When the weather begins to warm up, many people head outdoors and hibernating animals begin to stir. This is also the time of year when many insects begin to hatch and their nests revive after being dormant during the winter. These insects will begin to make their presence known in and around your home.
As soon as the temperature hits about 60F, many insects begin their life cycle with eggs and larvae hatching and those with wings or webs being more active.
Here is a list of insects you can expect to see during the spring:
Ants: Small black ants, also known as sugar ants, will begin to come out of hiding during the spring. These are the ants you might associate with carrying away pieces of your picnic lunch. If not quickly addressed, these guys can be highly irritating as they will wander around your kitchen and bathroom looking for food and water. Carpenter ants are also black but they are much bigger. These guys like to burrow their nests into wood and are highly attracted to wet or rotting wood, so making sure you don’t have any plumbing leaks or drips around your house is important.
Bees: Wasps and bees are known to lay dormant during the winter time in attics or under the eaves of your house and then become more active when the weather warms up. If you notice a large bee in or around your home during early spring, chances are it is the queen bee looking for a place to lay her eggs and set up her nest. These pests can be dangerous because some people are allergic to their sting.
Spiders: The number one way to keep spiders out of your home is to keep their food out of your home. In other words, keeping the pests that spiders eat out of your home will keep the spiders out of your home. A major food source for spiders is ants, so keeping your home ant-free will reduce the chances of a spider infestation. Most spiders prefer to stay hidden and will avoid interaction with humans whenever possible.
As winter gives way to spring and Mother Nature starts another cycle, be mindful of the insect activity you might begin to see around your home and make sure you are removing any conditions that might attract these unwanted visitors into your home.
