Dealing with pests at any time of year is a nuisance, but problems with insects can become more burdensome during summer. As warm weather settles in for the season, pests make their way indoors in search of food, water, and shelter from the heat. Clouds of mosquitoes can also congregate in your gardens and around your patio, stopping you from enjoying the outdoors. Here are some pest control tips that may help you combat summer’s annoying invaders.

How to Handle Pests in the Summer

1. Seal Openings

Even the smallest gaps in windows and doors are large enough for ants, spiders, and wasps to make their way inside. An exterminator will inspect your home for holes in screens and cracks in your foundation that allow pests and moisture in. Use caulking or weatherstripping to create barriers around doors and windows and repair screens and cracks.

2. Clean the Kitchen

Kitchens are especially attractive to ants and drain flies. They are drawn to everything from crumbs to the smell of trash and ripening fruits, but you can defend yourself against them by cleaning your kitchen daily. Sweep up crumbs and spills, wipe down surfaces, empty the garbage, and don’t leave food uncovered.

3. Reduce Standing Water

If you don’t want pesky mosquitoes biting your legs, arms, and ankles, eliminate pools of standing water, where females lay eggs. Inspect spots in your yard where water collects and get rid of it. Empty flower pots, wheelbarrows, and buckets of water as well.

4. Maintain the Yard

A well-kept yard deters bugs and pests. Tall grass, unruly shrubs, and diseased trees provide homes for rodents and insects. Routine yardwork is a form of natural pest control. Just neatly trim your greenery and cut the grass regularly.

5. Hire a Professional

If you can’t get rid of unwelcome visitors despite your best efforts, contact a pest control professional. They can quickly determine the sources of any problems and resolve them so you don’t have to spend your summer dealing with pests.

 

Homeowners throughout St. Louis, MO, turn to the exterminators at 24-7 Animal & Pest Control for all of their pest control needs. Offering a full suite of services, from bug control and ant removal to rodent control and bat removal, they’re equipped to handle even the most stubborn cases. They proudly assist both residential and commercial clients. Connect with them online, or call at (314) 236-7378 to request a quote.