 |
Areas around AC units pose a problem where
the lines enter the home. Gaps around between the brick and the lines
can be filled in with a foam sealant. Before sealing, use Drione™
to kill insects and spiders in the wall void. This synergized pyrethrin/silicate
will kill or repel pest invaders. |
 |
The clutter around this shed can house
thousands of pests ranging from ants and cockroaches, to millipedes,
pillbugs, and brown recluse spiders. These areas can be eliminated
without the use of chemical sprays. Just pick up the stuff, taking what
you don't need down to the dump. |
 |
Beneath the fascia is where many, many pests
gain entry into the attic. I have observed roaches, spiders, ants,
millipedes, and boxelder bugs using this area to walk right up into your
home. This can be sealed easily with caulk to prevent populations from
getting a start upstairs. |
 |
Cluttered garages and piles of boxes pose a
problem with Brown Recluse Spiders. Since these areas are rarely
disturbed, it makes a perfect home for the spiders. Get rid of the boxes
and sell the unneeded items at a Garage Sale. Boxes make nice homes for
the Brown Recluse, so be careful when emptying them. Good area for sticky
traps. |
 |
Faucets are a source of moisture, and
moisture is needed by insects and spiders for survival. Making sure that
the faucet does not leak and keeping the grass around these areas cut
short can help make these areas less attractive to insects, which, in
turn, attract the spiders that prey upon them. |
 |
In this area, foundation shifting is a major
problem. This can result in large cracks in the outer brick facade of
homes. These cracks, in turn, are areas for pests to enter your home.
These can either be sealed with sealants, or by having repairs made to
the foundation itself. |
 |
Weepholes are the number one way that pests
gain entry into slab homes. Though necessary to allow the walls to
breathe, they also serve as a highway for many pests. I suggest applying
Drione™ into the weepholes and then plugging with stainless steel
wool or air filter material. |
 |
Note the cracks around the edges of the
window. These allow a large number of insects and spiders entry into the
home via the wall void. Carpenter ants and spiders are particularly fond
of these cracks and often this is where they can be found in large
numbers. Treat with Drione™ , then caulk. |
 |
Flower Beds present a considerably
problem. Mulch and other decorative items, as well as organic material
such as manure, tend to trap moisture beneath and keep the soil moist
and fairly warm year round. The ground can be dried by overturning the
mulch periodically with a rake, exposing the soil to the sun. |
 |
Loose Bricks around decorative walls,
or bordering can harbor a large number of pests. These can either be
removed, or use mortar to make necessary repairs and to eliminate cracks
and crevices that insects and spiders can use to hide out in. Scorpions
are also fond of such places and can often be found here as well. |
 |
Door thresholds and weatherstripping
all need to be checked, and in the case of the weatherstripping,
periodically replaced. The thresholds can be resealed using a silicon
sealant to prevent moisture decay of the wood and to keep insects and
spiders from harboring and entering the home in these areas. |
 |
Woodpiles, er, what do you expect?
This is a measly example, but it's Texas, where winter mostly means days
that dip into the 60's. Woodpiles are home to a large number of
dangerous arthropods including scorpions, black widows, and brown
recluse spiders. These need to be moved away from the home and stacked
off of the ground. |
