Pests Are Trying to Beat the Heat, Too!

It’s hot and it’s humid; it’s a typical Mid-Atlantic summer so far.  From the pool to beach and to the trusty air conditioner, we all have our ways of staying cool, and pests are mighty jealous.  So much so, that they’ll try to crawl into any nook and cranny if it means the sweet bliss of a cool house.  However, before they get inside, there are several things you can do to keep them out, and if needed, get them out.  Read on to find out what you can do.

Keep them out.

One of the first things you can take up is a very easy way to keep pests out, and to save big bucks on your cooling bill—close all ports of entry.  That means that if you are not walking through the door at that very moment, keep it closed.  Same goes for windows, especially if the air conditioning is on.  Some pests can pick up on the differences in temperature, just from an open window, and then use it as motivation to find a way inside.  Do yourself a favor, and keep these ways in shut.

The same goes for fixing any potential holes in your siding or near basement windows.  These spots are often overlooked when it comes to pest defense, and serve as a great way for these critters to get inside.  Take a walk around your yard, and fix anything that may seem out of place.

Get them out.

Now, there are times that pests can get past your defenses, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up hope.  There are a multitude of ways to deal with an indoor pest problem, all without effort to you.  

If you have flies about, nothing works better than a little bit of honey (proving the old adage “You catch more flies with honey.”)  Put some at the bottom of a water bottle and place it in a spot where you are prone to flies, leaving the cap unscrewed.  They’ll fly in, but be caught down in the sticky honey, leaving free to conveniently dispose of it later.

For ants, the best thing you can do besides investing in some cheap ant traps is to spray some essential oils of peppermint or mint in a spot where you see them.  This pungent smell will disrupt their smell sensors, leaving them clueless as to why they entered your home in the first place.  

Mosquitoes love to fly into your home for an “easy meal,” but you can easily get them out.  Like the fly-and-honey method, you can use an open bottle of beer to do the same.  Either leave it outside near your door (preferably) or a spot inside where they seem to coalesce, and let the mosquitoes do their thing.  Once most have gone, or when the bottle looks full, just dispose of it.

Pests are sure looking for easy ways to stay cool this summer, but your home should not be on their list.  Put these tips to use for keeping—and getting—these pests out for good!  And as always, Tri-County Pest Control is here to bring in the big guns any time you need it.

Enjoy your Monday!