Spring pests on the rise; experts urge prevention

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As temperatures rise, so does pest activity across the region, with experts warning that spring is a peak time for unwanted insects and rodents to move into homes.

April is recognized as National Pest Management Month, highlighting the importance of prevention and awareness. Common pests during the spring include ants, cockroaches, termites, rodents, mosquitoes, and ticks. Mosquitoes and ticks can pose public health risks by spreading diseases such as Lyme disease and malaria, while ants and termites can damage property and create unsafe living conditions.

Michael Bentley, a board-certified entomologist with the National Pest Management Association, said the most effective way to keep pests out is to remove what they need to survive — food, water, and shelter.

“Outside, any standing water conditions are going to be really important to eliminate. Mosquitoes can live, breed, and complete their lifecycle in a bottle cap of water. Making sure vegetation is well maintained, keeping bushes and tree limbs, and those sorts of things off of the home and off of the structure, and then kind of moving into the structure itself, making sure that the structure is well-sealed,” said Bentley.

Homeowners looking for professional assistance can find pest management providers by ZIP code through the PestWorld website at https://www.pestworld.org/