Pest Proof Your Backyard with These 10 Tips

A backyard to be serviced in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlEveryone is happy to be out and about enjoying the sunshine this spring here in Baton Rouge LA. Unfortunately, the combination of consistent warmth and rainfall in our climate creates a haven of resources and shelter for all kinds of regional critters. If you aren’t careful, you could allow your backyard to become a home to many kinds of pests for several different reasons. Our expert exterminators at Dugas Pest Control are here to help prevent this. Read on for advice on how to make your backyard pest-free through the summer!

10 Pest-Proofing Tips for Your Backyard

The hot and humid weather we experience for most of the year in our region creates ideal conditions for a plethora of pests. This makes it crucial to incorporate pest prevention into your maintenance routines. Here are ten tips we suggest you take to keep a pest-free backyard this year:

  1. Trim your plants: Keeping your bushes, trees, and shrubs neat and orderly will prevent shaded resting areas for common spring and summer pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
  2. Get rid of yard waste: Piles of yard waste or scattered scraps can provide temporary shelter or even food for insects and small animals. Clear them out to discourage pests.
  3. Deal with standing water: Standing water serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and a hydration source for many other kinds of insects. Pour out or cover standing water when you find it building up in gutters, planters, buckets, tarps, or elsewhere.
  4. Mow the lawn regularly: Mowing your lawn once a week can prevent tall grass blades from trapping standing water and housing pests.
  5. Consider garden netting: If you have a garden, you could be unwittingly offering a food source for tiny bugs like aphids and large wildlife pests like raccoons. Garden netting can keep them from robbing your plants.
  6. Dethatch your lawn: A thin layer of thatch can help insulate your lawn to regulate temperatures and promote healthy growth, but too much of it will suffocate your grass and offer shelter to many common lawn pests.
  7. Keep bins sealed and distant: Several kinds of insects, rodents, and wild animals are known to break into our trash cans looking for food. Seal your bins if possible and make sure that they’re as far away from your yard and home as they can be.
  8. Ensure proper lawn hydration: Both overwatering and underwatering can cause problems for your lawn, so ensuring a regulated supply of water can help prevent pests. This can be best attained using a sprinkler or irrigation system.
  9. Store your firewood high and far: Woodpiles stacked against the side of homes or wooden decks are common contributors to termite infestations. Keeping a covered firewood rack at a distance from your home can prevent termites and other insects from infesting your backyard.
  10. Look for professional pest control: An experienced technician can assess your yard for vulnerabilities that you haven’t caught to help determine the best ways to go about pest prevention for your particular property.

Pest Control for Your Backyard in Baton Rouge LA

If you’re looking for a calculated approach to pest control in your backyard in Baton Rouge, reach out to your local exterminators. At Dugas Pest Control, we train our technicians to shape their services to the individual needs of each property that they service. We pride ourselves on our holistic approach to pest control, complete with site-wide inspections, safe control and exclusion practices, and preventative maintenance to ensure that our customers never deal with pests again. Contact us today for a free quote!

Why Are Mosquitoes Active in the Winter?

Mosquitoes in the winter in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlThe last pest you may think you’ll encounter in the middle of winter here in Baton Rouge is the mosquito. However, these pests can stick around well into the winter months, especially in our region. In general, mosquitoes will disappear when the temperature dips below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. With temperatures still in the 70s in December, chances are you might have an encounter with a mosquito or two while putting up your holiday lights or picking out a tree at your local lot. At Dugas Pest Control, we know how frustrating mosquitoes can be in our region year-round. Read on to learn more about winter mosquito activity, and whether you should be worried about bites this time of year.

What Do Mosquitoes Do in the Winter?

In spring and summertime, mosquitoes are just a given when you spend time outdoors. This is due to the fact that mosquitoes prefer temperatures in the 80s or more. Needless to say, it can be rather startling to come across these pests in the wintertime. Most male mosquitoes will die off when, as mentioned previously, temperatures begin to dip. Even when it begins to get colder, however, female mosquitoes can go into a state similar to hibernation called diapause. 

