With apologies to Don Henley, forget about the boys of summer. When the temperatures go up and the days get longer, it’s all about summer bugs. Contact Environmental Pest Management if you find your home overrun with pests instead of barbecue guests during the hotter months.

More time outside in beautiful weather means you’re more likely to encounter creepy crawlers and irritating insects. If you want to spend time enjoying the summer weather without pests, contact Environmental Pest Management.

Let’s take a look at the summer bugs you’re most likely to encounter both outdoors and indoors. Some bugs are mere nuisances, while others require some caution.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #1

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes may be among the least popular summer bugs. In the best-case scenario, mosquitoes are obnoxious pests who leave their victims with itchy welts they can’t ignore. In the worst-case scenario, mosquitoes carry illnesses that can make people very sick.

How to Prevent Them

Know the Time of Day

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites and limit the mosquitoes’ numbers.

First of all, know when mosquitoes are the most numerous. Sunrise and sunset tend to be these flying pests’ favorite time of day. Avoid going out during dusk and dawn if you know you have a tendency to be mosquito-nip.

Dress Appropriately

Cover your limbs when you are outside, especially if you’re some place where the bugs tend to congregate. Especially if you’re doing yard work or involved in an outdoor activity, make sure you wear long sleeves and pants.

Don’t Give Them a Place to Land

Ensure that you do not have mosquito breeding grounds in and around your house. Eliminate any standing water, which is where mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs. Any standing water, whether natural or artificial, has the potential to become a mosquito labor and delivery ward.

Use Bug Spray

Above all, the most effective way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is bug spray containing DEET. Of course, any bug spray is probably better than no bug spray, but DEET repellent is the most effective ingredient.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #2

Ticks

Like mosquitoes, ticks’ impact can range from mild nuisance to disease vector, and they tend to bite more in summer. Ticks carry various diseases, but perhaps the best-known one is Lyme Disease. The more you know about ticks, the better you are able to combat their negative effects.

Cover Up

Ticks are sneaky, so you don’t want to give them an opportunity, if at all possible. To prevent tick bites, wear close-toed shoes, long sleeves, and pants when outside.

Avoid Certain Places

Don’t spend a lot of time around wood piles or debris; where possible, eliminate them completely. Additionally, try to avoid densely-wooded areas and thick vegetation. Areas like these are ticks’ favorite hideaways.

Take Precautions

In the summer, bug spray is essential. To get the most bang for your buck when it comes to insect repellent, DEET must be an ingredient. Try to find a spray that contains at least 20 percent DEET.

If you spend a lot of time outside, or are especially concerned about ticks, don’t forget the importance of clothes. Ticks can get on your clothes. In the event that you find them on clothing, put them in the dryer or wash them with hot water.

Finally, when you get back from being outside, check yourself and your family for ticks. Ticks can be very small, so make sure you check everywhere on your person and that you check thoroughly. These bugs prefer warm, dark environments, so pay special attention to joints.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #3

Ants

Ants are probably the iconic summer bugs. Everyone is familiar with the stereotype of ants invading and ruining a picnic. Worse than ants appearing as unwelcome picnic guests: ants arriving as home intruders.

While many types of ants are harmless, they have the potential to damage homes. Some varieties of ants are able to bite and sting, however.

Tend to Your Plants

Don’t give the ants a chance. Make sure that you trim shrubs and branches outside of your house away from your home.

A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way

To prevent ants in your home, seal cracks and holes in your home that would allow ants entry. Furthermore, don’t provide these insects with bait. Pick up crumbs and clean up spills; don’t leave anything behind that might draw the ants’ attention.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #4

Shoo Flies

Flies are some more superstar summer bugs. Flies aren’t just bothersome; flies are gross. These flying insects may seem harmless, but they are in reality incredibly dirty creatures.

When you think about some of the less-savory places you’ve seen flies, you can see why they’re especially undesirable. You don’t want something that hangs out in those environments heading right for your hot dog.

Keep Your House Clean

As with avoiding ants, you can prevent pests like flies by picking up after yourself and your family. Avoid leaving out anything that might serve as bait to flies (and that’s a pretty wide spectrum).

Screen Time

Screens on doors and windows allow fresh air to circulate in your home without inviting in critters. In addition to installing screens in your home, try to keep entryways closed. Avoid repeated, frequent trips in and out of the house, which just create more opportunities for flies to get in.

Prevent Summer Bugs with Environmental Pest Management

Don’t sweat this summer any more than you have to when it comes to summer bugs. If you want to protect yourself, your family, and your home, contact Environmental Pest Management.

We have over three decades in the pest management business. Our commitment to environmentally safe products means you can feel good about choosing us for your pest management needs.

Environmental Pest Management’s dedication means we employ only master licensed technicians with years of personal experience. We value the communities we serve in a service area that spans counties throughout Minnesota and greater Burnsville.

