Ahhh, Spring is in the air... and so are the pests! The weather is changing and insect populations are starting to expand again. Some populations can expand right into your own home. Below are 5 common Texas pests in spring and ways to prevent them.
Cockroach
When the weather stays wet cockroaches will try to find ways into your house even though many are native to the outdoors. They may have been living under your yard mulch or under a shed floor, but when it is wet, they want to be dry. The first line of defense is eliminating any “bridges” into your home, like branches from trees up against a window. The next step is hiring a professional pest control company like SkeeterCide to implement a baiting program to eliminate the cockroach population.
Ants
Ants are now more active too. Spring is the time when ants and termites disperse and form new colonies. You might find a few foraging ants in your kitchen, pantry, or around your patio, garbage or recycling containers in March, You might also find new colonies, especially of fire ants, in your yard. Spring is the other best time to control ant populations. Contact pesticides only kill the foraging ants – those out looking for food sources. A baiting program that is responsibly managed is key to controlling ants in Texas.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are the most annoying and the hardest to avoid as they are tiny invisible flying devils. We know you share our feelings. Mosquitoes can carry blood borne diseases that can be passed to humans. Companies like SkeeterCide use fogging techniques that get into every nook and cranny of your yard. Below are a few ways to protect your family from mosquitoes.
Remove all sources of standing water
Trim shrubs and keep lawn mowed
Clear away yard debris
Spiders
No one likes spiders. Period. Some spider bites can eat away at your skin like a brown recluse and others are just creepy looking. Here are a few ways to prevent spiders from creeping out your day.
Seal cracks and crevices around the outside of your home, especially areas where utility pipes enter the home.
Eradicate all moisture sites, including clogged drains and leaking pipes.
Store food in airtight containers and dispose of trash on a regular basis in sealed receptacles.
Fleas
As the weather starts to warm up fleas start to emerge again. They lay eggs in soil or on animals. Flea hatching causes fleas to emerge by the hundreds as soon as it begins to warm. This is because animals are prowling about looking for food and fleas love animals. Fleas will happily use you as a vehicle to enter your home. They jump on your shoes and pants and as you get in the house, they jump off and find a pet or carpeting in which to lay eggs. Fleas like shade so keep your trees trimmed and your grass mowed to reduce them.
We hope these quick tips help your reduce the amount of pests in your life. Contact your local pest control company for questions and treatment options.