Every summer, families have to deal with the rise in insect activity. For some people, that may mean taking extra precautions to prevent ants from infesting their kitchens and contaminating their food. Ants are such an annoyance to humans because of the similarities in our tastes for foods. This leads many ants to forage in people's homes looking for sweet, protein-rich and greasy foods.
Unfortunately for many homeowners, food gathering may not be the only reason why ants are in their homes. Although some forage inside then trek back outdoors, certain species, like pharaoh ants and pavement ants, will make a nest inside the actual house where the queen can lay eggs to create more pests. Families who discover this to be the issue often turn to pest control services for assistance in getting their unwanted guests out.
For homeowners who are concerned about the damage the ants can do to their home and their pantry, there are efforts that can be taken to help prevent them from establishing a nest in your home.
One of the easiest ways to keep ants from raiding your kitchen is to securely close any food. This means you may need to transfer any crackers, cereal and other snacks into sealable plastic or glass containers. This will stop ants from getting to your food as well as keep it from going stale in the humid months.
Another important prevention step is to close up any cracks or openings, Care2 recommended. Whether it means caulking a windowsill or just making sure the door is shut, shutting off access is an excellent deterrent and can stop an infestation before it begins.
Many websites and blogs have home remedies and insecticide advice for homeowners, but it's usually not the most effective way to get rid of the problem permanently.The ants most people see are only a small percentage of the colony. Spraying your cabinets or countertops where you spotted the foraging ants will only temporarily disrupt the colony, which is likely much larger and still infesting your home or yard. The elimination of the queen and nest is the best solution.Professional pest control services are the best to tackle jobs like this because of their experience and expertise.
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.
