A brown marmorated stink bug. The evidence of spring comes in many forms. Though we recognize March 20, or the spring equinox, as the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it is the increase in daylight and warmer temperatures that convince us winter is truly over. Pests don’t wait for a day on the calendar to decide it is spring either. They respond to the change in temperatures as well. But those temperature changes are different, depending on where you live.

If you live in Maine, you’re not likely to start seeing pest activity until the end of April–usually in the form of ants, wasps, lady bugs, and flies. If you live in Virginia, you may be dealing with spring pests as soon as the beginning of March, as stink bugs begin to crawl out of the woodwork and wasps explore your eaves and overhangs. For Florida businesses, the temperatures hardly ever get low enough for pests to overwinter, making March 20 just another day on the calendar. But, whether you live in the North or the South, the east coast or west coast, it pays to recognize when pests begin their new cycle of birth and replication and put a barrier in place before they start to target your property.

Tips to Reduce Spring Pests

  • Remove wet sticks and leaf canopies from lawn areas. Wet and decaying wood attracts termites and carpenter ants. Those patches of leaves are harborage for many pest bugs.
  • Check to make sure your gutters are unobstructed. If you have debris keeping water from channeling down and away from your business, you could be creating wood rot that will lure a host of pests in.
  • Use a caulking gun to fill in rotted areas and arrest the damage wood-chewing insects, fungus and rodents are doing.
  • Make sure bushes or shrubs are trimmed and don’t touch your exterior walls. These act as a bridge for many pests.
  • Tree branches act as a bridge as well. Don’t let trees hang over your roof or near your roofline.
  • If you had snow in your region, look where water is collecting. Fill these areas in especially if they are near your basement walls.
  • If you have overwintering pests, like stink bugs, be aware that proper exclusion of those pests in f all can prevent them from being a problem in spring.

These tips will help you reduce spring pests. But to make your business or facility a pest-free environment, it is necessary to build a relationship with a pest control professional. Proactive pest prevention is not only less expensive, it is better for business. Get your pest barrier up before spring pests invade.

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