One of the things that people look forward to most when they attend a barbecue is meat cooked right off the grill and doused with a delectable, sweet barbecue sauce. Unfortunately, bugs look for the same thing when they're intruding on your outdoor gatherings.
There are insects and certainly rodents who would be happy to carry off a well-sauced piece of meat from the patio grill. But they're also satisfied if you leave dropped food and spills for them to lap up on your deck or patio. Protein and sugar are among the favorite foods of many pests, including some you might not expect. While they're best known for burrowing into wood, for instance, carpenter ants are also partial to sweet foods and meat.
Whenever you're grilling outdoors, keeping food covered is paramount if you don't want to draw pests to your outdoor living space. If they infiltrate that area, which is usually close if not attached to the house, they could have easy access to your stored food indoors.
If you've done what you can to rid your barbecue area and there are still wasps, mosquitoes, ants - the most common pests surrounding outdoor food areas - as well as any other pests, it's a good idea to call a pest control service like Abell Pest Control. They can treat the problem you have and recommend ways to prevent repeat infestations.
Keeping the grill clean is a mandatory part of good pest management. Even when it's covered, any drips from the grill surface will draw pests to the appliance and into your living space.
Having the lid closed and a plastic cover over the grill when it isn't being used will provide extra protection against a pest infestation. Covering the grill is important whether or not it's in use because any bugs that wander onto it may carry bacteria and diseases onto the surface.
However, if the grill itself isn't clean, these precautions will have little effect. It should be scrubbed with a sturdy brush after every grilling, including the burners. They can be detached and brushed thoroughly.
The searing plates, grills, base and sides of the grill as well as the outside can be washed with hot, soapy water to remove grease and food particles. A spatula is needed to scrape all the grease from the inside of the base to the drip pan, which should be removed and washed. Grilling surfaces can be re-seasoned with a little olive oil.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
