Proactive Plan for Pesty Populations
Ah yes…Springtime…the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and insects are on the move. In many aspects, insects need what humans do. A place of warmth and shelter with easy access to food and water. This is how many insects can stay active all year long in the comfort of your home….rent free. As the outside temperatures rise and the days get longer most people start to increase their outside activities. The same thing happens in the insect world.
Bugs such as ants, centipedes, millipedes, crickets, earwigs, springtails, clover mites and others hatch out, wake up, and start to stir in the soil surrounding your home. As their numbers increase, so does the possibility of them invading your home. Overgrown vegetation and exterior areas that stay consistently damp are attractive to insect populations. Interestingly, insects have a unique moisture requirement; the smaller the bug, the harder it is for the insect to get enough water to effectively retain moisture.
Therefore, homeowners should be aware of leaky downspouts, clogged gutters, and landscaping that collects water as opposed to diverting water from the foundation. Even with good sanitation and moisture control around a structure, springtime pests still find their way inside. Exterior pipe voids, utility line entryways, doorways, windows, cracks in the foundation, crawlspace and attic vents, and expansion joints in concrete are all favorite thoroughfares for insects. Caulking and sealing cracks can help block these “pest highways”. But often, that’s not enough.
In addition, a key component is a thorough exterior inspection combined with a perimeter pest treatment with a residual insecticide. A professional pest control technician can apply long lasting materials in a safe and effective manner. These treatments provide a chemical barrier that insects crawl through and are essentially “taken out of commission” before successfully invading your home. Even if they do make it inside, they often are D.O.A. (dead on arrival) from the material’s active ingredient.
Don’t let springtime pests spoil your springtime fun…Permit a Pest Professional to Provide a Proactive Plan for Pesty Populations around the Perimeter of your home!
Barry Bradley
Senior Pest Control Technician
