Spring Pests In Hampton Roads

Weather might still be unpredictable in early spring, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to get going with spring cleaning. When you roll your sleeves up and tackle spring cleaning, you also get in front of pest problems. Today, we'll look at a few common pests in our area and give you some simple spring-cleaning tips to help you stop them from taking over your home.

hampton roads homeowner cleaning kitchen

Ants in your home

Spring is when most types of ants start marching right into homes in search of food, water, and shelter. Although it may not seem like a big deal to find ants crawling on the kitchen counter or elsewhere in the house, it’s not good to have them in your home because they probably won’t leave on their own. Here are a few ways to ant-proof your house this spring:

Clean up food debris on the floor
Wipe down counters
Store food in containers with airtight covers
Make sure your kitchen trash is covered
Address moisture problems in the basement, crawl space, and other areas
Fix leaking faucets, appliances, and other plumbing issues
Seal gaps, cracks, and openings on the outside of the house

These simple tips can reduce your chances of having an ant invasion. While most ants in our areas are just a nuisance, fire ants sting, carpenter ants damage wood, and certain ants can introduce health risks. It is best to keep all ants out.

Mosquitoes in your yard

Why do mosquitoes come back in the spring with force? There are a few reasons. Warm temperatures cause them to come out of their temporary dormancy, which entomologists call diapause, and females quickly get busy laying eggs—a hundred at a time. It takes about a week and a half for mosquitoes to go from egg to flying insect. That means you have about a week after temperatures rise before you may start to see a lot of mosquitoes in your yard. Here are a few ways you discourage mosquito activity:

Remove objects that hold rainwater to get rid of breeding sites.
Pour water out when possible so mosquitoes can't grow into adults and take to the air.
Clear out your gutters and patch up points that leak.
Trim landscaping to reduce the humidity that attracts mosquitoes.

In addition to implementing the mosquito prevention tips above, you might also consider signing up for seasonal mosquito control.

Termites start swarming

It is important to know that termites are often active all year long; spring is just the time of year when you're more likely to see them because termite colonies release winged reproductives in a process known as termite swarming. Use these tips to help you guard against termite damage.

Look for mud tubes on the exterior of your home and inside
Check for damage to wood in dark and humid spaces, such as a crawlspace
Address moisture problems inside your home
Eliminate wood-to-soil contact as much as possible
Store firewood away from the sides of your home and up off the ground
Sign up for termite control from Getem Services

Let Getem Services help you keep these insects & rodents out this spring!

To keep ants and other insects and rodents out of your Hampton Roads home this spring and all year round, we recommend signing up for all-season pest protection. Here at Getem Services, we offer ongoing home pest control services in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, as well as throughout Hampton Roads that include:

Quarterly pest control services
Spider web removal
Wasp nest removal
Exterior pest treatments
Interior pest treatments if there’s a problem
Installing and maintaining bait stations, if necessary

With a plan starting as low as $39/month, homeowners can count on our team to exterminate ants, beetles, spiders, cockroaches, centipedes, and mice, as well as other common house-infesting pests.

Want to learn more about the many benefits of year-round home pest service? We'd love to have a conversation with you; reach out today!

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