Here Comes Summer: How to Deal with Seasonal Pests

Help! My living room has been invaded by stink bugs! I think that they are coming through our window and once the rain stops, I plan on opening it up and sealing it everywhere that I can. It also can be the chimney and my husband needs to make sure that is tight!

The summer is a magical time for many of us, with an improvement in weather and the chance to spend a little more time outside. Not only is it widely considered that there are links between increased sunlight and improvements in mental health, the very season itself offers plenty of reasons to be cheerful, with opportunities to enjoy nature a little more among them. 

That having been said, there is a limit to the amount of nature you can “enjoy”. The return of certain seasonal birds to your garden is an undoubted positive. On the negative side of things, we have to consider the arrival of seasonal pests who wish to make your house their home, your garden their play area, and your skin their snack. We may not have as much of a chance to enjoy this summer in the way we ordinarily would, so to ensure our remaining fun isn’t spoiled by these pests, let’s look at what can be done to limit their influence.

Moths

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It’s not just your imagination, you have been seeing more of these fluttery creatures around recently. They’ll be in your home, for sure, if not your wardrobe (fingers crossed, because they do like to snack on fabric). The truth is, they love warmer weather, and their numbers are always greater in summer. They are also more likely to get into your house, because as the mercury rises we are prone to leave windows open. Checking out the likes of Moth-Prevention.com is a wise move, as moths are extremely persistent. As another smart move, try to spend more time with lights off, as these creatures are attracted to bright areas.

Mosquitoes

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Summer is a time to work in the garden, bringing it up to the standard you’ve been craving. Then, we tend to like to show off our outdoor space to visitors with a barbecue or garden party. Perhaps this year, quarantine means we won’t be having so many invited guests, but the uninvited form won’t be put off. If you’ve already been working in your yard, you’ve probably met a few of our bitey friends; to discourage them, wear long sleeves (which is also a good idea for sun protection). Also be prepared to daub on some mosquito repellent and buy a few bug zappers for good measure, while folk remedies include drinking lemon juice so that your blood is less appealing to the creatures.

Bees

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Let’s be very clear here: we don’t want to get rid of bees! The striped, buzzing pollination experts are an essential part of our ecosystem and we frankly want more of them around, not fewer. However, we want them around our garden, around our plants and trees; not around us. Particularly as some humans are allergic to bee stings, we need to avoid situations where they deliberately or accidentally deploy their “nuclear option”. Bees will be repelled if you use natural scents that contain citrus or mint notes. Keep a bee hotel or two in your garden and grow herbs like lavender in areas where you don’t go much; this attracts them to the garden and encourages them to pollinate without drawing them to people as much.

For one reason or another, the creatures above can cause stress and pain when they show up in the summer. By making the right choices, we can keep them where we want them and ensure a calmer season.

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