Spring is the season when people in cold climates emerge from a winter spent shivering indoors and venture outside to soak up the sun. Unfortunately, bees and other insects work on the same schedule. That means people and bees are often competing for a seat on the same sunny park bench or backyard deck. Some simple tips from experts can help you understand what the bees want, share our open spaces and avoid getting stung in the process.
Before running out to the hardware store for a can of bug spray, try to identify the type of insect, recommended the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Honey bees and bumble bees have thick, hairy bodies, easily distinguished from the sleek, shiny bodies of wasps and hornets. As the weather warms, bees may swarm when a single queen leaves her hive accompanied by hundreds of worker bees in search of a new home. The swarm may clump together and hang under a branch or roof for several hours as their scouts look for prime real estate.
Bees are important pollinators of all the food we eat and the flowers we enjoy, UNH noted, so try waiting a day or two before spraying the swarm. It will probably form its new hive in a hollow tree or other hidden spot and leave you alone.
Once they've moved into a new home, honey bees will start to search for food, according to agriculture specialists at the University of Kentucky. They prefer the nectar and pollen in flowers, but will gladly settle for sweet stuff like sugar and fruit juice. That can create a nuisance for people enjoying a lunch break in a crowded city park, but it also presents some simple solutions for insect control.
Use careful sanitation around trash bins and recycling containers, and you will remove the tempting food those bees are seeking, the UK experts pointed out. Line your trash cans with plastic bags and keep lids on containers. The key is to always keep those trash areas clean, because bees are highly social insects that will quickly bring along their friends to a new food source.
If you must get rid of a persistent swarm, or if a new hive has moved into the hollow walls of your building, call in a local beekeeper or professional pest control service. Try contacting a pest management company like Abell Pest Control for the best plan.
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.
In the summer months, people love to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some even venture to farmers markets where the food is cheaper. However, not only do fruits come home with you, fruit flies may too. Once they've gotten acclimated in your home, they might stay all summer. These pests breed quickly, and tend to spread through whatever food you've got around. They also are happy to join in on any meal you have, be it a sit-down dinner or a barbecue in your backyard. Worst of all, like other flies, they carry disease. Consider these tips on how to prevent fruit flies from coming home with you.
