PRIME TIME
12 October 2020
Ask The Bugman Email questions to AskTheBugman.com or call (505)385-2820
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ong-term weather forecasts predict we’re in for a warm fall and possibly a warm winter. Without cold temperatures keeping pests at bay, they are likely to be more active than usual. However, it is inadvisable to have your house sprayed with pesticides, ANSWER TO #5145
which can, if repeated over time, compromise your immune system. So, the best option is to prevent pests from entering your home in the first place. The first step to pest-proofing your home is to install door sweeps on all outside doors that need them. If you can slide a piece of paper under a door, it needs a door sweep. Also, add a door sweep to a door connecting the interior of the home to the garage. Pick up any debris or stacks of “stuff” you may have sitting around the house. Those areas make good hiding places for cockroaches, scorpions and centipedes. If you have firewood, stack it outside, away from the house as it will attract black widows. It is also a good idea to cover firewood with black plastic and stack it in the sun. The heat under the plastic will keep spiders and insects from hanging out in the firewood. Be sure to trim tree branches to keep them from touching the roof, as acrobat ants and carpenter ants will otherwise use them as highways to gain access. Also, you should sweep down any spider webs around the outside of the house. As for the garage, you will probably find that the door doesn’t
close tightly and never will. There are almost always small areas at either side of the door where insects or rodents can get in. As mentioned earlier, make sure there are door sweeps on the door entering the house. Put Niban Bait in any areas behind storage or shelves where roaches can hide. Niban will last three or four months, so you only need to apply it a couple of times a year. Niban is made from boric acid and is available online. Remember to keep all of your sink, tub and floor drains closed at night. This will prevent cockroaches from coming up the drains from the sewer system or septic tank. If you don’t have a
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drain cover, you can fill a Ziploc bag with water and place it over the drain. That will keep the roaches out. Keep anything that pests can hide in or under away from your house. Don’t leave outside lights on any longer than necessary, as they attract insects. Check your home every few months to make sure all of the work you did is still in place and effective. You don’t need pesticides to control most pests. If you have any pest questions, you can contact me at askthebugman2013@gmail. com. I have handbooks I will share with you that will give you more information on dealing with pests safely and effectively.
