Spring Pests:
- Keep windows, doors, and vents sealed
- Use garbage cans with sealed lids
- Keep plants and tree limbs cut away from your house
- Fix leaks to prevent excess moisture
- Wear insect repellent
- Keep home clean and free of crumbs, especially the kitchen
- Keep up with quarterly pest control
If you’re ready to begin prevention of these spring pests, reach out to your local pest control company to receive a free quote and the best plan of action to keep pests away!
Dec 28, 2022 | Pest Control
Pest control might not be top of mind when it comes to planning for the New Year, but it should be! Get ahead of the game in preventing pests and consider the importance of investing in pest control. Let’s go over some of the top benefits of having a pest control plan.
Preventing Pest Problems Before They Occur
With the help of a pest control company, your home will be set up to properly prevent pests year-round and help to eliminate popular Southeast pests such as mosquitoes, termites, ants, and more. A pest professional will work with you to provide the best plan of action for your home to ensure the health of your property and family going into the new year.
DIY Pest Prevention Tips:
- Clean the Kitchen: After each meal, wipe up any crumbs or spills left on the dining room table, countertops, and stovetop.
- Seal Gaps: Be sure to examine your exterior walls, looking for any cracks and gaps, and sealing them immediately with caulk.
- Eliminate Moisture: Most pests need water to survive, be sure to check around your home for any water leaks and look for dripping faucets.
Dealing with a pest problem in the New Year is never a homeowner’s idea of fun. If you need further assistance with pests, consider reaching out to your local pest control company to get a customized pest control plan for a pest-free year!