The reason why we are still seeing and dealing with mosquitoes this time of year is that we are experiencing warm weather well into the winter months. Hardier mosquitoes are able to remain active and even potentially bite you.

How to Prevent Mosquitoes Year-Round

Even if we still are seeing some remaining mosquitoes, they are mostly inactive this time of year. This makes it the best time to start preparing for next year’s mosquito season. Some of the best mosquito prevention tactics you can do yourself in the next couple of months include the following.

  1. Prevent overwintering mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes may look to wait out the winter in your backyard if she lays their eggs nearby. Make sure to inspect your yard and get rid of debris, old tires, or tree trunks that could harbor these insects. 
  2. Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, even before wintertime. Remove, overturn, or cover any tires, buckets, birdbaths, flowerpots, and other things that contain standing water. 
  3. Cut back grass and vegetation. Keep your grass mowed and take proper care of your yard to avoid mosquitoes harboring in dense brush.
  4. Try out natural mosquito repellents. While not always effective, planting rosemary, mint, and lavender in your garden could make for a natural mosquito repellent.
  5. Contact your local mosquito exterminators. Your best chance of not dealing with mosquitoes year-round is by teaming up with an expert. Professional-grade repellents can help keep mosquitoes away for good!

Mosquito Treatments in Baton Rouge

Whether you want to prevent mosquitoes in the summer or get rid of lingering mosquitoes this winter, the experts at Dugas Pest Control can help! Our mosquito control team will work with you to implement the best mosquito treatments, no matter what time of year. Contact us today to get started!

7 Common Household Bugs in Louisiana

There are many wonderful things about living in Louisiana, but the bugs usually aren’t at the top of the list! The warm, semi-tropical climate is favorable to pests, which is why Louisiana is known for its readily available supply of bugs and insects. Some insects are harmless, even though they may look fierce, while others carry disease. Nevertheless, all insects are a nuisance, and no family wants to share their home with them. At Dugas Pest Control, we get many calls for many types of pests. In this blog post, we’re sharing the most common household bugs and pests in the Baton Rouge area. Read on to learn more!

Common Pests in Louisiana

Termites are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

1. Termites >>

There are two types of termites in Louisiana: subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites like to chew through the interior part of a wood structure. They then cover their tracks by filling holes with dirt or mud. By the time the damage is discovered, it’s too late. There is probably hundreds to thousands of dollars of damage. Drywood termites feast on dry wood and leave feces behind, but they don’t fill holes with dirt.

Carpet beetles are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

2. Beetles >>

There are many species of beetles, but the most common in the Baton Rouge area include carpet beetles and powderpost beetles. Interestingly, carpet beetles in their adult stage aren’t much of a problem, but as larvae, they are quite the nuisance. They feed on household items such as clothes, linens, and food.

Powderpost beetles can be just as severe as termites as the larvae create tunnels on the inside of wood structures. It won’t be until these beetles chew their way out as adult beetles that you will see signs of damage.

Mosquitoes are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

3. Mosquitoes >>

The wet, humid summers create the perfect environment for mosquitoes. Although mosquitoes are synonymous with Southern living, these insects can carry deadly diseases that can be transmitted to humans. With the recent threat of West Nile, it’s crucial to have professional mosquito repellents applied to your yard before mosquito season, which starts early Spring here in Louisiana.

Cockroaches are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

4. Roaches >>

Between flying roaches and cockroaches, the roach population certainly shows its face in Louisiana. Roaches thrive off warm, moist environments, and some, such as cockroaches, are found in high-filth areas. They can also carry diseases such as E.coli and salmonella. Baton Rouge is home to many types of roach, including the Smokybrown cockroach, American cockroach, and German cockroach.

Spiders are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

5. Spiders >>

Spiders are versatile insects that can be found in just about any climate, but the fact that Louisiana is warm and sub-tropical makes it a great location for all breeds of spiders. They especially prefer dark, moist places like underneath flowerpots or garbage can handles. Some of the most common spiders found in Baton Rouge include your typical garden spiders, fishing spiders, and bold jumping spiders. However, some have poisonous venom that can cause serious reactions in humans, including the brown widow spider, black widow spider, and brown recluse spider.

