Springtime in New England is a season of renewal—warmer days, blooming flowers, and of course, the excitement of the annual NCAA college basketball tournament. But while you’re enjoying the longer days and striving for the perfect bracket, a different kind of “March Madness” is taking place right in your backyard. It’s the time of year when some of the most dangerous pests emerge, and trust us, they’re not here to play nice.
From swarming termites to disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes, spring is when these unwanted guests make their grand entrance. Let’s break down why you should be on high alert and how you can keep these pests from turning your home into their personal playground.
Termites: The Tiny Homewreckers
Think of termites as nature’s demolition crew—except they didn’t get the memo that your house is not part of the job site. Each year, these wood-munching menaces cause more damage to homes than fires, racking up an astonishing $5 billion in repair costs nationwide. And here’s the kicker: they do it silently.
March and April mark the start of termite swarming season. As temperatures rise, thousands of winged termites take flight, looking to start new colonies. If they land near your home, you could be in serious trouble. A colony of just 60,000 termites (which is considered small, by the way) can eat through most of a 2’x4’ board in a year. Larger colonies? They can devour up to 40 feet of wood in the same amount of time.
By the time you spot visible damage—hollowed-out beams, sagging floors, or tiny mud tubes—it’s often too late. The best defense? A professional termite inspection to catch them before they can feast on your biggest investment.
Ticks: Small Bites, Big Problems
You might not see them, but ticks are out there, waiting in the grass and leaf litter like tiny, bloodsucking ninjas, ready to attack when temps get up around 40 degrees. The most common tick in the Northeast is the black-legged tick (aka deer tick), which is notorious for spreading Lyme disease and other nasty illnesses like the Powassan virus.
Tick bites often go unnoticed until symptoms—like fever, fatigue and the infamous bullseye rash—appear. The good news? You can reduce the risk by keeping your yard tidy, treating pets with vet-approved tick preventatives and scheduling professional tick control treatments.
Mosquitoes: The World’s Deadliest Pest
Mosquitoes may seem like nothing more than an itchy annoyance, but they’re actually the deadliest creatures on the planet. These flying vampires are capable of transmitting serious diseases like West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Unfortunately, mosquitoes aren’t picky about their victims. If you have standing water—even something as small as a bottle cap—mosquitoes will use it to breed. That’s why it’s essential to eliminate water sources, use insect repellents and consider professional mosquito treatments to keep them from turning your backyard into a feeding ground.
Stop the March Madness
Spring pests don’t wait for an invitation, so don’t wait to fight back. Whether it’s termites threatening your home’s structure, ticks lurking in the grass or mosquitoes looking for their next meal, protecting your family, home and sanity with proactive pest control is your best bet.
We offer a specialized Mosquito & Tick Protection Program™, expert prevention and treatment services for termites and year-round coverage from these and other pests with our cost-effective, customizable Multi-Pest Plan. Reach out today, and let’s keep your home safe from the real bracket-busting threats this season!