A warm winter means more spring insects

BY JIM MCHALE

This winter often felt more like spring — which arrives today, Monday, March 20, at 5:24 p.m. — with some days in February breaking records across the tristate area with temperatures of 63 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.

Unseasonably warm temperatures have a significant effect on nature and the life cycles of many insects. Indeed, bugs that would normally perish under leaf litter or below the frost line have been able to survive and thrive because of warm weather this winter. Without consistently cold temperatures, they are less likely to go into hibernation and they even start their preparations for spring sooner. We have received many reports of ladybugs, cluster flies and leaf footed plant bugs exiting their overwintering sites early. This means increased pest pressure this spring, especially regarding ticks, carpenter ants, Polistes wasps and mosquitoes.

With more than 50 years in the pest control business, we at JP McHale Pest Management know that early intervention is the proven and best way to prevent a pest invasion. We use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that focuses on early interception, monitoring pest pressure and limiting the use of pesticides. When pesticide applications are employed, they are precise, targeted and delivered in environmentally sustainable formulations.

An effective integrated pest management strategy starts with good planning to minimize potentially bigger problems in the future. Our greatest success stories are ones in which we are able to develop a “partnership” with our clients. Just making simple fixes in your home or office, like sealing up any openings and clearing out clutter, can make all the difference.

There’s a lot you can do on your own to minimize the risk of a pest infestation before you need to call us. Successful do-it-yourself pest control strategies include cutting trees back away from your house to eliminate runways for squirrels and also to enable sunlight to dry out your structure post-precipitation. Certain oils, like citronella, can have repellent effects on weak flying insects. The best DIY pest control methods build out the conditions that have caused the pest problems in the first place.

Here are some tips you can try on your own. Please remember that if after two weeks you haven’t been able to eliminate your pest issue completely, you should call in a pest professional to crash any elevated pest pressure.

1. Keep everything dry and well-ventilated — Carpenter ants can only tear wood that’s wet. They can’t create brood galleries in wood with moisture content below 18%. After precipitation, let sunlight onto your home. Quickly eliminating standing water, wet spots and collection areas will reduce pest pressure.

2. Check gutters frequently — Make sure all precipitation is pitched away from your structure. Flying pests, like mosquitoes, love to nest and reproduce near freshwater sources. Clean out any clogged downspouts and eliminate pooling water against the structure to build out mosquito harborage. Leaf decay, which spikes nitrogen content in standing water, synergizes mosquito reproduction. Be sure to agitate any backyard ponds and introduce mosquito-eating fish (Gambusia Affinis) to combat infestation. By eliminating their breeding sites, you will significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes and other weak flying pests around your property.

3. Inspect roof eaves, under the barbecue and under the deck — These are all places where Polistes wasps love to build their honeycomb nests. Be mindful of wasps when opening up your grill, especially if it’s been sitting idle all winter. If you surprise the wasps, they will certainly defend themselves by stinging you.

4. Keep your lawn well-maintained — Ticks love tall grass and overgrown shrubs. Frequent mowing and keeping a well-managed landscape are the best ways to reduce tick activity. Strategic applications to your property’s ecotone area, where the managed lawn ends and the wooded area begins, will enable your family to enjoy the outdoors with less risks associated with disease transmission.

5. Hose before hosting — Have you ever noticed that immediately following a rainstorm there isn’t much insect activity? Mimic a rainstorm by hosing down all the shrubs and flowers around your deck or wherever your barbecue is going to be. Adding an oscillating fan, 6 to 8 feet in the air, will also deter weak flying pests during your gatherings. Low-voltage light bulbs will attract less attention.

6. When it comes to rodents, nine is the special number — If you see nine rodents, then you probably have a family in your home and snaring them with peanut butter baits, poison or traps won’t help much. JP McHale now offers a digital monitoring technology system, SMART, https://nopests.com/services/homepest-solutions/home-pest-prevention-surveillance/ which detects and intercepts the early stages of a rodent infestation. The system immediately alerts our office when any rodent activity is present. We then call you to schedule an appointment with a specially trained technician who will handle and resolve your situation.

Jim McHale is a Cornell entomologist and president and CEO of JP McHale Pest Management. For more, contact JP McHale Pest Management at 800-479-2284 or click here. https://nopests.com