Pest Control Advice - New Mexico - Summer

Big-headed Ant

Because big-headed ants are soil nesters, their colonies are often easy to see due to the piles of displaced soil formed as they excavate tunnels in the ground. Most colonies are relatively small and easy to treat, but treating infestations involving multiple colonies requires experience. General tips for limiting ant infestations include:

Eliminating piles of lumber, bricks, or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
Keeping landscape mulch less than 2 inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations.
Ensuring the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation.
Sealing as many cracks in the building's exterior as possible.
Keeping tree and shrub branches trimmed to prevent touching the building.
Considering re-landscaping to avoid using plants that are prone to aphids and similar insects. At the very least, treat such plants for aphids regularly. A tree/shrub company, such as TruGreen, can be helpful with this task.

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Odorous House Ant

This ant can be difficult to control because it establishes multiple subcolonies and may nest in such a wide variety of sites. The keys to control are to find the colonies and subcolonies and treat them directly. Where the colonies cannot be found, baits may be attempted; however, several baits may be required before positive results are seen. Regular inspections and service are necessary to find and treat new colonies as they move in from neighboring properties. The services of a professional, such as Terminix, are very helpful when encountering these ants. General tips for limiting ant infestations include:

Eliminate piles of lumber, bricks, or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
Keep landscape mulch less than 2 inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations.
Ensure the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation.
Seal as many cracks in the home's exterior as possible.
Keep tree and shrub branches trimmed to prevent them from touching the building.

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American Cockroach

The key to control is to find and treat these sources directly. In many cases, the services of a professional company, such as Terminix, are required to achieve long-term relief. In southern states where this cockroach lives outdoors, successful control involves treating the attic, crawl space, and exterior cracks in the home and finding and treating likely cockroach harborages over the entire property.

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Oriental Cockroach

Eliminating or minimizing potential harborages outside is the best way to limit infestations of these cockroaches.
Sealing cracks in the building's exterior helps prevent these pests from entering.
Installing screening in all vents is important.

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Centipede

The following actions will help in controlling centipedes:

Sealing cracks and holes in the home s exterior should help prevent centipedes from entering.
Mulch and heavy vegetation, such as ivy, should be kept away from the foundation to reduce the number of centipedes and their food supply.
House centipedes may require treatments that are best applied by a professional.

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Cricket

The best way to limit crickets is to eliminate as much potential harborage as possible outside the building. The following tips should prove helpful:

Store firewood away from the home and off the ground.
Dispose of piles of lumber or store such items off the ground.
Clean up piles of leaf litter and clean up any debris that could provide shelter.
Remove any heavy ground cover in landscaping within 10 feet of the home.
Install yellow "bug" light bulbs in outdoor fixtures to attract as few crickets as possible.
Seal as many exterior cracks and holes as possible in the outside walls.
Improve crawl space ventilation to make the subspace less attractive to camel crickets.

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Black Widow Spider

Bites can be avoided by wearing heavy gloves when moving items stored for long periods outside, in garages, in basements or in warehouses.
Shoes should be stored inside shoeboxes or shaken vigorously prior to wearing.
When webs are visible, inspect carefully before putting your hand down under an object.
Control is best left to a professional company such as Terminix. If numerous spiders are encountered, they can be removed using a shop vacuum, but care must be taken when opening the vacuum to kill the spiders.

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Scorpion

To reduce scorpions around a home, eliminate as many piles of items or debris on the ground and keep dense vegetation to a minimum. All scorpions glow green under black light, so a portable black light can be used outside at night to find where scorpions are harboring. When a home is chronically invaded by these arthropods, it is best to seek the services of a professional such as Terminix to achieve long-term relief.

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Pest Control Advice - New Mexico - Summer