Each season brings along with it a new array of pests and insects that can invade your home. Spring is no different. To avoid dealing with an infestation this season, it is important you know what pests to keep an eye out for. Following are the most common pests that people deal with in the spring and some tips on how to avoid them.
Carpenter Ants
Along with the warm weather comes carpenter ants. They are likely to come out and find new places to reside, looking for food and shelter. You may find them both outside your home and inside. If you see them outside, they could already be inside your home, as they sometimes make colonies and nests inside people’s walls. Carpenter ants may try to tunnel through the wood in your walls, damaging the structural integrity of your home.
Pavement Ants
As the name suggests, pavement ants usually exist outside of your home. However, they may make their way into your home. They often come in large colonies, so it can quickly become an intensive infestation. Some ways to avoid pavement ants include:
- Clean and clear food from any surfaces in your home
- Keep your food tightly sealed in the refrigerator
- Be aware of items that ants could live under, such as stones and wood panels
Bees and Wasps
Two of the most common insects that resurface in the spring are bees and wasps. Though you will usually find them outside, they may have taken shelter in your walls for the winter, waiting to come out until the weather warms up. One of the first things they will do when they re-mobilize is look for places to make colonies and lay eggs. It is vital to rid your house of bees and wasps immediately. As you are clearing them out, however, try not to kill the bees because they are important for the ecosystem and are becoming endangered.
Spiders
Spiders will also come out this spring from hiding in sheltered locations such as your basement, garage, and porch. Spiders also indicate the presence of other insects, as they come out to search for food. Try to move them outdoors without killing them because, like bees, they are vital to the environment.
