Welcome to the official start of summer! We can see the flowers in bloom, hear the sounds of backyard pools, smell the barbeque goodness, and taste the cold drinks that are always flowing! But what else can we see, hear, maybe smell, and well… hopefully not taste.. but you get the point… That’s right! Summer pests! Below is a list of the most common summer pests here in Ontario, and how to navigate your way around them in order to enjoy this great season upon us.

The most common summer pests here are Ants, Spiders, Earwigs, Fleas, Mosquitos, Wasps and Hornets. Lets take a look at each:

Ants: There are more than 13,000 species of ants in the world, and they’ve existed on this planet FAR longer than us humans. In fact, they lived prehistorically among the dinosaurs – cool eh? Well, what’s not so cool is how they can cause some serious damage to our properties. With the summer heat, ants are in full force in search of food, shelter, and water. Carpenter ants, pavement ants, and fire ants are most of our concern here in Ontario as they flourish in this heat, especially when they are given their perfect surroundings. Fire ants will bite when threatened, carpenter ants will eat through structures, and pavement ants will build their nests just about anywhere (cracks in driveways, grassy areas, sidewalks etc.) The biggest problem with pavement ants is that they will make their way indoors and forage their way through any food, shelter, or water they can find.

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a blanket solution to get rid of a major any issue. Of course we’ve all seen the ant traps, and sprays, but for the bigger problems, a pest control company will be your best bet in correcting a problem before it becomes an even bigger problem… Trust me… We’ve seen some big issues because of ants. If you’re suspecting a pest issues with ants, please give us a call as soon as possible to rectify the problematic areas.

Spiders: ‘Spiders’ is a loose term for a LARGE amount a species, many of which we don’t have to worry about here in Ontario. In saying that though, we do have an abundance of spider species here and in the summer we are more likely to run into them. Spiders mate in the spring and summer, which makes them more of a summer pest. Spiders here in Ontario, although maybe ‘scary’ are not harmful. They are actually great for the environment and keep our insect population under control. While spiders can and will bite (if threatened), most of them will not cause much harm to you as they do not have fangs large enough to pierce through skin. That said, there is a species in here Canada that is NOT very common in Ontario called the brown recluse spider. This spider is venomous and can cause pain to a human if bit. Some people also have allergies to spider bites, but for the most part, will not have anything more to deal with then maybe an irritation or an itch. If you are experiencing a major spider issue though, we are trained in dealing with the removal of spider nests are their source and will be happy to assist you with the issue.

Earwigs: Although gross looking, earwigs are fairly harmless. They do have a set of ‘pincers’, but don’t really cause any sort of threat to us and are mostly just considered a nuisance because of their presence. Earwigs are ‘outdoor’ pests and live in damp areas such as under leaf piles, or under carboard boxes as examples. Earwigs will only make their way indoors if they are in search of moisture, or by accident. If you are experiencing an abundance of earwigs inside, please reach out to us. There is likely a source of food and/or water that is keeping them indoors. We can and will help to identify those area’s and correct the problem.

Fleas: Fleas are mostly just a concern for pet owners. They are parasites that feed of blood of the host. Although fleas are a year ’round pest, we tend to see more flea calls in the summer when pets are outdoors and have a higher chance of encountering other pets or wildlife that have fleas. A trained veterinarian will be able to help your pet with a flea issue. If your flea issue has made it’s way indoors and you need help in their removal, please give us a call.

Mosquitos: My personal arch nemesis in the summer months… MOSQUITOS… There is nothing worse than trying to sleep at night while being tempted to scratch your whole body from these blood suckers. Unfortunately for us, there again isn’t really a blanket solution for mosquitoes. You won’t see them outside on super hot, sunny days as they will dry up and die in the heat, but come dusk, they are out in full force. There are mosquito catchers and sprays that can be utilized but PLEASE read the labels accordingly. Many bug sprays contain toxins that are very unhealthy to breath in for both humans and pets. Also, please use caution when using a bug catcher… These use black lights to draw mosquitoes in and trap them in a ‘basement’ container. The problem with these is that mosquitoes aren’t the only insect drawn into them. These catchers will trap everything, including flying pests that do a lot of good for our environment, such as bees.

Wasps and Hornets: Wasps and hornets (which are also wasps by the way) are a mostly ‘summer only’ pest. They are dormant through the winter and then come spring will be out in full force building their colonies and seeking food. Yellow jackets, paper wasps, mud daubers, and bald-faced hornets are the most common species here in Ontario. While wasps don’t seek out humans to sting them, they are very protective creatures and will stop at nothing to keep you away from them or protect their colonies. If you see an active nest, please, call in a professional. There are too many homeowners who end up seriously injured due to allergic reactions (which can be fatal), or just being stung in abundance (which is also incredibly painful) due to their lack of knowledge in nest removal. We are trained professionals who want nothing more than to see you enjoy your home and property safely which is why having us do the dirty work will be your best option.