What’s a Bug Barometer?
Twice a year, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) issues the Bug Barometer™. The Bug Barometer helps pest professionals and their clients prepare for the oncoming seasons and know what kind of pests to look out for. The latest Bug Barometer predicted a quick rebound of mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites for the Southeast region of the US, despite the “unseasonably cold winter.” This is due to residual moisture left behind by this year’s La Niña.
La Niña: a cooling of the water in the equatorial Pacific that occurs at irregular intervals and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns complementary to those of El Niño, but less extensive and damaging in their effects.
To help prepare you for the oncoming pest pressures, we’ve complied a list of helpful tips and prevention techniques to keep pests out!
Downloadable PDF: NPMA Bug Barometer™
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes not only leave behind annoying, itchy bites. They’re also known vectors of dangerous diseases like West Nile virus and Dengue fever. Keep your family protected and try not to be outside during dawn and dusk. These are the times the Culex mosquito is most active, and its known to carry West Nile virus. You should also wear close toed shoes and long shirts and pants to keep them from biting you, but if you’d rather opt for a cooler option, wear an EPA approved bug repellent made with DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. You might also want to consider citronella candles. The scent of these candles repels mosquitoes and will help keep them away. We can also help keep these pests away with our mosquito service! Once a month, we come to your home and treat for mosquitoes. We’ve proven our effectiveness time and time again and have mosquito contracts with multiple counties in the Southeast.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches love kitchens. And German cockroaches love bathrooms, too. These insects are able to survive and reproduce at astonishing rates, and they thrive in dark, moist places. So fix leaky faucets and inspect your home for any other moisture issues. Ventilate your crawlspace to make it unappealing to these insects and also keep trash in sealed receptacles. Cockroaches need harborage points (locations where pests will seek shelter) to keep them hidden and of harm’s way. Keeping leaf litter and dead branches out of the yard and trash and other clutter picked up inside the home will substantially cut down on your home’s attractiveness to roaches. But sometimes, cleanliness isn’t enough to keep cockroaches out. If you see cockroaches running around, especially during the day, it’s time to call a professional. We can help you with your cockroach problem and give you more tips to keep them at bay.
Termites
Termites are estimated to cause $5 billion in property damages annually, and it’s not typically covered by insurance. To keep termites away from the home, you should keep firewood at least 20 feet away from the home and five inches off the ground. Keep your crawlspace well ventilated and check regularly for moisture issues. Termites, along with the other pests listed, love moisture! Since you’re already checking out the crawlspace, here are some other things you might want to look out for around the home. Mud tubes, unusually squeaky floor boards and peeling paint are all signs of a termite infestation. If one of these is ringing a bell, you might want to call a professional. Our fumigation team and Sentricon® experts are here to help!