Insects You May Encounter This Spring

Springtime is a lovely season. Leaves appear on the trees, crocuses and daffodils start to bloom, and the birds start to sing and build nests again. Everything that’s been dormant throughout the long, cold winter comes back to life again. Unfortunately, the same goes for critters: common insects that we’d rather not encounter, no matter what season it is. Even though they’re small, they can wreak havoc on your home — and some can even pose a threat to your and your family’s health. So when the snow’s all gone and the temperatures start to climb again, keep an eye out for tiny invaders.

Insects You May Encounter

• Houseflies: Houseflies are so common, you might not even think of them as pests. However, they thrive in proximity to humans, and if you don’t take steps to control them, they can quickly get out of hand. Note that houseflies can transmit more than 65 diseases to humans, including tuberculosis, typhoid, and poliomyelitis, so it’s important to take them seriously.
• Fleas: Yes, fleas prefer to live on pets and other animals — but did you know that they also thrive in rugs and carpets? Although pet fleas don’t live on humans, you don’t want them in the home, making your pets miserable and your home unsanitary. To prevent a flea infestation, give your pets anti-flea treatments, and brush and bathe them regularly.
• Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants create tunnels and colonies in wood and can compromise the structure of your home considerably. Unfortunately, spring is when they tend to swarm. That means that they develop wings and start looking for new locations that are rich in food. If you see even one carpenter ant, you need to be aware that more are likely to follow.
• Termites: Termites are also swarmers, and if you see them anywhere close to your home, it’s cause for concern. A termite infestation can wreak havoc on the structure of your home, costing literally thousands of dollars of damage in a very short period of time.
• Yellowjackets: Wasps, or yellowjackets, sometimes hibernate in the cracks and spaces beneath your home’s roof. As soon as the temperatures rise, they’ll wake up and start to look for a place to build a colony. If you see a wasp crawling around a crack in your home’s wall or disappearing under the roof, you’ve likely got a problem that needs to be treated right away, as wasps can sting multiple times when threatened. Note that you need to be aware of the difference between bees and wasps. Even though you don’t want bees building a colony close to your home, their populations are threatened. Call a beekeeper, not a pest control service, to remove them from your property.

What To Do When They Appear

If you notice any of these pests in or around your home, contact your local pest control company. Remember: Pests multiply quickly, so you need to take action before a little problem becomes a big one!

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