Preventing Pest Infestations

How to Prevent Pests From Invading Your Space

Sure, insects can appear to have other abilities—mosquitos can fly, cockroaches can supposedly survive the apocalypse—but they can materialize out of nowhere. Your best defense - look for warning signs and problem areas to stop them from invading your home or business.

• Ants send out “scouts” to scope the ant-friendliness of your home, so even an ant or two indoors can mean it's time to get pest-proofing before those scouts invite over their friends.

• Check outside and learn where pests hang out. Firewood can be home to ants and termites. Try storing wood at least 20 feet from your house. And standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitos.

• Ants are attracted to your pet's food, so feed your pets with smaller portions so that no food is left out in feed bowls. Yards with bird baths, play sets with tire swings, tree houses, fire pits, and catch basins to recycle water should be checked regularly.

• Even your landscaping can be problematic. Try keeping branches and shrubs well-groomed and away from your walls, so pests don’t make the natural transition from their home to yours.

• Unless your house came equipped with a pest breeding room, all insects invaders were once living outside. Your job is to keep them there. The most extensive means to eradicate a pest problem is to work from the outside to the inside.

• Anything that connects your home to the great outdoors can be a trouble spot. Windows, vents, pipes, chimneys, and roof shingles are just some of the spots pests will sneak through. Repair anything that creates a possible entrance, such as torn window screens or loose weather-stripping. If you find open spaces near pipes or vents, use caulk to fill small cracks or steel wool for larger gaps.

To find out more about how you can keep your home or business free of pests, call  Paragon Pest Management today.

Check Out the Images of Some Typical Pest Hideouts