Why Cockroach Populations Boom in the Summer

Summer cockroaches in Des Moines IA - Springer Professional Home Services

If you’ve dealt with cockroach problems in the past, you know how frustrating an infestation can be. Unfortunately, these pests are common all year long in Des Moines. That said, infestations are at an all-time high in the summer months for several reasons. Cockroaches are drawn to heat and will breed rapidly in the summertime, which is why an infestation tends to be worse this time of year. Because their infestations can be such a nuisance to deal with, it’s important to learn about summertime roach activity as well as what you can do to prevent it. Keep reading for expert information from the team at Springer Professional Home Services

Seasonal Cockroach Infestations

Cockroaches are infamous for being hardy insects—they can withstand and survive in numerous environments and conditions. However, many roach species are less active in the wintertime as they await summer months. When temperatures begin to warm up here in Iowa, roaches will begin to forage for more food. This is also the time of year when they breed more rapidly, making their populations surge in the summertime. When heat is extreme, they often enter homes for shelter, which is when infestations commonly begin.

Have a pest problem? We can help!

Preventing Cockroaches in the Summertime

Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can keep cockroaches from finding your property hospitable. Our top summer cockroach prevention tips include:

  • Thoroughly clean your property. Clean your kitchens and bathrooms of any spills or crumbs. Avoid clutter and messes.
  • Locate and seal up any cracks or crevices in the foundation of your property. Seal windows and doors or install screens.
  • Always pick up pet bowls after feeding times, and avoid leaving the pet food out overnight or for days at a time.
  • Keep all food securely sealed in airtight containers, and refrigerate any unsealed food.
  • Ensure your garbage is sealed with a tight-fitting lid, and routinely take it out when full.
  • Quickly fix any leaky pipes or clogged rain gutters to avoid moisture problems.

You Have Roaches–Now What?

If you’ve spotted a cockroach or two in your property, it’s a bad sign there could be many more hidden in your home or business. Getting rid of cockroaches is no job for an amateur; these creatures are excellent hiders, and infestations can grow to large numbers in the summer months. For that reason, it’s best to always contact a licensed cockroach exterminator for help when you have an infestation.

Wasp Nest Identification Tips

Wasp nest identification guide in Des Moines Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

Wasps are a common pest in the summer here in Central Iowa. Out in nature or in gardens, they’re a normal part of life. In fact, wasps are considered to be a very beneficial insect to our environment! However, they can quickly become a nuisance when they build their nests on or near your property. Certain wasp species become aggressive when it comes to defending their nest. Even worse, some are capable of stinging people repeatedly. For this reason, it’s best to avoid nests built nearby. However, it is nonetheless important to learn what different wasp nests look like. People assume they all build hives in trees—but that’s simply not true! The experts at Springer Professional Home Services are here to share their top tips for identifying different wasp nests we commonly see in the summertime.

Wasp Nests in Iowa

Wasps begin to build nests in the spring, but most are seen in the summertime as colonies grow in size. To best identify a wasp, it’s always smart to look at the characteristics of their nests!

  • Paper wasp
    • Look like upside-down umbrellas
    • These nests are more open, with cells visible
    • They are typically supported by a single stalk and made out of a papery substance
    • Found beneath eaves of structures, in attics and wall voids, and in other enclosed areas
  • Mud dauber
    • Nests are built by female wasps only
    • They are small and tubular in size, often looking like organ pipes.
    • Typically found in cracks or crevices that are sheltered
    • Often found under eaves, garages, attics, or on the sides of buildings

Wasp nest guide in Des Moines Iowa - Springer Professional Home Services

  • Yellowjacket
    • Consist of a papery material and have a single opening
    • Interior can contain up to 100 tiers of cells
    • Also nest underground, sometimes with thousands of members
    • Otherwise build nests in hollow trees, under porches, and a number of other areas
  • Bald-faced hornet
    • Almost always at least three feet off the ground
    • Consist of chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva
    • Can grow to the size of a football or basketball
    • Usually in trees, bushes, or wooded areas, but also can be on buildings

Safe & Quick Wasp Nest Removal

Wasp nests are more dangerous than you think. A small nest could contain hundreds of stinging insects that will not hesitate to sting when they feel threatened. If you notice a nest pop up on your property, always contact the stinging insect removal team at Springer. Our experts have the tools and experience needed to safely and quickly remove wasp nests from your property.

Have a pest problem? We can help!

Mosquito Breeding Grounds in Iowa

Standing water in pots in your Central Iowa yard can be an easy mosquito breeding ground - Springer Professional Home Services

Mosquitoes are a fact of life in the summertime. Unfortunately, they may be breeding in your very backyard! Female mosquitoes need just a half-inch of water to lay their eggs in. They can easily find this standing water in areas around your yard, whether that’s in a bucket, your pool, or on top of an old tarp. Thankfully, you can work to eliminate these common breeding grounds for mosquitoes and, in turn, keep mosquitoes away from your yard! By eliminating mosquito breeding grounds on your Iowa property, you can force the mosquitoes elsewhere. Keep reading for top tips from the experts at Springer Professional Home Services.

Where are Mosquitoes Breeding in My Yard?

Mosquitoes take just two weeks to become adults after they hatch. A female mosquito needs a blood meal to reproduce. After mating, anywhere from 100-300 eggs are laid in a source of stagnant water. Due to this rapid rate of reproduction, it’s crucial to stay on top of eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.

