Termites and spiders and rats, oh my! These are only three of the spring pests to be aware of as we enter the warmer months.
Spring brings us all to life. Here in Florida, we’ve already been outdoors during the winter enjoying the sun, but the increase in temperature and humidity even gives us a “spring” in our step. Bugs and pests are no different. That’s why a fresh energy for your spring pest control is very important if you don’t want to be sharing your home with the creepy crawlies.
At Heath Pest Control we focus on proactive pest control with our quarterly treatments and on-call service. We are actively looking for signs of pests, treating appropriately, and recommending things you can do to minimize the opportunities for these Spring pests to get to you.
The Top Five Spring Pests in Florida
Carpenter Ants
We had one client who had no idea she had a carpenter ant problem until they were flying boldly around her house. Unbeknownst to her carpenter ants had made a “little” nest in the upper recesses of her kitchen cabinets, you know, the one above the refrigerator that she NEVER looked into.
Spring is a glorious time when the sun entices ants to seek food, shelter, and a place to make more little carpenter ants. In doing so they can cause damage to your home when hey make their colonies in your walls or ,in her case, cabinets.
To be on the lookout listen for rustling sounds from inside woodwork and walls. If you see little piles of wood shavings under wooden items, well, that’s a clue, too!
How do they get there??
Piping
Foundation
Cracks in your home
Attic vents
Telephone lines
Electrical wires
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are an unfortunate Florida reality and when you start noticing them in the Spring you know they are only going to become more prevalent and annoying through Summer if you don’t do something now.
Do I need to remind you why mosquitoes are “no bueno”? Their bites hurt. They itch. And they can make you sick. They can make your pets sick, too!
Rather than resign yourself to moving all activity indoors, especially in the beautiful evenings, because of the risk of mosquito bites, we recommend you claim your space and make it as mosquito-free as possible.
We provide professional mosquito treatments that are best suited for your home and yard, These are usually more effective, cost-effective, and longer lasting than DIY store-bought solutions,
There are some things you can do yourself to stem the flow of mosquitoes by removing their favorite places to lay larvae.
Remove all sources of standing water
Trim shrubs and keep your lawn mown
Clear away yard debris
Termites
Termites eat a lot of wood. They start swarming in spring and can do so here in Florida through the Autumn months because of the higher temperatures.
These ravenous not-so-little bugs can cause a lot of costly damage in a short amount of time. They can be seriously destructive, and it is important to learn what to look for or have a pest control professional test your property and provide preventative treatment even if there are no signs of infestation.
Signs of Termites on Your Property
Termite mounds
Hollow-sounding wood
Bits of debris
Sagging floors or ceilings
Mud tubes on exterior walls
Crumbling wood of any structure
Cracked or distorted paint on wood surfaces
Groups of winged insects (“swarmers”) or discarded wings
Rats
Though rats are active year-round, they start breeding in April to June, and again in October and November. Rats can be a serious problem for homeowners. It is disturbing to find them crawling around your home, not to mention they can transmit a number of serious diseases. We look deeper into this issue in a recent blog post.
Rat Prevention Tips:
Check around the outside of your house for holes or gaps the size of a quarter or larger.
Install metal weather stripping under doors to remove gaps.
Keep garbage cans covered at all times.
Spiders
Spring is here and they spiders are, too! Wondering why? Two primal reasons: food and procreation.
With the increasing abundance of other pests, spiders emerge to take advantage of the feast. They look for ant trails and places where they might “welcome” flying insects.
Spiders also come into your home looking for a cold, dark, comfy place to lay their eggs and set up housekeeping. Some spiders seek damp areas like basements and crawl spaces; other look for the dry spots like air vents, high upper corners of rooms, and attics.
House spiders spend their lives mostly indoors. With the exception of the Brown Recluse and Black Widow, which are extremely poisonous and sometimes fatal (!!!), little house spiders are harmless.
Spider Control Tips
Seal cracks and crevices around the outside of your home, especially areas where utility pipes enter the home.
Eradicate all moisture sites, including clogged drains and leaking pipes.
Store food in airtight containers and dispose of trash on a regular basis in sealed receptacles.
Spray eucalyptus, tea-tree or even peppermint oils around windows and doors. Spiders don’t like the smell.
Get a Handle on Spring Pest Control
We hope this information helps you pest-proof your home for spring, but if you do have unwanted critters in your home, be sure to contact a Heath Pest Control professional to remove them. If you suspect a pest infestation in your home this spring, contact Heath Pest Control today for a free spring pest control inspection to inspect, identify, and treat your pest problem.
Our job is to keep spring pests out. During the inspection, our professional technicians will examine both your yard and your home to uniquely assess your individual needs. We will identify entry points, make recommendations to seal certain areas, and may treat certain areas. There is not a one-size-fits-all guide to pest control. No home or pest is the same, therefore, we find the right solution for homeowners to remain pest-free this spring.