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Pests may be a problem in Atlanta year-round, but summertime is a particularly bad season for pest problems. The warmth brings out every pest you could think of, and with so many more pests around, you’ll start to find lots of pests inside your house as well. It may be that you aren’t sure about calling an Atlanta pest control service, but you also really don’t want to deal with the influx of summer pests you know is heading your way.
But, if you’re being honest, you aren’t totally sure which pests you’ll need to prepare for most. Or how to prevent them in the first place. You need to learn what you’re up against before you can do much else to prepare your home for summer pests, so here’s a list of the most common pests in Atlanta, then we can talk about how to prevent and get rid of these summer pests.
Common Atlanta Pests
In Atlanta, there are plenty of pests that you’ll need to deal with, but there are a few you’ll come across more than others. If you can be ready to deal with the most common pests, you’ll minimize your home pest problems.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are reddish-brown insects that range in size from about half an inch to about 2 inches. You may see them individually or in groups depending on the kind of cockroaches that are in your home.
Cockroaches come into your home when they are looking for food and shelter. In particular, they are attracted to dark, moist areas such as under your bathroom or kitchen sink, a flooded basement, or standing water in your bathtub. You may also find cockroaches in your kitchen if dirty dishes are left in the sink or food is left sitting out.
Unfortunately, cockroaches are more than just a nuisance to you. They can also be a hazard. When cockroaches are in your home, they bring various problems. From diseases that they spread as they crawl over things to aggravating respiratory health conditions, you and your family could be at risk anytime they’re around. In some cases, these risks can even be life-threatening.
Ants
In the United States, there are about 1000 different ant species. Many of these are more of a nuisance than anything, but there are a few that are more problematic. For example, carpenter ants will live in the walls of your home and tunnel through the wood, which can make it structurally unsound if they go unchecked. Or there are fire ants which, when they bite and sting, can feel like they are burning you.
Ants can also be a big problem for your pets. Ants will sometimes find their way into your pet’s food bowl and, when your pet goes to eat, bite your pet’s face because they feel threatened. Your poor furbaby might not want to eat again if that happens.
Ants can build colonies with thousands of members. And when this happens in your house, it is really hard to get rid of them all. The ants you see out and about in your home are likely only a small percentage of the ants actually living in your home. Additionally, it’s possible that the infestation in your home is actually a satellite colony of a bigger colony outside of your home, making it even more difficult to completely get rid of them. Because of this, you need to choose your extermination efforts carefully.
Rodents
Whatever animated movies might portray, rodents are not creatures you want running around your house helping you with chores. Mice and rats are prominent carriers of various diseases that can be passed to humans, and these diseases can be quite harmful or even fatal. These diseases also make it dangerous for your pets to chase after and eat rodents because they can become extremely sick as well.
Like ants, rodents can build up entire colonies in your home. However, these are likely smaller colonies than ant colonies. Even though the colonies are smaller than ant colonies, they are still difficult to get rid of because you may not see a lot of evidence of the colony until it has grown extensively.
Some ways you can know that you have a rodent infestation are finding chewed wires or packages, droppings around your home, and skittering or squeaking noises in your walls or ceiling. Rodents are always out looking for food, so keep an eye out for these signs in your kitchen and pantry.
What You Can Do to Prevent Pests
When it comes to common pests, there are a few things you can do to minimize their presence in your home. All it really takes is a few simple measures.
One of the most important things to do to prevent pests in your home is to keep it clean. Putting food away, cleaning dishes, and sweeping up crumbs can go a long way toward keeping pests away because there will be less to attract them there in the first place.
Another preventive step you should take is checking your home for problem areas. This includes areas with standing water, rooms that are rarely disturbed, and any cracks or gaps that might be letting pests inside. Making sure your home is dry, that every room is cleaned and used, and that the house is sealed up as tightly as possible will do so much to keep the pests away. If they can’t come in or don’t have a reason to come in, they won’t build up infestations in your home either.
When to Call Pest Control
Even when you do everything in your power to prevent pests, it might not be enough to completely stop the pests. When you’ve done your part to prevent pests, it’s time to call an Atlanta pest control service for help. You don’t even need to wait for an infestation to appear in your home. Pest control services can be as important to prevention as they are to removal and extermination. So don’t hesitate to contact professional pest services anytime.
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