With four seasons worth of weather in New England, we experience four seasons worth of pests. At various times of the year, insects and rodents have varying levels of activity. This is dependent on a number of factors, weather being one of them. Here are your top 5 Massachusetts pest control tips this summer, from the pest experts at Burgess Pest Management.
- Pest Prevention is key. In football, the term "cutting them off at the pass" refers to thwarting someone's effort. Let's apply this same principle to pests. If we cut off the source of food and harborage outside, it diminishes the chances of pests getting inside our homes. How do we do this?
- Remove the conditions that are conducive to pest breeding. Most insects like damp and dark places. By cutting back plant clutter and leaf debris near your home, you're cutting back the likelihood that ants, spiders, and other pests will come inside. Along your foundation, maintain a weed-free zone so the sunlight hits your foundation and removes the dampness.
- Massachusetts pest control experts place an emphasis on carpenter ants in the summer. But why are they in your home? Carpenter ants in Massachusetts are oftentimes linked to a moisture problem in your walls. Perhaps an air conditioning unit has allowed condensation to buildup, or a pipe has been slowly leaking. Or it's just as simple as our finicky New England weather allowing moisture to buildup in our wall voids. No matter how it happens, remove the source of the moisture and you'll go a long way toward removing carpenter ants from your home.
- Ticks and mosquitoes in Massachusetts are two pests of critical concern. Although it's impossible to remove the threat entirely, there's a lot you can to do reduce your exposure to these two known disease carriers. Remove clutter, debris, and any standing water from your property. Cut back dense foliage so light can penetrate. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing a repellent which contains DEET. And finally, wear clothing at night that limits skin exposure to biting pests.
- Be careful what you purchase. The tendency for many homeowners is to head to the hardware store and purchase an "over the counter" product that claims to solve your problem. We often find that people severely overuse these products, which may be unsafe for you and your family. Most of these products also lack a residual quality, meaning it will kill the pests it comes in contact with, but won't allow the rest of the colony to become effected. This can waste your time and your money. By relying on a Massachusetts pest control expert like Burgess Pest Management, you know the infestation is being handled by a seasoned professional with decades of experience.