Fire ants are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

6. Fire Ants >>

With a warm climate and close proximity to Central America and Mexico, Louisiana is known for its colonies of ants, more specifically, red fire ants. Fire ants can have up to 700 colonies per acre that can include up to 250,000 crawling members. Fire ants are also fierce predators, carry disease and destroy property. If you are noticing an excess of fire ant mounds, be very cautious and reach out to your local ant control experts.

Silverfish are a common household pest in Louisiana - Dugas Pest Control

7. Silverfish >>

Silverfish have small pinchers, and although they are not poisonous, their pinchers will hurt. They have a fish-like shape and are a gray or silver color. They prefer dark, moist areas and are most commonly seen at nighttime when they leave their nest. Homeowners are accustomed to seeing these tiny bugs in kitchens and bathrooms, where there is excess moisture.

Need Help With Louisiana Insects & Pests?

Pests are a fact of life in Baton Rouge and all of Louisiana—all year long. To keep you, your family, and/or your business safe from Louisiana bugs and insects, the experts at Dugas can help. Contact our licensed pest control experts today to see how we can ensure you stay pest-free.

Can You Kill Mosquito Larvae in Standing Water?

Mosquito larvae in Baton Rouge LA yard - Dugas Pest ControlMosquitoes are known to linger around areas with standing water. This is because mosquitoes have to lay their eggs in stagnant water in order for them to develop and hatch properly. The key to preventing a mosquito problem in your yard is by stopping mosquitoes from laying eggs in the first place. This required knowing how to look for potential mosquito breeding grounds around your property. But if, in doing so, you notice mosquito larvae in water, what are you supposed to do? The experts at Dugas Pest Control are here to share their top tips to safely kill mosquito larvae to prevent an infestation—read on to learn more!

Where is Mosquito Larvae Found?

There’s a reason why mosquitoes are so frequently found near ponds and marshes—they need a source of standing water in order to reproduce. After a female mosquito bites someone, she is able to lay her eggs in water. It is from there that mosquito eggs will hatch and develop into larvae. The larvae can be found in a number of areas in your yard. Some of the most common mosquito breeding sites include:

  • Ponds
  • Birdbaths
  • Pools and spas
  • Gutters and puddles
  • Garden planters 
  • Childrens’ playsets
  • Tarps
  • Buckets

How to Safely Kill Mosquito Larvae

A “raft” of mosquito eggs can look as small as a speck in the water. This makes it important to cover any source of standing water in your yard or to regularly tip out water that pools up. There are also a few all-natural ways you can discourage mosquito larvae from developing properly. Some of the things you can add to water to kill mosquito larvae includes:

  1. Dish soap or shampoo: Liquid soap is known to effectively kill mosquito larvae. Just a millimeter of dish soap in a gallon of standing water will kill off the larvae.
  2. Oil: Olive oil and vegetable oil will get rid of mosquito eggs and larvae almost immediately. However, you should not put any oils in a pond where fish live or a birdbath.
  3. Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar works to get rid of mosquito larvae in small amounts of water. Add enough apple cider vinegar so that it makes up about 15% of the total liquid.

Outdoor Mosquito Prevention

If you’ve done all you can to put an end to the mosquito life cycle in your backyard to no avail, it’s time to get in touch with your local mosquito control experts. At Dugas Pest Control, our specialists will pinpoint and target all mosquito breeding grounds around your home. We will work hard to prevent mosquitoes before they hatch. Contact us today to learn more!

Mosquito Control Tips for Louisiana Residences

A mosquito biting someone in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control

One long-standing joke that many Louisiana residents enjoy is that the mosquito should replace the pelican as the state bird. With their overblown regional prominence, there might be something to this idea! If you live around Baton Rouge LA, you know that it’s near impossible to avoid mosquito problems for most of the year, especially if you don’t take them seriously. This is why our technicians at Dugas Pest Control have decided to lay out all of the tips and tricks that we know to help you avoid mosquitoes on your property on your own!

