Spring is here, which unfortunately means that nuisance pests like ants, wasps, spiders, and more are returning to homes in Northern Virginia. The warmer weather awakens these pests from their winter dormancy, and then the April showers send them inside, searching for shelter. Ants and cockroaches can infest your kitchen and trash can, wasps will build nests on your deck and porch, termites will swarm near windows, and spiders will be spinning webs both inside and outside the home to catch a meal. Getting started on pest control early can help prevent these nuisances from reaching your home.
That’s why Summit Wildlife Removal offers the best spring pest control services to homeowners in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Fredericksburg.
Why Spring Brings a Surge in Pest Activity
As the freezing temperatures of winter melt into the temperate days of spring, insects, spiders, and other pests will emerge from their winter dormancy, ready to look for new sources of food and new places to nest and breed. Unfortunately, your home provides plenty of food sources, and even more places to nest and hide.
April showers bring May flowers, but April showers also bring pest infestations! When surprise rains batter the outdoors, you might spot spiders, ants, and other insects coming inside your house, seeking a dry place to hide. If a wandering ant gets inside your home to escape a rain storm, and then discovers food crumbs or spills, then it will alert its colony and your kitchen will end up swarming with ants! With so many ants to eat, the next step is an invasion of hungry spiders.
Common Spring Pests in Northern Virginia
Some of the more common spring pests in Northern Virginia include:
- Ants: several ant species will invade your home, from odorous house ants and pavement ants to the highly destructive carpenter ants. Ants are attracted to any type of food they can find, and will march in underneath doors and windows, and through any cracks or gaps.
- Wasps and Hornets: species like paper wasps, yellowjackets, and bald-faced hornets will build their nests inside your attic, on your deck or porch, or in the corners of your roof. Yellowjackets can even build underground nests in your yard. These stinging insects can become very aggressive, and may sting if you get near their nest.
- Termites: during the spring, winged reproductive termites called “swarmers” will congregate in large swarms near your home, and if they start a new colony on your property, then they will begin feeding on the wood in your home, creating expensive damage.
- Spiders: Most spiders are harmless, however they can be very frightening if you have arachnophobia. Spiders will often hunt inside garages and basements, and the presence of spiders in your home may signal an underlying pest infestation.
- Cockroaches: roaches thrive in warm, humid conditions, and will invade your home in search of crumbs and spills. Roaches are often spotted inside basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and under large appliances.
How Homeowners Can Prevent Spring Pests
While spring does lead to an increase in pest activity in the home, there are steps you can take to prevent them. Clean up all crumbs and spills as soon as they happen, keep a secure lid on trash cans, don’t leave pet food out, and remove as much clutter as you can. Vacuuming up spiderwebs can help deter spiders from your home. Pests like cockroaches thrive in moisture, so removing standing water and repairing leaks as soon as you can will lower the likelihood that they settle down on your property. Trimming vegetation and removing leaf litter, firewood, and other lawn debris can help make your yard less habitable to insects.
When To Call a Pest Control Professional
It’s never too early to call a pest control professional! Preventative pest control treatments can stop a pest infestation before it even reaches your doors. The next best time to call a pest control professional is once you begin noticing the signs of an infestation. Termite wings near your windows, spider webs popping up on your porch, a line of ants marching into your kitchen, all of these are surefire signs of a pest infestation.
Best Spring Pest Control in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Fredericksburg
If you need spring pest control treatments in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, or anywhere else in Northern Virginia, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions today! Our technicians offer FREE estimates, meaning they will come to your house and carefully inspect for pest issues, before writing up an estimated cost for treatment. Once approved, we can begin comprehensively treating your property for pests. After the pests are gone, we will locate and seal off any entry points, and then provide you with regular preventative treatments to keep them from returning. Don’t let ants, spiders, roaches or wasps cast a shadow on your Spring, call Summit Pest Control to take back your home and yard today!
