It’s Time for Insect Prevention

During spring, signs of new life are everywhere. A magical and beautiful season, it also means the resurgence of insects awaiting the perfect conditions to come out and “play.”

All pests are in search of food, water and shelter; the best home pest control is prevention, by eliminating all three of these things. Here are the most common pests and ways to help control them.

Ants

Year after year, indoor and outdoor ants continue to be the top nuisance pest according to our customers, 80% of our homeowners experience ant issues.The easiest way to prevent common indoor ants is by eliminating food sources such as crumbs, sticky countertops and improperly sealed food. Where there is one ant, there is an army! Outdoor ants, and particularly fire ants, are a hazard due to their potentially painful bite. The best way to prevent a fire ant attack is to ensure that you have a regularly scheduled home pest control service.

Termites

Found in every U.S. state except Alaska, termites are one of the most common springtime pests, and these home destroyers aren’t found or treated easily. Termite prevention techniques are incredibly important to ensure that your home doesn’t become their meal, especially since termite remediation is not often covered by home insurance. Some typical signs that you may have termites include piles of discarded wings from their swarms to new homes, mud tubes, and damaged or hollowed wood. Eliminating this pest is difficult. In fact, termite damage costs U.S. homeowners more than $5 billion each year, so termite control is the best course of action to protect your home and your wallet.

Mosquitoes

Nothing can ruin a backyard barbecue faster than a mosquito infestation. Among all disease-transmitting insects, they are the greatest health threat, spreading diseases like Malaria, Dengue, Zika and West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes require water to breed, and even the smallest amount in a leaf or bottlecap can be enough for them to reproduce. To discourage them, eliminate standing water around your home. Mow your lawn regularly, keep vegetation away from your home’s foundation, and clear away leaves. Isolate yourself from mosquitoes during their most active times of day by avoiding outdoor activity during dusk and dawn. Since this isn’t always possible, always wear mosquito repellent with DEET to give yourself a protective barrier. If you’re outdoors often and live in a heavy mosquito area, our mosquito pest control is a great option to make your patio more enjoyable throughout spring and summer.

Cockroaches

Commonly known as “the most disgusting pest,” no one will argue that cockroaches are frightening. While they are not a biting insect, they can trigger allergies and asthma. With the ability to run up to three miles in an hour, they can quickly spread bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, throughout a household. Every home is better off without them! Cockroaches love wet, humid areas, as well as trash and food scraps. Keep your home dry, clean, and clear of food debris to decrease your chances of a cockroach infestation.

Ticks

Ticks are vicious pests. They are actually arachnids and have eight legs, making them look similar to spiders when they aren’t engorged with blood. Once they latch onto a person or animal and begin to feed, they can grow from one-quarter to one-half of an inch long, making them more noticeable. The number of tickborne infections in the United States has more than doubled between 2004 and 2016, from 22,500 to 48,600, and the most common of these is Lyme Disease. The best way to protect yourself is to minimize the risk of being bitten by avoiding tall grass and wooded areas and wearing closed-toe shoes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control recommends wearing insect repellent with DEET, picaridin or IR3535. After spending time outside, inspect your body, hair, clothing, and pets carefully.

Wasps

Fresh flowers blooming means that wasps are buzzin! You’ll find them collecting pollen and building nests in shaded areas on and near your home. You’ll also see them looking for an energy boost in the form of a protein or sugary snack. Wasps can be aggressive, and their sting is one of the most painful insect bites. Even worse, wasps have the ability to sting more than once! The best way to keep wasps away from your backyard fun is by covering sugary foods and drinks, properly sealing garbage cans, and keeping grills clean.

Spiders

They aren’t always itsy-bitsy, but they are always creepy and crawly! Spiders sometimes dodge traditional pest control methods because their long legs prevent their bodies from touching pest control materials. Regularly scheduling pest control treatments will help deter them in your home because there will be less food for them to eat. They can find their way inside through gaps in weather stripping or window panes. Be sure to seal home entry points to help keep this sly pest out, and be diligent about removing cobwebs if they do get in. If you have Taexx, our built-in pest control system, it deters these spindly creatures from the inside out.

If you would like help identifying pests and treating them use this link to contact one of our trained pest experts who are happy to advise you.

For more resources to help with pest defense in your home, check out our video library.