A Spring Pest Control Preview: The West Coast

We’ve moved our clocks forward, and we’re another week closer to spring! Last week, we talked about what pests to be on the lookout for throughout the East Coast. This week, we focus on our friends out west in Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno.

Some pest problems occur nationwide and you’ll notice similarities across our various regions, but other issues occur only in specific climates. We’re proud the Catseye Pest Control staff across our offices have been trained with location-specific information and techniques, and they are eager to share that information to get you prepared as the seasons change.

What bugs should I be looking for?

Bed Bugs: They’re busy all year, but spring travel will move them into new places throughout the country. Be extra careful if you are returning from a trip and getting settled back in.

Bees: Honey bees primarily swarm during the spring, at which time the queen bee leaves a colony with a group of worker bees to form a new bee colony. Swarms can have hundreds of these buzzing bugs!

Common Ants and Other Crawling Insects: The most common pest problems our technicians will face this season, common ants and other crawling insects will have homeowners and property owners frustrated as they increasingly are seen crawling along floors, walls and windowsills.

Spiders: Favorable weather conditions increase the rate at which spiders reproduce. As spiders feed on other insects, the increased activity of insects allows spiders to thrive.

Do I have to worry about nuisance wildlife this spring?

Pigeons: We always get pigeon calls out west, and the months of April and May are certainly the busiest times! Their nesting materials can cause serious clogging issues in your pipes, and the droppings and feathers they leave around can leave behind quite a bacteria-covered mess.

Rodents: Though they are busiest during the summer and fall, you will see a significant rodent increase occur as weather warms up this season.

What can I do now to prevent pest problems?

Take an afternoon to enjoy the warm spring weather by spending some time outside examining the perimeter of your property, removing overgrown bushes or debris and unclogging gutters. As you begin planting flowers outdoors or sprucing up your garden, keep your soil from coming in contact with your porch or the siding of your house. This will eliminate pests from intruding through the wood structures of your property.

As we advised East Coast residents, reducing sources of moisture is critical. Whether it’s an outdoor puddle that has yet to dry up, an indoor damp area in a restroom or back of a pantry, these sources of moisture provide breeding areas for all kinds of insects active during the spring, which can create unfortunate pest control situations.

Finally, spring is a great time for a garage sale! Clean out crowded storage areas in your garage, shed or closets to lessen the clutter and areas where pests and wildlife can nest. Use that spring cleaning opportunity to inspect any existing issues while preventing new ones from starting. Whether you live north, south, east or west, it’s important to do a thorough inspection of your home or business’ exterior and interior at the beginning of spring. As winter weather’s ice, snow or rain begins to dry up, a number of pest problems can be exposed. Catching them early will make your spring and summer much less pest infested – and much more enjoyable!