When it comes to home pest control, there are many creatures to worry about. There are relatively harmless ones such as fruit flies, but there are also destructive ones that can lead to property damage, such as carpenter ants.
It's time to prepare your home for the pests that arrive in abundance when spring returns. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, carpenter ants tend to nest inside homes come springtime. Furthermore, the group stated that carpenter ants that are found indoors during the winter can be an indication of a nest inside the home. Whether you've already spotted a carpenter ant or are bolstering pest management for the change of seasons, carpenter ants are insects that you'll want to be aware of.
Carpenter ants are one of the biggest ants in the U.S. There are a number of species, and worker ants can range from 3/8- to 1/2-inch long, according to the UMN Extension. The queen ants of some species can have wings and reach up to an inch in length. Despite the remarkable sizes of some species, others are small. Size alone isn't a good indicator of whether or not an ant is a carpenter ant. Unlike other ant species, carpenter ants have thoraxes with a rounded surface and a single node on their waists. Furthermore, some carpenter ants are winged, while others aren't.
Though carpenter ants burrow through wood, they don't eat it. Normally, they consume other insects as well as honeydew produced by aphids. Indoors, carpenter ants are happy to dine on meats and sweets. Therefore, it's important to store food properly in airtight containers. This will help ensure that carpenter ants won't be attracted to these foodstuffs.
In the natural world, carpenter ants like to burrow into rotted wood. This applies when it comes to indoor carpenter ants. These pests have been found in moisture-damaged wood under eaves, around chimneys, in doors and door frames, beneath wooden siding and shingles, and inside wood porch supports and columns. Warm weather allows carpenter ants to thrive inside an established habitat, underscoring the importance of inspecting wooden features of the home before spring arrives in full swing.
If you do encounter a carpenter ant infestation, calling in pest control experts such as those from Abell is your best chance of eliminating the insects. Their presence can be widespread and may be housed in several locations. Furthermore, given the range of species, proper identification must be made before implementing the optimal procedure.
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.
