How to Combat Bugs This Spring

Thought I would get away from to a subject I like, namely bugs.

Folks who know me understand that I was in the exterminating business or sold to entities who needed chemicals to kill pests—food warehouses, mosquito districts, lawn and garden stores and so on.

We finally have some cold temps, but it is not long enough or deep enough (so far) to really kill fleas, roaches, mosquitoes, flies, garden insects and the like. Therefore, look for a bumper crop of insects to come out this spring.

The first ones you might see are carpenter bees. These are large jelly bean types of bees that bore holes in outside wood trimmings. After years of these borings, your outside trim will have to be replaced.

The bees only stay for about three weeks. They usually do not sting. They can be controlled, but that might be expensive. You would have to call a professional for just keeping them down but not out. Consider replacing the wood with plastic trim if it comes to that.

Fleas: If you have outside pets, you will need to take continued control measures. Even inside pets require some sort of preventative measures. Most of the fleas are on the pets, therefore purchase a "dip" product at the pet store.

Advantage is a good one, but there are several. Prepare to spend $39 per treatment. You might have to do this twice per year depending on what you do to the house where some will have fallen off the pet and start to bite you.

They are blood suckers and not pleasant for the pet or you. Start the pet treatment in April and start vacuuming the whole house including furniture often. The vacuuming itself will kill many fleas, but always throw out the bag at once or empty the canister. Do so outside.

If this does not help, you will need some kind of indoor treatments. There are some products for sale but follow the label carefully. I cannot guarantee these products since the EPA took useful products off the market for homeowners.

Mosquitoes: The ones that come inside can be dispatched with a fly swatter or an aerosol purchased from the store. Follow directions. The mosquitoes usually come from stagnant water found near the house. Therefore empty bird baths and other water containers on a frequent basis.

You might see little creatures zipping around in the stagnant water. These are mosquitoes, the larvae. These will turn into pupae and then adult fliers and then you will get bitten and a small amount of blood will be taken. The blood helps them reproduce and the whole cycle turns over again and again.

So empty the water. Gutters are often an unseen source of mosquito larvae, so clean them out.

Flies: Kill flies wherever you see them. Flies are a big source of pathogens that cause intestinal illness if they land on something you might eat.

Complain to eating places if you see flies darting around or landing on the table. They also indicate a level of unsanitary conditions.

Termites: If you have not had them in your house you are just lucky or the house was treated before you moved in. If you see lots of flying "ants" on a warm humid day, that's them. Don't try to treat them yourself, call a pro. This is not cheap but neither is your house.

Thanks for reading, Tom