Ah spring, a time for warmer weather, sunshine, blooming-plants…and pests! When the cold weather subsides, we often get caught up in the excitement of the season change that we forget about pests being abundant this time of year.
Many pests emerge in spring looking for places to nest and food to eat–which can lead them into your home. To help prevent your spring from being ruined by a pest infestation, here are some common pests to lookout for and what you can do to stop them in their tracks.
Ants
The two most common ant species in the Pacific Northwest are odorous house ants and carpenter ants.
Odorous house ants, commonly referred to as sugar ants, are a nuisance more than anything. They’ll send scouts into your home in search of food, and when they find it, they’ll signal the others to come on over.
Carpenter ants are wood-destroying pests that cause a lot of property damage every year. These ants are smaller than most ant species and they favor damp or rotting wood. When they find favorable wood, they’ll excavate through it to build their nests. Because they’re most active at night and are hidden, carpenter ants are difficult to locate.
There are several steps you can take to deter ants, including:
- Trimming back shrubs away from your home
- Keeping all surfaces clean
- Sealing holes and gaps
- Ensure windows and doors are sealed
Spiders
Most spiders are harmless and don’t have enough venom to cause severe harm, but there are a couple that are considered dangerous in the Bellevue area–the black widow spider and the yellow sac spider. However, the most common spiders you may encounter are the giant house spider, domestic house spider, jumping spider, and the funnel web spider.
Many people often forget that spiders are beneficial to our environment as they help control other pests such as flies, moths, and earwigs.
Here are some tips to help protect your home from spiders.
- Remove clutter
- Trim vegetation
- Fill gaps around the home
- Ensure windows and doors are snug fitting
- Remove other insects, which spiders feed on
Stinging Insects
Yellowjackets and honey bees are the most common stinging insects during spring. Honey bees are considered beneficial as they pollinate growing plants and trees. Yellowjackets, on-the-other-hand, are very aggressive and territorial. If they’re provoked or feel threatened, they may sting multiple times.
Here are some tips to help keep yellowjackets away from your property.
- Remove standing water
- Cover trash cans properly
- Cover any holes in the ground
- Keep doors and windows shut
- Inspect decks, under eaves, and other wood structures as some wasps build their nests using wood fiber
Spring Pest Control in Bellevue WA
Now that you know more about the common spring pests in the Pacific Northwest, you are one step closer to preventing an infestation. If you’ve tried the suggestions above or want professional help, turn to United Pest Solutions. We’ve served the greater Bellevue area since 1960.