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.
Mar 31, 2023 | Pest Control
Spring brings new life, warmer weather, and pests! Because of the spring weather, household pests such as ants, roaches, mosquitoes, termites, rodents, and other pests emerge from hibernation in search of a food source and a place to nest. Now is the ideal time to prevent these pests from multiplying. Check out our tips for spring pest control!
Seal Entry Points
Pests can enter your home through the smallest crack, crevice, or hole. Examine the exterior of your home for these areas, including the foundation, pipes, windows, doors, and HVAC units. Cockroaches, rodents, wasps, ants, and other pests will gain entry and cause a variety of problems in your home. Seal any openings with caulk if you find them. Consider using a sweep to seal the gap between the floor and the door for doors. Use screens on doors and windows and keep them in good condition.
Remove Stagnant Water
Warmer weather and standing water will attract pests such as mosquitoes and roaches to your property. Standing water attracts pests and allows them to multiply and thrive, so it is critical to remove it. Check for leaks on the outside and inside of your home. Pests can be attracted by dripping faucets and loose fixtures. Remove any items in your yard that could collect water, such as flowerpots, old tires, tarps, toys, and so on. Consider enclosing your crawlspace to help control moisture and temperature inside your home.
Keep Your Woodpiles Safe
Many pests will use our firewood to make their way into our homes. Keep your woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your house. To prevent termites and roaches from living in them, consider placing them in plastic containers with lids and elevating them off the ground. Inspect it for pests and brush them off before bringing it inside.
Remove Clutter
Starting your spring cleaning early could help keep pests at bay! Consider starting at the ground floor and working your way up to declutter your home. Clean the floors, dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and empty your closets and drawers of unnecessary items. Remove old newspapers and cardboard boxes from storage, as these can attract rodents looking for a nesting site. Remove old tree stumps, twigs, and other debris from your yard. Similarly, rake up all the leaves and keep mowing on a regular basis.
Clean Up and Store Food Properly
Mice and rats are looking for food and have infiltrated our kitchens to find it. It is critical to clean your kitchen and store leftover food safely. Wipe down your counters after each meal and clean up any leftover crumbs or spills. Sweep and mop your kitchen floors on a regular basis, and don’t forget to clean under your appliances. Use trashcans with lids to dispose of your garbage on a regular basis. Make use of airtight containers when storing food.
While following these spring pest control tips can help keep bugs out of your home, it is sometimes necessary to call a professional for extra protection. Your local pest control company can inspect your home, identify potential pest sources, and recommend a pest control and prevention strategy.
Mar 24, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Florida springtime is a beautiful time of year, with warm weather and blooming flowers. Unfortunately, with warmer temperatures comes an increase in pest activity. Check out our list of common spring pests in Florida and how you can prevent them from invading your yard.
Ants
Ants are extremely small and are known to enter our homes through the smallest hole or opening. These pests are attracted to our food and water sources and can quickly become a problem if they invade in numbers. To prevent ants from coming to your home, it’s essential to keep it clean and free of crumbs and spills. After each meal, wipe down your counters, sweep up crumbs, and take the trash out regularly. Likewise, inspect the outside of your home and seal any cracks or openings in your foundation to prevent these spring pests from entering.
Termites
Termites, including drywood and subterranean, can cause significant damage to your home’s structure. These pests will typically swarm in the spring, so it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of infestation, such as discarded wings near windows or mud tubes near your home’s foundation. To keep termites from destroying your home, place all woodpiles and other wooden materials at least 20 feet away from your home. For extra protection, consider elevating the wood from the ground.
Mosquitoes
Florida’s weather is known for its humidity, high temperatures, and rain, which is the perfect environment for mosquitoes. These pests can be a major nuisance if they invade in numbers, especially during the spring and summer months. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it’s important to eliminate them around your home. Remove water from items such as flowerpots, old tires, pet bowls, and even bird baths. Likewise, these pests prefer to inhabit areas near shade. Make sure to keep your yard maintained by trimming shrubs and mowing your lawn frequently.
