(This was a marketing prompt I had to write for a job interview)
The Tick That Keeps on Ticking, and Other Maine Winter Pests
The days are getting shorter, nights are getting colder, and warm weather
thoughts turn to snowflakes and holidays. But one thing that doesn’t change
with the season is the need for professional pest control.
The many creepy crawlers (and fliers) that we battle during the warm
Maine seasons can be equally as bothersome in the winter, but many go unseen.
The truth is, Maine winters are just as problematic for pests as our warmer months.
Pests That Still “Bug” us During
Winter
Some pests “overwinter,” which is a form of hibernation that allows
them to survive until warmer weather.
·
Female mosquitos
·
Certain varieties of spiders
·
Stink bugs
Some pests do not overwinter, and
die off in the cold. However, these pests lay eggs that survive until spring, and
others survive as larvae or pupa during the winter.
·
Mosquitos
·
Crickets
·
Certain varieties of spiders
·
Moths
·
Stinging insects
And then there are the persistent and hardy bugs that survive all
winter long!
·
Ticks
·
Other varieties of spiders
·
Bedbugs
·
Fleas
·
Ants
·
Cockroaches
·
Termites
As the temperature drops, termites, ants, cockroaches, and spiders all
burrow further into walls, floors, ceilings, and insulation. This makes them considerably
more difficult to locate. It can also cause more household damage than during
the warmer seasons.
Fleas and bedbugs are year-round, and home remedies often treat the
symptoms, but not the cause. Even though you may have taken precautionary
measures, bed bugs and fleas can still permeate your home by coming in on
household guests (both human and animal), and by thriving through eggs and
larvae not eliminated by store-bought or natural home remedies.
Maine Winter Ticks That Keep on
Ticking
Perhaps Maine’s most persistent and worrisome pests are ticks. More
than a dozen species of ticks have been discovered in Maine, bringing the
spread of diseases including Leptospirosis, Babesiosis, Powassan Encephalitis, Anaplasmosis,
Ehrlichiosis, and the most common and plaguing tick-borne disease, Lyme.
Ticks are most active and
abundant during spring, summer, and fall, and some die off when the
temperatures dip below freezing. However, many survive by burrowing under
leaves and brush, often receiving extra protection from the insulating snow.
Others survive by attaching to unsuspecting hosts like deer, mice, rabbits, squirrels,
raccoons, and other active winter animals.
These survivors are still a threat to those of us that spend any time outdoors
during the winter. And they can still hitch a ride into our homes with the dog
or cat, or the many rodents that seek refuge in our homes during the cold
weather.
Mice
and Rats and Squirrels, Oh My!
Warmer months find us battling
mosquitos, blackflies, ticks, hornets, and all the other creepy crawly bugs of sunny
weather. During these warmer seasons, we often forget about the cute little buggers
who are busy frolicking about and enjoying the outdoors as much as we are.
Mice, squirrels, rats, raccoons, and other rodents all become more of a
nuisance as the weather turns colder. Even those that sleep for long periods
will still come out during mild winter days in search of more glamorous living
arrangements. They seek out the tiniest openings, cracks, and crevices in our
homes in order to find shelter and a source of food and water. An all-time
favorite nesting place is in that stored away box of holiday decorations!
How Maine Superior Pest Solutions Will
Help
Maine Superior Pest Solutions provides exceptional and effective pest
control services from Caribou to Kittery. For over ten years, we have been
successfully saving Maine’s families and homes from year-round pest peril. We
provide guaranteed relief from indoor and outdoor pest nuisances.
Maine Superior Pest Solutions will inspect your home and property for
obvious (and not-so-obvious) risks and invasions. We will pest-proof your home
and property, and treat and eliminate any active infestations.
Some services we provide include:
·
Sealing cracks in foundations
·
Repairing any holes or gaps in siding
·
Installing weather stripping
·
Sealing utility openings (dryer vents,
cable/electric wires, pipes, receptacles)
·
Caulking cracks around windows, doors, fascia
boards
·
Installing door sweeps or thresholds at the base
of all exterior entry doors
·
Repairing holes or tears in window and door
screens
·
Applying an insecticide barrier around the home
and outbuildings
·
Treating and eliminating present infestations,
inside and out, with the most effective industry tools and traps, and
customer’s choice of chemical or all-natural insecticides
Our technicians will work around your busy schedule and can often
provide same or next day service. We are even available for vermin emergencies!
Maine Superior Pest Solutions promises an as-estimated price, with no
hidden fees or charges. Call us today for your free estimate, and to ensure a
Holiday Season free from unwelcomed guests!
Sources:
This was a marketing prompt for a fictitious company- Maine Superior
Pest Solutions. Suggested title was Winter Pest Outlook for South Portland.
Included are my alternative title ideas.
The Birds and the Bees; the Truth
About Maine Winter Pests
Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite; Help for
Maine Winter Pests
Quiet as a Mouse; Maine’s
Unsuspecting Winter Pests
Ants in Your Pants and Other Maine
Winter Pests
Bug Off! Battling Maine’s Winter
Pests