Standing Water—The Number One Mosquito Attractant

Although they are frail insects and live short lives, mosquitoes as a whole are able to thrive every year due to their lightning-fast reproductive cycle. Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water, so eliminating sources of standing water in your yard will help to prevent them from using your property as breeding grounds. Standing water often builds up in these areas:

  • Trash bins, buckets, and other containers
  • Gutters and drains
  • Birdbaths and wading pools
  • Old tires, tarps, and other clutter

Some standing water sources can’t be drained. If you have a pool in your backyard, make sure to keep it covered when not in use, and consider buying an agitator or fish for your pond, if you have one.

Other Natural Ways to Repel Mosquitoes

As we know here in Louisiana, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid or remove stagnant water. With our climate and landscape, the Baton Rouge LA area is the perfect place for mosquitoes to live and breed. Thankfully, there are other strategies that you can try at home to control mosquitoes on your property. These include:

  1. Using insect repellent on exposed skin
  2. Installing fans in outdoor areas to block mosquitoes with wind
  3. Placing mosquito netting in high activity areas
  4. Planning outdoor activities in the midday, their time of least activity

Professional Mosquito Treatment in Baton Rouge LA

Many people find that their mosquito outbreaks are simply too large to handle without professional help. Our expert technicians at Dugas Pest Control are trained to conduct complete property inspections to determine the best strategy for a barrier treatment. We only use top-tier, environmentally responsible products that are safe for you, your family, and your pets. If you need the mosquitoes in your yard gone today, reach out to us for a free quote!

What Just Bit Me? Identify Common Bug Bites

A mosquito biting a person in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control

Bug bites of any kind can be worrisome. Especially when you don’t catch the culprit, bug bites can leave you anxious, wondering what got to you and whether or not there are more of them waiting. Many people that wake up with bug bites after a night’s sleep misidentify the markings, which leads to a drawn-out process of catching and removing the biting pests from your home. If you’re wondering what bug bit you in Baton Rouge LA, read on. The pest experts at Dugas Pest Control are well-versed in the habits and attributes of biting pests in the region and can help you identify and remove the ones that you’re dealing with.

Pests that Draw Blood

Some blood-sucking pests might not appear as menacing as other biting bugs but are able to transmit dangerous diseases to humans. Because of this, it is important to be able to identify which kind of bite you’re dealing with. Blood-drawing pests in Baton Rouge LA include:

  1. Mosquitoes: Mosquito bites start out as a raised, white welt and turn into an itchy, red bump, usually no more than 1/2“ across. They usually don’t come with any side effects besides pain and itchiness, but mosquitoes in tropical regions can carry deadly diseases like malaria and the Zika virus.
  2. Ticks: Depending on the species, tick bites can look like a mosquito bite or a smaller, darker mark. They can develop a light red ring that circles the bump at a distance. If you catch a tick bite early, they will still be latched onto your body. Ticks are known for spreading the dangerous Lyme disease.
  3. Fleas: Fleas bite our pets more often, but they bite humans, too. It won’t often result in initial pain, but it will be itchy. The worst outcome of a flea bite is an infection caused by excessive itching.
  4. Bed bugs: If you wake up in bed with tiny, red bites aligned in a zigzag pattern on your skin, you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs do not pass on diseases through their bites, but they can pick up and carry diseases on their bodies through their travels.

Other Biting Pests in Baton Rouge LA

There are other kinds of biting pests in our region, but the aforementioned pests are the ones that you should be more worried about. Some kinds of pests in Baton Rouge LA either rarely bite or cause nearly negligible symptoms. Ants, cockroaches, and centipedes fall into this category. Some ants, like fire ants, bite someone that’s threatening them only to latch on to deliver a more acute sting, similar to a wasp. Bites from these pests are very rare, though.

A few spiders in the area are able to deliver painful bites, but again, only in rare circumstances. Wolf spiders, brown recluse spiders, and the feared black widow fall into this category. If you experience a black widow bite, seek medical attention immediately.

Need Protection from Biting Pests?

If you are worried about bug bites this summer, reach out to your local pest control company to see how they can help. Our technicians at Dugas Pest Control have experience identifying and removing all of the biting pests in Baton Rouge LA and can teach you exclusion efforts to help you keep them out of your home once we’ve dealt with them. For a free quote, contact us today!

