Summer is when many pests are more active in Kansas City homes, including some you may not see at other times of year. Crickets, centipedes, and silverfish are all seasonal pests that often arrive in the warmer spring months. To be prepared, make sure you have effective summer pest control support from professionals to ensure your home avoids infestations by these and other household pests.
Why New Pests Appear in the Summer in Kansas City
Seasonal pests, also known as “occasional invaders,” are more often found invading homes in humid summer conditions because this is when they are most actively breeding and searching for a place to build their nests. While cockroaches, ants, spiders, and rodents may be less active in colder months, they can still be found infesting Kansas City homes and businesses year-round. Conversely, you will usually only see “occasional invaders” during peak pest season from April through August.
Summer-Exclusive Pests in Kansas City
In addition to the year-round pests you’re used to encountering in your home, here are some seasonal Kansas City pests that may appear this summer:
Crickets
Crickets are nocturnal insects known for their loud chirping sounds at night. While they don’t bite, their feces can carry E. Coli or Salmonella, making it unsafe to handle crickets or their waste with bare hands or to consume food contaminated by crickets.
The most common house-invading crickets in Kansas and Missouri are field crickets, which hatch in spring and immediately begin eating, growing, and molting. If you have a pet reptile or tarantula, you may keep live field crickets as pet food. Be careful that those crickets don’t escape their enclosure and start laying eggs in your home, as they can damage fabrics, paper, and vegetation.
Centipedes and Millipedes
Centipedes and millipedes are arthropods (invertebrates with exoskeletons), not insects. Their close relation to aquatic arthropods like lobsters and crayfish contributes to their preference for moist and humid environments, which is why you’ll usually find them in bathrooms and kitchens.
It’s important to know the difference between centipedes and millipedes because centipedes can be harmful to humans and pets. Neither centipedes nor millipedes carry harmful diseases, but centipedes bite, which can be painful but not usually life-threatening unless an allergic reaction occurs. Millipedes look like elongated pill bugs, with their many legs beneath their bodies. Centipedes have much longer legs that stick out to the sides. They are also usually more brightly colored and patterned than millipedes.
Silverfish
Silverfish are named for the fish-like way they move and the silver, scaly appearance of their long, flat bodies. They are most easily identifiable by their long antennae at the front and three tail-like appendages at the back.
Their preference for cool, moist conditions will drive silverfish into air-conditioned homes on hot days, where you’ll typically find them in basements, bathrooms, or kitchens. They are also attracted to food sources such as papers, cardboard, and fabrics. While harmless to humans and pets, silverfish can be very destructive to books, wallpaper, clothing, and other personal belongings, especially if an infestation is allowed to take root.
How to Prevent Summer Pest Infestations
The best way to protect your household and belongings from summer pests is to take preventive measures before infestations can take hold. Here are some ways you can reduce the chances of an infestation for effective summer pest control:
- Vacuum regularly to catch possible pest eggs, and dispose of full vacuum bags in an outside trash can.
- Seal up cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and utility entry points.
- Keep trash cans clean and make sure they seal shut.
- Maintain lawn and yard, keeping any plants and grass at least a foot away from the perimeter of your home.
- Keep compost, wood piles, and mulch piles at least 20 feet from home.
- Use amber bug lights or motion-activated lights to avoid attracting insects.
- Sign up for Advantage Termite and Pest Control’s seasonal program for the most effective summer pest control plan.
The Power of Professional Diagnostics and Ongoing Service
With so many different pests in Kansas City, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that will protect you from every possible threat to your home. That’s why it’s important to seek professional summer pest control support, bringing in experts who can quickly identify risk factors and active infestations, deploying customized control solutions and ongoing service to ensure no new pest varieties can take root.
Prepare your home for Kansas City pests this summer with Advantage Termite and Pest Control. Call us at first sight – we do it right!
