Spring has sprung, and so have the spring pests that have been hiding in the nooks and crevices of your house. It is a time of rebirth and the awakening of animals, insects, and pests from their hibernation. Spring is when everyone becomes active. However, it can be troublesome, too, especially with pests and insects inside and around your house. Some of these insects are more of a nuisance than anything else, but some of them are killers.
To prevent further damage to your home, your lawn, your garden, and yourself, here are the top eight spring pests that emerge when the season turns to spring. It is also the time when you should start your pest control program before the pest issues emerge.
1. Ticks
First on the list are ticks. They are creepy arachnids that can cause severe allergies like alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease. Ticks thrive in wooded areas with tall grasses, so keep your lawn mowed all the time. These pests also like to attach themselves to your pets. It is important to ensure that your pets are treated with tick-control medicine to minimize ticks coming into your house. Starting a pest program early will help you negate these potential pest problems.
2. Mosquitoes
One of the most commonly known and hated insects is the mosquito. During warmer days, they continue to multiply until winter comes, and they mature swiftly at temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Once bitten by mosquitoes, red bumps appear on the bitten area, which is itchy and does not look good. Aside from these, they are also known carriers of some of the deadliest diseases on the planet. Diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika virus, and more can potentially kill.
To prevent the multiplication of mosquitoes, cover pails or water containers, and throw away stagnant water, as it is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Most significantly, always keep your surroundings clean.
3. Flies
Flies commonly get in your house when the temperature drops in the fall and continue to lay dormant during winter. Then, when spring comes, they start to get active and want to find their way out of your house. These flies commonly appear in cracks and crevices, banging out of your window. Some are dead, while others are not. Flies are such a dirty nuisance. Aside from being gross-looking creatures, they can also bring filth and diseases. They can contaminate spaces and can lay eggs in the garbage, on your food, or anywhere they land, especially on your food.
Prevent these flies from getting inside your home before fall by sealing all windows and cracks in your siding and gaps, installing wire screens, and keeping your doors and windows closed.
4. Termites
Termites, known as the gluttons of the pest world, eat almost everything made of wood, paper, and much more. Their swarming time is during the spring and after rain showers. Like any other pest, they live inside your home without any signs, so you better watch out for flying termites and mud tubes to avoid a termite infestation.
5. Boxelder bugs
Like flies, Boxelder bugs can stand the cold, usually lie dormant inside your house during the winter, and become active in the spring. It does not pose any threat to humans. However, it can be a nuisance because of its smelly odor. Boxelder bugs can also stain your curtains and fabrics, such as your clothes, sofa covers, towels, and much more. To prevent these bugs from coming into your home, seal your doors, windows, and cracks. These bugs love warm temperatures, especially in warm areas of your home. True to its name, Boxelder, these bugs need Boxelder trees to thrive, so remove them near your house or keep pruning them so that their branches do not go near your windows or doors.
6. Ants
During springtime, ants are everywhere. It is the time of the year when they are most active. They search for food, store it, and establish their colonies in preparation for the future of the settlement and to help young ants thrive. They will always take advantage of the warm weather and the opportunity to be inside your house to find food sources. You can find them within utility lines, pipes, wall cracks, or attic vents. Ants are not fatal to humans; however, their bites can cause itchiness and allergies, and it is not pleasing to see when they swarm in a grain of rice or sugar. In addition, some ant species like carpenter ants can cause great damage to your home if there is an ensuing moisture issue by nesting in rotten wood and damaging the wooden structure.
Always keep containers sealed to get rid of ants, clean your house regularly, and spray ant insecticides. You can also use catnip, peppermint, pennyroyal, spearmint, and sage in problematic areas of your home because ants hate them. However, the best way to deal with ants is to have a regular pest program.
7. Wasps
Wasps have orange antennae with black and yellow markings. They feed on other insects and build nests on furniture or inside the soil. If you are allergic to bee stings, there is a high risk that you are allergic to wasp venom as well. It stings painfully, and sometimes it can be fatal. Handling wasps is challenging, so don't be a hero and call the professionals to manage them.
8. Snails and slugs
Snails and slugs are not bugs, but they are indeed spring pests. These pests are a nuisance in your garden as they quickly consume many leaves or stalks of your ornamental plants. They can leave a nasty mark on your plants and your garden. You can prevent slug and snail infestations by implementing regular pest control. However, if you are a person with green fingers, you can use a copper barrier or another barrier like diatomaceous earth. This will make it hard for them to reach your plants, but it will be easier for you to spot them and eliminate them.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of spring pests is challenging, especially if you are not a professional. They say prevention is always better than cure, so call Apex Pest Control to prevent further damage to your home.
Apex pest control services are focused on pest prevention and elimination. Our team of pest control professionals conduct inspections to identify the pests that are or may cause damage to your home. It is important for our pest technicians to understand what they are up against so that they can provide the best service for your home.
What are you waiting for? Call Apex Pest Control and let our team handle spring pests for you.