Cockroaches
Like mosquitoes, roaches also thrive in warm and humid environments. These pests are looking for food and water to survive, invading our kitchens and bathrooms to look for it. To keep cockroaches at bay, keep your home clean and free of clutter. Clean up leftover food crumbs, mop on a regular basis, remove old newspapers, etc. Likewise, seal any openings in your home’s foundation, and store food in airtight containers. Inspect your bathroom and kitchen for any leaky faucets and repair them immediately.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are known to be year-round pests, but their peak activity is in the spring and summer months. These pests are typically found in hotels or other areas with high foot traffic or human activity. To prevent these hitchhiking pests, before you stay in a hotel room, inspect it thoroughly. Look for signs of infestation, such as blood stains on sheets or mattress seams. After returning from traveling, inspect your luggage and clothing for any signs of bed bugs before bringing them into your home. Wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in high heat, as bed bugs cannot withstand high temperatures.
Coming across these spring pests in South Florida can be inevitable but placing a few preventative measures throughout your home can help deter them away. If you notice more pests in your house than you can handle, consider contacting your local pest control company for support. These trained professionals can help identify the pest, provide a prevention plan, and treat areas where needed.
Mar 21, 2023 | Pest Control
Alabama Pest Control: Spring Pests
Spring is just around the corner and so are more pests! It’s the perfect time of year to begin prepping your home to keep spring pests away. Mosquitoes, termites, ants, and wildlife are common in the spring time, so it’s best to follow these tips to hopefully lessen your chances of a spring pest infestation.
Seal Up Gaps and Cracks
Pests can fit through the tiniest of holes or cracks in your home. Be sure to examine your home for any potential openings in your foundation, windows, doors, and walls. You can use a silicone caulk to seal any discovered gaps.
Store Food in Sealed Containers
Avoid leaving open food containers out in the open where it’s easy for pests to find. If possible, transfer open food containers to airtight containers that are plastic or glass. This will make it more difficult for some pests to chew through.
Remove Moisture Around Property
Mosquitoes and other spring pests utilize standing water to breed. It only takes the smallest amount of water to attract them to your home. Moisture is also an attractant for cockroaches, termites, and wildlife. Some ways to lessen moisture is to clean out bird baths and pet water bowls daily and check for any other objects, such as HVAC pans or old tires that can house an excess amount of water.
Hire a Professional
If you believe that your home has been taken over by any spring pests, be sure to reach out to your local Birmingham, Alabama pest control company to receive a plan of action today.
Mar 17, 2023 | Pest Control
As the weather starts to warm up, many of us look forward to spring and all that it brings. Unfortunately, one of the things that it brings is ants. In the springtime, these household pests become more active and start to look for sources of food and water. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself dealing with an infestation. Let’s discuss the different types of ants you’ll encounter in the springtime and how to prevent them from returning.
Different Types of Ants
- Pavement Ants: These pests are typically found in cracks and crevices in concrete or pavement. They are small, black, or brown, and can form large colonies.
- Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants are larger than other species and are typically black or red. They can cause significant damage to wood structures, as they excavate tunnels to build their nests.
- Argentine (Sugar) Ants: Argentine ants are light to dark brown and are known for forming massive colonies. They are attracted to sweet foods and can quickly become a nuisance.
- Odorous House Ants: Odorous house ants are dark brown or black and emit a foul odor when crushed. They are attracted to sweets and can quickly infest your kitchen.
How to Prevent Ants:
- Keep your home clean: They are attracted to food, so keeping your home clean and free of crumbs is essential. Wipe down countertops, sweep and mop floors, and make sure all food is stored in airtight containers.
- Seal cracks and crevices: These tiny pests can enter your home through the tiniest of cracks and crevices. Seal any openings around windows, doors, and baseboards with caulk.
- Remove sources of water: They also need water to survive, so fixing leaky pipes, and keeping pet bowls and sink dishes dry is essential.
- Use natural remedies: These creatures dislike certain scents, including peppermint, vinegar, and citrus. You can use these scents to deter them from entering your home by placing cotton balls soaked in the scent around the perimeter of your home.
- Call a professional: If you have a severe infestation, it’s best to call a professional pest control service. They have the tools and knowledge to eliminate them and prevent them from returning.
If an ant problem has become more than you can handle, be sure to give your local pest control company a call for a free inspection today!
