Your Summer Pest Control Guide: Tackling Mosquitoes and June Bugs

Summer brings barbecues, pool parties, and outdoor fun – but it also brings unwanted guests in the form of mosquitoes and June bugs. As temperatures rise and humidity increases, these pests become more active, potentially turning your backyard oasis into a buzzing nightmare. Here’s your comprehensive guide to keeping these summer pests at bay.

Mosquito Control: Your First Line of Defense

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying – they’re also potential health threats. These tiny vampires can carry diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The good news? Effective mosquito control starts with understanding their needs and eliminating what attracts them to your property.

The Water Connection

The most crucial fact about mosquitoes is that they need water to reproduce. All mosquitoes start their lives in water, making standing water elimination your most powerful weapon. Walk around your property and look for:

• Clogged gutters and downspouts
• Birdbaths and pet water bowls
• Flower pot saucers and plant trays
• Old tires, buckets, and containers
• Pool covers and tarps that collect rainwater
• Leaky outdoor faucets creating puddles

Make it a weekly habit to empty and refresh any water sources you want to keep (like birdbaths) and eliminate those you don’t need. Even a bottle cap full of water can become a mosquito nursery.

Natural Barriers and Repellents

While eliminating breeding sites is critical, you’ll also want to create barriers between mosquitoes and your family. The CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. For outdoor gatherings, consider:

• Installing fans on patios and decks (mosquitoes are weak fliers)
• Using citronella candles or torches for mild deterrence
• Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants during peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk)
• Treating clothing and gear with permethrin for longer-lasting protection

Professional Solutions

For severe infestations or ongoing problems, professional mosquito control services, with Athena Pest Control, offer targeted treatments that can dramatically reduce mosquito populations around your home. Our treatments typically focus on areas where mosquitoes rest during the day, such as dense vegetation, under decks, and around outdoor structures. Learn more about our Mosquito Control.

June Bugs: The Uninvited Summer Guests

June bugs, also known as May beetles, are those brown, clunky beetles that seem to appear out of nowhere on warm summer evenings. While they might look intimidating and make quite a racket when they hit your porch light, June bugs are generally harmless to humans – they don’t bite or sting.

Understanding June Bug Behavior

These beetles are actually beneficial in many ways, serving as food for birds, bats, and other wildlife. However, they can become problematic when present in large numbers, that’s where Athena Pest Control comes in. Adult June bugs are attracted to lights and can be quite the nuisance during outdoor evening activities. Their larvae, known as grubs, live in the soil and can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on plant roots. Find out more about June bugs in the newest edition of the Southern Living article that our very own, Witman Wesley Owner & Vice President, was mentioned in.

Managing June Bug Populations

The key to June bug control is timing and understanding their life cycle. Most control efforts are most effective when targeting the grub stage rather than the adult beetles. Here are some strategies:

For Adult Beetles:

• Reduce outdoor lighting during peak season (late spring through early summer)
• Use yellow or LED lights which are less attractive to beetles
• Create simple traps using a mixture of water and molasses in narrow-necked containers

For Grubs:

• Apply beneficial nematodes to your lawn – these microscopic worms naturally target grub populations
• Use milky spore bacteria, which specifically targets beetle grubs
• Maintain healthy lawn practices including proper watering and fertilization

When to Call the Professionals

If you’re dealing with extensive lawn damage from grubs or overwhelming numbers of adult beetles, professional pest control with Athena can provide targeted treatments. Modern pest control methods can effectively manage both the adult beetles and their larvae while minimizing impact on beneficial insects.

Creating a Pest-Free Summer Environment

The best approach to summer pest control combines prevention, monitoring, and targeted intervention. Regular property maintenance, eliminating breeding sites, and understanding pest behavior patterns will significantly reduce your pest problems. Remember that some pests, like June bugs, play important roles in the ecosystem, so the goal is management rather than complete elimination.

