Spring is almost here, and as we mentioned in our last blog post, the warm winter weather Western New York experienced may lead to larger insect populations this season. With this in mind, Amherst Exterminators has compiled a list of four common spring insect pests that can reduce your home’s value.
Termites
According to realtor.com, termites are the biggest threat to wood-based structures in the US, costing more than five billion dollars in damage each year. Common signs include discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood and tubes of mud on the outside walls of your home.
There are two different species of termites prevalent in the country, subterranean termites and drywood termites, each of which requires different removal techniques.
Carpenter Ants
A pest commonly found across the Northern United States, carpenter ants are both a nuisance to deal with and a danger to the woodwork in your home. While carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites do, they do burrow into it, creating nests for their young to grow. Some of their favorite places to burrow down include windows, doorways and in wall voids, so watch for their appearance and listen for rustling noises in these areas.
If you spot carpenter ants inside your home as the weather warms up, this could signal that a colony has been living dormant inside your walls all winter long.
German Cockroaches
Found worldwide, German cockroaches are transmitters of diseases like Salmonella and E. coli, also causing asthma and allergy flare ups. One of the most disgusting pests to make their way into homes, it is important to get rid of these critters quickly so they do not do any harm to your family, contaminate your food or damage the paper products throughout your home.
Honey Bees
As much as we love the taste of honey and the honey bees’ ability to pollinate flowers, no one wants a colony of these winged insects inside their attic or the walls of their home. Not only can the bees themselves be tough to remove, but the hive itself must be completely removed to prevent further problems. If sections of the hive are left behind, it and the honey left within it will decompose, creating a sour odor and attracting other pests to the area.
If you notice signs of any of these pests in your Western New York home this spring, contact Amherst Exterminators for help at 716-908-2475.
