Common Pests During the Summer

Summertime brings with it the thrill of the outdoors. Unfortunately, it also brings with it pests. More of these critters emerge from their hibernation during the summer and come out looking for food. Pests like ticks and fleas come out because the warm, moist air allows for them to morph to another stage in their life cycle. They come out from their hiding places feeling fresh and hungry for a host to feed on.

Yes, they are creatures that play a part in the ecosystem of your home, but this does not mean that they can be a terrible inconvenience! Summertime is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to get out of the house and let pest control services take care of these little nuisance.

What are Pests?

Pests are destructive critters that attack and disrupts the harmony of the home. They can bring with them disease-causing micro-organisms and parasites. Mosquitoes, for example, can transmit dengue, the debilitating viral disease carried throughout tropical countries. Pests like caterpillars and grasshoppers attack and consume vegetation. Rats and mice are known pests that eat, damage, and contaminate stored food with their droppings and urine. Cockroaches and flies contaminate everything else and are commonly considered to be extremely unsanitary. Termites cause large scale damage to buildings and establishments because they consume the timbre used in buildings. Ants attack everything else in large numbers. Pests like fleas and ticks cause damage and irritation to your pets and sometimes even your own skin.

How Do We Avoid Them?

One way to keep pests from invading your home is to keep everything clean, neat, and orderly. This is especially true during the summertime, when heat and moisture in the air cause food to spoil quickly when left on the counter. The smell alone will attract hordes of flies, ants, cockroaches, rats and mice. Make sure to store food correctly, like in air tight containers when shelved or on the counter. Vacuum crumbs off the floor, and minimise food exposure as much as possible.

Fleas and ticks are extra active during this time, so make sure that your pets are clean and bathe as much as possible. Check underneath their collars, inside their ears, or underneath their paws and nails for fleas or ticks. Make sure to observe them closely for signs of excessive scratching and discomfort.

Mosquitoes breed almost everywhere, but are commonly found in moist environments. Make sure that your home is free from stagnant or standing water. When outdoors, protect yourself and your family by lighting citronella candles. Plant citronella around your garden and in between other plants. The smell emitting from the citronella plants are effective in diffusing mosquitoes around the area.

If All Else Fails, Call For Help

If all else fails, call for pest control. This is especially true if you find that your home is infected by pests that are beyond your control. Termite infestation, excessive cockroaches, or continuously being troubled by mice and rats that are beyond your abilities to mitigate means that you need the services of professionals to help you out in this situation. When this happens, concede defeat and allow local pest control like Topbest to make your home safe again.