Life in Eastern Washington is as beautiful as it is diverse. It brings rain alongside heaps of sunshine to instill a blooming and beautiful spring. As the world comes to life with winter at our backs, common pests throughout the area will begin to rear their heads again. It is during this time that most homeowners begin to struggle with the prevalence of spring pests on their property.
If you own a home or reside in one near the Spokane area, keep on reading to learn what pests you might have to look out for this coming spring.
Common Spring Pests in the Pacific Northwest
If you’ve spent even a single spring in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve confronted your fair share of spring pests. Along with hordes of rain, residents in the region welcome the blooming of the seasons with the emergence of a host of pests. Some of these pests are harmless, while others are pivotal to the health and vitality of our ecosystem.
Today, we are going to take a closer look at the most common pests that emerge during the spring.
Sugar Ants
As spring fully rises into view, homeowners should prepare themselves for the emergence of sugar ants. They are also known as Odorous Ants. Sugar ants are considered more of an annoying pest than a serious danger. Sugar ants like to enter homes while foraging for food and are one of the least problematic of the spring pests in the Pacific Northwest.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants thrive during the spring because they can find wood sources for building their nests. Rotting wood is the ideal destination for carpenter ants and that is why it is important to keep the exterior of your property clean and free from debris. Carpenter ants feed on protein and sugar though they are much bigger than the aforementioned sugar ants. As one of the most common spring pests in the region, pay close attention to any number of ants in and around your home.
Wasps
You don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to know that wasps lurk around every corner during springtime and summer activities in Eastern Washington. Wasps are often aggressive and likely to sting, particularly if they are surprised by humans.
Most wasps simply want to do their instinctual jobs while focusing on surviving and improving their hives. Wasps lash out aggressively if they feel like they have been threatened and move to protect their home.
Watch out for wasp nests late in the spring as that is when they begin preparing for future offspring. Nests will begin to fall apart by late summer, so you don’t have to worry about them too much until the temperatures begin to rise.
Boxelder Bugs
More a nuisance than a legitimate problem, boxelder bugs tend to congregate in larger numbers as they encapsulate entire portions of your home or natural features in your yard. Boxelder bugs feature brown and black bodies with red markings across their backs. Notable for the foul odor they produce, boxelder bugs are not so much dangerous as they are unhygienic. Boxelder bugs leave behind fecal matter which can stain furniture red.
Spiders
Never one to take a day off, spiders are always right around the corner when spring finally reveals itself. Spiders are common throughout the Pacific Northwest. They linger inside garages, attics, basements, porches, and any other sheltered area near your home. Spiders provide value to homeowners by eating other pests. They are commonly found in homes throughout the country.
Despite the benefits that some spiders can offer, most people don’t want to share a building with a spider infestation. If you feel like you have a spider problem, make sure to reach out to the team at EcoTek Pest Control.
Bees (of All Sorts)
Finally, we want to take a moment to acknowledge that spring is among the busiest times for bees in the Pacific Northwest. Bees begin exploring for colonial development while foraging for resources as the days grow longer and the weather begins to warm itself up.
Bees often turn to houses, attics, and even yard features for places to turn into their makeshift colonies. Most common bee issues revolve around leaving windows and doors open for too long while providing an inviting space for a colony to take hold.
Bees should be handled carefully by a qualified team of pest experts as a necessary neighbor to the ecosystem.
Guide to EcoTek Spring Pests and Control
EcoTek Pest Control endeavors to provide homes and businesses throughout Eastern Washington with effective and environmentally conscious pest control solutions. Family-owned and locally operated, we have built a sterling reputation out of serving customers throughout the Greater Spokane area.
Call EcoTek Pest Control anytime you need help with spring pests in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy:
- Exceptional Services
- Certified and Insured Professionals
- Family Owned and Operated Business
- Stewards of the Environment
