Once the weather turns warm, it seems that your whole outlook changes. It’s surprising how a little sunshine can brighten your day and make you long for vacations and walks through your local park. But, don’t be surprised if a few uninvited guests try to crash your next barbecue. As Dan Bradbury of Viking Pest Control explains, the spring and summer months bring out some of the following pests, which you probably haven’t seen much of during the colder portion of the year.
- Beetles: According to research that has been conducted by the Australian Museum in Sydney, Australia, and many other insect enthusiasts, 40% of all insects can be classified as a species of beetles, which gives you a pretty good idea as to just how apparent these bugs can be. Most are the length of your finger or smaller and are typically dark in color, though there are some variations. Some beetles, like the powder post, are wood-eating pests, while others you may find in your swimming pool or crawling along the sidewalk.
- Carpenter ants: These wood-destroying insects slightly resemble termites, but are generally darker in color. Commonly, they will seek shelter in moist wood, and while carpenter ants don’t eat the wood, they do burrow through it to make their tunnels, which can sometimes be just as detrimental.
- Earwigs: Earwigs are most recognizable by the pincers that adorn their heads. It’s not uncommon to find these bugs inside your home as they tend to crawl in through entry points such as underneath doors, open windows, and cracks in your home’s foundation. Generally they are attracted to moisture, so keeping your home dry is a great preventative measure. But beware, these pests can repopulate quickly so you will need to handle them aggressively.
- Hornets: Hornets are considered to be a type of wasp. As expected, a sting from one of these pests can be quite painful, and sometimes even fatal if you are allergic to the venom it releases. As a social wasp, if provoked, hornets can communicate with the entire nest to sting in defense. So, to make sure that this is never something you encounter, it’s best to leave any contact with wasps to the professionals.
- Ladybugs: Ladybugs are actually a form of beetle, but are usually referred to separately because they are seen as less intrusive and to some as symbols of good luck. As these bugs tend to be attracted to light, they will usually swarm the side of a building or home that is warmed by the sunlight. As a result, they also sometimes fly into your home. While not typically harmful, they can be a major nuisance.
- Millipedes: Generally, millipedes are characterized by their long slender bodies and abundance of legs. They normally live outside and in the soil. But when there are heavy rains or a drought, hundreds of them emerge from the soil. Once they are mobile, they crawl into homes through cracks in the foundation and make their way up the walls or your basement and ground-floor rooms, and into your home.
- Pavement ants: As their name implies, pavement ants make their nests underneath concrete and generally create large colonies. During the warmer months, they will come out from underneath the pavement in search of food — usually sweet, sugary substances. If you’ve ever dropped an ice pop on the ground outside, you’ve probably seen them swarm. In addition to living underneath your sidewalk or driveway, sometimes these ants make their way indoors and will usually nest in the foundation of your home or along its walls.
- Silverfish: Silverfish are small flat, dark insects that have bodies which taper at the end, giving them a fish-like appearance. These insects live in humid areas which is why they seem to be more apparent in the summer. Once a colony of silverfish make their way into your home, they eat away at an abundance of materials including book bindings, paper, photos, sugar, hair, carpet, and clothing.
If these, or any pests, make their way into your home or your backyard, the best solution is to always call a pest control company like Viking who have expert specialists trained to exterminate the problem and keep the pests from returning. Additionally, they may also be able to offer you professional advice for how to keep your home free of these bugs next summer
