Summer Bugs and Outdoor Pest Control
As we inch towards the end of the season, some of our least favorite pests are out and about patrolling the outdoors. Wasps, fire ants, and mosquitoes are all especially active during the heat of the late summer and looking for food. Here’s how to help make sure they don’t go searching in your yard!
Fire Ants
A fire ant’s favorite time of year is when temperatures are above 75 degrees, and they are especially active after it rains. These reddish brown to black ants have a stinger on their abdomen, which can leave behind a swollen welt if you get stung. Even worse, some people can be extremely allergic to this pest’s painful bite.
Fire ants live outdoors in mounds under shrubs, trees, and near homes. Fire ants are aggressive and will defend themselves if their mounds are disturbed. This makes attempts at home pest control particularly difficult to achieve without injury. Fire ants are aggressive and will defend their mounds at the slightest disturbance. It’s best to avoid encountering them by leaving the job to a trusted pest control professional.
Wasps
As the days get shorter, it indicates to wasps that they must begin to prepare their queen for the winter and collect more food. Increased collection is necessary due to less food available and more competition during the fall. Because of this, wasps are more active (and more annoying) in late summer and early fall.
These stinging pests can imprint on food sources, which means they will continue to search an area where food has been found, even long after it is gone. They are most attracted to food left outside, in addition to flowers and plants that contain nectar, a sugary substance.
To help prevent these pests, clean up any spills or crumbs outside and keep outdoor food covered. Remember to put any food and drink away before heading back indoors!
Mosquitoes
One of the biggest summer offenders is no doubt the mosquito. According to the NPMA’s annual Bug Barometer®, warmer and wetter conditions have led to increases in mosquito populations across the country. These buzzing insects are most active (but not limited to) dawn and dusk.
Even worse, they can pose a risk to your health. Mosquitoes can transmit a variety of diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and dengue fever. The key to preventing these pests is eliminating standing or stagnant water in and around your home, but there are other steps for mosquito pest control you can take:
- Tightly close windows and doors, and make sure all windows have screens.
- When you do go out, wear mosquito repellent with DEET to protect bare skin.
- Cover up with light-colored clothing, long pants and long sleeves.
- Keep your lawn cut short and your gardens well-maintained.
- Eliminate any sources of standing water in your yard to prevent mosquito breeding. Think places like storm drains, pet bowls, gutters, and baby pools.
