Ola Phipps is already getting more calls about bug problems than she did last year.
The main reason? All the recent rain.
"Lots of ants, silverfish (small, gray insects), like water," said the owner of Lady Bug Extermination Co. "You will find them in the bathroom, kitchen (and) basement."
Pests need three basic things to survive: food, water and a place to live, said Greg Baumann, vice president and senior scientist for the National Pest Management Association.
"It's really important that people try to eliminate either food, water or a place to live," he said.
"Homeowners can check to make sure they don't have any standing water on their property, make sure that their gutters are in working order, many people have rain barrels, they need to make sure they are not overflowing, allowing for mosquitoes to lay eggs," he added.
The three pests he expects people to encounter more this spring are mosquitoes, ants and mice.
"Chances are, we are going to see more rodents because they are going to have more ground cover and be less subject to predators," he said. The long, tall grass will also create a food source for them.
Ms. Phipps said insects are already around, something unusual for this time of year.
"They usually come out late April, May, but right now it feels basically like summer and the hot weather draws them out of their nest," she said.
So far this year she's already seen American cockroaches -- which are often found in sewers and basements -- and carpenter ants, which mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold.
Monday afternoon she visited a long-time client, Jean Warren, to spray the inside and outside of her home.
She has been treating her property since 1986, and although she doesn't have any problems right now, Mrs. Warren said she calls her every time she sees anything.
Within minutes, Mrs. Phipps spotted a carpenter ant on her porch and a wasp outside.
But a large amount of bugs in the spring does not mean the summer will be bad, Mr. Baumann said.
"We can have a population go up in the spring, but if we have a dry summer it's probably going to turn out to be an average year," he said.
PESTS YOU MAY START TO SEE MORE OF:
* Mosquitoes: They are most active from dusk to dawn. They breed in stagnant water sources such as storm drains, old tires, children's wading pools and birdbaths. They spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, malaria and dengue fever.
* Carpenter ants: All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.
* House mice: They can breed throughout the year and can share nests. They live in structures, but they can live outdoors. Micro droplets of mouse urine can cause allergies in children. Mice can also bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home. Make sure all holes of larger diameter than a pencil are sealed.
Source: National Pest Management Association
TIPS FOR SEASONAL HOME CHECKS:
* Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles.
* Seal cracks and holes including entry points for utilities and pipes.
* Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
* Trim tree branches and shrubbery and keep away from the house.
* Screen windows and doors.
* Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
* Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
* Replace all standing water at least once a week, including bird baths, ponds and unfiltered pools.
* Remove unneeded vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be changed, dumped or removed.
Source: National Pest Management Association
ON THE WEB
http://pestworld.org/For-Consumers/Pest-Guide