Spring has come! And with the warmer weather comes aaaaaand all the bugs. There are a few things we want to talk about in this blog post because of potential damage to homes. Termites, ants, and carpenter bees are three new spring pests to watch out for right now.
Termites
People don’t believe it, but termites are the number one pest in our area. We see this more often than you might imagine. It’s always frustrating because homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover termite damage. By the time people realize something is strange, the damage has already been done.
Termites aren’t just southern pests. In our winters, they go deeper into their underground burrows and endure harsh temperatures. Sure, our cities have tons of metal and concrete all over them, but termites won’t let that stop them. It’s not just a flooded or rotting tree that they will look to as a food source. It can be cardboard boxes in the basement, newspapers, sheets, books and many other things that they feed on.
How can I be sure I’m free from termites?
In general, if it’s been more than 2 years since you’ve had a termite inspection by a licensed professional, it’s a good time to schedule one. We’ve had a lot of weird weather the past few years and there’s a lot behind the scenes that can be out of sight, but according to one expert, termite prevention and control are where they get the most attention.
Our Healthy Home Care customers automatically gain peace of mind with our free Termite Risk Assessment. Our Service Professionals are trained to identify specific conditions that may attract termites and other pests. This short video shows you what termites absolutely need to survive. Eliminating these needs makes it harder for termites to colonize your home.
Combine Sentricon with our Healthy Home Care service for completely green termite prevention controlled year after year. You won’t have to worry about anything under our watch. This is a Termite Risk Assessment form that our service professionals use to provide added convenience to our existing Healthy Home Care Program customers.
ants
If you see ants, know that you are not alone. When it rains in the spring, the ant colonies are flooded. They live underground. When heavy rains flood streets, back up drains, and flood yards, they only have one direction. And that’s towards land. It should be noted that when ants suddenly appear under the sink in the kitchen or the toilet in the bathroom, it may seem like an ant infestation to us. But literally only a small fraction the amount of ants in an entire colony at an underground location.
Once a pheromone trail is established, an annoying ant infestation can quickly become a major pest problem. Some ants can even cause structural damage, such as carpenter ants. Knowing what kind of ants you’re dealing with tells the expert exactly what steps need to be taken to return them to their natural habitat.
There is no single “cure-all” product for all ants. Just like when we go to the doctor when we are sick, there is a prescription written specifically for the type of disease being treated. Because different types of ants are attracted to different things, there are many different prescription products to control certain types of ants. Our service professionals are highly trained to identify types and determine the most effective long-term solution.
Tired of dealing with ants every year? We can help keep ants and dozens of other pests at bay with our Healthy Home Maintenance Program!
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees feed on nectar, so it’s no surprise that we start seeing these little guys pop up when the flowers start to bloom! They get their name from their habit of burrowing into trees to make galleries in which to raise their young. In their natural habitat, they live in logs and dead tree branches, and around houses they target bare wooden decks, fences and windowsills. They prefer weathered or bare wood to painted wood. Like carpenter ants, the softer or rotten the wood, the more attractive it is to these bees.
Protecting our pollinators
Carpenter bees can damage structures, but they are also important pollinators. What should we do when we need to protect our beloved pollinators but can’t let them eat our house?! It’s all about balance. They were here first. Humans have encroached on their natural habitats. So sometimes it takes a little guidance to steer them away from where we don’t want them.
One great DIY method to deter carpenter bees is to build or purchase a mason bee house and install it in a tree or away from your yard’s habitat to distract them.