Take Steps to Eliminate Pests that are Inside your Residence

            With our exceptionally humid, rainy weather, pests are rapidly growing their families or colonies. Pests develop faster through their lifecycle stages in hot weather.  For example, our mosquito season lasts through the end of October.  Ants are also extremely active during late summer.  Other current pest issues in our area include black cluster flies (who’ll spend the fall and winter in your attic), mice, small mammals including squirrels, opossums, and skunks, ladybugs (or ladybird beetles), and a host of other pests. 

Common household pests, such as ants, cockroaches, and rodents, need food, water and a place to live. Unfortunately, your house provides them with these basic essentials.  If you eliminate a pest’s access to any of these elements, you will help in controlling the pest.

As a pest management professional, my goal is to build pests out rather than continually spray pesticides in homes or offices.  Building pests out simply means your home and office needs to be pest-proof.  Conditions conducive to pests should be identified and eliminated.  Today’s column will discuss interior control measures and follow-up with exterior control measures in our next column.

             Since pests come from outdoors, it is only logical to stop them before they enter your home.  However, if pests are already inside, your pest management professional should first direct treatment to cracks, crevices and void areas.  After the interior pest problem is eliminated, your pest service will focus on outside issues and will seal pest entry points. 

Interior issues include checking air conditioning filters monthly.  Keep the filters clean and adjust thermostats properly to prevent mold and mildew build-up.  These fungi serve as attractive food sources for tiny insects.  Rotting wood too encourages wood-destroying insect populations, particularly termites.

Also check for plumbing leaks.  Seal all gaps around plumbing pipes behind cabinetry and dryer vents with an appropriate caulk or filler.   Fill gaps around electrical outlets too.  Don’t let water accumulate anywhere in your home.   Replace grout around bathtubs and toilets.  A complete seal will prevent water seepage and ensure silverfish and ants cannot enter.   Repair cracks around windows, baseboards, and any holes in walls or floors. Even the smallest hole can provide a pest entry point.   

Check for and drain any water in the water heater or refrigerator drip pan.  In the attic or basement or crawl space, eliminate all unnecessary clutter.  Make sure attic gable vents are screened to prevent bird or mammal entry.    Cockroaches and mice love cardboard, so remove cardboard boxes to prevent insects from nesting inside. Use plastic storage containers instead.

In the kitchen, store all open food containers in tightly sealed containers or in the refrigerator to prevent any pantry pests.  Dispose of paper bags and boxes you bring home from the grocery store or market. Vacuum carpet and mop floors frequently to remove other attractive food debris.  Dust ceiling corners and molding frequently to knock down spider webs.  Remove garbage daily to a sealed exterior container.   Pet food should not be left out overnight.  Mice, rats, and cockroaches are particularly attracted to pet food and prefer it to other pest control baits.   

Lee Tubbs, EnviroGuard, Inc.