Don't Let Ramona Pests Bug You This Spring: Tips For a Varmint-Free Home

The first day of spring hit yesterday in Ramona, which means the weather's changing and the bugs are moving in.

But a general manager for HomeTeam, which services homes in the Ramona area, gave Patch some tips for residents to help keep their homes bug- and pest-free during the warm spring season.

"It does get pretty warm in Ramona," Jesse Quiroz said. "And that's when the ants come in."

Quiroz said that our rural town sees lots of Argentine ants, which don't bite or sting, but they do "go in and make a mess."

"They're a pretty disruptive pest," Quiroz said.

So what do we do about those pesky bugs? The HomeTeam general manager suggests putting on your "inspection hat" and thoroughly checking the outside of your home.

Quiroz said that checking the exterior of the home is the best way to prevent bugs.

"Make sure there's an active barrier around the home," he said. "Attack ants from the outside first."

Any cracks in doors and windows should be sealed to help prevent all types of bugs from being unwanted guests in your home, but spiders can be a problem.

"They can come in almost from anywhere," Quiroz said. "They could come in on pets, when you open the door. A lot of times, you see them on eaves."

A preventative way of keeping spiders and their friends away, Quiroz said, is to keep your house swept down and discourage webs from being woven. Outside treatment is always the best way to prevent inside pests.

According to Quiroz, rodents are a problem from Ramonans, but mostly during the colder season. He said rats can fit into a quarter-sized hole and mice into a dime-sized hole, so patch up any holes you may see in your home—no matter how small!

Here are some more tips from HomeTeam for Ramona residents on keeping the bugs at bay:

• Eliminate water sources. All pests look for a source of water. Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes to remove the water and humidity that pests, including termites and ants, need to survive.
• Replace standard outdoor lights with yellow bug lights. Minimizing lighting outside your home will reduce the overall number of pests that swarm around your home.
• If you store firewood, move it away from your home (and always wear gloves when reaching into dark places). Firewood can be a good hiding place for rodents, spiders and termites, so the further from your house the better.
• Cut back tree branches and bushes to keep pests away from the side of your house and roof. There should be at least a one foot gap between vegetation and your house.
• Empty garbage cans and recycle bins regularly. Need we say more?
• Store food in sealed containers. Common household pests such as cockroaches and house ants are always looking for a tasty meal.
• Look for signs of termite infestation. Signs can include swarmers (winged termites) looking to start a new colony or the presence of mud tunnels near or around your foundation.

HomeTeam is based out of Escondido and sprays for bugs in the Ramona area. Nearly one quarter of homeowners have experienced structural damage to their home from a pest problem, according to a national survey by the company.

Quiroz said that animal owners do need keep the pets away from any spray-affected areas until they are dry, but those with horses shouldn't be concerned about the sprays during windy times.

"On windy days, we will have droplets instead of spraying the solution," Quiroz said.

How do you keep the bugs at bay during spring? Tell us in the comments.