Pest activity is just about at its peak in and Inland Empire summer. The warm weather provides ideal breeding conditions for many insects and rodents, making effective summer pest control essential for protecting your home and property. Here are the five most frequently encountered summer pests in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and explains the advantages of a recurring pest control strategy for maintaining a pest-free property.

Top 5 Summer Pests in Southern California

1. Ants: Ants are highly active during the summer, foraging for food and water. They are attracted to sugary substances, crumbs, and pet food left outdoors. Common species in Southern California include Argentine ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants.

2. Cockroaches: Cockroaches thrive in warm, humid conditions. Summer heat accelerates their reproductive cycle, leading to rapid population growth. They seek shelter in dark, damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

3. Spiders: While spiders are present year-round, their populations tend to increase during the summer as insect prey becomes more abundant. Most spiders are harmless, but some, like black widows, can pose a health risk.

4. Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and summer rain or irrigation can create numerous breeding sites. They are not only a nuisance but also vectors for diseases like West Nile virus.

5. Fleas and Ticks: These external parasites thrive in warm weather and are often brought into homes by pets. They can cause discomfort for both pets and humans, and ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Why Recurring Pest Control is Essential for Summer

While a single pest control treatment can address an immediate infestation, recurring pest control provides consistent, long-term protection, which is especially crucial during the summer months. Here’s why:

• Continuous Prevention: Recurring services create a protective barrier around your property, preventing pests from entering in the first place. This proactive approach is far more effective than reacting to an existing infestation.

• Targeted Seasonal Treatments: Pest control professionals tailor their treatments to the specific pests prevalent during each season. In summer, they focus on controlling ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, using targeted methods and products.

• Early Detection and Monitoring: Regular inspections by trained technicians can identify early signs of pest activity before infestations become widespread. This allows for prompt intervention and prevents minor problems from escalating into major issues.

• Elimination of Breeding Sites: Professionals can identify and eliminate potential breeding sites for pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches, reducing their populations around your property.

• Reduced Pesticide Use: Recurring pest control emphasizes preventative measures and targeted treatments, minimizing the need for broad-spectrum pesticide applications. This is better for your family, pets, and the environment.

• Protection for Outdoor Activities: Summer is a time for outdoor activities, and recurring pest control helps ensure that your yard and outdoor spaces are free from pests like mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, allowing you to enjoy your time outdoors without worry.

• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your property is consistently protected by a professional pest control service provides peace of mind throughout the summer months, allowing you to relax and enjoy the season without the stress of pest problems.

Protecting Your Property This Summer

Summer pest control is a crucial investment for protecting your home and health. By opting for our recurring pest control services, you can create a pest-free environment and prevent the damage and health risks associated with summer pests. At Craig & Sons, we offer three tiers of service that will meet your prevention and budget needs. A proactive approach is always more effective and less costly than dealing with a full-blown infestation. Call and speak to a courteous member of our team today at 909-335-1486.

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In summer, one of the pests that many homeowners struggle with are black widow spiders. Knowing how to identify a black widow spider, where to find them, and how to get rid of them can help homeowners protect themselves and their families from this venomous pest.

What Do Black Widow Spiders Look Like?

Mature female black widow spiders are about an inch and a half long and have black, shiny bodies. They also have a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. This distinctive, colorful marking makes it easy to identify a female black widow. Mature males are half the size of females, and have small red, yellow or pink markings on their back.

Do All Black Widow Spiders Bite People?

Female black widow spiders are among the most venomous spiders in North America, but male black widow spiders are generally considered to be harmless to humans. Juvenile black widows are also considered harmless.

What Are the Symptoms of a Female Black Widow Spider Bite?

A person who is bitten by a female black widow spider can experience a variety of symptoms including chills, fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, back ache, belly ache, muscle cramps, and spasms. These symptoms can increase in severity as the hours go on.

A person who has been bitten by a black widow spider must seek medical attention right away. Ice applied to the area can help control pain and swelling. Children and seniors often experience the symptoms of a black widow spider bite more severely than adults.

Where Do Black Widows Live?

Black widows typically choose quiet, dark places to build a web or lay their eggs. Typical places where you can find a black widow spider includes the shed, garage, in the crawl space or basement, in a wood pile, or around the barbecue pit. Black widows like to avoid human activity whenever possible, so when they can be found in residential settings, it’s usually in a dark corner where people rarely go. Typically, black widows are found outside the home instead of inside.

Are Black Widows Aggressive?

Female black widow spiders can be aggressive when they’re defending their eggs. If there are no eggs for the black widow to defend, she is much more likely to run than to stay and bite a person.

Are Black Widows a Threat to Pets?

Black widow spiders can be as much a threat to pets as they are to people. Pets who are bitten by a black widow spider may display a number of characteristics including cramping, paralysis, drooling, vomiting, tremors, disorientation, and uncoordinated walking.

Black widow bites can kill pets if the wound does not receive proper medical attention, so pet owners must be aware of the symptoms of a black widow spider bite so they can get their pet medical treatment in a timely fashion.

When Are Black Widows Most Active?

These spiders are most active in the summer time when they’re mating and defending their eggs. During the colder times of the year, black widows are often not seen in winter, when they enter a state similar to hibernation.

How Can you Protect Your Property from Black Widows?

Black widows can be exterminated just like other spiders through regular pest control treatments from a reliable pest control company. Many homeowners who have black widows on their property will sign up for quarterly or monthly treatments to help them control black widow populations.

If you have more questions about black widows and how you can control black widows on your property, contact Craig & Sons Termite and Pest Control Inc . We’re happy to answer questions about black widows.

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