Many people think a bee buzzing around their heads is pretty scary - until they encounter a wasp's nest. Unlike bees, wasps can sting people more than once, and often do if they're disturbed. If you're allergic to their venom, the reaction can be severe.
A nest of wasps, which is constructed of a flimsy pulp-like material, can be built indoors as well as outside your home. They may settle under the eaves of your house, in trees or between railroad ties used as yard barriers. Inside, it's not unusual to find them in attics or spaces between walls. Often, the nests are well hidden and homeowners may not know where they are until they happen upon them by chance.
Still, there are many indications that wasps are nearby, particularly when people are dining outdoors. Wasps are attracted to meat and sweet drinks, two mainstays of outdoor barbecues. These flying pests are also very persistent, so it's not unusual for them to continuously buzz around for as long as food is available. The only way to thwart their efforts is to keep food in sealed containers or use mesh, bug-proof food domes to keep wasps out of your food.
Once a meal is over, there are other concerns. Wasps will also seek out discarded food in trash, so it's important to use garbage bins that have secure tops and to place them some distance from your home. Putting some space between the bins and your house will also lessen the chance that wasps will enter your dwelling.
If wasps enter your house, they will seek out food there. Putting away food and drinks that attract them is good pest management, but keeping outside doors closed is more important to prevent wasps from entering your home in the first place.
Because there's real danger of stings if a wasp nest is disturbed, homeowners who tackle this task themselves may not be able to finish the job or could get stung in the process. The result is that they will end up hurt and there will still be a nest on their premises.
That's why it's best to let a professional pest control service like Abell Pest Controlhandle a wasp infestation. The professionals have the equipment, proper chemicals and know-how to get the problem solved without putting your family in danger. The experts know where to look if the nest's location hasn't been uncovered yet, and they can also advise you on how to limit the possibility of a recurrence.
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.