Prevent unwanted and unsafe home infestations with Environmental Pest Management.

The shift from winter to spring brings many changes to the world around you. Temperatures rise, and flowers bloom—a time for new beginnings.

Spring is a time for exploration and renewal. It’s important to realize that you won’t be the only one eager to get around and adventure!

One thing to be aware of when transitioning into the new season is the critters that like to come out as well. Various animals and bugs could crawl into your home, which will cause trouble for you and your home down the road.

Of course, you want to know the difference between “good” bugs and “bad” bugs. Check here for what to look for.

Tackle these spring pests by knowing where to look, and what to do when you find them. You don’t have to fight the battle alone! Contact Environmental Pest Management for professional pest control services in the Twin Cities area.

Cleaning Your Home

The first thing you should do as you prepare your home for the spring weather is to clean everything as well as you can. Bugs and critters love moving into dark, cluttered areas, and any mess in your home will be a perfect place for them.

One central place you should consider looking at is where your food is stored. Everything needs to eat to survive, and these bugs are no different.

It’s a good idea to take out all of the food in your cupboards and off your shelves and physically inspect each item. If there’s any holes in the packaging, it’s time to throw it out! Small animals love to get into food and eat up any crumbs available.

After taking out all of your food objects, consider cleaning the shelves themselves. Vacuum any leftover crumbs and wipe down the area with a damp rag.

You’ll want to remove as much clutter as possible when you’re cleaning. Your closet can be a potential spot for lots of clutter. Remove articles of clothing you no longer wear and make sure clothing is appropriately hung up or stored.

Additionally, if there are items that are especially important to you, you can better protect them. Placing clothes in airtight bags means that they get protected from moisture, humidity, dust, and of course, any pesky bugs.

Where To Look

You may have small bugs and insects roaming around your home without you being aware. Knowing where to look will give you an advantage when dealing with these critters.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the biggest target for bugs looking for food, water, or a damp spot to hide. Because of this, you should be vigilant when inspecting and cleaning your kitchen.

The bug that loves your kitchen the most is the ant. They seek after crumbs and sticky spots, as well as certain fruits that may be on your counter top.

In addition to the recommendation of cleaning out your cupboards of stale food and leftover crumbs, another sneaky spot that ants love is behind your appliances. Many people don’t consider this area because of the difficulty of cleaning it.

These appliances will include your stove, refrigerator, and possibly dishwasher. Pull them out and vacuum behind them to avoid potential ant problems in your home.

Bathroom

Some bugs that love moisture include the cockroach and the silverfish—one place in your home that can often create moisture in your bathroom.

You can remove some sources of moisture by checking on the integrity of the pipes in your bathroom. If you find any leaks from pipes or faucets, you should tighten them back up. Additionally, washing the shower curtain and liner will help with moisture problems.

With that done, the last spot to consider is the medicine cabinet. The medicine cabinet could get filled with clutter and various items you no longer need, so clean it accordingly.

Basement

The basement is an excellent spot for both spiders and rodents to reside. They love it because of the often dark and cluttered areas that are good for hiding in.

To combat these pests, look to removing as much clutter as possible. When storing your items, consider using plastic containers instead of cardboard because plastic is more secure.

When examining your basement, keep an eye out for tiny cracks or holes. It doesn’t take much for critters to find their way into your home, so sealing these cracks is of utmost importance.

Outside

The last place you’ll have to look at is the outdoor area around your house. The outdoors will be where the insects and rodents find their way into your warm and cozy home.

Inspect the perimeter, including your shingles, pathways, and gutters. Keep an eye out for damage, deterioration, and clogs. These can be signs of bugs on your property.

Treating Your Home

The final step for battling the bugs is managing your home and property to avoid future problems. Knowing what to look for and what to fix will help you tremendously.

Upon preparing your kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor area, don’t forget to check the water sources. Pests love damp areas, and a leaky faucet will provide them a safe place to thrive. Check your faucets and outdoor taps for drips and pooling water, and have it repaired if leaks get found.

Whether your pests fly or crawl, a window is still easy to access for them to enter your home. Make sure you have correctly fitting window screens and that your windows get sealed. Old windows may have cracked or broken seals that little bugs can easily squeeze through and invade your home.

Wood is an excellent home for many pests, especially termites. If there were previous leaks or water damage in your home, consider replacing any wood that was left to absorb the excess water. Once the pests move in and start further damaging the forest, the foundation of your home could become compromised.

Your home is an excellent place for not only you to live but many other critters as well. As you can see, there’s lots of options for finding, removing, and preventing bugs and rodents in your residence. You don’t have to fight these battles alone! Contact the professionals at Environmental Pest Management for a free quote and peace of mind.

Tag: warm weather bugs

Most Common Summer Bugs