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Living in the South has plenty of perks – mild winters, great food, beautiful scenery and an affordable cost of living. But you’ve likely noticed that pests – rodents, mosquitoes, termites and all their friends – have been coming out to enjoy the spring weather with us.

So what can be done to protect your home and your peace of mind from all these creepy crawlers? What if you’re already seeing evidence of pests in your home? And is there anything you can do to control mosquitoes?

Effective pest management starts with you

The experts at Mississippi State University Extension Service say effective pest management begins with understanding why they’re attracted to our homes in the first place: warmth, moisture, shelter and food – all which are plentiful resources in the South.

This is why they say “exclusion” is the most important part of household pest control – and ideally begins before you even have a pest problem.

“Prevention is key. Don’t let pests get into your home in the first place, and you won’t have a pest problem,” said Jerome Goddard, Extension professor and entomologist. “Yes, insects and rodents can crawl through the smallest cracks, but home-improvement stores sell screens, weather stripping, caulking, sealants and other things you can use to seal even the tiniest openings.”

Spring is the perfect time to check your home for entry points, and while you’re at it, Santos Portugal, MSU Extension urban entomologist, also recommends you perform a “termite inspection” and keep an eye out for swarms.

“This is the time of year our native subterranean termites begin swarming in our state,” he said. “It’s completely normal for their species, and they won’t harm you personally. But if you see them indoors or near a structure, you need to call a reputable pest management company to perform an inspection.”

After sealing your home and checking for termites, maintain good hygiene and sanitation. If you’ve already started seeing signs of pests in your home, Goddard recommends removing all sources of accessible food, water and shelter.

“For kitchens, store food in sealed plastic or glass containers,” he said. “Garbage should be placed in tightly covered trash cans. Take it out at least once a day if you’re battling ants. Fix dripping plumbing and don’t let water puddle anywhere in or under your home … including sinks and tubs. Don’t let water collect in trays under your house plants and don’t leave pet food and water out overnight. And clean up. … (Clutter) provides homes for pests to breed and hide. Get rid of anything forgotten like old stacks of newspapers, magazines and cardboard, especially on the floor or outdoors.”

To poison or not poison

You might be tempted to reach for poison at the first sight of a pest, but according to Goddard, pesticides and insecticides are not substitutes for exclusion and sanitation.

“If you rely solely on (pesticides) to manage your problems, you’re going to go through a lot of (pesticide), spend a lot of money, and you still may not succeed,” he said. “Good exclusion and home hygiene are the most important steps to preventing and controlling pests.”

But if you’ve checked all the other boxes and are ready to try poison, he recommends first starting with bait for rodents and insects.
“(Bait) works as a first line of chemical defense against insects or rodents,” he said.

“There’s a low risk of exposure, as long as they are placed in clever places outside the reach of kids and pets.”

Goddard said pesticides not contained in baits or traps should generally only be applied to specific locations, not sprayed over the whole home. MSU Extension agents in your county can help give you guidance on what to spray, when to spray and where – just give them a call. If you go with hiring a local professional, he recommends asking them to find and correct the source of the problem before applying pesticides.

Mississippi mosquito madness

For the relentless mosquitos, Goddard recommends a specific “integrated method.” He said homes should follow a three-step approach: source reduction, larviciding and adulticiding. Find and eliminate places where mosquitoes breed, place chemicals designed to kill larval-stage mosquitoes into water sources, and spray a “fog” into the air to kill adult mosquitoes (a service usually provided by professionals).

He also has a few non-chemical tips: If you have a deck, light it using General Electric yellow “Bug Lights.” These lights are not “repellant,” but don’t attract mosquitoes like other incandescent lights. He said mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing large fans on your deck can provide a low-tech solution and might be the most effective. And, turns out, your candles don’t have to be special citronella candles.

“(Citronella) does have a mild repellent effect,” he said. “But, honestly, fancy (citronella candles) offer no more protection than other candles producing smoke.”

Mosquito prevention and pest control is a year-long, uphill battle in our mild southern climate but not all hope is lost.

“We have some great pest management folks in business,” Goddard said. “If you aren’t able to get the problems under control (yourself), the extension office can provide education and assistance with identification and (hiring) consistent (pest control) can help solve the problem.”