There is plenty of insect food in the natural environment, but when we clear a house lot and build a home, we remove much of the natural food supply and replace it with a built environment. Just like you Carpenter ants would rather live in a nice warm home rather than a cold wet log. With a little thought, we can limit the potential for insect infestation. Preventive practices include:
Remove wet or decayed building elements.- Fix and inspect for moisture problems: roof, walls, appliances and plumbing leaks
- Remove all wood that is in contact with soil in and around home.
- Separate all wood from the soil around perimeter and in crawlspace by at least 18″.
- Inspect around heat ducts and all heat producing appliances in crawl space annually.
- Do not bury wood and tree stumps on the building lot.
- Move or rotate firewood, scrap wood, and lumber away from the home.
- Remove vegetation and mulch from area next to house and out buildings.
- Avoid using rail road ties or cherry logs for landscaping.
- Avoid using foam insulation on foundation walls when possible.
- Schedule quarterly inspections, and treatments using non-replant insecticides.
“The weather outside is frightful, and your crawlspace so delightful!” This is the Christmas tune that rodents and other outdoor creatures would sing if they could.
Bugs …something that usually gives most people the shivers. And ring leader of such disgusting thoughts are the common cockroach. Cockroach or just “roach” is one of the nastiest, dirty, and resilient, out of control forms of pest, found literally all over the world.
Good afternoon, you scuttling (BLEEP).
Like a termite they can have wings. Swarming queens and kings have wings which they loose after mating. So they get mistaken as termites often, when winged queens are present. Remember, if its winged, black, and has a bent or “elbowed” antenna, its a Carpenter ant. Carpenter ants are know to swarm twice a year in the Northwest, so they will be seen all over outside, or crawling in your homes during these times.
Bed bugs are wingless and cannot fly or jump, but are able to enter into extremely small locations in the home because of their flattened bodies. Bed bugs can live for several weeks to several months without feeding, depending on the temperature.
Wasps, such as yellow jackets, do serve a useful purpose. They aid in the pollination of flowers and eat small insects around our property. For most of us, however, the bad outweighs the good. Yellow jackets, are black and yellow striped, and have long abdomens. Yellow jackets love sweets and meat. For this reason, you’ll see them hovering around picnic tables and garbage cans, making people nervous about approaching these areas. They’re also quick to sting and don’t always need a reason. Yellow jackets are social insects. Hundreds of these insects can live in one nest. If the yellow jacket feels threatened it will aggressively defend its nest and call in reinforcements to help. Unlike the bee, yellow jackets don’t die after stinging and will sting repeatedly if they feel threatened.
Species Tegenaria domestica - Funnel Weaver
Tegenaria agrestis – Hobo Spider 
The anticipated season is almost upon us for the leaves to change, children are back in school, and the Boxelder bugs (beetles) to hold a party on your home once again!
