GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 4, 2014) — You’ve probably noticed pesky mosquitoes this year, but what about other insects? Local pest control businesses across West Michigan say they’ve been swamped battling bugs and fielding call after call.
General manager Heathe Fowler of Terminix of West Michigan says the call volume has been up compared to last year. In fact, for the month of May they saw a 43% increase in termite calls compared to 2013.
Fowler says ant activities go in cycles, and the population fluctuates. Right now they are seeing a lot of carpenter ant activity, plus termite swarms are up this year.
“During winter time, we had a lot of snow on a lot of roofs, had a lot of water damage. People don’t know they have leaks in their roofs and know that water damage is showing up.”
“With that much snow packed down some of the areas didn’t even get to freeze,” says Fowler. “It pretty much insulates them from freezing, and the weather doesn’t knock down the population.”
Carpenter ants are attracted to wet or damp areas, such excessive wet areas around doors, windows, leaky pipes, or drains, even under leaky roof shingles or vents.
Fowler says they’re also seeing an increase in box elder bugs.
Fowler says around July is when things usually start to slow down.
Get more information about carpenter ants and how to find their nests
