PHOENIX — We're not the only ones who welcome monsoon rain. The storms also bring out all kinds of pests. There are ways to keep the bugs at bay during the rest of the monsoon.
Mike Boyle, of Burns Pest Elimination, tells us, "this is the time of year where bugs want to be in our homes. They have tons of daylight. They have tons of heat, and now they have tons of moisture."
Crickets, ants, stinging insects, mosquitos, and scorpions thrive when monsoon moisture is present. We certainly have a lot of that in place so far this monsoon. Boyle also tells 12News that he's getting a lot of bed bug-related calls, likely due to people traveling more.
The key to pest mitigation is outside protection, Boyle explained.
"There are rodent traps, there are mosquito traps, there are lots of things you can do outside before they become a problem inside," he said. "Glue boards are a wonderful, chemical-free source of protection."
A tidy yard, free of weeds and overgrown grass, will limit areas where pests can hide. Also be mindful that standing water will attract mosquitos.
Despite outside prevention, sometimes unwanted gusts find their way inside. It doesn't take much for a scorpion to get inside your home. In fact, a scorpion can fit into a gap as thin as a credit card.
Boyle points out, "they can fit between the stucco and your wall foundation, so you need to make sure your home is sealed up tight."
If you have scorpions in your yard, you'll typically find them around the perimeter of a pool. Water and grass attract scorpions' food source, like crickets. If you find one scorpion in your home, it does not mean you will find more — they're solitary predators, Boyle explained.
If you find one, Boyle suggests picking up the scorpion's pincher with BBQ tongs. If you encounter several bugs, such as bed bugs or ants, it's best to call the professionals.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to get through the rest of the monsoon without pests bugging you.
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