Common Spring Pests

What are the most common pests you’ll combat in and around your household every spring? Learn more below.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are among the most bothersome pests during spring and summer. There are over 3,000 types of mosquito in the world, at least 170 of them are in North America. Out of these, only a couple feed on human blood, including the Culex genus.

Most are one-quarter or three-eighths of an inch long. There are mostly gray with white, silver, green or blue scales.

Mosquito control begins by removing areas of standing water. The pests lay their eggs in water where the larvae develop, so it is key to empty containers outside, such as flowerpots, pool covers and baby pools after it rains.

Birdbaths should have their water changed, as well.

The pests are active around dusk and dawn, so avoiding outdoor spaces during those hours will help you avoid bites, which can be very irritating. Using a small fan outdoors will also help reduce the presence of mosquitos, for they aren’t strong flyers. You can also use insect repellent, protective clothing and Citronella candles to help ward off the pests.

Lawn care companies can help you treat your spaces for mosquitos, for they are to be found under decks or under tree branches and hedges in the greenspaces.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are named for their nest building. They excavate the wood and form smooth tunnels inside the wood. They don’t eat the wood, only tunnel and chew through it for their nests. A colony of these pests, when mature, contains about 20,000 workers. Larger colonies can contain more than 50,000 ants. There is usually only one functioning, wingless queen in every colony, and there aren’t swarming ants until the colony is more than two years old.

The ants are produced in the previous year, then they are dormant during winter and released during spring.

Carpenter ants vary in size and can be a half-inch to five-eighths of an inch long. Most are black, though there can be brown and red variations.

The only outside sign of an infestation, aside from the presence of the ants themselves, are small openings in the wood surface and sawdust-like shavings. They are more likely to attack wood softened by fungus or have moisture problems.

Ants can get into your spaces through piping, foundation, cracks in your home, attic vents, electrical and telephone wires.

Termites

These wood-eating insects can significantly damage homes and infrastructure. Springtime is when they’re most likely to thrive, swarming after a rain. They can cause damage quickly, so it’s important to combat them as soon as you see the signs of an infestation.

These signs include hollow-sounding wood, wood debris, termite mounts, sagging floors or ceilings, mud tubes on exterior walls, crumbling wood on any structure, cracked and distorted paint, winged insect swarms or discarded wings.

Spiders

Spring is also a time for spiders. Most species are harmless, though be mindful of Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders, for those bites can be fatal. They like cold and dark spaces, like basements and air vents, and they can enter your house through badly sealed windows and doors or boxes.

Get rid of all moisture sites, including clogged drains, and store your food in airtight containers to prevent a spider problem.

Consult pest control and mosquito control experts if there is a pest situation in your home or yard. Some lawn care companies also specialized services in treatment of your lawn for pest and mosquito control. LawnCare.net can help you find a local company capable of managing pest control, among your other needs.