Summer should be a time for you and your family to relax in your home, but did you know many common household pests thrive in the summertime? You should take some time to learn more about these pests and how to keep your family safe during the summer months.
Here are some of the most common summer household pests to be on the lookout for:
Flies
Flies love to fly through open doors and windows in the summertime to escape the heat. Flies are unsanitary and can cause illness to humans. To avoid flies in your home, make sure all your windows and doors are properly sealed and repair any torn screens. Do not leave food sitting out and keep the grass trimmed low. Turning off outdoor lights in the evening and night can also minimize the chance of flies entering your home.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes thrive in the warm summer months, especially in a humid environment. Mosquitoes come indoors to find food and will bite humans, causing possible illness and disease. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. You can minimize the risk of mosquitoes in and around your home by making sure you don’t have standing water in or outside of your home. Keep your home free of mosquitoes by repairing any torn screens on your windows and by wearing insect repellent when outdoors.
Ants
Have you noticed that you rarely see ants in the winter months? This is because ants hibernate during the winter and come out in the summertime to feed and store up food for the cold fall and winter months. Ants come inside your home to search for food and water. You can keep ants away from inside your home by cleaning up food debris, making sure all windows and doors are properly sealed, and trimming bushes and trees outside of your home.
Ticks
Ticks can be found inside or outside of the home. Your pet may have fleas or ticks and carry them inside. Ticks carry a dangerous disease called Lyme disease which can cause serious illness in humans. Protect your home by providing your pets with flea and tick collars and by keeping the outside of your home free from tall weeds and debris. Wear long sleeves when outdoors to avoid exposure to ticks and wear insect repellent. If you find ticks on your pet or on yourself, you should remove them immediately.
Termites
Termites form swarms in the spring but continue to grow their colonies during the warm summer months. Termites can destroy wood structures in your home and do significant damage to its foundation. You should keep your home free from moisture and repair any leaks to minimize the presence of termites in the home.
Keep your home safe during the summer months and free from pests. You can avoid unpleasant surprises with a home inspection. Give us a call today to schedule yours! Our number is (310) 925-6664.
