As seasons change, so do pests that come unwanted in our homes. Different seasons mean different pests as there are insects that prefer warm weather such as in spring and summer when there’s a good time to reproduce and feed, while others invade our houses to avoid the coldness of winter. The way you handle pest control can depend on the time of the year and the types of insects that surge on that particular time.
Ants, for instance, are very commonplace insects that count on their strength in numbers. They are a social species, so when you see a few, you can infer that there’s a larger colony hiding somewhere in your property. Ants love sugar, plant materials, and even leftover food from humans. Meanwhile, cockroaches are known to be resilient, persistent, and very adaptive. They are nocturnal, coming out at night to find food and water, and extremely skilled in hiding in nooks. With these pieces of information in mind, here are some ways you can execute ant control and cockroach removal, in time for or despite the season.
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Keep Food Sources Stocked Away
In spring, when the weather is warm and temperatures increase, ants trek farther and farther away from their colony until they reach the insides of our homes. They seek higher ground when it rains, too, that’s why they take shelter with us. But their major goal is to forage into our houses looking for food. Cockroaches also come out of hiding, especially at night, because they, too, need food to survive. That’s why you should place food in airtight containers, and whenever possible, store in the refrigerator unsealable food products. When you go out and enjoy the summer sun, don’t leave sweet items outdoors as this will attract both ants and roaches; immediately clean up your tray of ice cream.
Moreover, another reason why your mother taught you to eat only at the dining table is so that there’s a limited space for food consumption and if ever ants or other insects infiltrate, it’s contained to that area with food. Inspect your cupboards and pantries for insects. And don’t forget to put even your pet’s food away after they eat, or you can invest in a bug-proof container that allows your dogs or cats to eat from the bowl while still keeping insects out.
Clean Up Clutter
Cockroaches love clutter. Ants go where there are leftovers. This is why it’s important that you frequently monitor the surroundings for spills and crumbs and immediately wipe them clean, and you keep your storage closets and common spaces free of clutter. It will be helpful as well to not have the sink filled with unwashed plates with food particles.
In summertime when friends and families like to go outside and have fun under the sun, outdoor activities like barbecues and picnics leave a possibility of trails of food that attract pests. But you can keep them at bay by picking up trash and cleaning your area. On the other hand, fall is the perfect time to treat your landscaping by pruning and trimming trees and shrubs that have overgrown. You should also rake any piles of leaves and debris.
Do Proper Waste Management
In the summer, heat can intensify odors and attract pesky creatures. Heavy rainfalls can also cause water to build up inside trash cans. So, your garbage is kept in the proper bins, taken out everyday, and these should be placed in containers with lids that tightly fit. Also, don’t forget to rinse out your trash cans to avoid filth accumulation at the bottom, which is preferred by ants and cockroaches alike.
Close Up Leaks and other Entry Points
Cockroaches are common pests that migrate indoors during the fall, seeking warmth because they can’t survive cold temperatures. Other insects will do this, too, so make sure that you seal up all available entry points. Investigate your house walls for cracks and crevices and apply weather-resistant sealant on them. You can also use weather stripping for windows, and caulk for exposed pipes or conduits. Also check out holes and gaps in your floors, sidings, garages, and foundation so as to keep unwanted guests out. Look for potential entries in your roof, where strong winds might’ve created cracked shingles and opened a way for insects to sneak in. Keep your plumbing and drains empty as cockroaches and other pests are known to hide there.
Keep it Dry
Several insects, such as ants, are good at thriving in wet places, which is why it’s important for you to eliminate any standing water from your home’s bases. If there’s no moist area, there wouldn’t be breeding grounds for these pests. Also maintain your basements, cellars and attics to be dry and well ventilated so that moisture doesn’t grow in the foundations of your home.
Use Pesticide-Free Repellants
You can get ants out naturally with the use of natural, no-chemical ingredients. Ants do not like certain smells like vinegar, which is great for disinfection, as well. You can even use spices from your pantry such as black pepper, cinnamon, mint, red chili powder, and turmeric, and many others, and you can leave cucumber peels 一 and ants will shy away from these! Even something as simple as soapy water can help you do ant control. Cockroach removal can likewise be done with simple things you can find in your own kitchen, like sugar or cocoa, and mix it with another component that’s lethal to roaches but harmless to your family, such as diatomaceous earth.
Let the Experts Handle It
No matter how prepared you are, sometimes things just don’t go according to plan. But professional pest controllers have the best knowledge to deal with any and all types of infestations, regardless of season. You can consult them for what to do depending on the type of insect you’re encountering, or you can ask them to do your work for you and even more effectively so.
No two kinds of pests are exactly the same, and not all seasons bring out the exact same insects. But your efforts at stowing away food, maintaining cleanliness, proper waste management, and keeping moisture away, resorting to human-friendly repellants, and asking help from professionals can go a long way for ant control and cockroach removal, and keeping seasonal pests away, in general.