Spring is here, and along with bringing warmer weather, the season also
brings along some very unwanted and invasive pests. Some of these pests can
pose health threats to humans and create billions of dollars in property
damage every year. Some of the most common and pervasive spring pests are
ants, flies, rats, and mice. To protect your home this spring, the Kness
Pest Defense team of experts has assembled some preventative tips and home
defense solutions.
Ants
These tiny insects might look harmless, but ants can cause significant
issues for homeowners as they search for food and a place to start a colony.
As they scout out new locations, ants can easily make their way into a house
and establish food sources or even take shelter inside the walls of your
home, depending on the ant species.
Pavement ants establish their colonies in the ground outside a structure.
They can quickly swarm an area that has any trace of food that can be used
for the colony. These ants are identified by their dark brown or blackish
coloring and are anywhere from an inch long or smaller.
Carpenter ants, on the other hand, make their colonies in wood, which makes
houses vulnerable to infestation. They can cause structural damage by
nesting inside walls. They prefer wood that has been exposed to moisture.
Some ways to identify if you have a carpenter ant infestation is to be on
the lookout for piles of wood shavings that appear under pieces of wood.
Also, if you hear any rustling sounds coming from inside the walls, it could
be an infestation.
Ants can enter a building in several different ways. Some of the most common
ways these insects find their way into a home is through piping, the
foundation, cracks in the home exterior, gaps in windows or doors, and
vents. If you’re dealing with ants in the house in spring, it’s good
practice to seal any gaps or possible points of entry. Along with that, be
sure to eliminate food crumbs and standing water inside the home.
Other ant preventative measures include using pest control products like
Kness Ants-No-More® Ant Bait Station
or
Stick-All® Glue Trap. Ants-No-More is a compact and discreet bait station that can be loaded
with bait, which allows ants to take the bait and bring it back to their
nest—effectively eliminating the colony.
Flies
House flies, and fruit flies are some of the most common species of this
winged insect that people will come into contact with. Both species feast on
decaying organic matter and can carry disease-causing germs. Fly populations
can grow rapidly if left unchecked in the home.
Removing files can be a challenge, but it is possible. Preventative measures
are an essential step—monitoring doors and windows and sealing up any gaps
can reduce the number of flies that get in your house.
If you’re dealing with a fly infestation indoors or outdoors, the
Kness Stick-All® Glue Trap
can help eliminate the problem. So convenient to use and safe for the
environment, this is one sticky mouse trap you’ll want to keep around.
Rodents
Mice can quickly adapt to live year-round in homes. Once mice become
established in a home, they have the potential to cause significant damage
and contamination. Make sure to check your house for gaps or openings; mice
can fit through an opening the size of a dime. Use silicone-based caulk to
seal up any exposed areas around the property. Limit the number of hiding
places for mice by getting rid of clutter and not storing items in cardboard
boxes.
If you find evidence of mice in your home or property, Kness offers many
solutions. For live capture traps, Kness has the reliable
Ketch-All® Multiple Catch Mousetrap,
Pro-Ketch® Multiple Catch Mousetrap, and
Tip-Trap® Live Capture Mousetrap. The
Kness Snap-E® Mousetrap
is a safe, simple, and sanitary way of ridding your home of mice.
Rats are very adept at surviving in nearly any environment. They search for
areas that offer plenty of food, water, and shelter. They are very active
during their breeding seasons in the spring and fall. They are capable of
gaining access to buildings using entry methods such as gnawing, leaping,
and climbing.
Just like with mice, be sure to close off any small or large openings around
your home. To take care of any rats on your property, place traps, such as
the
Kness Big Snap-E® Rat Trap
or
Stick-All® Rat Glue Trap, around areas that the rodents have been.
Visit our
Pest Control Center
for more pest prevention tips.