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Come spring, the weather is warmer and it is a time to get comfortable in less-heavy clothing. Spring season is not only favorable for human beings, but also for notorious insects to wreak havoc. As spring kicks in, nature comes back to life after several months of the cold and snow. The insects that come with the warmer weather are not limited to bright flowers and green grass only. They have a tendency to follow their instincts which can lead them into the inside of your home.
The spring-time pests are annoying because they cause great stress and leave people uncomfortable and sleepless. Their presence during winter was fairly mild. This coming season, don’t allow pests to deprive you the peace and tranquility you had during winter. If it gets to that point, look for a professional such as joshuaspestcontrol.com to come and keep them away from your home. Before it reaches that point, here is some information on spring pests that will prove helpful.
Dealing with mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are disease-carrying insects that can give you sleepless nights. They are everywhere, except Antarctica and a few other places that experience prolonged winter periods. Mosquitoes can host various diseases and should be kept away from your home as much as possible.
To keep mosquitos away from your home this spring, observe some basic precautions such as not having stagnant water in your house. If you’re involved in an outdoor activity, try to stay covered as much as possible in activewear clothing for outdoors that covers almost all parts of your body. Alternatively, you can use mosquito repellents such as DEET and an outdoor repeller lantern. In case you start having flu-like symptoms which persist for about two days, visit a doctor.
Clear bushes around your home
Insects can get into your house through trees hanging close to your roof. Once on the roof, they can easily crawl through the vents and get into your structure. Shrubs or bushes are home to insects and once you have maintained a bush around your home, it is just a matter of time before the insects are moving in with you. You don’t want insects hovering around your living room. Actually, it would be good to have a foot of crushed stone around your house that is free from weeds.
Seal crevices, cracks and weep holes
Experts recommend the use of sealants that can expand and contract depending on the weather conditions. You could have used some type of sealant during the winter season to seal these areas, but it can crack again and allow insects to get in during spring. It is, therefore, important for you to go for the right sealant and use a material such as copper mesh to seal off weep holes. Copper mesh is not prone to rusting and it can block insects from passing through wall void areas.
Mix up the mulch
While using leaves as mulch is a good idea, it is advisable to keep mulch around your house dry by thinning it out and turning it over. Generally, insects like decaying leaves, mulch or any other decaying organic matter. Additionally, you will want to time your sprinkler systems well in case they stay on longer. This could make water collect and form a pool that could attract insects, such as mosquitoes.
Do some screen and door repairs
You should repair any screen or door thresholds. Insects will invite themselves in as the weather gets warmer. Some glimpse of light can indicate weak seals. If you can see rays of light sipping through the door in the morning, it means that the weather stripping is not at its best and insects can find their way in.
Clean the gutters
Leaves can clog the gutters on your home and it is advisable for you to get rid of the debris before insects make it their home. Cockroaches will have a comfortable home in gutters because rotting leaves are an ideal hangout for them. Insects often crawl into your home after detecting radical environmental conditions. Insects will always want to move to a more suitable place after their habitat has been disrupted.
Outdoor lighting
Lighting at the front of your days can attract insects to your house. Insects tend to be attracted to brightness and it is advisable to switch off the lights at night or even use bulbs with lesser wavelengths.
Thank you for all the tips. We usually find a few bugs in the house come spring!