How to Keep Pests Away From Your Patio

Outdoors, pests are a fact of life. Here in Las Vegas, we are used to the influx of insects in the summer and fall months. You’re likely looking to spend time outside in your backyard or on your patio with the summer winding down. You also likely don’t want to deal with any pests when you do so. While it can be difficult to avoid insects altogether in your yard, there are a few things you can do to make your property less attractive to pests.

The team at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas are here to share their top outdoor pest-proof tips.

What Pests Are In My Las Vegas Backyard?

The warm weather invites all types of pests and insects. Whether you have an outdoor living set or a play set for your kids, it’s important to know what pests you might encounter right in your backyard. These are the pests you’re likely to see or have problems with:

Pest-Free Outdoor Living Tips and Tricks

If you are planning to have family barbecues or gardening sessions outdoors, you don’t want to deal with pests. It’s important to know how to make your yard less attractive to insects. Some of our top tips include:

  • Get rid of standing water. Stagnant water is one of the biggest attractants for mosquitoes.
  • Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed. Ticks and mosquitoes will shelter in overgrown vegetation or tall grass.
  • Know how to identify nests or ant hills. Even a tiny mound can contain thousands of ants inside.
  • Inspect all wood structures. Wood-destroying pests (carpenter ants and termites) will damage your wooden decks or porches.
  • Apply an insect repellent. Most store-bought repellent containing DEET will help repel mosquitoes and ticks.
  • Clean your patio or space regularly. Spills or leftover food will surely bring ants around.

Long-Term Pest Prevention For Your Yard

Keeping pests away from your property can be difficult. If you’ve done all you can to prevent pests in your outdoor living space and still find yourself with scorpions or a wasp nest, contact the residential exterminators at Western Exterminator today. We are committed to keeping our customers safe from pests both inside and outside the home.

2020 Pest Season – 6 Pest Predictions

There are 6 pest problems to look for in 2020 - Western Exterminator of Las Vegas provides tips on preventing them in your Henderson NV home.Hindsight may be 20/20, but when it comes to pests this year, Rentokil is looking into its crystal ball to help homeowners proactively defend their homes against pest infestation.

The experts at Rentokil used their field experiences and examined trends and company data to determine the following six pest predictions.  Along with the predictions, we are offering some quick tips for homeowners to help keep their homes pest-free in the new year.

Mosquitoes

Populations of disease-spreading mosquitoes, such as the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito, have surged in recent years in some Western states. These mosquitoes, along with the already well-established common house mosquito, can spread diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and Zika virus, as well as the parasite that causes heartworm in pets.

Homeowner Tips: To protect yourself and your family, dispose of standing water from your property.  It only takes a tablespoon of water for mosquitoes to breed. When spending time outdoors, protect yourself and your family by always wearing an EPA-approved insect repellent.

Rats

In recent years, in major metropolitan areas across the country,  rat populations have surged. Expect to see that trend continue and watch for rat activity to increase in suburban areas, as well. Warmer winters, a booming construction pipeline, lack of sanitation control, and an affordable housing crisis are all issues that have contributed to the swell of recent rat activity.

Homeowner Tips:  To deter rats, take the following steps: Eliminate excess vegetation, especially dense low-vegetation that serves as hiding places for rats. Keep trees cut back from the roofline. Seal any exterior openings larger than a nickel with rodent-proof material such as hardware cloth or flashing. Finally, ensure that all trash is sealed in bags and placed into garbage cans with well-fitting lids to prevent an infestation.

Termites

Termites are the most destructive pests in North America, causing $6 billion in property damage each year. These wood-destroying pests are a continual problem for homeowners in the Western U.S., and this year could bring heavier pressure than usual. Rentokil experts have seen an increase in activity from subterranean and dampwood termites in many areas this year.

Homeowner Tips:  To deter termites, eliminate soil to wood contact and avoid moisture accumulation near your home or structures’ foundation. Remove excess wood (stumps, lumber, etc.) from your yard. Unfortunately, termites can be present for years before homeowners ever seen signs of their activity, causing extensive and costly damage. To avoid this, have a termite protection plan in place. Speak to your pest control provider about risk and protection options for your home.

Cockroaches

Cockroach populations have boomed over the past several years, due in large part to wetter springs and winters. Cockroaches carry diseases, infest stored food, and spread these diseases through their excrement. Cockroach removal is vital as infestations can be serious if not taken care of in a timely manner.