Mosquitoes tend to favor areas with standing water. They are frequently found in or around birdbaths, gutters, pools, mud pots, tree stumps and wood piles, tarps, children’s play sets, trash cans, old tires, pools, and more. Routinely check these items and dump out any collected water. You may also choose to cover certain items to remove the threat altogether.

Prevent mosquito breeding grounds in Des Moines IA - Springer Professional Home Services

Have a pest problem? We can help!

How to Prevent Mosquitoes In Your Backyard

In addition to getting rid of standing water as mentioned above, there a number of ways you can keep you and your family safe from mosquitoes in Des Moines:

  1. Install screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes outside
  2. Avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk
  3. Fix water leaks or drainage issues promptly
  4. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed and neat
  5. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply repellent containing DEET

Long-Term Mosquito Control

If you deal with mosquitoes in your yard every year, there could be more at play. If you’ve done all you can to get rid of them and still are dealing with constant problems, it’s time to call the mosquito exterminators at Springer. Our team is committed to keeping mosquitoes away from your yard–for good.

Preventing Summer Ant Infestations

Preventing summertime ant infestations in Des Moines IA with tips from Springer Professional Home Services

Here in Des Moines, ants are a problem for residents all year long. However, they seem to be especially troublesome in the summertime as they enter homes in search of food and shelter. As the number one nuisance pest in the United States, it’s very important to learn about preventing summer ant infestations. Once they get inside your property, they can spread easily. It’s very hard to get rid of an ant problem, making it all the more crucial to do what you can to keep them outdoors in the first place.

Summer Ants in Central Iowa

Although these ants are active at various points throughout the year, they are especially active in the summer months. With more than 700 species of ants nationwide, it can be easy to misidentify the type of ant you’re dealing with. Thankfully, there are only a few you are likely to encounter in our area, including carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants. In any case, it’s best to contact a professional pest control company when you need help identifying ants.

Have a pest problem? We can help!

6 Steps to Preventing Summer Ant Infestations

A single ant colony in your property during the summer can turn into multiple colonies in little time. To avoid the frustration altogether, there are several things you can do to make your home less hospitable to ants:

  1. Keep a clean home. Sweep your floors regularly to get rid of crumbs. Ants are attracted to sugary food sources and a few crumbs will keep them coming back for more.
  2. Store food properly. Avoid leaving food out uncovered. Keep food in airtight containers or store them safely in cupboards and fridges.
  3. Seal entry points. Ants can crawl through the tiniest of cracks. Inspect your property and use caulk to seal any gaps, holes, or potential entry ways.
  4. Avoid excess moisture. Areas with standing water or leaks will attract ants quickly. Attend to broken pipes and clean up spills quickly.
  5. Trim back trees and vegetation. Plants close to your home can encourage ants to come in. Make sure tree branches, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed away from the perimeter!
  6. Pick up your pet’s food. Crumbs and spills from your cat or dog’s food and water bowls can be a huge attractant for ants. Always clean up and store bowls between mealtimes.

Ant Prevention in Des Moines

No one has time to deal with ant problems. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to prevent them! If you need help preventing summer ant infestations, Springer Professional Home Services is here for you. Our team has the experience needed to control ants and make sure you never have to deal with them again!

Tips & Tricks to Prevent Mosquitoes

Learn how to prevent mosquitoes in your Des Moines IA home - Springer Professional Home Services

It’s summer in Des Moines, and you’re probably ready to enjoy outdoor barbecues, picnics, hikes, and more. Unfortunately, with the rising temperatures comes the onslaught of mosquitoes! Everyone knows mosquitoes are a nuisance, but they can be dangerous too. Although the diseases they spread are rare, it’s still best to do everything you can to keep mosquitoes away from your home. The team at Springer Pest Control has gathered their top tips and tricks to prevent mosquitoes. Keep reading to learn more, or contact or mosquito exterminators today for professional mosquito removal services.

Preventing Mosquito Bites

For one reason or another, certain individuals seem to be more prone to mosquito bites than others. In any case, there are three things you can do to protect yourself or your family members from mosquito bites: 

  • If at all possible, avoid going outdoors at dusk and dawn. This is when mosquitoes are most active!
  • When you do go outdoors in the summer, make sure to wear light-colored clothing. If possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to keep your skin protected.
  • Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET. Before using on children, make sure to consult your pediatrician.

Have a pest problem? We can help!

5 Tips to Prevent Mosquitoes This Summer

There are certain things that may make your property more appealing to mosquitoes. By removing what attracts them, you can effectively keep mosquitoes away! Our top tips to prevent mosquitoes include:

  1. Remove sources of standing water. Get rid of standing water in buckets, flower pots, bird baths, tarps, and more. Mosquitoes use standing water to breed!
  2. Install screens on doors and windows. Installing screens on your doors and windows can keep mosquitoes from getting indoors every time you try to get some fresh air.
  3. Place fish in ponds and agitate the water. Certain types of fish will feed on mosquito larvae. In addition, adding an agitator will stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
  4. Maintain your yard regularly. Regularly maintain your garden and lawn to keep the grass short. Also keep plants and bushes trimmed to prevent mosquito resting spots.
  5. Use fans in your outdoor spaces. Mosquitoes hate wind and are not strong fliers. Use fans to help force them away from your outdoor areas.

Long-Term Protection Against Mosquitoes

Bottom line: no one wants to deal with mosquitoes in the summertime. If the above tips and tricks to prevent mosquitoes did not stop your mosquito problem, it’s best to call a professional mosquito control company. The experts at Springer have the tools and resources needed to keep you mosquito-free all summer long.