Don’t Invite Bugs To Your Labor Day BBQ!

It’s the last celebration for the summer. Labor Day means shorter, cooler days are around the corner. The kids have started a new school year.  Football season is starting!  Maybe you have planned a party or barbecue. While the thought of your end of summer yard party is exciting, the thought of sharing it with insects and critters makes you cringe. Keep your guests happy and your backyard pest-free during your Labor Day party by following these tips:

Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, so if you are planning a barbeque before sunset, adorn your deck or patio with citronella candles that can help minimize the presence of mosquitoes in the area.

Yellowjackets and other stinging insects are attracted to fragrances from shampoo, perfume and candles — not to mention food and drink. Avoid using scented items beforehand and provide clear plastic cups for your guests as aluminum cans and plastic bottles are good hiding spots for stinging insects.

Prior to the party, check screen doors and repair any holes. And with guests coming in and out of your house, make sure the doors close behind them.

1. Keep all food and beverages in sealed coolers and containers.

2. Keep garbage containers sealed and away from guests.

3. Clean trash, spills and crumbs immediately from tables and other surfaces.

4. Bring utensils and dishware indoors shortly after the meal.

5. Rinse all beverage bottles and cans, and dispose of them in tightly closed garbage containers.

6. Plan to serve food and beverages indoors, and reserve outdoor space for eating and entertaining.

7. Remove or drain sources of standing water in your yard that could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, including birdbaths, wading  pools or garden ponds.

At Western Exterminator, we hope you enjoy your yard during these final days of summer without worrying about being stung. If you do discover a stinging insect issue on your property, give us a call or fill out our contact form! With stinging insect and pest control services offered in Las Vegas and Henderson, we are ready to help you enjoy the upcoming fall season!

Is Your Backyard BBQ Ready?

Summer is the best time of the year for outdoor entertaining. If you’re looking forward to your next backyard BBQ, you will want to make sure that your property is ready. We’re not just talking gas for the grill and ice for the cooler- we want you to make sure that your property is pest free! Checking your property for current pest infestations and preventing future infestations is important as you start the summer season. Is your backyard BBQ ready? Here is a checklist of some things that our Las Vegas and Henderson pest professionals recommend for you to do to prevent pests in your yard this summer.

  1. Remove sources of stagnant water from the area to help prevent mosquito swarms. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so you want to check gutters, ditches, puddles and old flower planters for collected rainwater. If you have a birdbath, make sure the water is changed out regularly.
  2. Check around the property for any stinging insect nests. These can be built in the ground or in trees, the side of the home, in gutters or even in your grill- yikes! After you have taken a peek inside, keep the grill closed until you are ready to use it to help prevent any stinging insect surprises on BBQ day.
  3. Replace any window screens in the home that are broken or torn and make sure there is a screen door on all entrances. Open windows and doors are an easy way to let pests right into the home.

Before your BBQ, Graduation Party, summer party or any other outdoor events, we recommend checking around your property for any signs of pest problems. If you find something suspicious, give the pros at Western Exterminator a call. We can help you to prepare your property for outdoor entertainment season and keep uninvited guests such as ants, bees, wasps and mosquitoes from crashing your party!

If you live in Las Vegas or Henderson and would like to learn more about summer pest control services or you would like more info on ant prevention tips, ask a Western Exterminator professional today!

Now don’t forget the gas for the grill and the ice for the coolers and enjoy your summer backyard parties without the annoyance of pests in your yard!

 

Will You Be My Valentine? Weird and Wacky Mating Rituals of Bugs

Forget flowers and chocolates this Valentine’s Day. When it comes to wooing a mate many insect species have their own, unique ways of attracting the opposite sex. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) explores some of these strange mating habits.

Bed Bugs

If you’ve ever had a bed bug infestation, you know how quickly a few bugs can turn into hundreds, but what you may not know is just how all those bed bugs came to be. Bed bugs practice a mating behavior known as “traumatic insemination” where the male pierces the abdomen of the female.

Kissing bugs

The name “kissing bug” might lead you to believe we’re talking about a disease you can pick up from smooching your Valentine, but kissing bugs are actually insects. Named for their tendency to bite the faces and lips of humans while they sleep, kissing bugs can cause welts and allergic reactions. This blood meal is necessary for male kissing bugs to mate and for the female kissing bug to lay eggs.

Termites

Female termites release ‘mating pheromones,’ much like perfume, to entice male termites. Once males locate the alluring females, they both break off their wings, symbolizing they are officially a couple.

Fire Ants

In fire ant colonies, the queen ant is in charge of egg laying, and can even control how many male and female eggs she lays. Her goal is to produce another queen, and males are needed to mate and produce a colony. Worker ants, however, have no use for males, which die after mating. When the queen needs males, she can overwhelm the colony with male eggs. The female workers kill many of the males, but they can’t kill them all.

If you live or work in Las Vegas or Henderson and suspect a pest infestation in your home or office, contact Western Exterminator to cut the courtship short. Visit lvpest.com or call us at 702-385-1269 today!