Summer in Texas means hanging out at a local swimming hole. It means barbecues with friends, neighbors, and loved ones. It also means pests.
Texas is home to a wide range of pests, from ants to bed bugs to mosquitoes to termites to fleas to rodents. However, some of the most annoying ones that you will come across are fire ants and mosquitoes.
Fire ants get their name because they are able to inflict painful bites and stings, and they feel like you’re on fire. These dark reddish-brown ants are found throughout the southern United States, including Texas.
If you have lived in Texas for any amount of time, you have likely dealt with mosquitoes at some point. There are more than 80 species of mosquitoes in Texas. Not all bite, but most do. These bites can be painful and itchy, making mosquitoes an unwelcome guest at any outdoor activity.
The good news is that if you have mosquitoes, fire ants, or other pests in or around your home, you don’t have to fight them alone. Stride Pest Control is here to provide you with all your pest control needs, all year long. Read on to learn more about how to get rid of fire ants and mosquitoes.
What Attracts Fire Ants?
You may wonder why you have fire ants in your yard. These insects are attracted to the following:
- Food. Fire ants are omnivores, so they eat just about everything. While they mostly eat other arthropods (invertebrate animals), they enjoy oily, greasy foods as well and will also eat seeds and potatoes growing in the ground. If you have a garden in your yard, you can bet that fire ants will be sticking around.
- Moisture. Fire ants need water to survive, so if you have water lingering outdoors (such as in gardens or puddles or from pipe leaks), fire ants will be attracted to it.
- Dirt. Poor sanitation attracts fire ants. Dispose of household waste promptly so you don’t have ants in your home. Keep in mind that fire ants have an extraordinary sense of smell.
- Mulch. Shredded plant parts encourage moisture retention, which attracts fire ants.
Professional Treatments for Fire Ants
Fire ants are not just an annoyance; they can also cause serious infections and deaths from their bites. These stings can cause shock to those who are allergic. Small children who are stung dozens of times can die from fire ants. Fire ants can also injure or kill birds, livestock, and other wildlife.
Because of this, it’s a good idea to treat fire ants promptly. Many people may want to use natural or organic options, such as orange peels, club soda, and boiling water (ouch!). However, these options only cause the fire ants to move and create new mounds. They don’t kill them.
What this means is that you will need to resort to chemicals to get rid of these pests for good. Here are some of the most effective ones:
- Mound treatments. Mound treatments include dusts like acephate and baits like Amdro. Acephate is deadly, killing any ant it touches. Amdro is slow-acting but also effective. The worker ant eats this stomach poison and before he dies, he feeds it to the queen, so she dies as well. However, mound treatments allow other fire ants to keep making more mounds. Plus, Amdro bait spoils when it gets wet, so it needs to stay dry.
- Lawn treatment. Lawn treatments are granules of long-lasting insecticide that you apply to the lawn. You then water the treated site. Ortho Fire Ant Killer works especially well.
Better yet, save time and money by hiring Stride Pest Control to take care of your fire ant infestations. Get a free quote today and get peace of mind.
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted to humans and animals due to the carbon dioxide they emit. Body heat, perspiration, and odor can also attract these annoying pests. Also, mosquitoes are attracted to dark-colored clothing, so it’s best to wear light-colored clothes when outdoors. You should also wear mosquito repellent. Note that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so avoid going outdoors during these times.
Mosquitoes breed in bodies of water, so you will want to remove all sources of water from your home. This includes pet bowls, bird baths, puddles, small kiddie pools, and water accumulated inside buckets. It’s best to dump out water and clean out pools when possible. Your gutters on the roof of your home may also accumulate water, so be sure to check them often and remove leaves, pine needles, sticks, and other debris.
Professional Treatments for Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes suck your blood and cause painful bites. These pests may transmit deadly diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus. Therefore, you want to do what you can to get mosquitoes away from your yard.
Store-bought products such as bug zappers, citronella candles, and traps can be helpful in killing mosquitoes and forcing them out of your yard. However, for more effective mosquito control, it’s best to call in the professionals.
Work with Stride Pest Control and we’ll get a technician out right away to inspect your yard. We will inspect the perimeter of your yard and home and assess any bushes, tall grass, and weeds that are especially attractive to these pests.
Once we identify these problem areas, the technician will then apply a pesticide spray that is powerful and effective. It is also safe for you, your family, and your pets. At Stride Pest Control, we go to great strides to make sure you are 100% satisfied.
Contact Us Today
Fire ants and mosquitoes are two annoying pests that homeowners and business owners want to get rid of quickly. If you are in this situation, know that Stride Pest Control can help.
If you have pest problems, you’ll be amazed at how fast we respond and how quickly our pest control professionals are at your door! Schedule a free inspection with Stride Pest Control today. Fill out the online form or give us a call at (512) 777-1339 (Austin) or (210) 547-8410 (San Antonio).
