Many homeowners and gardeners see spiders as beneficial guests. They eat pests and insects that can cause damage to plant life, contaminate food and even carry disease. But, despite these benefits that spiders bring to the table, in a retail space they can deter customers and make people feel uncomfortable.
The majority of spiders that are found in homes or stores aren't poisonous, although the black widow and brown recluse are. If bitten, people need immediate medical attention, and that can spell big trouble for a store or retail area. Many species of spiders also spin webs, which can make a commercial area seem dirty or old.
If you own or are running a retail store and spot a spider infestation, you may want to contact your local pest control services. Spiders spend a significant amount of time outdoors, but in the colder months they may make their way indoors for protection, so it may be a good idea to check frequently and consider a pest inspection.
However, if you don't have a problem with spiders in your retail space, there are ways that you can work proactively to prevent them from making a new home and scaring away your customers.
For retailers, the spider nuisance is out front with the customers, but the source may be in the warehouse, storeroom or back room. The National Pest Management Association pointed to dark, undisturbed areas like basements and attics as the most common spaces for spiders to live. This could mean that the source of your spider issues may be on top of that high stack of boxes near the loading dock.
Check these spaces frequently and avoid clutter to prevent spiders from settling in your space.
As the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment explained, spider prevention is often as easy as routine cleaning. Sweeping, cleaning and especially vacuuming can help destroy spider webs, their eggs and even the spiders themselves.
Spiders may be getting into your retail space under the back door or through a crack in the wall. Talk to the space's owner about fixing any minor cracks, holes or gaps to prevent spiders from coming indoors. You can also add sweepers at the bottoms of doors to prevent easy entry of spiders and other pests.
Spiders will only stay where they can eat. If you can eliminate the other pests that spiders like to eat, they likely won't have any interest in staying no matter how great your store is.
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.
Ants can be a real pain, especially in months with higher temperatures. They literally get into everything, whether it's an outdoor picnic, a party or even just lunch outside. It seems like these little creatures are everywhere and can quickly make a good time go bad. One of their favorite spots is near a barbecue grill, so they can dig into every meal you make. So what's a homeowner to do? Consider these tips to keep ants out if you don't want grilled ant for dinner.
