Spring Pest-Prevention Checklist for Joliet Homes

Watch for the early movers

Spring brings a few telltale pests. Ant trails appear as foragers come out of winter dormancy; termite swarmers show up near windows, so learn to tell them from flying ants; and wasp queens scout eaves and soffits for nest sites. Catching these early — a single trail, a few swarmers, a new nest the size of a golf ball — is far easier than dealing with an established problem in July.

Remove moisture and food

Spring is the time to cut the draws that fuel the warm season:

• Fix leaks and damp wood that attract ants and carpenter ants.
• Clear standing water — birdbaths, buckets, gutters — before mosquitoes breed.
• Seal food in the kitchen and clean up crumbs and spills.
• Clear winter debris and leaf litter from the foundation.

Seal and inspect what winter wore open

Winter freeze-thaw cycles open gaps and damage screens and weather stripping. Walk the exterior and check the foundation line, utility penetrations, door sweeps and window screens, sealing what has opened up. Knock down any small, early wasp nests before they grow into the large late-summer colonies that are dangerous to remove.

Get ahead with a perimeter treatment

A spring exterior perimeter treatment knocks down the first wave of ants, spiders and other pests before they build, and it is the foundation of a quarterly plan that keeps ahead of each season. For recurring pests — ants, rodents, fall invaders — starting in spring is more effective and usually cheaper than chasing a summer breakout.