It seems like it should be enough to take care of insect control in your crops and gardens, but the trouble doesn't necessarily stop there. Livestock barns and haylofts are prime grounds for pests of both the vertebrate and invertebrate varieties.
We've all seen cows uselessly swatting at flies with their tails. Unfortunately, animals can't get rid of annoying pests on their own and outside of carpeting your barn in Venus fly traps, you'll have to give nature a hand to stop the buzzing insects. Texas A&M University said that the best way to control house flies and stable flies is to remove manure on a weekly basis. The annoying insects like to lay their eggs in animal waste or in silage, so by keeping your barn clean you're removing potential breeding grounds.
Horses can fall prey to a number of pests, such as black flies, lice and ticks. If you find any of these pests around your horses, the University of Kentucky suggested cleaning the animals of excess dirt and dust, and then applying a treatment suitable for horses. Many of the products you can find at the store are derived from plants, and are safe for use on mammals.
Pigs and sheep are susceptible to lice and ticks as well. Often an infestation can arrive with newly purchased animals, so it's a good idea to check your new livestock before introducing them into the herd. Cornell University said that if you find one animal with a pest problem, you should treat the entire herd just to be safe - it's the best way to prevent a wider infestation. If your animals become infested with mites or other pests that cause skin lesions, you should consult a veterinarian before treating the problem.
Haylofts are another prime hideout for pests, some of which can be caught with normal traps. Mice especially like to burrow into the warm haystacks during the winter months, but these can be managed easily with spring traps baited with peanut butter. A more annoying pest is the clover hay worm, which eventually becomes a purple and yellow moth. In the annual report of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, the authors claimed that the best remedy for an infestation of this worm is to thoroughly clean the hayloft before storing additional clover hay. Any leavings you clean out should be burned to destroy eggs hiding within.
A pest infestation in your barn can mean expensive vet bills or damage to farm resources. Proper maintenance is the best way to stop this damage before it happens.
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.
