Wintry weather is at long last nearly over. It’s almost time to think about getting outdoors again. That’s when the kids can run loose, you can fire up the grill and the whole family can enjoy the yard again. But spring and summer are prime time for bugs and other pests as well. Flies, mosquitoes, ants, fleas and roaches are the customary intruders. Here are some helpful hints to help you put a stop to pest issues before they even get going.
Flies need moist organic matter to breed. They like food, food residue, trash and worse. The first step in controlling flies is cleanliness. Don’t leave food out, keep it wrapped and sealed. The same goes for trash. The second step is to keep flies out of the house. Keep doors and windows closed. Keep screens repaired. If necessary fly traps are available.
Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. Get rid of standing water find you see it. Clean the gutters, eliminate old tires, pour out the buckets, bird baths, childrens pools and potted plants at least once a week. Keep swimming pools treated and circulating. Keep screens and doors repaired. Use an insect repellent containing DEET, but read the label prior to applying it to children.
Outside ants, like flies, are always searching for food. Again, sanitation is the key. If the ants can’t find any food, they won’t be a problem. Keeping floors and counters clean will pay dividends. An additional way to slow down ants is to seal your home completely. Caulk every crack and crevice you can find. If needed, ant baits are available. These contain a slow-acting poison. The ants carry the bait back to the next and feed it to the colony and eventually… the colony dies. Finding a bait the ants will eat, and having enough patience, are key.
Controlling fleas is a little | bit |somewhat more complicated than controlling the other pests mentioned. Good flea control requires that you treat the animals involved, the yard and the home… at nearly the same time. The reason is that if you don’t do all three, one will almost certainly re-infest the other two. Many products exist for animals. The Advantage, Revolution, Frontline type products are very effective. Specially formulated boric acid products work very will for carpets, upholstery, and cracks and crevices. Ask your garden shop about products for the yard.
The first line of defense against roaches is…cleanliness… again. Few pests, including roaches will remain if they’re starving. Caulking up cracks and crevices will stop them from entering your home. In case you have a number roaches in your house, roach baits can be very valuable. Be sure to place them in corners or next to walls as roaches will follow walls.
If you live in a location where you have to deal with many of these pests, an experienced pest control professional can be invaluable. Ask what pests they specialize in. some specialize in insects, some concentrate on both insects and other pests such as rats, mice, bats, squirrels and more. When you find a good pest control expert, build a relationship with them. You’ll need them in the future.
Florida Bug Inspectors, a well known Tampa exterminator, has more than 25 years experience solving difficult insect control issues. If you have bugs, call Florida Bug Inspectors.