For homeowners dealing with persistent or severe pest problems, Athena Pest Control services offer the expertise and tools needed to reclaim your outdoor spaces. Athena pest control professionals can assess your specific situation, identify problem areas, and develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your property’s needs.

Alabama Pest Identification Library: Know Your Summer Visitors

Living in Alabama means sharing your space with a diverse array of insects and pests, especially during the warm summer months. At Athena Pest Control, we’ve created this identification guide to help you recognize the most common unwanted visitors you might encounter on your property. Check out our full Pest Library.

Stinging and Biting Pests

Fire Ants – These distinctive earthen mound builders are a fixture in the Alabama landscape, having first entered the United States through the port of Mobile. Fire ants are aggressive enough that they will sting their victim several times, causing welts followed by white blisters. Look for their characteristic dome-shaped mounds in yards and gardens.

Asian Needle Ants – As this ant’s name implies, the ant’s sting may be painful and cause symptoms that are long lasting. These ants are increasingly common in Alabama and can be mistaken for other ant species.

Wasps and Yellow Jackets – Alabama hosts numerous wasp species that become particularly active during summer months. These beneficial insects control other pest populations but can become problematic around outdoor dining areas.

Wood-Destroying Insects

Carpenter Ants – Black Carpenter Ants are just one of the 10 different species of carpenter ants found in the state of Alabama. They get their name from their ability to excavate wood to create galleries (ant apartments) for their nesting sites. Carpenter ants vary in size and color but are usually large (1/4-1/2 inch) and blackish.

Subterranean Termites – Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damage each year, more property damage than that caused by fire and windstorm combined. These silent destroyers are particularly active during Alabama’s warm, humid summers.

Nuisance Household Pests

Common House Ants – Nuisance ants live up to their name, and tend to invade looking for food and water. Ants commonly included in the nuisance category would be Argentine Ants, Odorous House Ants, Pavement Ants, Thief Ants, Little Black Ants, and several others.

Summer Beetles and Insects – In Alabama, summer beetles and insects include earwigs, crickets, centipedes, Mexican centipedes, Camel Crickets, and Asian Ladybugs. While many are harmless, they can become nuisances in large numbers.

Differential Grasshoppers – You may remember Differential Grasshoppers from hot summer childhood days playing outside. They are one of the classic insects of summer. These familiar pests can damage gardens and landscaping.

When You’re Not Sure: Contact the Experts

Sometimes pest identification can be challenging, especially when dealing with similar-looking species or immature insects. Proper identification is crucial for effective treatment – what works for one pest may be ineffective against another. That’s where the experts at Athena SHINE!

At Athena Pest Control, we maintain extensive knowledge of Alabama’s native and invasive pest species. Our trained technicians can quickly identify the pests you’re dealing with and recommend the most effective treatment approach. We stay current with emerging pest threats and seasonal patterns specific to our Alabama climate.

Don’t let uncertainty about pest identification delay your treatment decisions. Whether you’re dealing with a single mystery bug or a full-scale infestation, our team has the expertise to provide accurate identification and effective solutions.

Your Trusted Partner in Pest Control

At Athena Pest Control, we understand that every property is unique, and so are its pest challenges. Our experienced team can help you develop a comprehensive pest management strategy that keeps mosquitoes, June bugs, and all other Alabama pests from interfering with your outdoor enjoyment.

We’re not just your pest control service – we’re your trusted reference for pest identification and prevention. Our team stays educated on the latest pest trends, seasonal patterns, and effective treatment methods specific to Alabama’s unique ecosystem.

Don’t let pests dictate your summer plans. With the right knowledge, tools, and professional support when needed, you can maintain a comfortable, pest-free environment all season long. Contact us today to learn more about our seasonal pest control services and how we can help you make the most of your outdoor spaces this summer.

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For more information about summer pest control, pest identification, or to schedule a consultation, contact Athena Pest Control today. We’re here to help you enjoy a pest-free summer and serve as your trusted resource for all things pest-related in Alabama!