As a pest control company, it makes sense that we would advocate for using our service all year—even when you’re not currently experiencing a pest-related problem. Truthfully, we do this because we know the ebbs and flows of pests and that even if you’re not contending with a problem right now, you could be faced with one soon. We advocate hard for pest control all year because inspections, monitoring, and preventative applications solve a lot of problems before they become problems. Let’s discuss why prevention is the best medicine for pest problems that ail you.
Prevention
We are strong advocates for preventing a problem before it becomes one. This means we worry about seasonal pests before they would traditionally become recurring issues. Here are some examples of common offenders:
- Wasps: Summer/Late-summer troublemakers who can ruin a barbecue easily. Solution: look for the nests early in the season. Once found you can treat and remove them before they get large and have hundreds of bees, wasps or hornets.
- Flies: Problematic summer fiends who somehow manage to make their way into your home but just can’t find their way out. Solution: make sure screens and doors are fitted properly. Chronic fly problems can be prevented by identifying the type of fly and finding-preventing that flies specific food and harborage needs.
- Ants: Picnic poachers who take advantage of warm weather to infiltrate your home for sweets and spills to bring the spoils back to the colony. Solution: Minimize the “spoils”, seal foundation cracks to prevent entry and apply timely preventative applications to your home’s foundation.
These are just a few examples of summer scoundrels who can make enjoying your summer difficult. When trying to keep your home healthy and safe, it’s important to understand that you need to maintain your pest control all year. How about “flex” your pest control muscles year-round?
Preparing now for late summer and beyond
Bees, wasps, and yellow jackets are all major summer invaders. Finding and eliminating their nests now can ultimately prevent them from pestering you during your August barbecues. So, what can you do to stop wasps from making nests on your property?
- Removing attractants: food scraps, compost and garbage. Trash cans should have tight-fitting lids. Remove any sweet features around your house, like bird feeders or nectars.
- Keep your home in repair: survey your property and inventory anything that needs to be repaired or replaced like broken panels or siding, ripped window screens, and other cracks. Remove any areas wasps can potentially squeeze into and make a nest!
- Use Decoys: some wasps like paper wasps, are territorial and won’t build in areas where there is already a nest. You can buy decorative nest decoys that can help prevent wasps from trying to move in.
- Sprays or traps: home improvement stores sell various wasp baits, traps, and pesticide sprays. Target locations around your property that wasps like to set up a hive, like under awnings. Always use pesticide products according to the label and safety instructions.
Download Our Guide to Stinging Insects
Enjoy the sunny days of summer instead of worrying about pests. Our team at Graduate Pest Solutions specializes in prevention. 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 service necessary to help keep your home and workplace pest-free!
