Buzz Off! 
Watch out for Warm-Weather Pests

Like most people, you probably look forward to warm temperatures all winter long. While at work, you have probably been eating outdoors, enjoying some fresh air during your day. Unfortunately, summer pests come along with the summer heat, and they can quickly put a damper on your lunch hour. 

“Outdoor dining areas attract pests, most notably flies, mosquitoes and Asian cockroaches,” says Dr. Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., entomologist with pest control company Orkin. “Just like people, they are drawn in by food aromas and the promise of a good lunch.”

In addition to being a nuisance, many warm-weather pests can pose a health risk. Flies, for example, can carry billions of germs on the outside of their bodies, including dangerous bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella. Mosquitoes can transmit yellow and dengue fever, malaria and West Nile virus, while cockroaches can carry bacteria that cause diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. Other common pests seen in the summer months, such as bees and wasps, can inflict painful stings when disturbed. A bee sting or allergic reaction is the last thing you want to worry about while soaking up the summer heat. 

Fortunately, by following these simple steps, you can help guard your lunch – and yourself – against unwanted pests. 

* Remove or hinder pests’ access to food and beverages. Keep containers tightly wrapped and secured, and don’t leave food or discarded wrappers in the open. 
* When dining outdoors, be sure to cover soda cans, as yellow jackets often enter soda cans unseen.
* Help eliminate mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from objects around outdoor dining areas, including flower pots and birdbaths.
* Monitor any plants you may have in outdoor dining or break areas to make sure they aren’t providing shelter to pests.
* Make sure outdoor garbage cans are properly lined and tightly sealed.
* Frequently monitor pest “hot spots” near food and water sources. Look for signs of an infestation such as dead insects and nests.

Controlling warm-weather pests often requires the help of a licensed pest control professional with appropriate equipment and protective clothing. At the first sign of a pest infestation, contact our office so we can have a pest control professional inspect and treat as needed. For more tips on pest prevention in your home or business, visit orkin.com.