With the summer season being in full swing, it is likely that you’ve been spending much more time outside. From summer barbecues to long pool days there’s plenty of reasons for spending time in the sun, but that fun also is accompanied by something not so fun, an increase in insect activity! Because of this making sure you have summer pest control services are essential for being able to enjoy your summer to the fullest.
Why Summer Pest Control is Necessary
You may be wondering why it seems there has been an influx in pest activity in and around your home and there are a few reasons for that! Some of the key factors causing this increase are:
Daylight
Summertime means that the days are longer and the nights are shorter and these longer days and increased amount of sunlight during the day give pests more time to feed. Because of this, you may see pests more often because while you are enjoying the sunshine these pests are too!
Temperature
The temperature rise during the spring and summer has a huge impact on pests. This temperature change affects the behavior and development of common pests around your home. However, there is a point when the temperature is too high for certain pests. Take fire ants, for example, these insects will go deep underground to seek shelter from the heat while other pests will seek shelter inside of your home. Insects and other pests are extremely active until the tipping point of being too hot is reached, and once this occurs it is very common for these pests to make their way into your air conditioned home. This is why summer pest control is essential for keeping you and your family safe from these insects.
Food Sources
If you tend to spend the weekend mowing your grass then you may want to invest in summer pest control services. Grass and vegetation are much more abundant during the summer and this vegetation creates an all you can eat buffet for many pests. This buffet can lead to an increase in the pest population until the food source has been depleted completely.
Moisture Levels
We’ve mentioned in a few of our blog posts how essential moisture is for the survival of pests. Because of this many insects thrive in moist and damp areas. Another factor to take into consideration when it comes to moisture is how much moisture is in the air as well. Pests rely on this moisture for survival so during periods of drought during the summer these pests will move inside to seek out damp areas for shelter.
Life Cycle
We’ve mentioned in a few of our blog posts how essential moisture is for the survival of pests. Because of this many insects thrive in moist and damp areas. Another factor to take into consideration when it comes to moisture is how much moisture is in the air as well. Pests rely on this moisture for survival so during periods of drought during the summer these pests will move inside to seek out damp areas for shelter.
All of these factors combined are what contribute to the increase of pest activity you are experiencing. Making summer pest control services essential to keeping these insects from invading your home.
Summer Pest Control Don'ts
When it comes to summer pest control there are a few things that you can do to help prevent pests, but there are also a few things that you do not want to do too. Some summer pest control don’ts include:
- Don't give pests a free meal by leaving food and sweet liquids out
- Don't leave pet food dishes out for extend periods of time
- Don't let excess levels of moisture accumulate in your home (especially in your kitchen)
- Don't let your sprinklers spray directly towards the foundation of your home
- Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink
- Don't ignore any cracks or openings that you find around the bottom of your house and your home's foundation
- Don't store firewood and any other building materials against your home
- Don't let your garbage pile up and accumulate
- The most important summer pest control don't is don't try to remove a pest infestation on your own. It can be extremely dangerous and oftentimes inefficient to deal with it on your own.
Summer Pest Control Do's
Now that you know the most important don’ts when it comes to controlling the pest population in and around your home lets talk about the do’s! While many DIY pest control treatments are inefficient and yield temporary results there are some things that you can do in and around your home to prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place. The summer pest control do’s include:
- Making sure to throw away any overripe fruits and vegetables to avoid attracting pests
- Making sure to replace any old weather stripping around windows and screen doors and make sure to repair loose mortar around the foundation
- Making sure you keep your basement, attic, and other crawl spaces well ventilated and dry throughout the entire year
- Making sure to divert rainwater and drains away from the house
- Making sure to keep your kitchen and your counters clean and make sure to store all of your food in sealed containers
- Make sure to remove any hiding places such as firewood and extending branches away from your home
- Make sure to keep all of your landscaping trimmed back and well maintained. This includes trimming branches, picking up yard debris from around your home, and mowing your grass.
- The most important summer pest control do is to contact a professional if you have a pest infestation in your home. These infestations come with an increased risk of property damage and can even lead to potential injury.
Trust the Professionals With Your Summer Pest Control Needs
The last thing you want to worry about during your fun in the sun is bugs. This is why summer pest control services are essential! Contact us today for more information about how we can help you tackle these insects head on!