Preventing Warm Weather Bugs in the South
When the weather warms up, bugs like German cockroaches, gnats, American house spiders, and southern unstriped scorpions get active. In this post, we’ll take a look at how these pests change their behaviors in warm weather and tips for keeping them at bay.
For more information, check out our recent post about the most common house pests in the southeast.
German Cockroach
German cockroaches are some of the biggest troublemakers in the cockroach family. They slow down when it gets cold, but controlling them is challenging when the weather warms up. As temperatures continue to climb during the hottest months, they seek shelter in our homes.
One of the best tactics for preventing a German cockroach infestation is cleaning up the tasty morsels that attract roaches in the first place.
- Put up dirty dishes
- Wipe up crumbs
- Placing food in air-tight containers, will help prevent an infestation.
These strategies will lead roaches to leave your home a one-star review (“The temperature was nice, but the dining options were terrible!”). Once German Cockroach multiply inside your home, controlling the infestation is next to impossible without professional help.
Gnats
“Gnat” is a general term for tiny flying insects. Some are more active during warmer months than others because warm and wet summer weather creates perfect breeding conditions for these little pests.
Here are some strategies for minimizing gnats around your home..
- Dump standing water
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets
- Get rid of stinky garbage (which gnats just love), as well as overripe fruits and vegetables
- Seal composting containers
American House Spiders
American house spiders, also known as common house spiders, often lay eggs in the summer. These spiders are not harmful to humans. As a matter of fact, they’re even beneficial because they eat bugs like mosquitoes and flies. They like to nest in basements, attics, crawlspaces, and other dark, low-traffic spaces in our homes. Even if they are beneficial, not everyone is hip to living with these eight-legged creatures. To get rid of them, vacuum them up along with their egg sacks.
For preventative options, here is a DIY recipe for a homemade spider repelling spray.
- 1 teaspoon of dish soap
- ⅓ cup of white vinegar
- 1 ½ cups of water
- 10 drops of peppermint oil
- 5 drops of lavender oil
If you have a more serious infestation or aren’t sure whether you might have more harmful varieties like black widows or brown recluses, contact Waynes for professional help.
Southern Unstriped Scorpions
The summer heat can make it a challenge for humans to stay hydrated. The same thing is true for southern unstriped scorpions. They’re found in homes more often in the summer because they’re on a quest for water and shelter from the heat.
Scorpions can enter your house via gaps under doors, cracks in the foundation, crawlspaces, even through the plumbing system. If you find a scorpion in your toilet or sink, do not flush them or rinse them down the drain. They can survive and make their way right back up again. You should try to kill the scorpion or contact a trusted pest control company for assistance.
Call Us
You’re already battling the heat, and adding annoying insects to the mix makes things all the more difficult and frustrating. Waynes, however, wants to help make your summer a little more enjoyable by helping you get rid of the bugs that are driving you crazy. Give us a call at 866.WAYNES1 and let us Pulverize your Pests!
