East Texans Grapple with Insect Invaders as Warm Weather Spawns Swarm Homes
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The combination of East Texas spring showers followed by hot weather signals the yearly struggle against summertime bugs: the ongoing campaign to prevent these invaders from taking over.
Currently, pest control companies are inundated with requests from customers seeking their services.
“We’re operating around the clock. Some days I’m completely based out of Whitehouse, then I might be in Gilmer, Longview, or even Big Sandy—we cover everything,” explains exterminator Beau Breland from Jennings Termite and Pest Control.
From another viewpoint, there are more insects globally than all other species put together. The Smithsonian Institution reports that approximately 80% of all species worldwide are insects.
Homeowners encounter numerous pests they aim to eliminate. Chief among these are ants, which construct visible hills in your lawn. They contend with ants, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and notably, the highly damaging termites.
“I think it just comes with the summer, you see those more than anything, they get active this time of year. If you see a swarm of termites on your property that’s a definite indicator that they could be on the house or getting ready to colonize the house,” Breland says.
Food often attracts ants, roaches and other pests indoors, and places like the ‘Sasquatch Trading Post’ in Gladewater fights a continuing battle against them.
“I keep pantry moth traps out because those are nefarious for getting into dry goods. You don’t want insects getting into your food establishment, whether grocery store, restaurant, whatever. So you’ve got to stay on top of it. We have an exterminator that comes in routinely,” says owner Martin Pessink.
Delaying action might significantly exacerbate the issue.
“Identify a pest management service you can rely on, then proceed to initiate treatment of your home at the beginning of the year,” Beau advises.
Early indications you should watch out for include raised bumps in your lawn which signify ant nests, and soil tubes appearing externally on structures typically indicate termite activity.