Common Summertime Bugs To Watch Out For

Summer is a great time of the year. The sun comes out, and the days are longer. The good weather allows you to take up hobbies that might not have been possible or convenient during the colder months. School is out, and you have much more time to spend with your family. Some people even take an annual vacation. Unfortunately there are a few things that come along with summer that are less pleasant. One of these things is summertime pests. It’s useful to know which specific types of bugs that will be around during this season so that you can prepare for them and do anything you can to prevent them from being attracted to your home. Here are a few of the most common summer pests that you need to watch out for.

Flies

I probably don’t need to tell you that flies are much more active during the summer. House flies can reproduce incredibly quickly. They can go from a few flies to hundreds or even thousands within a span of days. They can also be pretty difficult to get rid of.

Houseflies are attracted to a multitude of things including compost, waste, and a variety of beverages and foods that are commonly made in the summer. For example: alcohol, sodas, iced teas, sugars, candies, and meats. We would never recommend you stop buying these things to avoid flies, it’s just important not to leave them sitting out where flies can reach them. If you spill something it’s important to wipe up the spill right away, and use an anti-bacterial wipe or some sort of cleaning product in order to lift any sticky residue.

Taking out the garbage more frequently is also a good idea if you deal with a lot of flies. Flies aren’t picky eaters, so if you leave your trash out and uncovered, they will be more likely to stick around. Buy a trash can that has a securable, air-tight lid and take it out every day, even if it’s not full yet.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can be incredibly annoying. They can also be dangerous to your health on some occasions. Due to the fact that mosquitoes feed on blood and transfer it around, they can also transfer dangerous diseases.

In order to keep them away from your home, one of the things you’ll need to do is check around your house and yard for standing water. Mosquitoes use standing water to breed, so they’re always on the lookout for new sources. Leaky faucets, open pools and lawns with bad drainage all tend to attract mosquitoes. If you have any leaks, fix them as soon as possible. Call a landscaper if your lawn has pools of water that never drain. If you have a pool, cover it whenever it’s not in use, which will also help keep it cleaner.

Ants

Antstend to hide out in the winter because the cold weather makes it harder for them to forage for food. As soon as the weather warms up, they head out again in search of new sources for food, water and shelter. There are a few household items that you can use to deter ants. Ants are naturally repelled by certain smells. Try placing sliced cucumber, mint tea bags, crushed mint leaves, or boric acid near likely entry points to your kitchen and home.