Summer brings the highest volume and widest range of pests to your home and property. You should especially be aware of the following summer pests if you live in Western Massachusetts or Northern Connecticut in towns like Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee. We’ll also provide some simple tips for contending with these pests.
It Wouldn’t Be a Picnic Without Ants
The most common summer pest is the household ant. Seeing ants around your property is a good indication that they might be trying to get inside your home. When in doubt, check the kitchen, bathroom, and basement, but to prevent ants in the spring, be aware of their common access points around and into your home.
Stopping the ants before they get in is a good strategy to help ensure your home stays ant-free this summer! Cut back any branches or overgrown shrubbery that may be touching the house and not allowing air to circulate and keep things dry. Seal or repair any tiny cracks and gaps around your home foundation where the ants could come in, and repair or replace torn window screens. If ants are an annual, chronic issue, consider crushed stone instead of mulch.
Don’t Get Webbed Up
Spiders here in the Pioneer Valley come in two varieties: Web Builders and Hunters. Web Builders, as the name implies, make intricate webs, often in areas with a small amount of airflow, to catch prey. These types of spiders often include cellar spiders or the common house spider.
Hunters, on the other hand, tend to roam about in order to hunt their prey. Often more “scary looking,” hunter spiders are often hairy as well as larger and more robust than their web building cousins. One of the most common hunter spiders found in our communities is the Wolf Spider.
Move trash, woodpiles, rock piles, leaf litter, and thin heavy vegetation from around the home. Spiders love undisturbed areas, especially where moisture and prey bugs may accumulate. Be aware of dark, damp spaces for signs of dead bugs that indicate spider activity.
Tick-ing Time Bombs
Now that we’re well into summertime in New England, many of us have been informed about tick safety precautions. Black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, are one of the most well-known ticks across Massachusetts. They are carriers of Lyme Disease and can pose a threat to humans and pets.
If you’re going to be spending time in wooded and tall grassy areas, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes. Wearing light-colored clothing will make it easier to spot ticks. To keep your yard tick-free, keep the grass cut low and remove weeds, brush piles, and accumulated debris, which will attract rodents carrying ticks and other pests. When hiking, do your best to stay in the center of trails, away from vegetation where ticks may be hiding and waiting to hitch a ride.
We have collected tips and advice in a brief webinar, with Glenn Olesuk:
The team at Graduate Pest Solutions is knowledgeable about every type of summer pest. Call us at 413-566-8222 or contact us with any questions or if you are experiencing a pest problem. We have the knowledge and the services necessary to help keep your home pest-free!
