Common Summer Pests In The Midwest
Summer is the time of year when most pest problems happen. Most insects are more active when it’s warm out, but heat isn't the only condition that motivates potential pests in our Midwest service area. In today’s blog post, we’ll look at how to identify common summer pests and what conditions attract them to your yard or, worse, inside your home. Our local pest control specialists will also share a few pest prevention tips, and we’ll explain how our home pest control plans can help you win the battle against bugs and rodents!
The most common Midwest summer pests
Although there are a plethora of pests active in Des Moines, Kansas City, and Omaha as well as throughout the Midwest, three of the most common pests you'll run into during the summer months are ants, mosquitoes, and stinging insects.
Ants
These are six-legged insects with three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. On the head are one pair of antennae. You're likely to see most ant species crawling around during the day, but some ants, like the carpenter ant, are for the most part nocturnal.
Mosquitoes
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know what mosquitoes look like. You may not have noticed their flying pattern though. They tend to hover as they look for a way to land on you and bite your skin. Some mosquitoes make a light and somewhat high buzzing noise. If you see one on your skin, it is likely that you'll find it drawing blood. Its long, thin, needle-like mouth will be inserted into your skin.
Stinging insects
We have a variety of wasps and bees in the Midwest. Wasps are visibly hairless whereas bees are fuzzy. Some wasps and bees are solitary and do not swarm. Others are social insects that swarm in defense of their nests. You can identify all of these pests by their strong buzzing.
Early detection of ants and stinging insects can help you avoid trouble. Ongoing and proactive control of habitats and breeding sites helps to manage mosquitoes.
What attracts summer pests?
All insects (and rodents) are attracted to certain factors. Managing these "conducive conditions" may curtail pest problems.
- Many pests are attracted to damp environments. Clearing out clogged gutters and organic debris in landscaping, and trimming plants, can reduce moisture.
- Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. Remove objects from your yard that capture rainwater. Use fill to prevent puddles from forming. Address drainage issues, such as installing a French drain to channel water away.
- Ants, mosquitoes, and stinging insects feed on nectar. A plentiful source of nectar is flowering weeds. A little weed control goes a long way toward pest prevention.
- Wasps are drawn to the scent of decaying organic matter because they feed on sources of protein, and they aren't picky. Clean your trash cans and keep covers on to reduce the scent. When eating outdoors, keep drinks and food covered as much as possible.
- Wasps collect wood pulp from logs and dead branches. Carpenter bees tunnel into wood to create nests. You can deter both by removing or protecting wood sources and replacing water-damaged or otherwise rotting wood.
- Carpenter bees often get into wooden decks and fences. You can deter them by painting or staining the wood.
General maintenance can help reduce troublesome summer pests, but is it enough? Probably not, especially if you’ve already got pests active on your property.
Professional pest control solutions for summer pests in the Midwest
When you contact Miller Pest & Termite for help eliminating summer pests in and around your Midwest home, we will perform a thorough inspection of your property to identify active pest populations, find conducive conditions and potential entry points, and then treat the initial pest problem.
When you sign up for year-round home pest control services, you can count on us to keep insects and rodents out with ongoing exterior pest treatments and interior service, if necessary. Check out our Miller Guard plan below for more program benefits or simply give us a call to discuss your pest problems!
Ongoing Home Pest Control Recommendation
Miller Guard
Our signature Miller Guard pest control plan stands out in the industry by giving you Full Pest Coverage and Zero hidden fees. It is designed to eliminate and prevent insect and rodent problems by targeting pest entry and exit points for maximum effectiveness. It includes an initial premium interior application, exterior applications, web removal, and wasp nest removal.
- Ongoing Preventive Services
- 29 Pests & Services Covered
- Initial Premium Interior Application
- Exterior Applications
- Rodent Control
- Wasp Nest Removal
- Cob-Web Removal
- 1-Year Service Agreement
Starting at:
$4999A Month
Free Quote Or Call (515) 518-8864
Additional Miller Guard Details
Pests Covered: Asian Beetles, Boxelder Bugs, Carpenter Ants, Carpet Beetles, Centipedes, Clothes Moths, Drain Flies, Earwigs, Fleas, Fruit Flies, Grain Beetles, Hornets, House Ants, Indian Meal Moths, Mice, Millipedes, Pill Bugs, Rats, Roaches**, Silverfish, Spiders***, Stink Bugs, Wasps, Weevils, Yellow Jackets
Service frequency will vary based on geography. The Miller Guard program does not include the following pests: honey bees, flies, lice, dust mites, mosquitoes, exterior ticks, ornamental/turf pests, slugs, snails, termites, wildlife, birds, and brown recluse spiders.
- Pricing does not include initial fee
- Must have credit card on file
**American, German & Oriental
*** Venomous & Non-venomous
Don’t forget to sign up for seasonal mosquito control!
In addition to our ongoing pest control plans for Midwest homeowners, we also offer seasonal mosquito control that runs May through September and includes:
- An initial mosquito inspection to identify hotspots.
- An initial mosquito treatment targeting adult mosquitoes and larvae.
- Monthly mosquito treatments focused on areas where mosquitoes rest and where they breed.
Let our local pest control company keep the pests away this summer
For the best pest control in the Midwest, Miller Pest & Termite is the ideal solution. We’d love to help you keep the pests out of your home and yard this summer and all year long. Request a free quote today! Contact your Miller Pest & Termite service team for summer pest management. We're here to help.
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