Keep Pests From Crashing Your Easter Egg Hunt!
Easter is right around the corner, and that means families will be in the yard enjoying all sorts of outdoor activities. Unfortunately, bugs don’t care if they aren’t on the guest list. Egg hunts and holiday picnics offer ample opportunities for pests to pig out. If you’re putting together Easter events with friends and family use the tips below to do pest control prep beforehand and control bugs during the celebration.
Prep Your Yard So It’s Pest-Free
Before you start hiding eggs and setting the picnic table, give your yard a good once-over. During the spring, bugs are much more abundant. Keep an eye out for signs of insect activity, including:
- Anthills being built
- Spider webs
- Wasps nests in overhangs and crevices
- Still water where mosquitoes are more likely to lay their eggs
- Leaves and plants that have been chewed through
When you come across these insects, take steps to eradicate them as soon as possible. It’s a good idea to have a professional pest control treatment done a week or so before the festivities to ensure that insects don’t move in at the last minute. This is especially important if you already see signs of ants, mosquitoes, termites and other insects. Have the technician check out questionable spots and get them to spray around the home’s exterior, as well as the deck or patio.
Also, plan out your egg hunt hiding spots ahead of time. That way you can make sure the areas are free of insects that may hurt children when they’re looking for eggs.
Keep the Sweets from Attracting Insects
Easter involves a lot of eating, from candy to family barbecues. All this al fresco food makes your yard a bug magnet. A few simple precautionary steps will go a long way to keep the pests at bay.
Insect-Free Egg Hunts
You did the prep work by checking out hiding spots beforehand, but that doesn’t mean pests won’t migrate towards your eggs during the hunt. It’s important to note each place an egg is hidden (make a written list if need be) and do a count after the hunt to ensure no eggs were left behind.
If an egg is cracked, toss it away instead of keeping it in the hunt. A cracked egg is more likely to attract bugs compared to those that have their shells intact. You may also want to consider using plastic Easter eggs instead of the real thing.
Candy Considerations
Make it clear to the kids that all candy wrappers are to go right in the trash. More importantly, if they drop a piece of candy on the ground it needs to be picked up immediately and thrown away rather than left out for the bugs to feast on. The same goes for Easter egg shells.
Provide a Place for Trash
Keep a trashcan outside near the festivities but away from the exterior of the house. This will encourage everyone to throw away their plates, cups and wrappers rather than leaving them out.
Use Bug Magnets and Fans to Keep Them Away
Today, there are mosquito and fly magnets that can be placed away from the outdoor dining area to keep bugs from ruining the al fresco experience. Fans are another good way to keep bugs from flying around food, and they will increase the comfort level when the temperatures rise.
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/vulcan-news-and-events/keep-pests-crashing-easter-egg-hunt