Oops! Been so busy, haven't posted in blog lately

Looks like life can change on a dime. We never know what will hit us next. Just a few weeks ago, no one knew about Pokemon Go Now we are seeing people of all ages "enjoying" the outdoors. As they wander through the streets and parks, many are no doubt discovering they are themselves a lure. Not just potential bad guys but mosquitoes and ticks as well. Even with the drought, mosquitoes seem to be bad, especially in wooded areas. The dry conditions seem to be perfect for ticks. Fleas will soon follow. Then there is the annual picnic spoiler "The Picnic Bee" which isn't even a bee. It is a yellow jacket which is in the wasp family. Their numbers are already elevated for this time of the summer. 

Other than sending our children back into the basement to play video games all summer. There are some reasonable precautions we can make. Mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn. Avoiding being outdoors during this short period will reduce exposure. Avoid dark clothing and strong perfumes etc. Proper labeled deet products and even some of the newer natural products will work fine. Ticks require a bit more effort to avoid. Long sleeves and long pants are helpful, wearing a hat helps as well. Avoid the tall grassy areas where bushes and trees are thick. Pathways made by wildlife are sure to be hot spots as well. Repellent products help but not as well as they do for mosquitoes. 

In you yard? Avoid allowing bird baths and other items to hold water for too long. Make sure to refresh bird baths daily. Don't forget your gutters. Yes, those things way up by the roof can be a major source of mosquitoes. Make sure they are properly hung, avoiding pooling where plants and mucky water can build up. 

All hornets are wasp, yet not all wasp are hornets. Then there is the aggressive Baldfaced Hornet which isn't a hornet but a black yellow jacket. Which is a wasp! It gets trickier. Wasp, Bees and Ants are all related. Some ants look like bees and don't sting, while some bees look like ants and sting. The velvety ant, otherwise known as the "cow killer" is an example of an ant-looking bee with a bad attitude!

If you see wasp, bees or hornets entering a hole in your siding? Do NOT seal it up. They are not entering to explore. That is their home. You want to make sure the hive is dead before sealing. Liquids and spray foams only work if the hive structure is visible. 

Spectrum Pest Control is more than glad to evaluate your problem, free of charge. You can even text us a picture or two for an estimate on wasp or bees.  

Enjoy your summer and the great outdoors. Pokemon Go away!