Bridgeport, CT, is a vibrant city located along Long Island Sound, just at the mouth of the Pequonnock River. It is the largest and the most populated city in Connecticut. It boasts a historic seaport and renowned public park system that gave it the nickname Park City.
With its lively neighborhoods and enormous park area, Bridgeport is a lovely place to live. But just like any other place, some unwanted guests enjoy living in the city, too—pests.
If you are new to Bridgeport, familiarize yourself with the bug issues you can expect to handle them better as soon as possible. Dealing with pests appropriately is important for keeping you and your family healthy and safe in your Bridgeport home.
Some common pests in the city include:
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Paper Wasps
With vast flowers and fruit trees, paper wasps like to hover around Bridgeport, especially during spring and autumn. Paper wasps, sometimes called umbrella wasps, are common across the U.S. They live on hanging comb nests in trees and feed on nectar and small insects. But they can also seek shelter inside homes when they sense winter is coming.
Paper wasps are not aggressive, but they can swarm and sting, especially when their nest is disturbed. To keep them away from your home, eliminate stale food or rotten fruits and vegetables, which can attract paper wasps. Garbage cans and composts should also be kept tightly shut. Check your porch, shed, garage, and wall cavities to see if a nest is starting to build up and try to remove it with care.
There are DIY solutions to control wasps, like using essential oils, spraying soap-water mixture, creating traps, and more. Plants like wormwood, citronella, eucalyptus, and mint are also effective in repelling wasps, so try adding some of these to your porch and windows.
Rodents
Rodentia is the largest group of mammals globally; therefore, you can expect rodents almost everywhere. They live in various places like sewers, the woods, and even in your own home. This happens primarily when they can get a good amount of food supply from your house. Rodents will eat almost anything as long as they can bite and chew it, including fruit peels, paper, and wood.
Worldwide, rodents spread 35 diseases from viruses and bacteria. They can transmit leptospirosis, salmonella, and Hantavirus, among others. They can also chew on furniture, books, electrical wiring, the foundation, and other parts of your house.
To prevent them from entering your home, ensure there are no small holes, cracks, and passages in your walls, ceiling, foundation, and even pipes. Do not pile wood near your house, as rodents like to make a home in it during cold months. Additionally, keep your home clean and do not leave food or traces of food anywhere.
If you suspect that they are already in your home, you can start with setting up basic mouse traps. Use a good bait and place it strategically near drainage pipes, garbage bins, and other spaces where you might have seen them run around.
Bed Bugs
Like any city, Bridgeport can have issues with bed bugs. In the past decades, there have been reports of infestations here and there. Bed bugs are small wingless insects, and they don’t spread diseases. But they do leave itchy bites, and some people are allergic to them. They can cause discomfort and, at some point, can make it difficult for people to sleep. In addition, bed bugs can create significant mental distress, especially when the infestation is severe.
They are often carried from an infested area through furniture, luggage, shoes, and other materials. If you stay in a previously bed bug-infested place, there is a chance that some will hitch a ride and get transferred to your new home.
They are very tiny, so sometimes you might not notice that you brought them in yourself. To avoid bed bugs, clean and disinfect furniture pieces before putting them inside your home. If you stay in hotels, secure your luggage and try not to place it on the bed or the floor. It is also ideal to wash clothing items that you bring home.
Regularly decluttering and cleaning your house can help avoid infestations of any kind. If you are considering using pesticides to prevent or exterminate bed bugs, make sure to use indoor pesticides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the U.S. EPA registration number on the label.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are one of the most common types of ants in Bridgeport, although you can sometimes find yourself dealing with infestations of other kinds like pavement ants and small black ants.
What makes carpenter ants a more problematic type in homes is their ability to excavate wood. This means they can chew home foundations and furniture. Contrary to their name, they are not builders like the carpenters you know. They can also get into food and ruin it. In small numbers, they are harmless, but they can swarm quickly, becoming a menace.
Be sure you seal any cracks around your windows and doors as they can get in this way. If you see traces of carpenter ants or any ants in your home, you can get rid of them by targeting their nest. Afterward, eliminate the scent trails using scented oils or soap.
As carpenter ants tend to excavate walls to create their colony, you may need to drill into your wall. There is a chance that their colony is spread throughout an area, so drill several holes at least one-eighth of an inch deep with six-inch spaces in between them. Then inject boric acid into the holes using a bulb duster.
Seeking a Professional Exterminator’s Help
There are various kinds of pests, and each has different approaches on how to best prevent and control them. Some may be simple, while others require more work. If the infestation is severe, you may need to consider seeking professional Bridgeport pest control services to address infestations in the best and most effective way possible.
There are effective prevention techniques meant to stop threats to your home. But if you notice the first few signs of pests and DIY methods do not work, calling in a professional service may be the best option before it’s all too challenging to handle alone. This can help save time and prevent financial and property damage and excessive stress. Getting a professional exterminator may first appear pricey, but you’ll likely save money in the long run.
Keep Your Bridgeport Home Pest-Free
Pests do not choose homes or cities. Wherever they are brought and where they can find food and shelter is where they will live. Keep your home pest-free by regularly sanitizing and actively inspecting for pests. The earlier you know, the better you can take control of the situation and infestation.
