METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
Although they are helpful for the environment in many ways, outdoor critters can spoil the mood if they are biting, stinging or eating your food.
The warmer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor entertaining or enjoying time spent in the yard as a family.
Beetles, flies, gnats, bees, mosquitoes, termites, butterflies, moths, and many other bugs can be seen in abundance in the spring.
Homeowners concerned about the presence of flying insects in their yard can take various steps to manage sharing outdoor spaces with insect life.
PREVENTION Different varieties of insects begin their lives as eggs that may hatch into nymphs or worm-like creatures known as larvae. Often, these eggs are deposited in water or in damp areas.
Mosquito larvae, for example, thrive in stagnant water before they turn into winged, biting insects. Keeping outdoor areas free of standing water and ensuring proper drainage are two ways to reduce the population of certain bugs in the yard. Welcoming animals (such as birds and bats) that feed on insects to the yard can help keep insect numbers down.
Flies lay about 50-100 eggs at one time. The eggs hatch into maggots in as little as 12 hours after being deposited. Keeping yards free from decaying matter, especially around entertaining areas, can limit the number of flies in the yard.
TRAPS There are a variety of different traps on the market geared toward different insect life. Most use some sort of attractant, such as a scent or light, to lure the insects to the trap. Then the bugs fall inside and cannot get out.
Although there are some chemical-based traps or bug "zappers," there are plenty of natural traps and more humane options, too. Setting traps away from patios and living spaces will lure the insects to the traps and keep them away from you. Once the trapped insects expire, you can bury them in the ground to naturally decompose.
Setting traps out very early in the season will help to trap as many emerging insects as possible. You also may be able to trap the queens of certain insects, like bees or wasps, further reducing the number of bugs you will see throughout the year.
SCREENS If you spend lots of time outdoors, especially at dusk, then investing in a screened-in room may be a good option.
This way you can enjoy the weather while the insects stay on the other side of the screen. In climates where three-season swimming is possible, some homeowners actually create screened-in rooms that encompass their entire pool.
BENEFICIAL BUGS Insects like butterflies and bees are the unsung heroes of landscapes, as they are responsible for pollinating many flowers and plants.
Honeybees and bumblebees will generally keep to themselves if their nests are not disturbed and can actually be enjoyable to watch as they buzz from flower to flower.
Wasps can be attracted to sweet smells, so keeping sugary drinks and foods covered can help keep them at bay.
