How the Weather Affects Pests
For home and business owners, pest control is a year-round concern. While there are ideal times to crack down on pests, you can never take out all of them at once. Instead, you have to make sure your pest control plan is maintained all year. With a professional exterminator on hand, you can deal with all sorts of common pests as efficiently as possible.
Many people call a pro once or twice and call the job done. But there’s actually a lot that a home or business owner should do to keep their pest problems under control. Every season, there are a few key points to keep in mind; in this blog post, we’ll go over just a few helpful tips you can use to maintain your pest-related peace of mind.
Spring
During spring, pests reproduce to replace the ones that died over the winter. Their numbers increase, but most aren’t adults yet, so they aren’t out in full force yet. It’s a great time to declutter your yard as well as storage spaces such as sheds, garages, and attics. These are easy places for pests to hide.
Additionally, make sure there aren’t any puddles of standing water in your yard. Many pests lay their eggs in still water, and even those that don’t will use them as a water source. So if puddles form anywhere in your yard, do what you can to decrease them. This could mean moving tarps to storage, filling in potholes, and more.
Summer
In summertime, pests are at their peak. Bugs and critters alike are fully grown and busy searching for food. This means you need to make sure your home or business doesn’t have easy sources of food and water for pests to use.
Make sure your window screens are in good shape this season! Even a small tear in your screens could let pests flood in. Repair or replace them to ensure the summer breeze doesn’t bring you any unwelcome guests. This is also a busy season for wasps, which will build their nests under the eaves of houses. Store-bought traps can only do so much; once wasps and other stinging insects are established with their new nests, it’s hard for the average person to get rid of them.
Fall
During fall, as the weather becomes cooler, pests will search for places to spend the winter. This means you’ll see fewer of them outdoors, and potentially more of them indoors. Homes and other buildings are great places for rodents and insects alike to find food, water, and comfortable temperatures.
Remember to keep up with your yard maintenance as well! Rake up fallen leaves and branches and keep your lawn under control. If you have yard debris lying around, now is a good time to take care of it. Minimizing nesting spots (also known as “harborage”) is the first line of defense against them. Next up is mechanical exclusion — physically blocking pests from gaining entry in the first place.
Winter
Winter is a time when pests either die off or hibernate. This doesn’t mean it’s a time to get complacent, though. In fact, it’s the best time to make sure you’re prepared for the warm seasons to come again. Many professional exterminators recommend scheduling your pest control services during this season. Since pests are least active during cooler weather (and more likely to be sheltering inside your home) this is a great time to build up your defenses and take care of the stragglers.
On top of services from a pest control professional, there are a few things you can do to mitigate pests. Seal up cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior, clear away dead plants, and move firewood away from the house. Remember to check the weather stripping around your doors! It’s not just important for efficient heating; your weather stripping is a strong line of defense against pests that might want to call your home their own. When the weather gets cold, rodents and bugs will look for warmth. It’s important to make it hard for them to find it.
When to Call A Local Exterminator
So, what time of year is the best for calling a professional pest control expert? There’s no wrong time to do so. Any time you notice signs of pests in or around your home, calling pest control technicians is always an excellent idea. Remember that if you’re seeing one or two pests, there could be hundreds or even thousands hiding where you can’t see them. A comprehensive inspection could uncover a lot!
Even if you can’t see any pests, there could be other signs. If you notice droppings, contaminated food, or structural damage anywhere in your home or business, it’s time to call for a pest inspection. For the most effective pest control treatment, it’s best to catch these problems early and act quickly. The sooner you call for professional assistance, the sooner your pest control issue will be under control.
Count on Anteater’s Pest Control Services!
If you’re in the Phoenix Metro area, you can count on Anteater Exterminating to bring you pest control solutions. We’ll treat your home or business against all sorts of pests and give you advice to help prevent future infestations. Whether you need commercial pest control services, protection from residential termite infestations, or any other type of pest treatment, our experienced exterminators are ready to put advanced technology and decades of experience to work for you.
The pest control specialists at Anteater always keep up with the latest in pest control technology so that we can provide our clients with excellent service. Also, our team knows how important it is to treat our clients’ homes and businesses with the utmost respect; our goal is your complete satisfaction. For skilled pest control professionals who operate with skill and courtesy, give us a call today to get started with a pest inspection.