SUMMER PEST GUIDE
Show of hands who loves summer? We thought so! There is so much to do and enjoy in the summer that the season flies by way too fast and always feels too short.
Of all the things to do in the summer, handling pest issues is not something people typically want to spend their precious time doing or worrying about.
It’s a good thing we’re here to help you with your summer pest control needs. Pest issues are often avoidable and preventable, which is why we think it’s really important to educate our customers, and the public on the various common seasonal pests, and what they can do to prevent an infestation or minimize or manage an issue…because unfortunately, there are some circumstances, where no matter how much you pest proof, pest issues cannot be 100% resolved.
We’ve prepared this summer pest guide which covers and includes:
- What the common summer pests are
- How to deal with them
- How to prevent them
- Lots of links to extra resources and expert tips
Ready to learn more about summer pests? Here we go!
The 101 on Summer Pests
The most common nuisance pests in the summer are carpenter ants, pavement ants, acrobat ants, European fire ants, spiders, earwigs, fleas, mosquitoes, wasps & hornets. Some of these pests can be an issue for a homeowner or business owner at any time of the year, but during the summer months, issues can increase.
Ants: Did you know there are over 13,000 specifics of ants in the world, and that they lived alongside dinosaurs? If not, now you do! In the summer, ants are busy outdoors building nests and colonies, and seeking out food and water. Food, shelter and water are the three key elements they need to survive and flourish, and if they find this combination near and in your home or business, then an ant infestation is possible.
The most common type of any issues we address are with carpenter ants, pavement ants, acrobat ants, and European fire ants. Ant infestations are a concern because depending on the species, they can cause serious structural damage to the structures they infest, and some are aggressive and will bite or sting if they feel threatened.
For overall effective pest control, ant specifies identification is key. Different types of ants require different pest control solutions – there is no blanket solution for ants. If you have ant issues, it is ideal if you’re able take a photo of the ants and share that with the pest control expert. If you can also include a dime, nickel or quarter near the ants that is even better as it will help determine the size of the ants, which is also helpful in ant identification.
Spiders: It’s true that spiders play an important role in the environment - they help keep insect populations in check, but when in large numbers, and large in size (like dock spiders and wolf spiders) they can be a frightful and intolerable for people. Here in Ontario, spiders are abundant and widespread. Their numbers in cottage country and around waterfront properties, boat, boat houses, and docks, can be jaw-dropping. Because spiders’ mate in the spring and summer, they become a summer-time pest, as that is when their numbers are greatest.
In general, spiders do not harm people. They do bite, but it’s uncommon for them to bite humans, and their fangs are often too small or not strong enough to actually puncture a human’s skin. We do need to stress that Spiders can and will bite a human if they feel threatened or provoked. Bites have been known to happen from rolling on them in a bed, putting on a of clothing they are inhabiting or trying to touch or remove their egg sacs. Spider bites can cause allergic reactions in some; however, most bites go unnoticed or are mistaken for a common pest insect bite. Bites from venomous spider, like from the brown recluse spider (which is less common in Ontario) can cause lots of pain or necrotic wound.
Earwigs: These insects are abundant here in Ontario, especially from mid-June to October. They may look scary with their prominent pincers on the end of the abdomen, but do not cause any harm or destruction to people or structures and are a nuisance simply because of their presence. They are outdoor insects and habit damp areas - under mulch, dead leaves, rotten wood, logs, firewood, stones, and other debris, where they feed on moist, decaying plant material. In the summer earwigs enter homes and businesses for 2 main reasons - by accident or during prolonged periods of dry weather where they need to find new shelter to survive.
Fleas: They are a huge concern for pet owners, and a very frustrating pest issues to resolve. They ae parasites that draw blood from a host. Flea populations have been highly variable from year to year and place to place. They are a year-round pest; however, they can become a more prominent issue in the summer months when pets are outside exploring and enjoying nature and have a higher chance of encountering wildlife or rodents that have fleas.
Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are an itchy and annoying summer pest known to spoil fun from BBQs, to relaxing in the backyard, to a lazy night by an outdoor fire. Mosquito bites are dreaded because they are terribly itchy and for some, cause varying allergic reactions. Because they can spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, dengue, malaria, filariasis and encephalitis, concern over mosquitoes has been rising. Here in Ontario, mosquitoes are more of an annoyance than a serious health risk. Mosquitoes locate their victim through sensing exhaled carbon dioxide, temperature, body odours and movement. They are inactive on hot sunny days as these conditions cause them to dry out and die, and highly active during the day in shaded areas or on overcast days.
Wasps & Hornets: Here in Canada, we have more than 500 species of wasps (hornet are wasps btw), most of which are social, and live-in colonies with thousands of members. Wasps are often observed more in late summer and early fall, which is when their colonies are large, and they are out seeking food. The most common nuisance wasps in Ontario are yellow jackets, paper wasps, mud daubers and bald-faced hornets. Active wasp nests (where you can see wasps swarming around the exterior of them), when in close proximity to or on a home or business structure, are of great concern because of the potential to get stung (once or many times) and possible allergic reactions, which for some people can be fatal. Wasps can cause superficial damage to a home or building; however, they are mostly obnoxious, uninvited guests to outdoor activities or events.
While annoying in large numbers to people, wasps play an important role in our ecosystem. They help control common nuisance insect populations (like flies and spiders), that we do not want in our homes or businesses and help control crop damaging pests’ populations too.
What is the Best Way to Deal with Summer Pests?
The best way to deal with summer pests is a 3-parter:
1. Pest proof your home or business. Pest proofing is a year-round, ongoing effort, and is the best first defense to keep insects, bugs and rodents in their natural environment – outside. The more you are able to prevent their entry into your home or business, the less likely you’ll experience a serious pest control issue. Check out our Top 10 Summer Pest Proofing Tips.
2. Get a treatment from a professional licensed pest control expert. Annual treatments for spiders, wasps & hornets, earwigs and ants, and our mosquito control program have a strong track record for preventing, resolving and minimizing pests. Yes, there are tons of ‘off the shelf’ pest control products you can purchase and try, and DIY pest control techniques and ideas to try. We’ve been in business for over 30 years and have seen and heard a lot, but the truth is that they are ineffective at solving a real pest control issue. These types of products do not have the strong, enduring residuals that professional pest control products contain, which are essential in pest control and pest management. What is a strong residual? It means that the product, upon application, has staying power, and will not quickly fade, or wash away in the sun or rain.
3. Get help sooner than later. If discover you have summer pests or think you may have a pest control issue, it is always important to get it dealt with as soon as possible. The longer any pest issue persists, the more timely and costly it can take to resolve or get under control. So, regardless of you have an annual summer pest problem with spiders, earwigs, ants, or wasps & hornets, or just a one- time issue with fleas or ants, seek professional help right away.
Need Help Preventing or Controlling Summer Pests?
We have lots of great resources and expert pest control advice in our Pest Library, which we’ve compiled for you below:
We also encourage you to visit our blog and like or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for lots of helpful information, tips and advice on different pest challenges, pest prevention, and pest proofing.
If you need summer pest control help, we hope you’ll contact us, your local pest control experts since 1988.
Have a happy (pest-free) summer!
