Charlotte, North Carolina, has mild winters, but the cold months still offer a reprieve from many pests. To prevent problems when the weather gets warmer, you should prepare before pests appear
. Here’s what you should watch for in March, April, and May to prevent potential pest problems.
March Pests in Charlotte
March usually is still relatively chilly in Charlotte, but after a mild winter, you could start to see pests early in the month. Termites leave their nests to form new colonies when the weather starts to get warm. During the rest of the year, they live underground. You could have a termite infestation if you see large insects with wings called swarmers. These are the only termites that can reproduce, and you might also see a discarded pair of wings.
To keep these pests away from your home, replace water-damaged wood as soon as possible. Remove any dead branches, logs, or stumps they could munch on, and keep wood piles far away from your house. To deter subterranean termites, keep soil from touching your siding or other wood parts of your home. The signs of termite infestation can be subtle, and it could cause thousands of dollars in damage. While the weather remains cold, you can make sure these pests don’t come near your home with professional termite control.
Common April Pests in Charlotte, NC
If you enjoy the spring weather by going on a hike or walking your dog, you or your pet could get fleas or ticks. Fleas are so tiny that many people have trouble spotting them, but you may notice bite marks and itching on your feet and ankles. Your pet may also start scratching more than normal.
Ticks hide in tall grass or leaves and then latch onto people or animals as they pass. You can prevent this by trimming your grass regularly and keeping your bushes cut neatly. When you go outdoors, wear clothing that covers your wrists and ankles. When you come indoors, check yourself and your pet for ticks. Fleas and ticks can transmit dangerous diseases, so if you see them it’s a good idea to ask a professional for help getting rid of them.
May Pests in Charlotte
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As the weather gets warmer, ants will travel farther and farther from their colonies for food. They could even find a way into your home. Charlotte has regular ants that eat scraps of food and larger carpenter ants that eat wood like termites.
Add weatherstripping to your windows and doors to help keep ants and other pests out, and get rid of old or rotten wood as soon as possible. Carpenter ants often leave piles of wood shavings that look like sawdust near the tunnels they make. Mosquitoes appear in late spring as well. Keep standing water out of your yard to prevent them. Get rid of empty flower pots, buckets, or birdbaths where these pests could breed.
Exactly when pests appear will vary from year to year. Thomas Pest Control can help you treat a variety of organisms after cold weather, before their numbers increase.
