Get ahead of Spring pests with our 2021 Spring Pest Gazette
Ants and Aphids
Aphids are small insects you may see around your home on plants. They feed on plant sap and then secrete a sticky, sugary substance as they feed called honeydew. Many ants love this sugary substance and will readily feed on honeydew. The ants have learned over time to farm aphids by herding them around as well as take care of them. In turn, the aphids get protection by the ants from predators that may eat them.
Aphids can provide a plentiful source of food that can help sustain ant populations around the home. By controlling ants, aphid populations will plummet and plant and garden damage will decrease. If you need help with ant activity around your home, call Franklin 800-GOT-PESTS?
Tiny Pests in Your Home
Springtails are present year-round, but populations typically spike in early spring. Springtails feed on decaying plant matter like: fungi, damp soil, and around decaying wood. They also thrive in places with excess moisture, especially in mulch and leaf litter that often surrounds houses, downspouts, and around air conditioning drain lines.
Looking for Moisture
Springtails do not breed indoors and generally don’t cause any significant damage or harm. Weather plays an important role in springtail movement from their typical soil environment, especially moisture changes. If their habitat becomes too dry or to wet, springtails will seek out more favorable conditions. This can lead to tremendous numbers of springtails moving onto higher ground, which can often include your home. Once inside, springtails search for moisture which often leads them to rooms with high humidity such as bathrooms or basements. Although these areas may be humid, springtails often die once inside the home unless a leaky pipe or similar moisture source is found.
Keeping Springtails Away
The key to avoiding an indoor invasion of springtails is to focus on sealing the home and reducing moisture conditions.
- Outside, check for windows and doors that may not close completely, or plumbing and utility access points that may need to be sealed.
- Eliminate breeding sites such as areas with excessive mulch or leaf litter.
- Pay special attention to low spots around your yard that may collect water and avoid overwatering shaded areas that may not dry as quickly.
- If a crawl space is present, ensure that the space has adequate ventilation.
- Inside the home, be sure that door sweeps provide a tight seal, and that leaky pipes or other sources of water leaks are corrected immediately.
- Potted plants can also serve as an indoor breeding site for springtails. Avoid overwatering plants to keep moisture levels low, and always inspect outdoor potted plants for signs of springtails before bringing the plants inside.
Remember, the presence of springtails can be an early warning sign of moisture issues that could attract pests and lead to costly water damage. Be sure to let us know if you have noticed springtails in or around your home.
Protecting Your Family From Mosquitos
Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs and for their young to develop. Increased rain and standing water means there will be more mosquitoes. Many of the mosquito species that transmit disease require very little standing water to lay their eggs, with as little as an 1/2 inch of water required for breeding.
Reducing moisture and standing water around the home is very important to control mosquitoes. The removal of water means there will be fewer areas for mosquitoes to breed and develop. Any container that could potentially hold water around the yard should be checked for mosquito larvae.
Dumping containers in your yard that can hold water, such as kiddie pools, bird baths, flowerpots, and numerous other household items, will greatly reduce container-breeding mosquitoes. Turn items over that can hold water and scrub the inside of containers. Female mosquitoes secrete a sticky substance onto eggs so they will stick to the surface and can’t be removed by simply inverting a container upside down. Once the container refills with water, the eggs will continue to develop into flying mosquitoes if not removed properly. Don’t hesitate to give us a call to help you identify mosquito breeding sites and provide further control measures to keep your family safe from mosquitoes!
How to Stay Protected 
Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs and for their young to develop. Increased rain creating areas of standing water on warm spring days means there will be more mosquitoes. Many of the mosquito species that transmit disease require very little standing water to lay their eggs. All they need is a 1/2 inch of water to breed.
How do you control mosquitoes? Reduce moisture and standing water around the home. The removal of water means there will be fewer areas for mosquitoes to breed and develop. Any container that could potentially hold water around the yard should be checked for mosquito larvae.
Dump containers in your backyard that can hold water, such as kiddie pools, bird baths, flowerpots, and numerous other household items. Turn items over that can hold water and scrub the inside of containers. Sometimes even the items you turn over have edges or lips that can collect water. Dump them out after it rains.
Female mosquitoes secrete a sticky substance onto eggs so they stick to surfaces. They can’t be removed by simply inverting a container upside down. Once the container refills with water, the eggs will continue to develop into flying mosquitoes if not removed properly. We will help you identify mosquito breeding sites and provide further control measures to keep your family safe from mosquitoes!
Knowing Which Repellent is Right for You
Be sure when choosing a repellent that you opt for one that is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency because they have been vetted for safety and effectiveness. Some options approved are DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone. Look for these ingredients on the bottle when selecting a repellent and follow the directions on the label for proper application. If you are noticing ticks and mosquitoes around your home, please give us a call and we will help protect your and your family from pesky, and potentially dangerous, unwanted bites.
Our friends at NPMA have even more tips and tricks for welcoming spring. Rose Pest Solutions is here for you to get to the root of the problem and offer a solutions fit for the needs of your home. Ask us today for a free quote for The Healthy Home Maintenance Program (HHMP), our most popular residential pest service. It’s the gold standard in home pest protection and prevention. This ultimate protection package involves four scheduled visits, once every three months, to ensure you have the peace of mind and safety that comes from a pest-free home. We stand by our services and their 24/7/365 protection 100%, so we’ll take care of issues that pop up in between scheduled visits at absolutely no cost to you. That’s right, we’ll come back out for free.
