Grubs, chinch bugs and ticks, oh my!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

This year we all enjoyed the mild winter and lack of snowfall compared to most winters, one of the mildest winters on record.  The warm days brought us all out early to explore our yards, parks and perhaps the beach!  Will your early spring picnic be disrupted by ants, fleas and ticks?

Be aware of the life cycle of the particular insect you are trying to control for best results.  Usually insect activity is pretty consistent in regions over a long period of time.  Annual bug activity is spurred by both air and soil temperatures as the calendar year rolls along.  There are some levels of insect populations that made it through this mild winter that usually may not survive extreme cold temperatures.  Temperatures need to reach a certain level of consecutive degree days for development to occur.  Over the years Mother Nature has offered unpredictable weather patterns.  Remember about ten years ago when storms in the Carolinas deposited millions of army worms in many northeastern states?  Unfortunately many insects learn to adapt and survive many different weather patterns. 

Insects survive cold winters in a hibernation state slowing down their metabolism and respiration.  Warmer weather temperatures may force insects out of this dormancy in search for food and water.  This winter and spring weather has also been very dry due to the lack of snowfall and rain so sometimes access to water may not be as prominent.  This situation may reduce some bug populations.  Early insect activity may use up stored fats they need to survive until the spring.  Without access to food these insects could starve to death before food becomes available.  The warmer temperatures can also bring on a healthier crop of beneficial insects which keep the unwanted insect pests at bay.  Perhaps you will not notice a great increase of certain insect populations in your area. As you can see many factors can affect the bug population in both a positive and negative count.

Grubs and other soil insects may not be as affected by a wide range of temperatures since they tend to over-winter many inches in the soil.  The months from May through August is a good time to control grubs since they are working their way to the soil surface during these times to lay eggs.  If you have had a history of grub activity in your lawn, monitor a few different areas by digging in landscape beds and lawn areas to see if grubs are present.  Areas with a lot of birds digging may indicate grubs and other insects in the ground.  Apply Jonathan Green Grub Control or Pest Kill and be sure to follow all label directions.

Here are some tips to help reduce insect populations in your yard.  Keep decorative mulches away from the house foundation at least twelve inches.  Be sure to seal cracks along the bottom of your home, windows and doors.  Eliminate sources of moisture and standing water and trim branches and plants back from the house.  A band treatment around the perimeter of the home with Jonathan Green Grub Control will reduce populations invading your home. 

Summer also announces the arrival of ticks.  Keep your lawn mowed along wooded borders and treat pets with the proper tick control if ticks are prominent in your area.  Consider the use of repellents on your clothing when you are in your yard.  Ticks, flees, ants and chinch bugs are easy to control with Jonathan Green Lawn Insect Control.  

Be sure to enjoy your yard this year.  Plan something special like a new bird feeder or patio set and many barbeques.  Don’t be afraid of your journey down your own yellow brick road like Dorothy and her friends; do not fear the grubs, chinch bugs or ticks, any more!  Happy summer!

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