Hi guys! This is Ben, your local pest control technician here with some tips to keep you pest-free this season.

Now it may not feel like it with snow still on the ground, but spring is indeed right around the corner here in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area, and with the warmer temperatures come an increase of pesky critters trying to move into your home. 

Some of the more ubiquitous unwanted guests are the various spider species native to the Inland Northwest. While some of their more infamous cousins, such as the black widow or brown recluse, are not commonly encountered in our area, you nonetheless probably have had a run-in with other spiders in your home at some point. Some of the more common arachnids found starting in the spring include the Hobo spider, the Wolf spider, the Cat Faced spider, and the aptly-named Common House spider. These creepy crawlers will start finding their way into crawlspaces and into your home through any access points they can find. However, as creepy they may be, many spiders are considered beneficial as they prey on other pests while presenting little to no danger of their own. Other species, like the Hobo and Wolf spiders, can deliver a quite painful, venomous bite, and for that reason you may want to contact a local exterminator such as Crosstown Pest Control to a sleep a little easier at night.

Another springtime offender is the carpenter ant. These ants are ¼”- ½” long and noticeably larger than your common pavement ant. In addition, the male and female reproductive caste members have wings. Every spring, for a week or two, these carpenter ants will swarm and can seem to be found everywhere you look. Carpenter ants are wood destroying organisms and are particularly fond of damp or rotting wood. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t eat the wood, but instead carve out intricate tunnel systems and push the excavated wood dust, or frass, to fall wherever it lands. This is why one sure sign of a carpenter ant infestation are the piles of frass found near their wood source. Carpenter ants can cause severe structural damage, though luckily it takes large ant populations and a relatively long time to do so. Some steps you can take to prevent a carpenter ant infestation on your property include removing damp or rotting wood away from the house, inspecting crawl spaces for moisture build-up, and limiting ornamental wood such as rail ties and logs. 

These are just a few examples of pests you may encounter as winter turns to spring. However, if you’d prefer the peace of mind that comes with having licensed, local professionals attending to your every pest need, you may want to call Crosstown Pest Control to schedule a free inspection today. 

Ben Burkhardt

Pest Control Technician

Crosstown Pest Control