North Carolina pest control tips for summer

By Wes Wooten, Vice President of Operations, State Pest Control

Summertime is peak season for mosquitoes and a variety of insects. With the frightening Zika virus appearing in North Carolina, it’s time to start thinking about how you can protect yourself and your property from pests as summer is in full swing and the days get hot.

Health officials report that North Carolina has had at least a dozen cases of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that causes birth defects. So far, all of these cases have been travel-related. But with tens of millions of Americans traveling to Zika-affected countries every year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control say it’s only a matter of time until an infected traveler returns to the U.S. and gets bitten by a local mosquito, spreading the virus locally.

Speaking as a pest control professional who has 13 years of experience on the job in central North Carolina, let’s talk about some things you can do as a homeowner to reduce your risk. I’ll mainly focus on mosquitoes. However, our offices are seeing a rise in complaints about bedbugs these days, so I’ll address those pests as well.

Eliminate sources of standing water.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and it doesn’t take much water for it to happen. Look beyond obvious mosquito magnets like old tires or buckets or kiddie pools. The fact is that something as small as a bottlecap can hold enough water to host mosquito larvae.

Be vigilant about regularly emptying the water from areas such as rain gutters, flower pots, birdbaths, outdoor pet dishes, lawn ornaments – or even that tarp that’s covering up your barbecue grill.

Moisture in general is conducive to insects, which leads us to our next couple of tips.

Check for leaks.

Repair leaky outdoor faucets. Inspect your gutters for leaks. Aside from mosquitoes, termites like moisture too. In many of the termite infestations that my pest control service professionals deal with, the source of the problem can be traced to moisture in and around the home.

Take another look at your landscaping.

Mosquitoes are attracted to shady spots, wet leaves and overgrown yards. To keep them and other bugs at bay, mow your lawn and trim your hedges. Stack woodpiles away from your house. Mulch that’s brushing up against the house can harbor insects as well.

Call a pro.

These days, bedbugs are the new termites. What I mean by that is, since I first started out in pest control in 2003, the number of bedbug complaints has drastically increased while termite calls have remained flat. Our offices have seen a 40 percent increase in bedbug calls this year over last.

With bedbugs, you should check the mattresses and headboards of any bed you’re sleeping in, especially when you’re traveling. At home, cut down on clutter to give bedbugs fewer hiding places.

As you look for help and advice in fighting pests, there’s no substitute for experience. If you suspect you might have a pest problem, you should absolutely have a trained professional conduct a thorough inspection. You might be surprised by the results!

Wes Wooten is Vice President of State Pest Control, which has 45 employees based at five branches in the central North Carolina cities of Clinton, Dunn, Fayetteville, Sanford and Wendell. His certifications include: North Carolina state structural pest control license in household pest control, wood destroying organisms, turf, ornamental and public health. The company can be reached at www.statepestnc.com or toll-free at 1-877-994-BUGS.