When Do Mosquitoes Sleep?

What mosquitoes look like in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlIn the spring and summertime here in the Baton Rouge LA area, it often feels like mosquitoes are inescapable. With our warm and humid climate, mosquitoes have the perfect environment to reproduce and thrive for months on end. Even as the sun starts to set and the temperatures drop into the night, it seems that we still can’t catch a break from mosquito bites. This leaves many people wondering, when do mosquitoes sleep?

Do Mosquitoes Sleep?

Many different insects exhibit so-called “sleeping” patterns that don’t resemble our habits at all. Very little research has been conducted on how mosquitoes sleep. However, scientists believe that instead of sleeping per se, mosquitoes shut down and enter a state of almost complete inactivity. They do so at different points throughout the day, usually around midday and during the night. You can often find mosquitoes resting in heavily wooded or shaded areas during the heat of the day.

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

Mosquitoes are most active at times of low sunlight, dawn and dusk. They are also able to stay active through the night, but have less luck finding hosts to feed on. Most people report the highest activity at dawn and dusk in these places:

  • Heavily vegetated yards
  • Near ponds and lakes
  • Densely-wooded areas
  • At homes with pools, spas, birdbaths, or other standing water sources

If any of these features are unavoidable around your living space, you will most likely be dealing with mosquito problems for a large part of the year.

How to Avoid Mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA

There are a few steps that you can take to avoid mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA, including eliminating open standing water sources, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and using EPA-approved insect repellents. However, sometimes your prevention efforts can fail to give you the peace you’re looking for. When you rely on a professional mosquito control expert for help, they can set up custom barrier treatment to ensure that your particular property stays mosquito-free for months. For a free mosquito control quote or to learn more about how Dugas Pest Control deals with mosquitoes, contact us today!

Do Mosquito Foggers Work?

Mosquito spotted in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlMany Louisiana residents have been out for a walk in the early evening and had their stroll interrupted by fogger crews. They move up and down public streets spraying clouds of fog and making noise with their equipment. At first glance, this activity might seem unsafe, but mosquito fogging can only take place using EPA-approved products and under government authority. Still, it’s fair for this type of activity to warrant concern. What are they actually accomplishing, and how does it work?

How Mosquito Foggers Work

Mosquito fogging works by introducing a small amount of pesticide to the air in areas of high mosquito activity. It works very well to eliminate active mosquitoes, but it is not a complete solution to ongoing mosquito infestations. While its effects linger for around three days after application, it quickly loses its potency and the area will have to be retreated.

Routine treatments might have people concerned for their health, but you should remember that the amount of pesticide used in fogging products is not nearly enough to harm a human. The pesticide solution used in mosquito fogging is actually considered to be less potent than solutions used on many kinds of crops. Fogging practices are also heavily regulated by the EPA and local government.

How Long Is Mosquito Fog Effective For?

Fogging can take effect within minutes when used against adult mosquitoes, but it doesn’t affect larva or eggs. Mosquitoes that are hidden away are able to avoid the effects of the fog, which is why fogging usually takes place in the evening when mosquitoes are most active. Its effects will last for a few days, so it shouldn’t be happening every night, but some cities will plan routine treatments and provide you with a schedule.

Some mosquito control alternatives that don’t use pesticide include:

  • Removing or covering standing water in areas of active mosquitoes
  • Setting up mosquito nets
  • Using fans in outdoor areas, and more

When to Fog for Mosquitoes in Baton Rouge LA

Fogging should be done in the evening when most mosquitoes go out to feed. Keep in mind that most local governments are not obligated to let you know ahead of time if they have scheduled mosquito fogging, but many will issue an announcement as a courtesy. If you have any worries about avoiding mosquito fogging procedures, contact your authorities and ask to see their schedule.

If you are noticing an increase in mosquitoes in your area and no foggings are planned for the near future, reach out to your local pest control company. The mosquito specialists at Dugas Pest Control can set up a custom plan to tackle your unique outbreak. For a free quote, contact us today!

