Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Football season is here and for many fans that means weekends filled with tailgating fun.  While most tailgaters are prepared to deal with opposing fans wanting to crash the party, other pests aren't usually top of mind.  Delicious food, snacks and desserts combined with warm weather attracts real pests like wasps, mosquitoes, flies and ants.

Arrow Exterminators, a local pest control company, offers tips for a pest-free tailgate:

• Wasps and yellow jackets remain very active in the fall.  Both are attracted to sweets, so serve drinks in covered pitchers and keep desserts in air-tight containers.
• Mosquito season lasts through October and along with itchy bites, they can transmit diseases like West Nile Virus and Chikungunya Fever.  Be sure to apply insect repellent containing DEET before heading outdoors. 
• House flies will travel up to 20 miles for food so keep snacks covered, pack well-sealed garbage cans along with your grill and dispose of trash throughout the day.
• There are over 700 species of ants that would love to ruin your tailgate including the most common in our area - fire ants, odorous house ants and argentine ants. Keep food sealed in airtight containers and covered at all times. 

"With all the excitement, many fans do not think about the threat insects pose or how quickly they can put a damper on tailgate fun," said Charlie Jones, Arrow Pest Expert. "Stinging insects send over 500,000 people to the ER each year and mosquitoes can transmit diseases, continued Jones. "By taking a few steps, people can enjoy themselves and keep away any unwanted pests."

Source: www.arrowexterminators.com

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