Summer comes with a weather that ushers in relief from the cold weather of winter. However, there’s an adverse development that could arise from the warmer temperature: pests.
Pests love to bask in the heat and humidity of summer. Typically, this period is when they become more active and multiply, posing an increased level of pests to humans. The solution most homeowners go for is to hire companies that handle fumigations in Yakima to get rid of these pests.
You need to understand which pests multiply in the summer and how to prevent them to enjoy a pest-free summer.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes remain one of the most common summer pests. They thrive in stagnant water and are highly active at night. Apart from being itchy, mosquito bites can cause diseases like Zika virus and malaria.
Ants
During the summer, ants are active when searching for food and water. As a result, they invade homes through the tiniest of cracks, creating a trail to food sources. A species of ants called carpenter ants can cause structural damage by eating into wood.
Flies
Flies remain one of the most annoying summer pests. These pests get attracted to food and animal waste. They’re the most common type of pest that invades homes. Flies are health hazards because they come with a lot of disease, contaminating food sources.
Ticks
Ticks love warm weather and thrive in wooded areas and bushes. They love to latch onto humans and pets and can transmit diseases like Lyme disease.
How to Prevent Summer Pests
Mosquitoes
To get rid of mosquitoes, you first need to get rid of what attracts them: standing water. These mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, which means you have to resolve clogged gutters and clean out birdbaths.
If you tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, you can use insect repellents that contain picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. You can also leverage mosquito zappers to decrease the mosquito population in your yard.
Ants
Preventing ants from getting into your home is pretty simple. You can start by sealing the cracks in your windows and doors. Next, you have to wipe down your countertops, sweep your floors, and keep your food in airtight containers. This way, ants can’t smell food and subsequently invade your home.
Flies
To get rid of flies, you need to maintain the cleanliness of your home, especially in the kitchen. Start by getting rid of your garbage. You also have to keep your garbage lids sealed so that these flies don’t start buzzing around the food sources in them.
Ticks
To eliminate ticks, you have to keep your lawn mowed. You also need to get rid of leaves that fall into your home since they can host ticks. Before heading out into wooded regions, you need to apply tick repellent to your skin.