What Are The Flying Insects You’re Seeing All Over The Place?

What flying ants look like in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlEvery spring, we see a huge rise in calls from people in the Baton Rouge area whose homes have been overrun by flying insects. With the current weather conditions here in Louisiana, this year’s termite swarming season is expected to be widespread. Eastern subterranean termites and Formosan termites are both swarming now, but if you’re starting to find flying insects in your house, how can you be sure if they’re termites?

Can Termites Fly?

Certain termites can fly, although they’re not very good at it. They are very weak, and can only travel considerable distances in windy climates. There is only one class of termites that can fly – these are the reproductives, a type of termite specifically tasked with spreading the colony to new homes.

A termite colony will start producing reproductives once it has reached a certain level of maturity, usually about three years of development. The reproductives will fly to new locations to mate and find a new place to proliferate. After they mate, the male reproductive sheds its wings. Finding discarded termite wings or living winged termites in your home could be a sign that there is a termite colony thriving somewhere in the wooden structure of your house. If you think you might have a termite problem, let your local pest control company know.

Termites vs Flying Ants

It’s easy to mistake termites with their less destructive friends, flying ants. Here are three indicators that the flying insects that you’re seeing are termites, and not ants:

  1. Their appearance: Termite swarmers have longer wings, but shorter limbs and antennae. Flying ants will usually be larger – termite sizes vary by species, but some, like the Eastern subterranean termite, are as small as 10mm long.
  2. Signs in your house: If you’ve noticed damaged or hollow-sounding wood anywhere in your house, those flying insects in your house are most likely termites. Contact a local termite exterminator to assess the extent of the damage.
  3. Signs in your yard: If a subterranean termite colony is swarming near you, look out for tunnels on the surface of your yard. These are called mud tubes, and they are the paths that subterranean termites take from their nests to nearby food sources.

Other Flying Insects

The flying bugs around your house might not be termites or flying ants! Plenty of different winged insects reemerge around springtime, so you could be dealing with:

Visit our pest identification library for help narrowing down what kind of pests you’re dealing with.

Professional Pest Control in Baton Rouge LA

If you’re ready to get rid of the flying insects in your Louisiana home, it’s time to ask your local extermination experts at Dugas Pest Control for help. Our employees are trained to specialize on pests that commonly plague the Baton Rouge area. Over decades of service, we’ve helped loads of families rid their homes of pests with environmentally-friendly tactics. Reach out today for a free quote!

Afraid of Rodents and Bugs? 2021 May Not Be Your Year

Dugas Pest Control LogoEntomologists from Dugas’ parent company, Rentokil Provide their Pest Predictions for 2021

READING, Penn. (Jan. 4, 2021) — As if 2020 didn’t present enough challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 could be a banner year for pests around the country.

To help residents prepare for 2021, entomologists from Rentokil used field knowledge and data to provide their predictions for pests in the upcoming year.

1. Rodents, Rodents Everywhere:

With shutdowns across the country, it’s no surprise that rodents are on the rise nationwide. Empty buildings, the scarcity of food and warmer winters have combined to create a rodent apocalypse.

“We’re seeing more rats in urban, suburban and rural settings because of the shutdowns,” said Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist. “Food sources are cut off, and rats are having to travel to scavenge for food. We’ve seen rats out in public during the day, which is highly unusual.”

Warmer winters have also allowed for mice populations to boom in residential areas as it allows for a longer breeding season and there is a lower population loss due to hard freezes.

“Right now is the perfect time to rodent-proof your home,” said Potzler. “Make sure to repair any gaps on the exterior of your home, such as around garage doors, windows or pipes.”

2. Mosquitoes on the Move:

Mosquitoes populations have been increasing over the last few years. Aedes species, which are disease-carrying mosquitoes, are also moving to new areas. These mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Zika virus, among other diseases.

“There is an increase of mosquitoes across the country, but notably on the West Coast, and they are adapting each year,” said Eric Sebring, Associate Certified Entomologist. “We have seen evidence of behavior adaptation, where mosquitoes lay their eggs strategically to hatch throughout the season.”

Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by removing any standing water on your property. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of water. Also, wear EPA-approved insect repellent while spending time outside.

3. Bed Bugs:

The chatter about bed bugs was quiet in 2020, but that’s not because they have gone away.

“As people begin to travel again, we will start to hear about bed bug infestations,” said Sebring. “Bed bugs can be dormant for several months at a time, so they can emerge when a food source, humans, become available.”

Bed bugs are considered hitchhikers, traveling from place to place on people, luggage, clothing and other personal belongings. Homeowners and businesses such as hotels, colleges, hospitals, senior living facilities, retail stores, and libraries have experienced problems with bed bugs.

If traveling, inspect the bed by pulling back the sheets to examine the mattress. Check your luggage before packing and unpacking, and look for signs of living or dead bugs the size of an apple seed or black fecal smears.

4. More Time Outdoors = More Pests.

From hiking to gardening to dining al fresco, there is no doubt that the pandemic has forced people to spend more time outdoors.

In 2021, we will see the outdoor pest pressures continue:

Ticks: Ticks are responsible for transmitting several diseases, including Lyme disease, to humans and animals. These small insects are found in grassy areas and in the woods, so it is important to inspect yourself and your pets after spending time outdoors. Cover as much skin as possible while outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into socks. Light-colored clothing will also help any ticks you pick up stand out.

Ants: “As soon as the weather starts to warm up, we will see an increase in ant populations,” said Tom Dobrinska, Board Certified Entomologist. “Most of the ants we are dealing with are odorous house ants. When spending time outside, make sure to clean up any food, water or sugary substances and ensure that your home is free of any holes or cracks for them to enter.”

Stinging Insects: Stinging insects, such as wasps and yellow jackets, emerge at the first sign of warm weather, and as warm weather seasons are getting longer, stinging insects have more time to create issues. Make sure you check for nests early in the spring as they are smaller and get early nest treatment. Make sure to keep windows and doors shut, and secure outside bins so stinging insects are not attracted to the contents.

5. Termites Aren’t Going Anywhere

Termites are a pesky problem, and unfortunately, are not going anywhere. Termites can cause extensive damage to structures, especially homes. As people are moving out of cities during the pandemic to more suburban areas, education about termite protection is key.

“We received more calls for termites this past year than we have in many years,” said Potzler. “It’s important to raise awareness for homeowners now to have proactive protection to keep from costly repairs in the future.”

6. Pests in the News:

There are a few pests that will continue to steal the limelight in 2021.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an invasive pest that has been making its way across the country since it was first introduced from Asia in 2001. Besides its pungent odor, this stink bug has become a nuisance for homeowners as it gathers in large numbers on the sides of houses and buildings and enters through small cracks in the home. “The brown marmorated stink bug is here to stay,” said Dobrinska. “We will continue to see this species emerge in late spring in large numbers.”

The Spotted Lanternfly will continue to wreak havoc across the Northeast and beyond. The invasive pest, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, is spreading across the Northeast, with New York reporting its first sighting this year. The pest can significantly damage trees and plants.

“The Spotted Lanternfly is becoming a big problem in the Northeast, and it will continue to spread,” said Potzler. “It can be devastating for agriculture and is a nuisance for homeowners.”

The egg masses look like a smear of mud on trees and outside of homes. It’s important to scrape the egg mass off, put it in a bag with rubbing alcohol and throw it away, and then call the state department of agriculture.

The infamous “Murder Hornet,” also known as the Asian giant hornet, grabbed many headlines, causing homeowners to panic trying to decipher the difference between stinging insects in their yards and this aggressive species. The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet species in the world, growing up to 3 inches in length. Currently, the Asian giant hornet has only been found in the Pacific Northwest.

“We know that there was one colony found and eliminated in Washington State,” said Sebring. “Unfortunately, if there is one, there will be more.”

While your chances of being stung by an Asian giant hornet are fairly low, the sting can be dangerous as the venom volume is higher, causing more pain. The hives are primarily built underground or in hollows in trees. If you suspect it is an Asian giant hornet or any stinging pests, call your pest management provider to assess the situation as soon as you spot activity.