Many of us look forward to spring as a time of renewal, improving weather, and new flowers. We love it when spring comes to town, but along with the flowers, there are some less-welcome annual occurrences–like a proliferation of pests.
As we spend more time outdoors, we encounter fleas, ticks, mosquitos, bees, ants, and other annoying insects. Some will even invade our homes’ interiors and may damage our property.
Mosquitoes and ticks are among the most annoying spring visitors. Mosquitoes are scarce during the winter months, but spring rain leads to increased activity as they breed and grow to maturity, just in time to spoil our outdoor summer fun. Besides causing victims to itch and endure the irritation of their bites, mosquitoes spread dangerous diseases like West Nile Virus and Zika. Fortunately, the incidence of these illnesses is very low in the Tri-City area, but it’s still important to be cautious.
Ticks are dangerous and annoying. In our region, the most common ticks are deer ticks (also known as black-legged ticks), which are known to carry Lyme disease. However, you may also find the Lone-star tick (wood tick) or American dog tick, both of which can also spread diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and ehrlichiosis. Dogs are also very susceptible to tick bites; owners sometimes overlook ticks on their pets.
You can help control the spread of ticks by maintaining an environment that is less appealing to ticks and their hosts. For example, clear grass and brush near the home, remove leaves and other growth waste, and consider fencing to thwart entry by wild and stray animals.
You can discourage the breeding of mosquitoes by ensuring that you remove all standing water around your home. Mosquitoes often lay eggs in water storage containers, planters, birdbaths, and children’s play equipment. Either tightly cover receptacles or regularly empty accumulated water.
Plants like citronella, lemongrass, sage, lavender, rosemary, basil, and peppermint will discourage mosquitoes. Several also smell great and are helpful for cooking.
You can reduce your chances of being bitten by either of these springtime menaces by wearing protective clothing like long pants with leg bottoms tucked into boots or socks, long sleeves, hats, and mosquito netting. Insect repellents will also help, and you can choose natural ingredients.
Consider the benefits of an integrated approach using a professional company like Thomas Pest Services. Your efforts at prevention will help – but will likely only partially solve the problem. Our experts produce superior results using our Complete Care Plan:
We can help you protect your family from bites, irritation, and potential illness while helping enhance your enjoyment of your property as spring arrives and through the whole pest season.