Summer is a favorite season for many of us, but there is a down side to warmer weather. Many pests hit the peak of their reproductive and destructive activities during summertime, so take these steps to discourage them from taking up residence around or inside your home.
Mow your lawn regularly. Ticks crawl up vegetation, waiting to hitch a ride on a passing human or pet. Mosquitoes and other pets love the shade and protection offered by tall grass and weeds. An obvious solution is to simply trim your grass regularly to reduce this environmental attractant.
Inspect your lawn for ant hills. Even a small ant hills conceals a colony of hundreds or even thousands of ants underneath. Since ants spread quickly into the home, be on guard against ant hills and treat them appropriately when you first discover them.
Address sources of standing water. A female mosquito can lay up to 100 eggs at a time in standing water, and they hatch in about five days. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a birdbath or kiddie pool in your yard. Just remember to dump out standing water every few days and replace with fresh water. As for other sources of standing water around the home, such as leaking pipes or landscaping problems, address those appropriately to reduce all manner of unwanted pests.
Remove rotting wood and other hiding places. Piles of rotting wood, yard debris, and other hiding places encourage the presence of pests in your yard. Take appropriate safety precautions when removing these; residents such as black widows or venomous snakes might not appreciate their home being disturbed.
Examine wood structures. Look for wasp nests and contact a pest control expert right away if you find one. Stinging insects can cause pain and occasionally allergic reactions, so they must be removed right away to keep your family safe.
Carpenter bees (not bumblebees or honeybees) can do major damage to wood structures over time. Painting or staining wood can discourage this activity but does not always prevent it. If you do notice small dime-sized holes in wood, consult an expert pest control technician.