The air is getting crisp and the leaves are starting to fall, which can only mean one thing–fall is finally here! That also means it’s time for the latest update to the seasonal Franklin Pest Solutions Pest Gazette. You can download the whole Fall Pest Gazette for free at the end, but we wanted to give you a preview of what you can expect to find inside even if you’re not ready to start thinking about fall pest prevention yet.
STAY PEST-FREE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
According to the dictionary, overwintering is a term that simply means “spend the winter.” While we all know a few snowboards or cute and cuddly animals that fly south for the winter, this is a particularly frustrating, costly and creepy problem when it comes to pests because they’re generally traveling from the cold outdoors into the warmth of your home or office. Thanks, but no thanks!
In our previous post, Keep Overwintering Pests At Bay This Fall, we covered how to keep pests such as spiders, box elder bugs, lady bugs, stink beetles, and bluebottle flies from creeping their way into your home. Here are some of those tips:
- Make sure door and window screens are serviceable and free of holes and tears. Verify that any cracks or crevices between them and the wall are properly sealed.
- Get rid of as much clutter as possible, and store what you keep in sealable plastic tubs.
- If you have to use cardboard boxes, use an ‘H’ pattern (across the flaps and both ends) to seal them with packing tape.
- Vacuum up any webs, egg sacs, live and dead spiders, and any dead insects around them with a HEPA filter vacuum and seal them in a container to dispose of.
- Set out glue traps if necessary.
- Check places spiders frequently hide: corners, baseboards, under appliances, in storage areas and closets, underneath shelves and drawers.
Our friends at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) are also here to help with even more tips that will help you overwinter indoors without having to worry about pests taking up space at the inn:
- Screen attic vents and openings to chimneys.
- Eliminate moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
- Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home using caulk and steel wool. Pay close attention to where utility pipes enter the structure.
- Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
- Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house, and keep shrubbery well trimmed.
- Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens.
- Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
- If you suspect a pest infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional who can properly inspect and treat the problem.
Unfortunately, overwintering pests probably aren’t the only critters you’re going to have to deal with this fall because your pantry is also a target.
AVOID PANTRY PESTS WITH THESE TIPS!
Pantry pests are just pests that end up in your pantry on a search for improperly stored rice, flour, cereals, or spices. They can be anything from rice weevils and sawtoothed grain beetles (pictured below) to Indianmeal moths, and you probably won’t notice an infestation until it’s too late. Trust us when we tell that you coming across these little buggers when you’re about to bake a cake can be a real good mood killer!
We hate dealing with these things at home as much as you do, so we covered them in-depth in our previous post Don’t let Pantry Pests Ruin Your Party. Here’s a simple list of tips to help you prevent these annoying critters from setting up shop in your cupboards.
- Clean up all spills and crumbs immediately.
- Store everything in airtight containers.
- Dispose of garbage regularly.
- Don’t purchase expired, unsealed or broken packages from the store.
- Make sure your screens and doors are properly setup to prevent pesky intruders.
- Check the dates on everything before you use it.
- Investigate your home for moisture sites like leaking pipes, clogged drains and lack of drainage.
- Pull out the refrigerator and stove and vacuum any food debris that may have been collecting underneath them.
If you suspect any unwelcome guests in your pantry, call us right away! We’ll come ASAP and figure out what needs to be done to get rid of the pests, along with working with you to make sure they don’t come back.
HITCHHIKING PESTS? NOT THIS SEASON!
It wouldn’t be our Fall Gazette without a feature on bed bugs. Every holiday, millions of travelers are at risk for bed bugs because of hotel stays, luggage at the airport or visiting guests. By the time you realize that a bed bug decided to hitchhike its way from baggage claim to your front door it can be too late. Here’s some interesting information about bed bugs from our Bed Bug Awareness Week campaign.
BUT WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE THESE PESTS? HELP!
Sometimes no amount of prevention and helpful tips and tricks is enough to stop pests from getting into your home or office, and that’s when you call the pros at Franklin Pest Solutions. Our Healthy Home Maintenance program and our Integrated Pest Management approach will treat, secure and protect your home from any pests you might be having problems with. We want you to have the peace of mind to bake a cake, enjoy a movie or entertain guests without worry, which is why the quarterly program also includes a guarantee that will we return, for free!, should any issues arise in between your scheduled visits.
THESE ARE ALL GREAT TIPS, BUT I WANT THE WHOLE GAZETTE!
Finally. Here it is–the Franklin Pest Solutions Fall 2017 Pest Gazette! We hope you find it informative and useful this holiday season, but don’t hesitate to contact us using the buttons below if you have any questions!
