Your Ultimate Guide on How to Get Rid of Common Spring Bugs & Pests

As temperatures start to rise, so do the number of pests that can make their way into your home. While most spring bugs like ants, spiders, houseflies, and bees may only be bothersome if left unchecked, others like cockroaches, mosquitos, termites, and mice can carry diseases and even cause structural damage to your home.

Prevention is critical in controlling these spring insects and pests in your home. It's important to create an environment that makes it difficult for them to enter and survive. This guide will provide practical steps to get rid of these common spring pests.

Ants

The first step in getting rid of ants is identifying where they're entering your home. Look for trails leading away from windowsills, door frames, or pet food bowls outside. Once you have identified the entry points:

• Use a mixture of vinegar and water to spray around the area - this should stop these spring bugs from entering.
• You can also spread diatomaceous earth around potential entry points - it's an organic material that kills insects by dehydrating their exoskeleton.
• In addition, ensure your kitchen is clean and free of food crumbs that can attract ants.
• You should also explore DIY ant control products trusted by professionals.

Spiders

Spiders can be quite annoying to have around. Fortunately, you don't need to resort to harsh chemical treatments to get rid of them. The best way to deal with spiders is exclusion. Spiders love hiding in dark, quiet places. To discourage spiders from making a home in yours this spring season, take these steps:

• Inspect the outside of your home for any potential entry points for these spring bugs.
• Seal any cracks or openings with caulk - spiders love hiding in small places like these.
• Vacuum regularly, as these pesky spring pests are attracted to dust particles that accumulate over time.
• Set up a few spider traps around the house - these traps use pheromones that will attract the spiders without harming them or your family members.
• Try proven and effective DIY spider control products that save you up to 80% compared with exterminator costs.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most difficult spring insects to get rid of in the spring months because they reproduce quickly and are hardy creatures that can survive almost any condition. To prevent these spring bugs from taking over your home, consider these tips:

• Regularly clean and vacuum your home, especially where food is present.
• Seal up any cracks or crevices in walls, floors, and windows to prevent cockroaches from entering.
• Place sticky traps in areas where you think cockroaches may be hiding.
• Invest in boric acid or other insecticides to kill cockroaches.
• Set out bait traps with a mixture of sugar and boric acid, which are attractive to cockroaches.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can be challenging pests since they often attach themselves directly onto people who sleep in infested beds. To avoid bringing bed bugs into your home, check for signs before buying secondhand furniture - look for small red spots on mattresses or sheets that may indicate an infestation - and if possible, buy new furniture instead.

Here's how to get rid of these spring bugs:

• Vacuum your bed, bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, curtains, rugs, and other furniture regularly.
• Wash all clothes, linens, and fabrics in hot water (at least 130°F) to kill any live bed bugs and their eggs.
• Seal cracks around windowsills where bed bugs might be hiding out.
• Check any linen storage areas, including suitcases and backpacks stored in your home.
• Get professional-grade insecticides designed specifically to eliminate bed bugs.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos love standing water and warm temperatures. They can cause itchy, red bumps and transmit diseases like Malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. To prevent these spring pests from entering your home and yard: 

• Empty any containers that hold standing water around your home (e.g., birdbaths), as this is where these spring bugs lay their eggs.
• Plant mosquito-repellent plants such as citronella grass or marigolds in your garden.
• Use citronella candles or an electronic mosquito repellent when you are outdoors.
• Install mesh screens on all windows and doors to prevent mosquitos from entering your home.
• Get mosquito insecticides and sprays that work more effectively for larger infestations.

Bees & Wasps 

Bees and wasps can be beneficial spring insects, but if they're near your home, they can threaten you and your family. Their stings can be dangerous, especially if someone is allergic. To keep them away:

• Trim trees, bushes, or shrubs near the perimeter of your house that bees might use as nesting sites.
• Check for holes in walls or eaves where these spring bugs may build nests and seal them up quickly with caulk or expandable foam insulation.
• Keep sugary drinks covered when outdoors so as not to attract bees and wasps looking for food sources.
• If you choose to take the DIY route, make sure to wear protective gear like long-sleeved clothes and gloves when spraying around nests or hives.

Fleas & Houseflies 

Fleas are pesky parasites that feed off animals like cats or dogs, while houseflies annoy us with their constant buzzing around our heads. To keep both at bay:

• Vacuum carpets frequently – Fleas love living in carpets.
• Regularly clean pet bedding – Flying adult fleas will often lay eggs on pet bedding, so make sure it gets cleaned regularly to prevent a flea infestation from occurring again after treatment has been done.
• Always dispose of garbage properly – The smell of rotting food attracts houseflies and other spring bugs, so make sure all garbage is disposed of after each meal and stored away in sealed containers until then.
• Keep your kitchen surfaces clean and disinfected, as houseflies are drawn to dirty surfaces.
• Install fly screens – This will help keep flying spring insects from entering your home.
• Use insecticide sprays for fleas or flies – Spraying certain areas of the house, like doorways or windows, can be very helpful in getting rid of common spring pests.

Termites

Termites cause extensive damage to wooden structures if left untreated for too long, so it's important to take action immediately if you suspect an infestation in your home. Here are some things you can do: 

• Inspect potential entry points around the outside of your home, such as cracks in foundations or gaps between sections of wood siding – these spring bugs need only tiny openings (about 1/16th inch wide!) to gain access into a structure.
• Inspect damaged wood around your compound for the presence of termites – look for hollowed-out areas, mud tunnels near the base of walls, and other signs that indicate an infestation.
• Place bait stations around suspected termite activity areas – these stations contain termiticides that slowly kill off colonies over time without damaging other nearby structures or vegetation.
• Treat any affected area with appropriate termite insecticide to eliminate existing colonies and prevent further damage.

Rodents

Rodents will often seek out warm places during cold winter months, which makes them more likely to enter our homes during this time of year. Here's what you should do if you discover any rodent activity in or around your property:

• Seal off all potential entry points, such as cracks in foundations, gaps between sections of wood siding, etc.
• Set traps inside cupboards/cabinets - this will help catch rodents already inside the building before they have had time to reproduce further.
• Clean up any spilled food immediately - rodents will be attracted by crumbs which could lead them into our homes even if all other entrances have been sealed off successfully.
• Use a combination of rodent baits and traps - this will help to target the specific type of rodent that has entered your home, as well as its size.

Get the Right Pest Control Products for Spring Pests and Bugs

This spring, don't let spring bugs ruin your outdoor fun—use our guide on how to get rid of common spring pests in your home. With proper prevention techniques, you can ensure that your household stays pest-free all season long. at DIY Pest Warehouse, we make it easy to find the right DIY solutions for any pest. Shop at low prices and enjoy free shipping in the U.S.

Visit our pest guide section to learn more about spring insects. If you have any questions, contact us today.