ATLANTA — As temperatures heat up this week, you need to watch out for bugs!
Channel 2′s Sophia Choi found out which insects are predicted to be the biggest pests in Georgia this spring and summer: carpenter bees, termites and those dreaded mosquitoes.
Those are the bugs an entomologist with Orkin said are the three major pests he expects will be the biggest issues this spring and summer in the southeast.
“In fact, already, until we had this little cold snap, in South Carolina, here in Georgia and in Florida, we’re seeing swarms of termites,” entomologist Ron Harrison said.
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He’s basing his predictions not just on recent outbreaks, but also on the wet winter we saw this year.
He says the wetter the weather, the more bugs we tend to see in the spring and summer.
“Moisture also impacts flies and we’re seeing that as well, arguably another pest that we’re predicting,” he said.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your home?
Harrison says to get rid of gaps where the creepy crawlers can get in.
Also, get rid of any standing water around your house. That can be a breeding ground for pests.
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Bed bugs are also on the list of insects expected to cause big problems this year. As you travel for summer vacation, check the hotel room.
Look for bed bug droppings that look like black dots, typically around the creases of the bed and behind the headboard.
“Bedbugs don’t like warm temperatures,” Harrison said.
Another way to identify bed bugs is the smell. They smell like dirty socks.
Harrison said you’ll start seeing those bugs soon, as temperatures get into the 60s, which means they could already be here.
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