Spring Invaders

Spring Is in the Air... and So Are the Pests
How to Keep Ants, Spiders & Wasps from Turning Your Home into a Bug B&B

Ah, spring. Flowers bloom, birds sing, the sun shines… and the bugs say, “Let’s move in!” As much as we all love the season of renewal, it’s also open house season for ants, spiders, and wasps. If you’d rather not be on a first-name basis with a colony of six-legged squatters, read on.

🐜Ants: The Uninvited, Unwanted hard to get rid of Guests

You drop one crumb, and suddenly it’s like Ant-Coachella in your kitchen. These tiny freeloaders will march in like they own the place, especially if they sniff out one of their needs! Moisture and food!

Your Game Plan:

• Seal the gaps: If daylight is coming through a crack, so can ants. Caulk like you mean it.
• Hide the buffet: Wipe counters, clean up spills, and stop leaving snacks out like it’s a bug potluck.
• Ditch the drips: Ants are thirsty. Fix leaks and dry out damp areas. You’re not running an ant spa. This also means wet areas outside that retain moisture! Especially dirt touching siding and creating wood rot! That's not good!!
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🕷️ Spiders: Eight-Legged Roommates

Most spiders are harmless, but that doesn’t make them any less creepy when they rappel down from the ceiling during your morning coffee. Spring brings babies... and where there are babies, there are lots of legs.

Spider-Proof Your Space:

• Declutter: Spiders love dark corners and messy cluttered areas.
• Vacuum like you mean it: Focus on baseboards, corners, and anywhere that looks like a spider rave might happen.
• Dim the lights: Outdoor lights attract bugs, which attract spiders. Less bug party = less spider buffet. Spiders will build nests where the food source is close! This also includes trees, shrubs and other vegetation close to the home! You want to maintain 1 foot distance from the home and let the breeze in!

🐝 Wasps and Yellow Jackets: The Flying Jerks of Spring

Wasps and yellow jackets don’t mess around. One day it’s a tiny bump under your eaves; the next, it’s the House of Stings. They’re basically the angry HOA of the insect world.

Don’t Let Wasps Take Over:

• Do regular patrols: Look under decks, eaves, and furniture. Spot a nest early and handle it before it becomes a wasp skyscraper.
• Be Careful: Especially with yellow jackets, they'll build nests in the grounds, under railroad ties, old tree roots heck, they'll find a hole in your siding and make it there home! Always stay vigilant especially when mowing your fields!
• Tidy up the snacks: Sweet drinks, water sources, fallen fruit, open trash—basically wasp magnet material.
• Screen test: Make sure windows and doors have screens without holes. No one needs a surprise wasp visit in the shower.

The Bottom Line:

You don’t need to go full “exterminator mode” to keep bugs in check—just a little prevention goes a long way. Reduce food, water, and hiding spots, and they’ll take the hint.

But hey, if they ignore your subtle nudges and start setting up camp? That’s when you call in the pros (aka, us OutLook Pest Management).

Here’s to a spring full of sunshine, flowers, and zero bug drama.