Seasonal Pest Control O’Fallon MO tips can help you protect your home year-round. Learn about the habits of pests in different seasons and take preventive actions to avoid infestations between professional treatments.
In spring, ants are more active as they search for food and water. Store food in airtight containers and clean up spills and crumbs promptly. Keep woodpiles and debris away from your home, as these offer hiding and breeding spots for ants and termites.
Spring
During the spring, pests emerge from their winter hiding spots and start looking for food, water, shelter, and mates. This makes the spring season one of the most important times to focus on preventive pest control, including sealing cracks, removing standing water, and cleaning up food sources.
Rodents, termites, ants, and stinging insects are a few of the key pests that can cause significant damage to homes and businesses. Keeping the grass trimmed, wood piles 20 feet away from buildings, and storing firewood with tight-fitting lids are important prevention measures to help keep these pests at bay. Regular inspections of outdoor areas are also critical, including checking for droppings and gnaw marks to monitor pest activity.
Warmer weather brings a host of additional pests to the forefront, such as bed bugs and mosquitoes. These pests can be transferred from hotels and other places of business to occupants, so everyone needs to be aware of how to prevent them.
A clean home and yard can help deter many pests, as dirt and clutter offer perfect hiding spots for rodents and insects. Be sure to sweep regularly, and keep trash receptacles tightly sealed. Clean up food scraps, store unused items in plastic Tupperware or bins with lids, and keep compost bins closed and covered with a fine mesh to help stop pests from climbing inside.
Summer is the peak season for ant, termite, and stinging insect infestations. These pests are more active during the summer, looking for food and water sources. It is important to seal cracks around doors and windows and remove standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.
A well-maintained yard can deter many pests, as well as provide a more pleasant environment for your family and guests. Keep grass trimmed, and eliminate weeds and overgrowth of shrubs and flowers. Avoid feeding wildlife, as this can lead to larger pest populations in your yard and garden. Store bird feeders, insect boxes, and other food in sealed containers to prevent ant and rodent access. And don’t forget to regularly replace the netting in your vegetable garden.
Summer
As temperatures rise, pests become active again in search of food and shelter. During this time, it’s important to seal entry points and take preventive measures to limit pest activity. Keep in mind that even when you’ve done all the right things, it’s still possible for pests to enter your home if there are any cracks or gaps they can squeeze through. To reduce the risk, inspect your home’s foundation and windows for signs of entry, and use caulking and door sweeps to seal any openings.
Summer also marks the peak season for flies, mosquitoes, and other biting insects that can carry diseases. In addition to ruining outdoor activities, these pests can contaminate food and cause health problems. In the case of mosquitoes, they are notorious for spreading diseases like Zika and West Nile virus, while flies and wasps can trigger allergic reactions.
Ants and termites are other common summer pests. They love to seek out crumbs and overflowing trash cans, so make sure to store food in airtight containers and regularly empty and clean garbage cans.
Stinging insects like bees and wasps can also be a big problem during the summer, especially if they build nests near your home. Make sure to stay away from hives and consider professional bee and wasp removal services if you suspect they’re near your home.
Rodents are another major concern during the fall as they seek warmth indoors. To limit their impact, continue to implement rodent control, including bait stations and traps, as well as sealing entry points, removing fallen branches, and maintaining clean outdoor areas. Stink bugs are another fall pest that seeks shelter, so be vigilant about storing food in sealed containers and cleaning up crumbs to deter them from entering your home. The winter months also mark a key shift in pest behavior as they seek warmth indoors to survive the cold weather. To keep them at bay, inspect for any cracks in your home’s foundation and exterior walls, maintain a clean indoor environment by regularly decluttering and storing food in sealed containers, and install window and door screens to prevent pest entry.
Fall
Pests seeking shelter during the colder months include mice, rats, stink bugs, and silverfish. These vermin can cause damage to your home and pose health and safety risks for your family. To keep these pests at bay, you should monitor your home for signs of infestation, such as droppings, gnaw marks, and bites on furniture. You should also be proactive in sealing entry points to prevent pests from entering your home in the first place.
Effective fall pest control involves eliminating food sources and sealing entry points. You can do this by regularly wiping down counters, sweeping and mopping floors, and taking out the trash to reduce moisture, garbage, and food residue that attracts pests. It’s also important to store food in hard-closed containers and clean out storage areas to eliminate potential hiding spots for pests. Additionally, it’s important to remove leaf litter and rake leaves away from the house as soon as possible to prevent rodents from nesting there.
As winter approaches, it’s important to prepare for the threat of termites and other wood-destroying pests by sealing cracks in your home and removing standing water from your property. Additionally, you should keep firewood piles far away from your home and elevated off the ground to avoid termites and carpenter ants from invading your property.
You can also keep pests from invading your home by installing a barrier around your home to prevent them from accessing it. For example, you can use insect-proof door sweeps and caulk to seal gaps in your doors, windows, and foundation. You should also consider professional termite prevention services to protect your home from these destructive pests.
By implementing preventive measures and utilizing seasonal pest control tips, you can protect your home year-round. Understanding the different habits of common household pests throughout the year is key to keeping them at bay. The best way to keep pests at bay is by being proactive in your maintenance routines and addressing any problems promptly with the help of our experienced pest control experts. Contact us today to learn more about our residential pest control programs.
Winter
The cold weather of winter can bring unwelcome guests, including rodents and insects. Rodents are especially problematic as they gnaw on wires and insulation to create entry points in homes, while insects like spiders can cause significant damage and spread diseases. Fortunately, some preventive pest control tips can help you stop these uninvited invaders from making themselves at home.
Inspect your home to identify and repair potential pest entry points, including cracks around windows and doors, soffits, and vents. Remove food scraps and crumbs promptly, and keep garbage cans tightly closed. Use natural repellents such as citrus peels and scented oils to deter insects, and make sure your home has properly fitted window screens. Fix leaky pipes and faucets, and invest in a dehumidifier for basements and crawl spaces that are prone to moisture.
Seasonal Pest Control Tip:
By understanding the behaviors of common pests and taking proactive action, you can keep your home safe year-round. The best defense against seasonal pests is a combination of preventive measures and routine professional pest control services.