You may notice you’re sharing the great outdoors with more critters in the summer months. Bugs enjoy the warmer temperatures just as much as people do! Most insects are cold-blooded. This means they spend the winter months in a semi-state of hibernation. Once the ground has defrosted and the sun heats everything back up, these bugs come out to play. An abundance of flowering plants and activity gives them plenty to eat, encouraging them to breed. As we swing into the summer months, this Las Vegas exterminator wants to share the five most common summer bugs to keep an eye out for.
1. Ticks
Ticks are tiny arachnids that live in high, grassy areas and feed on blood. As summer breathes new life into local flora and fauna, your grass naturally grows higher. This makes your lawn a potential nesting spot for ticks. As they live by sucking the blood out of unsuspecting pets, humans, or other vermin, ticks are avid biters. Tick bites are known for carrying dangerous diseases, not the least of which is Lyme disease. During the Las Vegas summer months, avoid tall grassy areas and cover exposed parts of your body with light-colored clothing. Lighter colors make the ticks easier to see and therefore get rid of them. Inspect any pets regularly to make sure they’re free of the nibbling pests.
2. Scorpions
Scorpions, the bane of many Las Vegas homeowners’ existence, are extremely common in the hot summer months. These scary-looking bugs have large claws on the front and a sweeping tail that ends in a venomous stinger. Summer is the breeding season for scorpions. They breed quickly; if you see one bug, there’s most likely a few hundred hiding in the walls. This makes it incredibly important you have a professional pest control company remove the scorpion infestation before it’s too late. Insecticides rarely tackle the root of the problem, so if you see one, the best thing to do is call a trusted Las Vegas exterminator.
3. Spiders
Arachnophobia is widespread for a reason: spiders are scary! Most spiders are harmless, although a few do carry deadly venom. These creepy-crawly nightmare bugs don’t like the hot weather common to Las Vegas summers. That may seem like good news until you learn they escape the heat by coming into your home uninvited. Once they enter, they breed by laying hundreds of eggs at a time. These eggs hatch, and minuscule baby spiders settle into your home unseen. The best way to prevent a spider infestation in the summer is by sealing off all areas of the home. Door cracks, window cracks, underneath cabinets, and closet corners are all hot spots for spiders. If you see signs of an infestation, don’t try to handle it yourself. Since many spiders are venomous, it’s important to let an expert Las Vegas exterminator take care of an infestation.
4. Wasps
The humble worker bee’s less-friendly cousin is the wasp. Wasp nests go quiet in the winter because the queen is busily laying eggs. When the nest heats back up in summer, those eggs hatch. You’ll notice increased wasp activity during the hot summer months because of the influx of freshly hatched babies. Wasps eat fruits and generally don’t go after humans unless they feel threatened. If you approach their nest, even accidentally, they will perceive you as a threat and sting repeatedly. Unlike bees, wasps don’t stop after the first sting. You mustn’t try to remove a wasp nest yourself. Proper protective gear is important when handling territorial wasps, so leave it to the professionals!
5. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most common pests in the Henderson area. Cockroaches nest anywhere they can find food, shelter, and water. This roach wish list makes your kitchen and pantry particularly desirable spots, but they’ll settle for outdoor pet shelters, pools, or storage sheds. Roaches aren’t bothered by the summer Vegas heat and will happily settle down anywhere they feel undisturbed. Because they breed rapidly, it’s very difficult to stop an infestation once it starts. Watch out for either the brown, medium-sized German cockroach or the larger, black American cockroach. These breeds are common both inside and outside of homes and carry bacteria and viruses, which make them dangerous.
For more information on common summer pests or to have our team take care of an infestation for you, contact Dr. Death Pest Control.