6 common bugs to watch for across the Triangle

As the weather warms and spring is in full swing, you may already notice a major problem that comes along with the change in temperature: the bugs are back. As flowers and trees begin to bloom, bugs also make the shift from lying dormant to coming out to enjoy the activities that come with spring.

While some bugs are simply a nuisance, others can cause severe problems for the structure of your home, the health of you and your family, and even the wiring within your home. The following 6 bugs are ones to be aware of as the season is set to begin.

Carpenter ants build nests by digging and creating tunnels within wood. These tunnels and nests can weaken the wood ants burrow through, which can be destructive for your home. If carpenter ants get into the wood within your home, whether it’s the framing or a deck, you should be concerned. That’s because colonies can grow quickly — sometimes up to 50,000 worker ants — and cause major damage.

Carpenter ants look for areas that have been softened by moisture, which makes it easier for them to dig and nest. In North Carolina, these ants tend to lay dormant over the winter and emerge from May through August.

Fire ants are drawn to sunny, open areas like lawns. And once they’re in your yard, they reproduce quickly and can become a menace. Fire ants look for locations that have food, including trash cans, gardens, compost, and any place where you eat outdoors.

While fire ants don’t live inside of the home, they can cause issues with the spaces around your air conditioning unit and circuit breakers because they are drawn to electrical equipment. What’s more, they have painful bites that can cause allergic reactions, and their venom can even cause anaphylaxis. They tend to be most active in the spring and fall.

One of the most common types of cockroaches in North Carolina is the American cockroach. Some people also refer to these as a water bug or palmetto bug. These bugs can be up to one-and-a-half inches in size, and they can fly as well as crawl very fast.

These bugs tend to hibernate in the winter and resume their activity in the spring. They are also drawn to warm, dark, and damp spaces, and they tend to hide in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. These bugs can also cause allergy and asthma symptoms, particularly in children, which is why it’s so important to get rid of them.

While some spiders around the house can be good for keeping pests away, North Carolina homes can sometimes house spiders whose venomous bites cause harm. The Black widow and Brown Recluse spiders are the two to watch out for in your home.

Black widow spiders can be found in dark, damp spaces like crawlspaces and underneath appliances. Though the bite tends to be mild, the venom can attack your nervous system and cause nausea, sweating, an elevated blood pressure, and more. A brown recluse bite, on the other hand, may cause a lesion that may require surgery. These spiders become active once the weather consistently stays above 40 degrees.

Fleas and ticks can be problematic in North Carolina because of the state’s mild climate. While they are largely active during late spring to early fall, the weather typically never gets cold enough to completely eradicate them. If you go hiking throughout the Triangle, you’ll want to watch for ticks, especially on pets, in your hair, and in areas like armpits. Ticks can lead to diseases like Lyme disease, which can lead to chronic fatigue and joint pain, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be life-threatening.

While fleas are less dangerous, they can be hard to get rid of when you have an infestation. They can cause rashes and itching, and their eggs can hide in your furniture, bedding, and cracks in your floor.

The humid North Carolina weather is a breeding ground for mosquitos, particularly between April and October. And while there are around 60 different types of mosquitos active in the state, some of the more common varieties carry viruses and diseases that can cause serious health issues.

Fever, headaches, and nausea can come with certain mosquito bites. Watch for areas around your home that have standing water, which can attract these pests.

It’s always good to check with a pest control company near you. Whether you have an infestation or simply want to keep the pests at bay before spring hits hard, there are many local pest companies that know the Triangle area and can offer the right services for the region. They can help you take charge while making sure the health and safety of you and your family is your top priority.

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]