7 Tips for Avoiding Summer Pest Problems
Summertime can put your property at risk of having some serious pest problems. Certain pests are common this time of year, such as ants, rodents, mosquitoes, cockroaches and wasps. Find out what steps you should take to protect your home from summer pests.
Block Entry Points
Pests can easily get into your home through cracks and other entry points, such as holes in screens or gaps around doors and windows. Check around your home for any possible entry points that bugs and other pests could use to get inside. If you find any, seal them up to keep these pests out of your home this summer.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Having crumbs on your floor or counter can attract mice, flies, ants and other pests. Making sure that your kitchen is clean at all times helps lower the risk of having any of these pests around. Sweep your floor and wipe down counters regularly to ensure that your kitchen stays as clean as possible this summer.
Eliminate Standing Water
Standing water provides mosquitoes with the right environment for laying their eggs. This results in a large mosquito population in your yard that puts you at risk of being bitten. Get rid of any standing water you have in your yard, such as in pet water dishes or bird baths. Avoid overwatering your garden as well, since this can also serve as a place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
Take Care of Your Yard
Some pests, such as ticks, thrive in yards that have long grass or a lot of unkempt vegetation. Mice, rats and other pests have an easier time hiding in this type of yard as well. Mow your lawn on a regular basis, pull up weeds and do other lawn maintenance tasks to keep your yard in good condition. You should also trim bushes, trees and shrubs, so that they’re not close to your home’s exterior.
Don’t Leave Produce Out Long
Having produce sitting out on your counter for a long time can attract fruit flies and other pests. Make sure you eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead of letting them get too ripe on your counter.
Store Firewood Properly
Having firewood piles stacked up against your home can invite termites and other pests inside. Store firewood away from your home and other structures, such as sheds. Keeping these piles raised slightly above the ground can also help lower the risk of having problems with termites and other pests.
Call a Pest Control Service
You don’t always have to wait for a problem to come up. Instead, call a pest control service to have your home treated to reduce the risk of having insects or other pests around. Pest control professionals can also inspect your home to find any problems you might not have noticed.
If you’re having problems with summer pests, contact Perfection Pest Control for help.
The Warning Signs of Termites
Termites can do a lot of serious damage to homes when infestations are left untreated. This damage can be severe enough to result in structural problems that leave homes unsafe. As a homeowner, it’s important for you to be aware of the warning signs of termites, so you can get an inspection and treatment. Check your home for the following termite signs.
Mud Tubes or Shelter Tubes
Mud, or shelter tubes are tubes that termites build to provide them with safe passageways to and from their nest and your home. Soldiers and workers use these tubes regularly to travel back and forth to bring food back to the colony and perform other tasks. You might find these built onto the exterior of your home, especially lower in the foundation. They lead to the termites’ underground nest. These tubes can vary in width depending on how large the colony is and other factors.
Termite Droppings
Termite droppings, also known as frass, left by drywood termites look like piles of very small pellets or sawdust. These piles are generally left outside a termite's entryway into your home. Termites kick these out of their tunnels as they burrow through the wood. You might find these droppings inside or outside your home. If you do, it’s time to have professional pest control experts inspect your home and check for an infestation.
Discarded Wings
Some members of termite colonies are reproductive termites, also known as swarmers or alates. They fly into the air at certain times in order to mate and find a place for a new colony. Some termite species, such as subterranean termites, do this during spring. Other species swarm at different times. In general, termites tend to swarm in the evening or at night. You might find their discarded wings lying in piles outside your home or inside it, especially close to windows or doors. In some cases, you might see these termites swarming in the air as they take flight.
Visibly Compromised Wood
One of the most common signs of termites is wood that's been damaged or compromised. There are different signs to check for in your home, including wood that sounds hollow, which means termites have consumed a lot of it. Other signs to look for include small holes in wood, floors that are very creaky and doors and windows that stick or don’t close properly. More severe signs of wood damage indicate that termites have been around for a while. Whether you notice minor or major damage to the wood in your home, you’ll need professional pest control experts to treat your home for termites. This helps prevent additional damage to your home from these pests.
If you’re worried about a possible termite infestation, contact Perfection Pest Control to schedule your inspection.