How to Ensure Spring Insects Won’t Return After Treatment

Spring is a refreshing time to enjoy the weather and get excited about what’s to come. However, spring insects that come with the changing seasons are less appealing. It is important to act quickly when you notice that bugs are plaguing your property, and in many cases, preemptive measures can stop these insects in their tracks. But what do you do if you find new bugs after your treatment?

Simply treating a home or property once may not be sufficient to keep spring bugs away if you do not address the underlying causes of the pests’ activity. Here are some basic principles for creating a thorough treatment strategy to eliminate existing insects while preventing future infestations.

Eliminate Their Supports

One of the main reasons why spring bugs can be a stubborn presence in your home is that they have become entrenched in their environment. They have found suitable or even plentiful sources of food, water, and shelter that meet their needs, and they are disincentivized to move elsewhere. Removing these supports can force them to leave.

Food

An insect may rely on food such as the plants surrounding a home or waste products such as exposed trash. They may even prey on other bugs that are plentiful in your yard. Identify the natural diets of the pests you are dealing with and learn how to decrease the viability of these food sources. Consider introducing predators, such as dragonflies, that can combat your invaders. Plant repellent plants or trim existing food sources.

Water

Every insect needs water, and having free access can keep them multiplying and molting quickly. Find and drain any standing water around your property. Alternatively, you can apply mosquito dunks and other items directly to the water to stop the larvae from maturing without harming other flora and fauna.

Shelter

In order to hide from predators and the elements, insects rely on shelter such as thick grass or plant coverage. They may also use a property’s own features, including overhangs or porches in poor repair. Figure out where they are hiding and make their shelter unusable by replacing rotting wood or sealing cracks and holes.

Reduce the Appeal

In some cases, pest infestations start outside the house and then make their way inside. Reduce the appeal of your home as a resource-rich bug shelter to prevent insects from returning once you get rid of them the first time.

Crumbs

Crumbs are one of the most common perpetrators when it comes to a home that is appealing to bugs. Keep your floors clean and tidy so that invading insects do not have any food sources that cause them to stay and reproduce.

Moisture

A moist area is essential for bugs to molt, and having one in your home encourages them to bed down and stay. Keep your home at the appropriate level of humidity, and address any issues that cause dampness, such as leaky sinks or poorly sealed windows.

Darkness

If you are having a hard time figuring out where new bugs are coming from, they are probably hiding in a dark spot during the day and emerging at night. Keep your home well-lit so bugs do not find places where they feel safe.

Undisturbed Areas

If your home has areas that are rarely disturbed, bugs can set up their homes in relative safety. Get rid of piles of cardboard boxes, and clean out pantries of old food packages. If your closets have not been touched in some time, move things around.

Seal Their Pathways

Even if you get rid of bugs inside, you must seal their entryways to make sure they will not return after you treat the home. Look for cracks in siding or brick mortar on the outside of the home. Pay special attention to areas where interior features exit the house, such as water pipes or electrical panels.

Caulk gaps and repair or seal holes so bugs cannot return. If your doors are not flush with their jambs, fix them. If you need help identifying potential entry points, a professional pest control company can do a walk-through of your home!

Get Help With Spring Insects

Spring insects play an important role in pollination and the burgeoning natural environment, but when they make their homes inside yours, they become an issue. Even if you have treated your bug problem successfully, it is important to make further adjustments to prevent the insects from returning.

If you need help keeping your home bug-free permanently, contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control. We can assist you in finding out how the bugs are getting in, what is attracting them, and how to get rid of them over the long term.