Keep Summer Insects Away From Your Mid-Missouri Home With BugOut Pest Control’s Guide
It’s finally the season for pool parties, popsicles, and – pests? Unfortunately, summertime in mid-Missouri is the time where many pests come out of hiding and infest homes. Summer insects and rodents roam around in search of shelter, food, and water. Pests don’t have to bring your summer down in Columbia, MO. If you don’t want to see ants, roaches, spiders, and other mid-Missouri pests this season, there are some preventative measures you can take. Follow these top five tips for summer pest prevention, and you’ll be able to spend more time sunbathing and less time setting up insect traps.
What Kind of Bugs Come Out in the Columbia, MO Summer?
In the summertime, Columbia, MO is buzzing with an array of bugs looking for their next meal. As temperatures rise, the city becomes a hub for various insect species, each with its distinct characteristics and habits. In fact, the state of Missouri holds over 1,200 species of insects! Mosquitoes are prevalent during this time, taking advantage of the warm and humid conditions, and making their presence known during outdoor activities. Other bugs that come out in the mid-Missouri summer include:
- Bed bugs
- Ants
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Termites
- Roaches
- Centipedes
#1: Update your mid-Missouri home’s insulation & entrance points to keep summer pests out
Summer bugs are small and sneaky, meaning they will find a way into your mid-Missouri home by any means possible. Pests enter through the nooks and crannies of your house, and sometimes it's as simple as traveling under the front door or through the cracks of a window. This summer, you can make it harder for pests to enter your house using weather stripping. You can use a number of items such as door sweeps, calk, or foam tape to seal along doors, windows, and other entrance points where summer bugs or rodents can invade.
#2: Keep your food properly stored & kitchen clean to prevent pests from stealing food in your central Missouri home
There are sure to be a lot of cookouts and picnics with family or neighbors this summer, but make sure you’re not leaving food out when the party's over. There’s nothing pests like cockroaches love more than sticky surfaces and rotten food. If you don’t want to attract summer insects, make sure you’re managing the pantry and kitchen in your Columbia, MO home. Don’t let perishable items stay in your fridge too long, keep track of dishes, wipe down kitchen surfaces, and make sure all your dry foods are properly stored. A clean kitchen is a pest-free kitchen! Lastly, if you have any backyard parties, make sure the food is disposed of, especially if it’s fruit or vegetables.
#3: Maintain your lawn care this summer & reduce the risk of pests entering your home in mid-Missouri
Lawn care is one of the most effective ways to keep pests further away from your Columbia, MO home. Some of the worst household pests like ticks and termites sneak their way into mid-Missouri houses by hiding in long grass. They also feed on the grass while hiding. These pests are notorious for spreading disease or damaging property, and you don’t want to give them a one-way ticket to your home. You can put a stop to this with regular lawn care maintenance. Freshly-trimmed grass takes away their hiding spots, making it more difficult for them to enter your home.
Once the grass is trimmed around your mid-Missouri home, your next step is picking up debris that summer pests can cling onto. For example, rodents will steal trash from your yard and use it to make nesting spots, or termites can enter if you keep firewood too close to your home. Throughout the mid-Missouri summer, be diligent in cleaning up tree limbs, trash, and other forms of clutter to prevent pests. Does your schedule lack the time for lawn care? BugOut Pest Control provides lawn service in addition to our premium pest control!
#4: Most summer pests are attracted to moisture. Keep the small spaces of your mid-Missouri home dry
No living thing can survive without water. When pests enter your home, they look for sources of moisture in order to survive. If this occurs for too long, these insects can multiply and lead to a full infestation in your Columbia, MO home. If you’re noticing flies in the basement or cockroaches in the bathroom, immediately check those spaces for puddles or leaks. Try to keep your home’s attic or basement dry – an air purifier or dehumidifier can help immensely. It’s also important to clean the gutters outside and maintain the pipes in your house. Mice and roof rats in Columbia, MO can travel into your home by hiding in these spaces.
#5: Prevent spiders & other pests by dusting & storing old items safely in your mid-Missouri home
When you put away winter holiday decorations in a cardboard box and leave it to sit in the garage for months at a time, it’s sure to build dust – and attract some very unwelcome visitors. Dangerous spiders, such as the brown recluse, often like to find a sanctuary in old boxes and unused spaces. You can avoid this startling scenario by keeping dust out of these older storage spaces. Additionally, try storing items safely in a sealed box you can keep inside the house. When the summer begins, make sure to thoroughly sweep and dust your attic or garage in order to prevent future hiding spots for pests in mid-Missouri.
Do You Have a Summer Pest Control Plan for Your Mid-Missouri Home? BugOut Pest Control Has Your Back With Our Years of Experience & Trusted Pest Control Equipment
Bed bugs, termites, and roaches in mid-Missouri shouldn’t dictate your summer plans. Take the preventative actions necessary to keep your home safe and clean. Most importantly, call a professional pest control service if you find yourself with a pest infestation in Columbia, MO. There’s no use trying unsuccessful DIY “hacks” to try and remove gnats. BugOut Pest Control is the area’s top exterminator for residential and commercial property, and we also offer premium lawn care. We use proactive pest control methods and ensure your home is safe from future infestations. For a pest inspection and estimate, contact us today!