Sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and laughing with family are ideal activities for summer time evenings. But, summer pests can quickly turn a fun camp out or, evening meal on the patio into an annoying event.
Here are some summer pests for you to watch out for:
Mosquitoes. Of course. When you hear the term ‘summer pest’ these little buggers immediately come to mind. The thing about mosquitoes is that they need standing water in order to survive. In fact, they can’t reproduce without it as the females must lay their eggs in water. Unfortunately, they only need a tiny little drop, and it is impossible to eliminate all water in your yard. But, any puddles, or damp water toys that have been left behind from the day’s water fun activities should be cleaned up, dumped, and rung out. Also, adding box fans to your patio will keep mosquitoes away as they aren’t strong fliers and can’t fly against the breeze. Citronella is a campers best friend and there are even some things that you can burn in your bonfire to keep them away. But, the number one rule is to eliminate the water.
Ticks. These guys are scary because of the fact that they carry Lyme disease. Most often they are found on animals but, if you’ve been out hiking or walking through thick bushes, you could easily have a hitchhiker on your clothes that will eventually find its way into your skin. Ticks don’t fly or jump, instead they just wait for something to brush up against them and they catch a ride. If you are out hiking, roll your pants up or, wear shorts so that you don’t catch a tick in the tall grass. Check your animals before they come inside of your home to make sure they don’t have any ticks on their fur that haven’t burrowed into their skin yet. These guys could easily fall off the fur and onto your clothes when you brush up against your animal.
Summer time is when we have to co-exist with nature more than any other time of year. Some of nature is easier to co-exist with than others. Follow these tips for keeping summer pests away, so that you and your family can enjoy your time outdoors without fear of being lunch!
