Ah — warmer weather, longer days and a sweeter smell in the air. Spring is a true delight for the senses. However, with life getting active again, it comes along with the buzzing of a not so welcome visitor. Springtime pests. To stay on top of your warmer weather routine for the home and garden, use this guide to warmer weather pest management.
Warmer weather? No worries — keep this pest management guide handy
While spring is a time of warmer weather bringing in greener lawns, brighter blooms and exciting harvests — it also brings in a new list of pest problems. Depending on your region, spring is synonymous with rains bringing moisture and warmer weather. These conditions, while great for growth, are a cue for sure pest activity. Stay diligent and apply the right steps to make your spring pest management a success in the garden and home.
Warm weather pests
While there is a whole host of new pests to control in the springtime, continue to look out for black spot, mildew, aphids, as well as snails and slugs that have carried over from cold weather. Refer to our autumn and winter garden pest protection list to make sure you have the right understanding and solutions.
Harvester Termites
Also referred to as ‘white ants’, harvester termites feed mostly on grass, which makes them a problem for people with lawns. However it has been known that they can target thatch roofs, which can also lead to damage.
Termites are more active during warmer months. You will notice three distinct variations:
- Worker termites: tiny white creamy, soft-bodied creatures, also named ‘white ants’.
- Soldier termites: these termites have larger armoured heads, with pincer-like jaws, ranging from orange, brown, yellow to red, used to crush their enemies.
- Swarmers: brown-grey winged termites (with large front wings the same size as the hind wings) and usually swarm during the evening.
As explained by their name, harvester termites are insects that harvest dead plant matter throughout the day and night. In the garden, you will most likely see worker and soldier outside the nest. Nests can be identified from holes in the ground surrounded by mounds of soil. Heavy infestations can result in the production of large, interconnected nest-networks. Lawns may begin to produce patches of bare ground.
Solution: Efekto Plant Protector, a systemic concentrate. Treat all nest entrances being used by the termites, (nest entrance treatment) or the entire area being foraged (overall treatment). Repeat treatment if termite activity resumes. Efekto Kamikaze is a ready-to-use bait. Scatter bait evenly over the infested areas and around actively working nest entrances. Usually, the termites are active from 11:00 until sundown. Scatter the bait on a day when termites are intensely foraging. Only scatter as much bait as the termites can carry to their nests on the day of treatment. Bio Kill EXTRA GT ready-to-use insecticide can be used to control harvester termites in lawns.
Ants
They will forage in and around homes for food and will likely build their colony close to food sources — though they rarely nest inside homes.
Look for: large black ants in your home, firstly. Ants communicate by using their antennae to pick up chemical signals (pheromones). This is why you will see a ‘trail’ of worker ants moving along a particular path.
Solution: Maintain a clean surface by wiping down surfaces to eliminate any chemical traces. Once cleaned, use Efekto Fendona 6 SC and Efekto No Ant Bait Station. For more information, explore our guide to ant solutions.
Flies
Swatting away at a flying nuisance? It’s probably a house fly — a grey-black slightly hairy body, a single pair of wings and red bulbous eyes, with a soft tongue hanging from its head.
Look for: buzzing flies around anything to anything rotting, sugary or excreted. Warmer conditions and moist spaces are optimal for their larvae to thrive, making spring the perfect time for them to breed in dung and refuse.
Solution: keep things tidy! Clear up pet droppings and horse manure, wipe surfaces and keep refuse tightly sealed. Use Efekto No Insect Indoors NF Flying Insects and Efekto Fendona 6 SC for the home. As for your outdoor spaces and stables, explore our equine edition pest prevention guide.
Moles
Not a rat nor a mouse — a mole has velvety fur, a long pink hairless snout and a small potato-like body with what appears to be an eyeless head. They feed on earthworms, grubs, ants and mole crickets.
Look for: piles of disturbed soil between spring and autumn — or notice your frustrated dog digging in your lawn and flower beds. You will notice more activity in wet weather seasons when the ground is soft and damp. This attracts moles to their earthworm prey.
Solution: In addition to using Mole Repellent, explore our complete guide to mole treatment and prevention.
Fish moths
These silver-grey insects are up to 1.5cm long and live for 2-8 years. They feed on glue in book bindings and cardboard, as well as fabrics like linen, cotton, rayon, and silk.
Look for: dark, moist and cluttered spaces. Common areas you’ll find fish moths include the kitchen, bathroom, laundry rooms, cupboard and attics and any damp spaces.
Solution: control moisture and clutter in the home. Then apply Efekto No Insect Indoors NF Flying Insects and Bio Kill Extra GT.
Put your pest management skills to the test this spring
Here’s to a joyous new season in the garden and home. For more help with your seasonal pest management questions, don’t hesitate to explore our archive of articles or ask an expert.
