barbecue-1340236_1280Ahh, warmer temperatures in Florida! Time to round up the family and break out the grill! This warmer weather is perfect for spending time with your family outside on the swingset, playing catch, lounging in the pool, or relaxing in lawn chairs on the screened-in porch. The only problem with this time of year is that insects seem to enjoy it more than people. The Orlando pest control company, Apex Pest Control, has helpful hints on how you can prevent pests from invading your backyard this time of year and beyond!

  • Bug Spray: Apply insect repellent before you go outside, and reapply as noted on the container. Depending on your location, you may require a different formula of repellent; suburban homeowners can use traditional sprays, especially those containing Picaridin, while homeowners living near swampy areas or near a wooded area probably need to spray clothing with a product containing DEET (diethyl-meta-toulamide) to defray mosquitoes and ticks.
  • Don’t Smell Good: Perfumes and lotions with a sweet or flowery scent attract insects that mistake the odor for a blooming plant. Bees and yellow jackets tend to follow you around if you venture outside wearing perfume or cologne.
  • Keep it Closed: It is not often the temperature that allow Floridians to open the windows to catch pleasant breezes, except for a month or so in the spring. Open windows invite pests inside, so be sure the screens on your patio doors and windows are installed and intact. Even a small hole is large enough for mosquitoes and gnats to enter.
  • Cover the Yums: When you prepare food outside, be sure everything remains covered before and after you eat. Perishable foods need to be returned to the cooler or refrigerator as quickly as possible, and fruits should be covered with foil, wrap, or netting. The aroma of an outdoor picnic invites flies, ants, and other insects to join the feast, and these pests do not wash before eating! After you finish your meal, clean up spilled food and leftovers, and dispose of them far away from where you are planning any activities.
  • Standing Water: Birdbaths, Frisbees, and long-forgotten pet bowls all have something in common: they are perfect mosquito breeding grounds. Even a small amount of water is ample for mosquitoes to deposit their eggs. Ensure your yard is not a mosquito nursery by removing any standing water sources.

Following these steps prevents many insects from bombarding your spring parties. Apex Pest Control has more hints on insect and pest prevention in their blogs – check them out! Call Apex at (866) 675-4070 with any Orlando pest control questions or if you want to keep your barbecues more enjoyably pest-free.

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