Everyone looks forward to summer and all the outdoor fun it brings. From Memorial Day parades to backyard BBQ’s, pool parties, graduations, weddings, and more, summer is such an exciting and enjoyable time. Unfortunately, summer also brings with it summertime pests like ants, mosquitoes, and roaches. While we often just think of these pests as an annoyance, they can actually be far more trouble than just a few itchy bites or an intruder scurrying across your picnic blanket. These summertime pests can transmit dangerous viruses and diseases or even damage your home! This time of year, it is important to take preventative measures to protect yourself, your family, and your home from these summertime pests and the problems they present.
Ants
Common backyard ants don’t pose much of a threat other than the fact that they can get into your pantry and invade your food, resulting in food waste. The most troublesome ant problem is caused by the carpenter ant.
Carpenter ants are the big black ants you see in your house; they can grow to ½ inch in length. Although they are usually black, if you see a big red ant, that may be a carpenter ant as well. Carpenter ants can bite, but they usually don’t. The trouble with these ants is that they can build their colonies in your wood, as well as cause expensive structural damage to your home.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are flying summertime pests with long legs and a long proboscis (or mouth part) that allows them to get their blood meal. They are typically less than one inch in length and have a slender body and scaled wings.
Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus, Zika virus, as well as other diseases, which can cause fevers, rashes, and even encephalitis. Reducing exposure to mosquitoes and their bites can help reduce the transmission of these diseases.
Cockroaches
There are many species of cockroaches, most of which are about an inch long and shiny dark brown or black. Cockroaches have wings, but don’t fly.
Roaches don’t bite, but they can still transmit disease. They thrive in environments that breed bacteria such as trash, sewers, piles of feces, and drains. The bacteria that they pick up from these nasty environments stick to their legs and bodies and can then be transmitted to whatever they crawl on, including countertops and food preparation areas. If picked up by people, the bacteria can cause symptoms like upset stomach, fevers, and diarrhea.
Prevention of Summer Pests
These three summertime pests are very hard to eliminate with DIY methods. Universally, sealing up your home (including weather stripping), keeping a tidy house, and eliminating standing water, yard debris and rotting organic material on your property can help keep the populations of these pests down; however, these methods are not known to completely eliminate pest problems.
If you need help preventing these pests in your home and on your property, Big Blue Bug Solutions is your answer. Our Home Owner’s Policy (HOP) protects you from the most common pests, including ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and more! We’ll come out three times a year for maintenance visits and wear our signature blue gloves and shoe covers to keep your home clean. Don’t hesitate to give us a call to help with your summer pest problems!