It’s finally Spring in Florida which is a short respite between winter and a very long summer. Families are spending more time outside, enjoying their yards, and planting new things. And it’s usually around this time of year when our phone starts ringing off the hook with new and existing clients who are in desperate need of pest control. Each season has its particular brand of pest problems, but spring takes the cake when it comes to unwanted bugs.
The problem that most families encounter is that they wait until they see their first flea or cockroach to call a pest control company. Unfortunately, pests are smarter and savvier than you realize. Once you see them in your house, they’re much closer than you think. As the weather warms up and we all begin planning our upcoming summer vacations, here are some of the pests you’re most likely to encounter this time of year.
Itchy, Scratchy Mosquitos
Spring and summer are the seasons of outdoor gatherings with friends and family, and the first pest to rain on that parade is usually the mosquito. These pests are more than just a nuisance, they also can pose real health risks. Diseases like the West Nile virus and Zika virus were transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. But the good news is, regular pest control treatments can reduce the influx of these bugs at your next party. Another important thing to note is that there are intermediate, at-home pest control methods you can employ to protect your family gatherings. First, know that mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Look around your yard for any place that may look like an ideal habitat and get rid of it. Buckets filled with water, birdbaths, and kiddie pools are all examples of places where mosquitoes may lay eggs. Also, invest in interventions like citronella candles and fans that may make life more unpleasant for mosquitoes.
Unfriendly Fleas and Ticks
If you’re a pet owner you know exactly how bad the fleas and ticks can get this time of year. Each time you send your family pets outdoors to play you run the risk of exposure to the bugs that live in your yard. Hopefully, you have your pets treated for fleas and ticks already, but those treatments are better at preventing a full-blown infestation than they are one-off attacks. If you want to keep your pets comfy in the yard this year, have a pest control company treat your property for fleas and ticks. Your furry friends will thank you.
Hungry Termites
If you’ve followed along on this blog for any amount of time you’ve heard us go on and on about the habits of termites. These little buggers are often hard to spot until it’s too late and can do a great deal of damage in a short amount of time. As you know by now, termites and other pests love warm damp environments. Two things we have in abundance at this time of year. So, while you may have had termites in your home all year round, the cold weather probably put a damper on their progress. Now, as the temperature rises and the daily rainstorms commence, your termites will get back to work gnawing away at your home. If you don’t already have a termite and pest control service, now is the time to get one.
Yuck-Inducing Cockroaches
Is there anything grosser than seeing the shadowy figure of a cockroach skittering behind your toaster oven in the kitchen? What has it touched? Do you need to bleach everything now? Unfortunately, roaches are in the category of bugs that love warm, damp environments. If we sound like a broken record it’s because most bugs fall into that category. One of many unfortunate realities about cockroaches is that their slim bodies can slip through cracks that you may not even notice within your home. This can make them difficult to control without professional pest control intervention.
There are so many benefits to the warm, humid climate found in the southeastern United States. People come here from all over to get away from harsh winters and enjoy warm, sandy beaches. However, along with all of the benefits of our climate comes the seemingly uncontrollable onslaught of warm-weather pests. But, we have good news for you. With the right pest control interventions, your summertime infestation is both controllable and avoidable.
From our perspective, there are two mistakes that many homeowners make with pest control that keep them from having the pest-free homes that they want. First, they wait until they see bugs with their own two eyes to call anyone. Pest control is meant to be preventative. Having an ongoing service may mean the difference between having a pest-free home and not. And second, many homeowners come to us after they’ve tried to control the problem on their own. So before you head out to your local hardware store for some insecticide, give us a call. Our team of expert pest control professionals will help you get your problems under control so you never have to think about it again.
