Finding ants in your sugar, beetles in a canister of flour or a cockroach racing across the shelf of your kitchen cabinet is unnerving enough. You don't want to think of where they've been before and what they may have tracked into your stored food. The most unsavory part of finding bugs in your food bins is knowing they've brought in dirt and bacteria with them.
Pests are in great abundance during summertime, and they aren't limited to outdoors. If they think you've got food they'd enjoy - preferably sweets and proteins - they're not going to stay outside if there's a free meal indoors. If you don't catch on to their presence early, you'll likely need the help of a professional pest control service like Abell Pest Control.
When an infestation is underway, home remedies aren't enough. A pest inspection, followed by comprehensive treatment and advice on pest control maintenance, will be needed to evict these nuisances from your premises.
The best ongoing maintenance is also the easiest - keep foods in airtight containers so bugs won't have access to your staples. Check grains, cereals, flour, rice and sugar periodically to make sure nothing's wandered into the container during a time when it was left open. Brush out your shelves around these stored items in case some may have spilled and use a vacuum cleaner to clear out cracks and corners. Discard older, unused products and inspect other containers for damage. Also, clean areas where you store birdseed and dry pet food, which can draw bugs.
In addition to grains, other dried foods are just as susceptible to insect intrusions, including dried beans, nuts, popcorn, crackers, pasta, some spices, powdered milk, tea and cured meats that don't require refrigeration are all at risk. Sweets like cookies, dried fruits and even chocolate will entice pests.
Plastic and glass sealable containers are very effective in keeping bugs out of food, but checking to make sure pests don't have a way into your cabinets in the first place is just as important. Once there, it's logical they'll look for food and be able to smell or sense when it's close-by.
Look for any gaps in the cabinet structure or nearby openings for plumbing and other home fixtures that would allow insects and rodents access to your home's interior. Caulk windows and doors to block their entry and the incidents of pest invasions in your kitchen will be minimized.
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.
