Picnics, watermelons, sunny days, and lazy afternoon - these are some of the most enjoyable summertime features that New Englanders look forward to all through the long, cold winter. But along with the warm weather and sunshine also come the re-emergence of ticks, and that can put a serious damper on the fun if not handled correctly.
This spring, take a look outside at the sidewalks - there may just be a war going on.
The main belligerents: Tetramorium caespitum, also known as Pavement Ants. Although active all year long and with really no down period throughout the seasons, springtime is a particularly active period for Pavement Ants. When the weather warms, colonies head out in search of new areas to conquer, and that can range anywhere from a trip into your kitchen to an all-out assault on a neighboring colony for control of the territory.
Patients, families, and visitors to your healthcare facility likely have a lot on their minds from the moment they walk through your doors - and the last thing they need to worry about is a pest problem staring them in the face in the very space where they’ve come to find help.
For New Englanders, summertime is really all about the food - whether it’s barbecues in the backyard, fresh fruits and veggies for weeknight dinners, or snacks around the firepit with a sunset in the background. Unfortunately, the warm weather is also prime time for ants, and an infestation of these invaders can ruin just about any picnic before the basket is even packed.
The school year may be over, and students may be headed home for summer break - but that doesn’t necessarily mean your hallways will remain empty until fall.
The truth is, almost all schools will face pest problems at some point, regardless of location, grade levels, or climate. One thing, however, is universal: the need to keep schools free from pests through the summer is undeniable, and should be a primary goal for all school administrators headed into the vacation season.
