Chances are, spring is a welcome season for those who live in regions with inclement winter weather. However, with sun and fun comes the responsibility of heightening home pest control.
The University of Missouri pointed out that carpenter bees emerge in April to mate and reproduce. There are a number of species in Canada and the U.S., and they're named for their ability to tunnel in wood. Though these pests can be mistaken for bumblebees due to their similarity in size, carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen.
According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, carpenter bees can be alarming to homeowners. They can be found flying around the outside of houses in search of mates. Furthermore, males are often aggressive and aren't afraid to approach humans. However, they don't have stingers. Females, on the other hand, do have stingers, but will only attack if threatened.
Carpenter bees often bore tunnels in eaves, siding, decks, window trims and other outdoor areas of the home made from wood. The entrances to these tunnels are perfectly round, and once inside, female bees will lay their eggs. Hatching and maturation occurs over several weeks, with the pollen collected by the female serving as a food source for the developing larvae. These will emerge in late summer, at which point your house will play home to even more carpenter bees. Furthermore, the UK pointed out that female bees may return to the same site year after year. This means that the damage can be serious and extensive if the bees enlarge old tunnels or create new ones.
The UK stated that there are certain aspects of wood that'll attract carpenter bees, namely wood that's bare, weathered and unpainted. As the weather begins to warm up, it may be time to head outside and paint uncoated surfaces or apply a new layer of paint if the old one is looking worse for wear. For even more protection, keep outside doors closed during carpenter bee mating season.
Should you suspect a carpenter bee infestation or recognize one, reach out to pest control services such as Abell Pest Control. Since the males are aggressive and the females can sting, it may not be a project that you should take upon yourself, as you might not have the proper means or knowledge to do so. Working with pest control professionals will ensure that the problem is taken care of safely, efficiently and completely.
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.
