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The Rockwall area and the majority of North Texas has seen unprecedented amounts of rain recently. Pest control becomes even more important after the types of rains we’ve experienced. Why? Because insects follow floods.

According to the LSU AgCenter, homes are more subject to fire ants and other insects. Ants are often living underground and when heavy rains come, the ground becomes very saturated. This forces the ants up to the ground.

If you are in the Rockwall area, you may notice many ant mounds in your yard that weren’t there before all the rain. Fire ants especially will seek higher ground during periods of heavy rain and flooding.

Another insect you may start to see more of due to the rain and flooding are wasps. Wasps feed on grubs in the soil and flooding causes these grubs to be pushed up closer to the surface, becoming more availalbe to wasps.

Some of the storms we had were severe and caused wind damage to homes and trees. If a tree was broken or damaged in some form, it could allow insects such as wood borers, Southern Pine beetles and Ips beetles to gain entry into the tree. The same can be said for your house.

Inspect your home for any wind damage, especially in the roof. Insects can, and will, use any opening to infiltrate your home.

Carpenter ants are also notorious for invading trees that have broken limbs and then transfer to the house off the tree branches haning over the roof.

If you have any pest control concerns give Stonghold Pest Control a call.

Spring is a great time of year in the Rockwall area. The temperature warms up and people begin to work in yards and no doubt encounter bugs, insects and other pests. Many homeowners feel the need for pest control in the Spring when insects and other bugs are beginning to appear.

Pest Control is recommended year-around, not only during the spring and summer months. Since Rockwall is a community with a lake, we see a higher presence of mosquitoes and other flying insects. For those in north Rockwall or Heath that have homes bordering the lake, pest control is incredibly important.

Every year we hear of news stories involving mosquitoes and diseases they carry. While they can be dangerous, other bugs can be just as harmful.

We have a list of winter tips for keeping bugs out of your home. Going through the steps listed are also a good idea for Spring.

Since Spring is usually a time that most homeowners do yard work, we thought we’d list a few tips that pertain to the Spring Bug and Pest season.

1. Keep soil from sitting up against wood or below wood. If wood must be present, make sure it is up off the ground.

2. Eliminate damp conditions. Carpenter ants love a moist environment and increasing ventilation and replacing decaying wood are great ways to prevent a damp area of the home.

3. Use crushed rock around flower and shrub beds instead of mulch. Mulch provides food and a habitat for centipedes, millipedes and other insects.

4. Reduce plant cover around the foundation. Remove leaves and other debris under decks, in window wells, and behind bushes to eliminate decaying organic matter which may provide food and habitat for sow bugs, centipedes and millipedes.

While many insects go dormant for the winter, others migrate south or seek protective shelter. During the winter months, ants, roaches and other bugs may become more common sights in the winter months. Pest Control should continue through the winter months to keep the home free of any unwanted bug or insects.
There are a few simple steps you can take to prevent rodents and bugs from entering your home.

1. Seal off any holes on the outside of the house where insects may enter. Smaller holes can be patched with caulk or spackle. As part of our pest control services, we offer copper mesh to insert into the larger holes on the outside of the home.

2. Check baseboards and inside cabinets for cracks or holes that could allow insects in.

3. Remove crumbs and water that might attract insects. This includes water in the sink, crumbs in the cabinet, crumbs under appliances, etc.

4. Make sure branches, bushes and trees are properly trimmed away from the house. These can provide an easy access point for insects, squirrels, racoon and other intruders.

Unlike insects, mice do not go dormant for the winter months. Make sure you patch are repair any holes to prevent mice from entering your home. Refrain from leaving any birdseed from being accessible. We recommend you keep it and any dog or cat food in a metal container with a lid. You will also want to check around pipes for any holes as these are common entry points for mice.

This winter we’ve seen an increase of mice activity in the Rockwall area. We offer several solutions to mice: traps, bait boxes and pads. We routinely keep the bait boxes filled and check the traps regularly.

Even though winter is usually a slower time for insects, make sure you are taking the proper pest control steps to help prevent an invasion of your home.

For all your pest control needs, call (972) 730-PEST (7378). We provide FREE estimates. We serve the entire Rockwall area including: Heath, Royse City, Fate, Forney, Lavon, Wylie, Caddo Mills and Rowlett.