What You Need To Know About Pests In Edmond
As a locally owned business, Summit Pest Solutions knows local pests. Our Pest Library provides the information you need to know about the most common pests in Edmond so that if you find them in your home or business, you’ll know just what to do. Contact Summit Pest Solutions today for help dealing with extensive pest pressures.
Ants
Many different ants live throughout Oklahoma and are regular visitors to our properties as they search for food and water. Two of the most problematic ant species in our area are the odorous house ant and fire ant. Odorous house ants travel together in large numbers and are regular visitors to our homes. They emit an unpleasant, rotten coconut odor when crushed. The fire ant prefers to nest outdoors in sunny open areas and is very aggressive. Fire ants attack any threat as a group and deliver painful, venom-filled stings. Their presence limits people's ability to enjoy their outdoor space safely.
If there is food on your property for ants to take advantage of, they won't hesitate to do so. One of the most opportunistic pests around, ants have a great sense of smell, and odors from open trash cans, gardens, pet food, and outdoor eating areas regularly attract them. Ants are omnivores and feed on many of the same foods we do, preferring foods high in sugar and protein. They also can't say no to foods high in carbs. As they search for food, they find their way inside through small cracks in your home's exterior walls. Once inside, ants trail through kitchens and bathrooms, searching for crumbs and sources of water.
Prevent ants from viewing your property as a place they want to settle by completing the following prevention tips.
- Don't let trash build up in your yard; keep lids on trash cans, recycling bins, and compost containers.
- Store pet food in hard-sided containers with airtight lids.
- Keep outdoor eating areas clean and free of leftover food and food debris.
- Fill in bare spots in your yard.
- Put door sweeps on exterior doors.
- Seal cracks in the foundation and exterior walls.
- Eliminate excess moisture inside and outside your home that could attract ants.
- Maintain shrubs and bushes in your yard; make sure they aren't overgrown and touching the outside of your house.
Cockroaches
Though cockroaches are common household pests, an interesting fact is that while more than 4,000 species are living worldwide, only a small handful of them are a problem in our homes and businesses. American cockroaches, German cockroaches, and oriental cockroaches are examples of roaches that have learned to live close to people. These roaches take advantage of the food, water, and shelter our yards and homes provide. They can find their way into our homes independently or by hitchhiking inside things like boxes, deliveries, or secondhand appliances or furniture.
Cockroaches are insects that are dangerous in our homes, and we should never ignore their presence. These insects are well-known for living in less than sanitary areas like sewers, garbage piles, and areas of decaying debris or standing water. Their unsanitary living conditions cause them to regularly come into contact with bacteria, viruses, and disease-causing pathogens. In addition, their excrement and shed skins are full of allergens and trigger skin rashes, breathing problems, and in some people, asthma attacks. Cockroaches are scavengers, and having them in your home causes food contamination and food waste.
Prevent cockroaches from becoming comfortable in your home using the following prevention tips.
- Immediately clean up leftover food after eating.
- Never store things like baked goods out in the open on tables or counters.
- Use airtight containers to store dry goods in your home.
- Regularly vacuum your house to pick up stray crumbs.
- Cockroaches love to live in warm, humid areas; use dehumidifiers and vent fans to reduce humidity levels in your home.
- Pick up uneaten pet food each day and store pet food in hard-sided containers with lids.
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They are ectoparasites and use their specialized mouthparts to cut through the skin of their host to feed on their blood. Blood meals are the only source of nutrition for both pests. Fleas are insects with a very short lifespan of a few months, while ticks are arachnids with a much longer lifespan, potentially two to three years. Because they are mainly outdoor pests, both fleas and ticks regularly get into your home after you, a family member, or your pets come in contact with them. Your backyard, the park, an athletic field, or a wooded area are examples of places we regularly come into contact with fleas and ticks.
Fleas and ticks are common pests in our outdoor spaces because animals are constantly introducing them to our properties. As squirrels, mice, groundhogs, skunks, and other wild animals travel across your lawn, they leave behind fleas and ticks. These pests are unwanted because they pose health risks to people and our pets. Ticks spread many disease-causing pathogens, including the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fleas transmit some diseases and parasites like tapeworms. Also, many people and animals are allergic to flea saliva and develop red itchy rashes. Excessive scratching at the bite sites is not only uncomfortable but can lead to skin infections. If you ever have trouble with fleas or ticks in your yard or home, don't hesitate to reach out to us at Summit Pest Solutions today!
Prevent fleas and ticks from becoming comfortable in your yard using the following prevention tips.
- Cut back wooded areas from the perimeter of your property.
- Keep your lawn cut short.
- Cut back shrubs, bushes, and other plants that can provide damp, dark areas for these pests to hide.
