Pest Library

It is impossible to enjoy your yard with family and friends when stinging insects are present. Their presence puts you on high alert, so you do not make them angry or accidentally disturb their nest. Being stung by a wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket is painful and can trigger serious allergic reactions in some people. When stinging insects move into our yards, their dangers outweigh their eco-important benefits, and they should be removed to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe.

Stinging insects have varied diets; those that are predatory, like wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets, feed on insects and many of the same proteins and sweets that we do. Our trash cans, compost piles, outdoor eating areas, and gardens draw these pests to our yards, where they will build a nest and forage for food. Stinging insects in our area build their nests in various places, but all will choose places that protect them from the elements and predators. Avoiding them is easy when they place their nests in a visible area; however, they are more likely to build them in hard-to-notice areas. Common places to discover stinging insect nests are in tree voids, under roof eaves, under deck rails or grills, behind window shutters, or inside ground holes.

Prevent stinging insects with the help of our professional services and our effective pest control tips.

• Regularly inspect areas of your yard and outdoor structures where stinging insects may build a nest.

• Fill in ground holes that develop in your yard. 

• Keep stinging insects from finding reliable food sources in your yard by keeping lids on trash cans, regularly harvesting vegetable gardens and fruit trees, and immediately throwing away or washing drink containers.

• