The full heat of summer is when the insects thrive. Mosquitoes, flies, fruit flies and many other flying pests will attempt to come to take a tour of your home and subsequently your food. Sometimes you’re the food and the most annoying scenario we can think of is bedtime with just one mosquito that you can’t seem to find. To prevent a situation where you’re dealing with flying insect menaces, here’s how you can protect your home against pests with wings!
Mosquitoes
Truly one of the most annoying pests to deal with, mosquitoes will always be looking for a way inside because unfortunately, we’re a primary food source. The best way to combat invading mosquitoes is to replace or repair window screens and weather stripping around your doors. Any gaps or small spaces need to be patched up or filled because anywhere you see daylight around a doorframe or a window is where any bug will be able to squeeze in. Using heavy chemicals against mosquitoes in your home can be toxic, so try these natural solutions instead! Tulsi, basil, garlic and peppermint can be used in sprays as a repellent and having the actual basil plant in your home has proved to help deter mosquitoes to a degree. Sprinkle coffee grounds in standing water around your home that could be home to mosquito eggs as the grounds will drive the eggs to the surface of the water and prevent them from hatching in the first place. As a natural mosquito repellent for your skin, try diluting a few drops of tea tree oil and spraying that as bug spray!
Flies
The best way to combat flies is to prevent attracting them in the first place. Flies love the smell of garbage so make sure you’re emptying and cleaning out your trash bin frequently. Spills and leftover food shouldn’t be left long and if you have pets, make sure to clean out litter boxes and your backyard. Cleaning up after your dog can help a ton with preventing flies from swarming. Mix up some lovely smelling sprays of lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or eucalyptus to keep your home smelling fresh and to repel those tricky flies. You can also try attracting them away from your home with the use of blue light. Flies flock to blue light and you can set up a light at night to lure them away from your home.
Fruit Flies
Much like regular flies, fruit flies love the smell of rotting food, specifically fruit and veggies. Fruit flies can be tricky to get rid of as they are resilient, but with diligence, you can defeat them! These pesky flies love sugar, meaning clean all spills or sugary substances off surfaces as soon as they happen, remove food particles from your drain and keep it debris-free and toss any overripe or rotten fruit to the compost pile. You can make fruit fly traps with just apple cider vinegar or with apple cider vinegar and dish soap. Here’s a quick video on how you can make your own!
Flying insects can be a bummer to deal with, mostly because they’re just an inconvenience, but we know you can have a pest-free summer! If you’re dealing with something a bit more intrusive, don’t be afraid to give us a call at 403.262.1666!
