Preventing Pests at Your Summer Cookout
Many people look forward to the summer time. Enjoying time outdoors with friends and family is a fun experience, however, it can be ruined quickly by the presence of pest activity.
Here are some tips for preventing the top 4 pests that may disrupt your cookout:
Mosquitoes:
A few days before your cookout, make sure to eliminate standing water. Wheelbarrows, buckets, tarps, tires and old kiddie pools are good places to look for standing water. Mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs in standing water, so dumping these natural pools of water out is a good way to reduce mosquito activity. Additionally, plan your barbeques during the day time. This is beneficial because mosquitoes tend to be more active in the evening. The final and most obvious tip for preventing mosquito activity is to wear bug spray. Using mosquito repellent with the active ingredient DEET will help prevent mosquitos from bothering you. Generally speaking, the higher the concentration of DEET an insect repellent has, the more effective it will be!
Flies:
One method to help control flies is to place fans in areas where food is being served and stored. This will help keep flying insects away from the area, such as flies, mosquitoes, moths, wasps, etc. Also, sealing food in containers when it is outside will prevent flies from potentially contaminating food, and will deter ants from finding the food as well.
Wasps:
Wasps like to feed on a variety of foods, one of which is sweet foods. Covering trash cans and keeping them away from where people gather will deter stinging insects and flies as well as other pests. It is important to remove trash regularly! Yellow jackets love sugar and can enter cans and bottles, cover these or use clear cups to avoid the potential of getting stung. Lastly, avoid wearing heavy fragrances, as these pests can be attracted to strong scents.
Ants:
Make sure to keep food covered so ants cannot find it. Ants communicate with their colony by using pheromones, so when an ant finds a food source, they let other members of the colony know, and soon the food you cooked can be covered in ants. Using household deterrents like lemon juice and vinegar can be helpful in preventing ants. Using a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or lemon juice and water to spray ant hills in your yard before your cookout may help prevent ants from spoiling your fun.
Some other useful tricks to deter pests include ensuring screens on windows and doors are in good working order. Also, if you fill a jar with water and put a few pennies in, it is believed that it can confuse flying insects and make the immediate area less attractive to them. Lastly, planting peppermint, lavender, and basil are natural insect repellents, so plan to have them growing by summer time
As you celebrate Independence Day this year, or you’re just trying to enjoy a weekend barbeque with your friends, we hope these do-it-yourself tips can help rid your party of unwanted guests! If you would like professional assistance in keeping your home safe, give Brochu Pest Solutions a call and our expert technicians will help ensure your home is free from common pest invaders.