Different Pests Appearing This Spring
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According to exterminators, ants are this season’s biggest problem. And although they may nest outside, experts tell us they have been invading West Tennessee homes this spring, and it is definitely no picnic. If you’ve had an any problem this season, you’re not alone. Local exterminators say they have treated more homes for swarming ants than usual, and it’s thanks to the weather. “Because of all the extreme water and rain that we’ve had, it’s probably made it a lot worse than it was last year,” said Homestead Pest Control president, David Markawski. “When you get all that water, water comes up, and ants and other insects don’t have anywhere to go. So they come up into the house.” The ants nest outside, but scavenge for food and moisture inside your home. “Most of the time if they’re coming into the house, they’re going to come in through weep holes, bricks, and then they’ll come in through pipe runs, they can come in cracks in the window sills,” said Markawski. And when they do, the ants will swarm, just like termites. But Markawski says there’s an easy way to tell the difference. “An ant’s body is segmented, where as a termite’s isn’t. Termites are going to be a jet black in color, wings are about twice as long as their body,” said Markawski. “If it looks like an ant with wings, it is an ant with wings.” And although ants with wings are not as harmful as the destructive termite, there are ways to help prevent an invasion. “Keep your woodpiles far from the house. Keep mulch from coming up onto your siding,” said Markawski. “Of course caulking’s good because any time you caulk cracks, it’s going to keep them from coming in.” Markawski says ant bait is the best ‘do-it-yourself’ remedy for ants, although they may take a few days to actually work. And if you’ve tried everything on your own and nothing seems to work, it may be time to call a professional.
