How To Stop Summer Pests In New Jersey From Taking Over

Summer in New Jersey, what’s not to love except maybe the bugs. Mosquito bites, tick bites, wasp stings – we could go on but instead of dwelling on potential summer pest problems in Montclair, Paramus, and throughout New Jersey, let’s take a look at the solution instead.

Common summer pests in New Jersey

With the official start of summer only days away, it only makes sense to take a second to call out those annoying and potentially harmful or destructive insects homeowners are likely to encounter this season:

• Odorous house ants
• Carpenter ants
• Carpenter bees
• Crickets
• Hornets & wasps
• Mosquitoes
• Pavement ants
• Spiders
• Termites
• Ticks

Of course, this is not a comprehensive list but you get the point- there’s a lot of insect activity to watch out for this summer. Now we’re really ready to discuss the solution to summer pests in the Garden State.

A guide to preventing summer pest problems

Since most insects are relatively small, they can sneak into a home through any gap, crack, and opening from the foundation to the top of the roof. In order to minimize potential entry points, we recommend:

• Sealing all openings on the exterior of your home
• Installing, replacing, or repairing window screens
• Keeping entry doors and garage doors closed when not in use
• Installing vent covers or adding mesh screens that cover the vents
• Deterring insects from using weep holes by adding steel wool

In addition to pest-proofing your home to stop insects from entering this summer, we suggest making your property less appealing to insects. Here are a few ways to discourage pest activity:

• Maintain a well-manicured lawn
• Trim tree branches, shrubs, and other landscape elements so that they do not touch the exterior of your house
• Knockdown webs and the beginnings of nests (do not go near a stinging insect nest that is well established)
• Clean out gutters so that water can flow through
• Direct downspouts away from the foundation of the house
• Remove leaves and other organic material from your property
• Cut back overgrowth where lawn and woods meet
• Eliminate standing water
• Regularly dispose of trash and make sure your trashcan has a lid
• Keep firewood away from your home and up off the ground
• Make sure decks, porches, fences, and other woods are stained or sealed

We realize that despite best efforts, bugs still get inside. To ensure that they don’t find everything they need to not only survive but thrive inside your home, we recommend implementing these indoor pest prevention tips:

• Replace water damaged wood
• Address any plumbing issues
• Regularly run a dehumidifier if your home is prone to moisture issues
• Keep your kitchen clean – that means no crumbs on the floor, no spills on the counters, and no grease on the top or sides of the stove
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink for any length of time and especially not overnight
• Vacuum regularly
• Organize and/or declutter storage closets, the attic, and the garage

What to do if you find insect activity in your house or on your property this summer

If it’s too late and you’ve found carpenter ants sneaking inside, have discovered a tick on yourself or another family member, can’t enjoy your backyard without being attacked by mosquitoes, or some other summer pest has made its way into your home, reach out to Arrow Pest Control for help!

Serving Bergen and Essex counties as well as several other New Jersey counties, our top-rated, locally owned, and family-operated pest control company is ready to solve your summer pest problems as well as keep insects and rodents out all year round! Check out our home pest control plans and pricing below for more information and click here to learn more about our mosquito and tick reduction services!