Spring Pest Outlook 2018
Happy first day of spring, Tri-County Pest Control fans! While we can only hope that today will be the last of the snow, the changing of the seasons means that we are just one step closer to summer. Warmer temperatures means more time to spend outside, and there are plenty of pests who share the same idea. Keep reading to see what kind of pests you should keep your eye out for and how to prevent them!
Ticks
Arguably one of the peskiest pests of the spring season, ticks are the bane of every outdoorsman’s existence. With their small size they can be pretty tough to spot, and their propensity to carry disease make them a cause for concern for people of all ages. However, with some simple common sense, you can keep the ticks off of you throughout the entirety of the warmer months. For example, if you know that you will be hiking, be sure to wear clothes that will cover your entire body, and apply a bug repellent with DEET in it to keep the ticks at bay. Should you find a tick on your after one of your adventures, don’t panic—just take some rubbing alcohol and some tweezers and pull it straight out.
Mosquitoes
The Zika craze may have come and gone in the media, but the disease is still out there, thanks to mosquitoes. While you can bet on the mosquitoes in our region to not have the virus, anyone traveling to Florida, the Caribbean, or Latin America should be weary about it. In any case, mosquitoes can carry other diseases, but at the end of the day, they’re just a huge pest to deal with. Prepare yourself now by removing any pools of stillwater around your home before the sun really comes out. Once they come out in droves, know that a simple citronella candle, a dryer sheet, or even some mint mouthwash can do wonders to keep these pesky critters off of you.
Wasps
Oh yes, the wasp—one of nature’s most aggressive pest. Unlike the bee, the wasp can sting and keep on stinging, injecting their venom with every strike. That being said, it can be quite intimidating if one happens to land on you, but the one thing you need to keep in mind is the need to stay calm. So long as you don’t swat at the wasp, it won’t sting you. Just stay still or gently blow on it, and it should fly away without any other complications. However, if you are stung, just wash the sting site and put some ice on it, but be sure to monitor for signs of an allergic reaction (dizziness, trouble swallowing, etc.). Unlike the other two pests, there’s really no sure-fire way to keep them at bay—you just have to roll with the punches throughout the spring and monitor to see if a nest begins to develop around your property.
Spring brings in so many more opportunities, but it will also bring in more pests. Make sure that you stay a step ahead, so you won’t have to deal with them all season long. Give us a call today to see how else we can help you have a pest-free spring!
