Clark, your friendly termite, grounds care, and pest management expert, hopes your long Fourth of July weekend is full of picnics, cookouts, splashing in the pool, hanging out at the beach, and fireworks with family and friends. Clark also would like your holiday celebration to be pest free.
Unwanted pests, such as ants, flies, and stinging insects, are attracted to the sweet, sugary ingredients that are found in many of the foods we enjoy during our holiday celebrations. They’re also drawn to the greasy leftovers that can be found on grills, serving trays, and garbage cans filled with post-party trash.
It’s in the DNA of pests to constantly seek new sources of food, water, and shelter, and outdoor celebrations and the resulting food waste are a pest’s paradise. And with temperatures hitting record marks across California and northern Nevada, pests will be on the move to find more friendly accommodations, where the essentials they need to survive are readily available.
Fourth of July pests to keep an eye on
Clark would like your Fourth of July, and all your summer celebrations, to be free from unwanted pests. Here are a few tips to keep annoying pests from spoiling your fun:
Flies: These airborne pests are a common interloper to almost any backyard cookout or picnic. You can keep these filthy insects from spoiling your picnic by covering your food with foil or tight-sealing lids, or by setting up your buffet inside a screened-in porch or tent. Also, remember to clean up food and beverage spills, because they are a major attractant to flies.
Ants: Like flies, ants are drawn to food, along with food spills and leftovers. Ants – especially Argentine ants, one of the most abundant ant species in California – thrive on sweet, sugary substances like spilled soft drinks. Cleaning up spilled food and drinks, and rinsing out cans and bottles before they go into the recycle bin or garbage can, will deny ants their sought-after prize.
Stinging Insects: Nothing can ruin a party like getting stung by a bee or yellowjacket. Inspect your property before guests arrive for any signs of nests in trees, or under awnings and the eaves of your home. If you do spot a nest, call Clark Pest Control immediately. Be sure to cover food and beverage cans or bottles, because many stinging insects are attracted to sugary substances, and no one wants to swallow a bee that flew into their beverage.
Mosquitoes: These nuisance pests are regular outdoor party crashers, and eliminating standing water and keeping vegetation trimmed in your yard are ways to prevent mosquitoes from nesting. Use insect repellent or yard sprays that contain DEET or eucalyptus oil, light citronella candles, or turn on a ceiling or box fan to literally blow mosquitoes away from your deck or patio (as mosquitoes are not good flyers) to toss these uninvited guests out.
Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify you before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.
If pests are making your outdoor celebrations a little less enjoyable, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or email us at clarkcares@clarkpest.com. We are ready to help solve your pest issues.
Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.
Happy Fourth of July!