There are so many reasons that we look forward to spring! We can spend more time outdoors, fire up the grill, and play games with the kids in our backyard. But, there is one big reason to not look forward to spring, which would be spring pests and the problems that they cause. With spring will come mosquitoes, ticks, boxelder bugs, odorous house ants and many others.

Mosquitoes flock to yards that provide areas of standing water in order to breed and lay their eggs. This includes man-made ponds, bird baths, and fountains, but also includes miscellaneous items that get left outdoors that collect water like buckets, toys, wheelbarrows, and containers. They also need to feed on hosts in order to survive. Mosquitoes can harbor and transmit a multitude of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and the Zika virus. These diseases can be extremely harmful if left untreated.

Ticks are harmful parasites that embed in the host’s skin to feed. They live in tall grasses and wooded areas and will latch on to an animal or human as they pass by. Ticks need blood to survive. A tick bite can cause Lyme disease, which can affect the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart.

Boxelder bugs attack maple, ash, apple, and plum trees to feed. If they get inside a home, they invade in very large numbers and can be a huge annoyance for the people living there. They are not dangerous but their feces can stain items made mostly of fabric.

Odorous house ants primarily nest outside underneath wood or in exposed soil. During long periods of rain, these ants move to higher ground or indoors for shelter. They are not dangerous, but they can be a nuisance in large numbers and contaminate food.

Use these cleaning tips to avoid spring pests this year:

• Seal off all entry points

• Fix or replace broken or missing screens and vents

• Keep food in sealed airtight containers

• Eliminate standing water in your yard

• Keep wood and debris away from your home

• Use a dehumidifier in damp rooms

After using these spring cleaning tips, you may find your home is still penetrable by pests. If so, you are going to need the help of a professional pest control company like Russell’s Pest Control. Our Power programs are designed with our customers in mind, and are designed to keep harmful, damaging, and nuisance pests from becoming problematic in your Knoxville home.