The hotter weather in summer means that more and more pests are active, which can make summer a headache for homeowners in the Hilton Head area. In some cases, South Carolina pest control services are needed to keep these pests from creating larger infestations. Learn more about the most common kinds of summertime pests that are found in SC.
Ants
Many species of ants tend to be around more during the summer months. Sugar ants and other ant species are smaller pests that can be found inside homes, especially near kitchens and pantries. These ant species often get into homes in order to find sources of food, which can lead to food contamination.
Carpenter ants are another common summer pest in SC. These ants won’t bother your food as much, but they can cause a significant amount of damage to your walls and other parts of your home as they tunnel through wood for their nests.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches, also known as palmetto bugs or water bugs in SC, are another common pest in the summer months. These bugs, which include the American, Oriental and German cockroach species, can be found running around homes at night in search of food. They can also show up on patios and other outdoor areas, especially if there are garbage cans around.
These bugs can spread disease, since they are covered in germs from crawling through garbage, pipes and other dirty areas. Cockroach droppings can also affect those who have asthma or other respiratory problems.
Mosquitoes and Ticks
Mosquitoes are another disease-carrying pest that’s often seen during summer. These bugs can transmit West Nile virus through their bites, making them more than just a nuisance for SC residents. Ticks can also transmit diseases, such as Lyme disease, through their bites. These bugs can be a health hazard when they’re found on your property and should be eliminated with South Carolina pest control services as quickly as possible.
Wasps and Hornets
As the weather warms up, wasps and hornets become more and more active outdoors. These insects typically prey on other bugs, but they can be a big problem for people who are allergic to their stings. Even those without allergies can be seriously hurt by attacks, since wasps and hornets can sting multiple times. They can also attack in large numbers and inflict highly painful stings, especially when people get too close to their nests.
Preventing Summertime Pests
There are many steps you can take to lower your risk of having summertime pests ruin your seasonal fun. Integrated Pest Management through South Carolina pest control services is one of the most effective ways to do this. This type of pest control focuses on preventing these pests from infesting in the first place.
IPM is done through different methods, including using sprays and other products to deal with pests and using preventative methods to discourage infestations. For example, pest control professionals might recommend eliminating standing water to keep mosquitoes from breeding or keeping lawns trimmed to lower the risk of tick problems.
SC homeowners who are having problems with summer pests or want to prevent them from happening should work on maintaining a tidy property. Food sources should be eliminated, which means keeping garbage cans tightly sealed and cleaning up kitchens and outdoor patios to get rid of crumbs.
Other ways to prevent pests from becoming a problem include fixing pipe leaks that provide pests with water, fixing holes in window and door screens and getting rid of rotting tree stumps. Keeping shrubs trimmed also makes it harder for pests to get into homes.
When you’re dealing with wasps, ants, mosquitoes or other pests this summer, don’t hesitate to give Island Pest Control a call. We offer South Carolina pest control services to quickly and efficiently eliminate summer pests from your Hilton Head property.
