Pests In The Summer

Pests In The Summer

As we enter the warmer months here in the UK we can find ourselves exposed to a variety of pests that can be inclined to invade our homes and provide many problems. Following on from our pests in the winter blog we are going to take a look at the prime suspects you may come up against this summer and actions you can take to prevent them from becoming an issue in your home or workplace.

Ants

Although ants can sting or bite they are genuinely perceived as being more of a nuisance pest rather than a dangerous one. Ants tends to invade homes, garages and gardens with the intent of finding food and to build themselves a nest. They generally tend to enter buildings through air vents and windows and are particularly drawn to areas such as the kitchen where they are most likely to find food.

To prevent them entering your home install airbrick ventilation covers on your air vents, keep windows shut where possible especially during swarming periods and also ensure you empty any bins as often as possible, keep work surfaces clean, store any food in airtight containers and don’t leave pet food out, especially when temperatures are high.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are extremely resilient and it can be very distressing if you find that your home or workplace has fell victim to a cockroach infestation. Cockroaches can cause risks to your health and they are known carriers of diseases such as salmonella, dysentery, and gastroenteritis so it is of the utmost importance that you seek help as soon as possible if you suspect cockroaches have taken up residence within your home or workplace.

If you have noticed an unpleasant and lingering smell under sinks, behind your appliances or in your store cupboard then we would advise that you check for signs of cockroaches. You can actively put prevention methods in place such as ensuring that there are no leaks in your house. Cockroaches must have a source of water so if you cut off their water supply they are more likely to be drawn to gel based baits that you set out. Keep your house cleaned regularly by mopping floors routinely and wipe down surfaces to clean up any crumbs or sticky spots, ensure you take out rubbish regularly, use a bin with a lid and make sure that you keep food hidden and stored away in air tight containers.

Wasps

If there seems be high numbers of wasps in your home or garden then it is very likely that there is a nest nearby, either on your property, in your garden or within close proximity. A mature wasp nest can contain thousands of wasps which is why it is important that you treat a wasp’s nest as soon as possible. It is unadvisable to try and tackle a wasp nest yourself as this can cause the wasps to attack in numbers which can result in some very painful stings which can be quite dangerous if you are allergic.

You can actively prevent a wasp infestation within your home by making sure that any outside bins have tightly fitted lids and keep these bins a clear distance away from any windows or doors, where possible try and keep windows and doors shut to give them less chance of entering your home and make sure that in early spring time you check your home or garden for nests which, at that time of the year, will only be small in size, if found early on a wasp nest is easier to treat. If you find a nest on your property make sure you keep children and pests away from the area to ensure their safety and get in touch with a professional company who can remove the wasp nest safely.

Bed Bugs

Despite their name, bed bugs can also be found in cracks and crevices in your home but are so named as they like to live close to a food source. They feed on human blood making a bed the perfect home for them and can prove very difficult to control due to their ability to spread very quickly. Bed bug bites can be very irritating and in some cases, can result in a secondary infection due to the constant scratching. It is highly advised to employ the services of a professional bed bug control company to ensure the bed bug infestation is completely eradicated.

To try and prevent bed bugs from making themselves at home in your bed use protective covers on your mattresses, make sure you vacuum your carpets and rugs at least once a week and make sure you clear out any clutter to give bed bugs less places to hide. There has been a surge of bed bugs over recent years that has been put down to the increase in international travel as bed bugs are known to travel in luggage and clothing so, if you’re going away, be sure to check your accommodation for signs of bed bugs, keep your luggage away from your bed, upon your return home make sure you wash all of your clothes immediately and run through a dryer on high heat or alternatively place clothes that can’t be heated in to a cold area such as the freezer and run the vacuum over the inside of your suitcase or bag.

Flies

There are over 12,000 species of flies in the world and they are considered a pest due to the fact they can carry a wide selection of diseases such as salmonella and E.coli. Flies can also cause food poisoning as they infest meat and other food products. Flies can infest your home or place of work and a few species may even bite both humans and pets

If you find that your house has become home to a lot of flies there are many methods you can take to help this. Fly paper strips, light traps and electric swatters are very popular products when it comes to dealing with flies that are already in your homes, plastic bags filled with water can be used to keep flies at bay as the reflection of the water can prove disorientating to a fly, homemade or shop bought insect repellent can also prove to be an effective method of deterring flies from your property. Certain herbs such as basil, bay leaf, rosemary and lavender are fly repellent herbs so can be quite handy to have on your windowsill.

Make sure that you clean up food and food waste immediately as this can be an attractive source of food and an excellent breeding ground for flies, make sure all food is stored in the fridge or tightly sealed containers, wash dishes immediately after they have been used, keep your work surfaces and floor clean of spilled food and make sure you dispose of food waste in a covered rubbish bin. If you have cats living in your home make sure you change the cat litter often and if you have a baby in the house make sure nappies are disposed of as quickly as possible.

We hope this guide to summer pests can prove to be of help to you and if you suspect that you may have a pest infestation then make sure you get in touch with us here at Contego in regards to our specialist pest control services.