- To avoid having your pets bring fleas and ticks in your home, place them on a year-round preventive program under the guidance of their veterinarian.
- Routinely vacuum your house to remove stray fleas and ticks.
- Schedule a flea and tick treatment for your Edmond home.
Mosquitoes
The mosquito is a type of fly whose females bite people and animals to consume blood meals. The protein they get from the blood allows them to create healthy eggs. As mosquitoes feed on the blood of different hosts, they acquire and then spread diseases that can make people and animals ill. Diseases they transmit include the West Nile virus, chikungunya virus, and encephalitis. These pests are most active and persistent when the weather is warm, which is from May to November in our area.
Mosquitoes are mainly outdoor pests that make themselves a nuisance on any property that provides them with breeding or resting spots. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on top of areas of standing water, and the newly hatched mosquitoes, while capable of flying away, tend to stay close to where they hatch. Therefore the more rain and areas of standing water present, the more mosquitoes there will be. Properties near wooded areas, fields, grasslands, or other areas of tall vegetation are most likely to experience problems with these tenacious biters.
Prevent mosquitoes from becoming comfortable in your yard using the following prevention tips.
- Clear up clutter from your yard that can collect rain and standing water.
- Clean out clogged gutters and downspouts to keep water from pooling around your home.
- Make sure containers that collect water are stored upside down when not in use.
- Eliminate shady, damp areas that mosquitoes like to rest in. Keep the grass cut short, cut back overgrown trees, and prune shrubs and bushes.
- Fill in low-lying areas on your property that allow stagnant water to collect.
- Schedule mosquito control services for your Edmond home.
Spiders
Spiders are common household pests. These arachnids are shy and reclusive; they find quiet retreats not only in our lawns, gardens, and trees but in our homes as well. Moving indoors after being attracted by insect prey or while searching for a place to lay their eggs, more often than not, decide to stay. Our homes provide the perfect environment for spiders and provide shelter, access to water, and insects as a regular food source.
The majority of spiders that live in Oklahoma are harmless to people. They are the biggest threat to the insects they hunt. But it is important to note that there are two species of spiders in our area that pose a danger to people, and we need to avoid them at all costs; the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. Both have venom strong enough not only to paralyze their insect prey but to cause significant health problems in people.
Prevent spiders from becoming comfortable on your property using the following prevention tips.
- Regularly vacuum your home to eliminate crumbs that attract insects.
- Knock down spiders webs as you find them; this really bothers spiders and will make them want to move elsewhere.
- Reduce the clutter in your home, especially in closets and other storage areas that can provide spiders with a quiet respite.
- If you notice damaged weatherstripping or torn screens, replace them to help keep spiders out of your home.
- Inspect your home's exterior and seal up any cracks or crevices you discover, thereby eliminating entry points.
Stinging Insects
Many different types of stinging insects frequent our Edmond-area properties. Some of the most common are:
- Wasps
- Cicada killers
- Yellow Jackets
- Mud daubers
Some stinging insects like yellow jackets are social and live together in large groups, while others like cicada killers are solitary, and the females create individual nests. No matter the species or their nesting habits, stinging insects shouldn't be living in your yard. They use the stinger they have extending from their backend to paralyze their insect prey and as a means of defense. When they feel threatened, they will deliver painful, venom-filled stings to people and animals.
Stinging insects become most problematic for people when they decide to build their nests in the high traffic area of our yards, putting us in constant close contact with these pests. Having these pests living in your yard causes you to be on high alert when just trying to spend time in your outdoor space. If you suddenly start seeing large numbers of stinging insects on your property, there is likely a nest in your yard or nearby. It is important to contact a professional to help you find, identify, and eliminate these pests. Their venom is potent enough to trigger serious allergic reactions in people. If you need help removing stinging insects from your property, contact us at Summit Pest Solutions today!
Prevent stinging insects from taking over your property using the following prevention tips.
- Seal holes in your home's exterior or roofline to stop stinging insects from building nests inside the wall voids.
- Cut shrubs and bushes back from walkways, decks, and your home's exterior.
- Fill in ground holes in your yard that ground-nesting stinging insects could use.
- Regularly inspect play structures, grills, deck rails, and the underside of porch steps for nests to help avoid an accidental sting.
Custom Solutions For Edmond, OK Pest Problems
If you need help getting rid of pests from your Oklahoma property, turn to us here at Summit Pest Solutions! We are a local, family-owned and operated pest control company with years of local experience. We know the pests in our area and how to keep them out of your home or business. Dedicated to our customers, we provide personalized services at an affordable price.
To learn about our effective pest control solutions and how we can work together to eliminate pests from your home for good, call today; we would love to help you protect your home and family from pests!
