Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that goes for summer heat. Round Rock, Texas is known for its warm summer weather. Temperatures can reach close to 100 degrees, making it ideal for pool parties and trips to the lake.
These hot and humid temperatures also mean that insects are likely to be out and about. Mosquitoes are a common pest, but you also need to be aware of bees, beetles, cicadas, ants, fruit flies, gnats, and more.
It can be hard to enjoy outdoor activities when these insects are out and about. Your best course of action is to seek professional help when infestations get too overwhelming. An experienced Round Rock pest control company like Stride Pest Control can get rid of your pest problems quickly and effectively.
But if you’re dealing with just a few bugs, you may not feel like getting out the big guns just yet. That’s your decision to make, but you’ll want to ensure that you do everything you can to keep pests out of your home and yard. You should aim for peace of mind during the summer. You shouldn’t have to spend your time fighting off mosquitoes and other annoying pests.
Here’s a look at some common pests in Texas and how to deal with them this summer.
Mosquitoes
Many people find mosquitoes to be one of the most annoying things on the plant. Texas has both a warm climate and water, giving these pests all they need to survive.
Mosquitoes not only cause itchy bites, but they also spread diseases. Some of the diseases mosquitoes carry are encephalitis, Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue fever.
The best thing you can do to get rid of them is to eliminate standing water, including bird baths, toddler pools, and buckets. Citronella candles and mosquito repellent can help combat mosquitoes. You can also plant lavender, mint, lemongrass, basil, or rosemary to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Fire Ants
Fire ants are also annoying creatures, causing painful stings that burn like fire, hence their name. Thousands of fire ants can live in a mound of soft soil. These mounds may be unnoticeable when the weather is hot or dry. However, after a heavy rain, numerous mounds will pop up because the ants are trying to move out of the wet soil.
To prevent fire ants, you need to eliminate their food source, water supply, and living space. You can accomplish this by keeping trees and shrubs trimmed, removing ripe fruit from trees, and collecting any fruit from the ground. You can also pour boiling hot water on fire ant mounds, but keep in mind that this will kill any nearby plants as well.
Cicadas
Cicadas, also known as locusts, are noisy creatures that live in trees. They have bulging eyes and wings. They often shed their exoskeletons on tree limbs. Adult cicadas suck juices from twigs.
Cicadas can be loud and aggressive, but they are not harmful to people. Their clicking sounds can be annoying, which is why many people want to know how to get rid of them. You can cover shrubs and fruit-bearing plants with netting or cheesecloth to deter cicadas from landing on them. You can also pick cicadas off trees by hand.
Chiggers
Chiggers are active during summers in Texas, and may even be active year-round in southern areas. These small mites are found in wooded areas and will stay on humans for a day or two before finding a more suitable host, such as a bird, reptile, or small mammal. Chiggers are not harmful, but their bites are itchy and annoying. It’s hard to avoid them altogether. Your best bet is to wear long sleeves and pants when venturing out into bushes and trees.
Bees
Many people are scared of bees because they can cause painful stings. However, bees make honey, so they’re an important insect to have around. There are more than 1,000 species of bees in Texas alone, so there’s no getting away from them. Bees only sting as a defensive measure, but they can still be fearsome, especially if there’s a hive in your yard. The best solution is to call a local beekeeper or pest control company.
General Pest Prevention Tips
Want to keep pests from ruining your outdoor event this summer? Here are some tips:
- Keep food sealed. Keeping food outside and uncovered invites ants, wasps, roaches, and even rodents. A good idea is to keep all foods in sealed containers. Even bags of chips should be placed in sealable containers to prevent pests from getting to them.
- Take out the trash. Garbage can easily accumulate after a party. Don’t let it pile up, as it will attract pests. Get your trash to a covered container outdoors as quickly as possible.
- Clean up around pools. Pools can be a curse, as they have to be maintained all year long. This can be a frustrating task in the summer, especially after a pool party. You’ll want to clean the surface to get rid of leaves, twigs, flowers, bugs, and other debris. Check the filters as well, since pests can be hiding in them. Also, clean up all trash around the pool to ensure you don’t attract pests.
- Clean up after pets. Dogs and cats shed a lot of hair and make many messes. They may leave toys, sticks, food, and treats around the house. Vacuuming and sweeping daily can clean up messes as well as pick up pests such as mites, fleas, tickets, and bed bugs. Also, clean out water daily to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Contact Us Today
The Texas heat brings out huge numbers of pests. These insects and rodents can bring out a lot of stress, which can put a damper on summer activities.
Get peace of mind from the friendly team at Stride Pest Control. We are trained to handle a variety of pest woes. We will work hard to safeguard your home or business all year long. To schedule a free consultation, call (512) 777-1339 (Austin) or (512) 254-8185 (Round Rock) or fill out the online form.
