Guest Column: Don’t Let Pests Ruin Spring

Days are getting longer, flowers are blooming and songbirds are singing – all signs that spring is here. However, spring also brings pests. While all pests play a unique role in our ecosystem, they can certainly be … well, a pest. But they can be more than a nuisance, they can also be a health risk. So how can you protect yourself and your home from pests while still enjoying the beautiful spring weather?

The answer is by working with your pest management professional to implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This is the most effective and environmentally-friendly method for preventing pests. IPM employs common sense sanitation methods to proactively decrease the chances of pest problems before they occur. The goal of this approach is to restrict pests’ access to the three elements they need to survive – food, water and shelter. Here are some tips to help protect you and your family from the most common spring pests - ants, flies and mosquitoes.

Ants

There are only two places in the world where ants cannot survive – the North Pole and the South Pole. They are considered by homeowners to be one of the most serious pests due to the sheer number of invasive species around the home. Many ant species can cause painful bites or stings and carpenter ants can cause serious structural damage to homes. Ants leave behind an invisible pheromone trail that others follow to locate food sources and colonies can range from 20,000 to 500,000 ants, depending on the species. Here are some tips to help keep ants at bay:

• Clean up food and drink spills immediately.
• Rinse out cans before putting them into the recycling bin.
• Keep food stored tightly.
• Pick up pets’ food at night and don’t feed them outdoors.
• Seal cracks around doors and windows, and keep gutters and downspouts clean.
• Keep plants away from your home’s foundation.

House Flies

While most people are more concerned about stinging pests such as wasps and bees, house flies actually pose a much greater risk. As the most common fly species found around homes in North America, the common house flies are known to carry more than 100 pathogens, including salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella, which can cause a range of diseases. House flies come into contact with these dangerous pathogens because they prefer to eat decaying matter found in garbage, pet feces and other organic material. They can then transfer the pathogens from one source to another through taste receptors located in their feet and by depositing saliva and feces when they land. Take the following steps to help reduce flies in and around your home:

• Take out the trash regularly and tightly seal your garbage cans.
• Clean up food and water spills immediately, as well as pet waste.
• Pay attention to fruit trees and shrubs on your property. Promptly pick ripe fruit and clean up any decaying fruit that has fallen.
• Use fine mesh screens on your doors and windows to help block flies out.
• Consider using “fly bags” or fly traps to draw them away.
• Install sodium vapor lights outdoors as flies are less attracted to them compared to fluorescent lights.
• Keep food covered or in tightly sealed containers when outdoors.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes thrive as temperatures climb. They also begin looking for places to breed – which can often be found in your backyard. They only need about a thimble of standing water to breed, so birdbaths, ornamental ponds and puddles from pools and sprinkler systems are hot spots for activity. Not only are these pests and their itchy bites a nuisance to humans, but they also can cause allergic reactions and spread diseases like West Nile virus. Ward off mosquitoes by taking the following precautions:

• When outdoors, spray insect repellent on exposed skin or on clothing. For greater protection, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks.
• Empty standing water in gutters, birdbaths and flower pots around your home.
• Prevent entry into your home by making sure screens on windows and doors fit tightly and have no holes.
• Take extra precaution when outdoors between dusk and dawn. Mosquitoes tend to feed more during this time of day.  

Don’t let pests ruin your outdoor activities this spring. Use these tips and work with a pest management professional to implement an IPM program that will help manage pests and ensure an enjoyable spring for all.

Joseph Russo is branch manager for in Freehold, a New Jersey-based pest management company serving residential and commercial customers. Learn more about JRG by visiting www.jrgpest.com.