Picnics are an enjoyable activity in late summer and early fall. It's wonderful to see the leaves change color while biting into a delicious sandwich. However, bugs are also fans of late summer and fall. They'll gladly disrupt your picnic to get a taste of whatever you've got. Follow these pest management tips to help keep your picnics bug-free.
Consider citrus
Citrus is a lesser-known way to repel bugs, Housekeeping.org noted. Ditch the citronella candles and grab some lemon or orange peels. Scatter the citrus around the edge of your blanket. The scent will deter bugs and prevent them from buzzing near your food. Don't have any lemons or oranges? Try grapefruit essential oil, which will have the same effect.
Put some vinegar on it Vinegar is another handy substance for keeping gnats and flies at bay, Reader's Digest magazine suggested. Moisten a cloth with white vinegar and wipe down yourself or your picnic table. If you don't have any vinegar in your cabinets, reach for an onion, which can also help repel bugs.
Keep rosemary, garlic or mint nearby Unlike humans, bugs aren't fans of these three. Keep bugs away by planting any of these in a small pot nearby. Added bonus - you've got fresh herbs.
Be mindful of your location Bugs have a tendency to flock to any areas with water and no wind. Plan your picnic in environments without these things. Otherwise, you could end up itching while eating. Or, if your picnic is somewhere near water, try to bring a portable fan that you can use to lightly blow any bugs away from your food, without blowing your food over.
Cover your drinks If you know you'll be packing sweeter drinks, such as lemonade, make sure the top has a cover. Bugs are incredibly attracted to sugary drinks and will gravitate toward them. If your drink doesn't come with a cover, use cupcake wrappers and have them sit upside down on the cup with a straw poking through. No wrappers? Use some tin foil and poke a hole through with a straw.
Protect and serve Covering foods while keeping them on display is a great way to protect the food from bugs. There's nothing worse than small ants or fruit flies landing on food. Keep your food free from unwanted toppings by using a colander upside down. Placing it over food is a good way to protect against bugs without putting food away. If the holes in the colander are too big or you don't have one, look for nylon netting or other domed food covers.
These are just a few pest control tips that allow only you to enjoy your picnic. Try a few to find what works for you!
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.