Homeowner Tips: The biggest attractant for cockroaches is food. Keep a clean kitchen, mopping or sweeping up any spills. Cockroach-proof your home by sealing small cracks and crevices around windows and door frames with a silicone-based caulk. Ensure that door seals, including the one on your garage, are in place and intact. If you’re experiencing cockroach problems, speak with your pest control professional to determine the best solution for your home.

Flies

If you have noticed more flies in your area, you aren’t alone. Filth flies – house flies, bottle flies, flesh flies – are more abundant than we’ve seen in previous years.  You can thank increasing population density, waste management practices that haven’t kept pace with growth, and a general trend toward a warming climate for the fly pressure.

Homeowner Tips: Fly activity can be difficult to control, but there are preventative steps homeowners can take to keep them at bay. Screen all windows and doors. Keep trash stored away from your home and ensure that all trash cans have tight-fitting lids. If flies are bothering you when sitting outside, use a box or oscillating fan to keep them away. When air is moving, flies have a hard time landing.

Spiders

Last year, spiders arrived early and more people reported seeing spiders in their homes. Spiders eat other insects, therefore, heavy rain and record-breaking temperatures over the last few years have created the perfect conditions for the smaller insects that spiders love to eat. With a steady food source, spider populations are increasing. Although beneficial for our ecosystem, most people prefer spiders to stay outside where they belong.

Homeowner Tips: Fortunately, most species of spiders can not survive indoors as their systems are built for outdoor weather. If the thought of spiders lurking around freaks you out, try changing your white outdoor light bulbs to yellow light bulbs, which attract fewer insects that can serve as food for the spiders. There are a few species of spiders that can live indoors and need to be controlled by spider removal experts.

The experts at Rentokil agree that a proactive approach is the first step any homeowner can take to prevent pest issues. With these 2020 pest predictions in mind, take time to evaluate your current pest control plan and ensure that you have the protection you need to protect yourself and your family from pests this year.

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies only live for about 30 days, but they multiply quickly.
Fruit flies only live for about 30 days, but they multiply quickly.

Do fruit flies tend to beat you to the fruit bowl? Once they settle in, these uninvited guests know how to overstay their welcome. Learn what you can do to prevent a fruit fly infestation.

Fruit Fly Habits and Behavior

Fruit flies get their common name from their small size and fondness of some fruits. Fruit flies are found on moist, decaying matter that has been stationary for several days, and are especially attracted to rotting fruits and vegetables.

Fruit flies don’t sneak into your home through gaps and cracks in your exterior walls and foundation the way other insects do. They can be found on fruit in the form of eggs then hatch when the conditions are right. These tiny flies only live for about 30 days, however, they multiply quickly. Consider the fact that a single female fruit fly can lay hundreds of eggs in her brief lifetime, and each time she lays another batch, they only take about 24 hours to hatch. This means one fruit fly egg that hatches can produce a swarm, seemingly out of nowhere, in just a few days.

Fruit Fly Threats

Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions, so they are a potential heath concern, especially when present in health facilities.

Fruit Fly Prevention and Removal

Looking to get rid of fruit flies in the home? Fruit flies are best prevented through vigilant sanitation practices. The key to effective removal of fruit flies is to find their breeding ground. This might mean doing things like cleaning the kitchen counters and cleaning and sterilizing garbage cans and dumpsters.

Remove any over-ripe fruit that is in the house, too. Fruit flies prefer to breed beneath the skin of fruit that has started to go rotten. This also means picking up any rotten fruit lying on the ground around your home.

Fruit flies love to use drains for breeding purposes, too. If your drains have not been cleaned in a while, this could be why fruit flies are finding your home or building particularly attractive. Although they are called fruit flies, they will find almost anything food-related attractive. This includes soda and sugary substances.

Keep Fruit Refrigerated Until Ready for Use

To avoid a fruit fly infestation keep kitchen counters, sinks and floors clean and wipe up any sugary substances. Wash dishes after use and avoid leaving in your sink overnight. Keep fruits and vegetables refrigerated until ready for use and throw out any rotting produce in trash bin with a tight fitting lid. Follow these steps and you should be able to enjoy the fruits of summer free of these annoying pests!