Spring peeks around the corner and ants—sometimes entire armies, marching straight across your kitchen countertop like it’s the 1850s and are out for territory. People from Kansas City are familiar with this drill all too much. The old Victorians in Hyde Park? Magnesium magnets for spiders Lenexa’s ranch houses? Termite paradisiacues. Every community boasts a unique pest story. Say goodbye to indoor insect concerts, Pest Control in KC, LLC has your back.
One friend recently told me she allowed two winters of a squirrel “live rent-free” in her attic. She referred to him as Humphrey even. Humphrey had invited his extended relatives by spring, and by two a.m. the attic sounded like a bowling alley. She had to sit down since the exterminator she phoned laughed so hard. The truth is that, unbridled, pests stage a red carpet for other species.
Beyond jokes, there is science behind keeping unwelcome creatures out of our lives. Love a sticky drink spill, ants. Like midnight cleaners, roaches eat food left over from missed meals. Mices? Give them a hole the pencil width and bam—they are roomies. Those critters rush to hide inside the instant you blink in Kansas City, where sweltering summers fade into cold winters.
Insurance does not cover what a termite menu may do for a wooden porch. And also bed bugs? Give them an inch; they will pack for a month-long staycation on your mattress. Should one ever be found, sleep will become a memory.
At initially, most residents choose to do it themselves. hardware store trap from the hardware store “Eco-friendly” sprays smell like terrible soup. Some people swear by placing vinegar or peppermint oil jars on display. Trial and error coupled with a small bit of hope. Still, bugs are tenacious. They chuckle in front of cinnamon.
Expert pest control firms are not all made from the same cloth. A few zoom in and out grinning and with a spray. Others slow down to discuss the weather while searching for entrance locations like traditional investigators. Ask about, and someone always has a cousin who does it “on the side.” That may mean anything from first-rate service to a pail of mysterious chemicals blueing your pet’s fur.
Time is of importance. Waiting too long is waiting until you witness a pest procession. The astute housewife will look for hints: chewed cereal boxes, droppings, odd holes under the sink. The early birds drive out the roaches, not only catch the worm.
The temperature of Kansas City throws curveballs; bugs change in response. One year the stink bug explosion strikes. The next wasps attempting a revolution in your shed. Sometimes consulting a professional is more about peace of mind than about failure. Neighbors may ridicule you for it, but once fruit flies perform a circus in their bananas, they will be over asking for a number.
One last tip. Speak with the people living next door. While the rest of the street allows their yards go overgrown, one house treatments and the bugs just hop fences. Like barbeques and snow shoveling, pest control best results as a team sport in Kansas City. Never be the weak link; nobody wants to be the “roach house” on the block.