Warm, sunny days, especially after rainfall, will bring out swarms of insects from their winter nests. These spring pests in Baton Rouge could be termites, wasps, bees, or ants – all of which can easily make their way into your home and yard. These swarms are unwelcome guests to an otherwise pleasant season. There are, how ever, ways to protect your home and yard from infestations

Common Spring Insects in Baton Rouge

Insects that come out in spring are foraging for food and seeking to mate. While this usually is taking place outdoors, keep in mind that they also could be seeking shelter and someplace to nest inside your home. Be on the lookout for:

WASPS – Wasps come in a variety of colors which include yellow, brown, red and metallic bluem and have a narrow waist and pointed abdomen. They nest in wood fibers that they have chewed into a pulp and formed a honeycombed umbrella shape.
BEES – Bees that aren’t your friendly honey making variety come yellow with black stripes. They tend to nest in piles of wood or other yard debris.
ANTS- One of the most common ants is the odorous house ant. This type of ant is ⅛ to 3/16 inch in length, known for the odor they make when crushed.
TERMITES – Termites come in shades of brown, white and black and range in sizes ⅛ of an inch to 1 inch. They have antennae and wings and can be mistaken for ants.

There are 3 types of termites known to the area:

Drywood termites. As their name implies they make their home in dry wood and need no contact with soil to live. They don’t go for moist, soft wood, instead they eat across the grain of dry, hard wood. This is very damaging and dangerous to structures. They are common to warmer, tropical climates with mild winters. Evidence of infestation includes discarded wings, feces or frass (piles of sawdust from feeding).

Eastern subterranean termites. These termites cause homeowners the most damage and also are the most common termite in North America. They are prone to swarm in late February or early March. They make mud tubes that are used as tunnels from the ground to their food source,

Formosan termites. This termite is known to be the most destructive of termites, but only found in certain locations. They usually swarm later in spring, around mid May.

Protecting your home and yard from invading pests

Below are just a few tips to discourage pests from taking up residence in your space.

Cleaning up after outdoor BBQ and other cooking as wasps and bees are looking for and are attracted to protein based foods. Leaking faucets or hoses provide a water source that attracts not only wasps and bees but termites and ants.

Patching cracks or crevices in walls, repairing broken panels or siding to discourage wasps from nesting in your walls. Keep your yard clean of heavy debris.

Ants such as odorous house ants, nest in walls and beneath carpeting. Keep organic debris such as leaves and piles of wood away from your foundation. Store leftovers in airtight containers and keep areas clean of food debris and dirty dishes. Ants are attracted to sweets as well as protein-based foods.

Springtime Pest Control with Dugas Pest Control

Even if you take all the proper preventative measures, you still may wind up with a pest infestation in your home or yard. When that happens, you can trust the team at Dugas Pest Control to give you the most reliable and comprehensive treatment in the Baton Rouge area. We’ve lived through [year] spring seasons, and in that period, we’ve mastered the art of eradicating the most common swarms and keeping more from taking their place. Want to know more? Contact us today to get started!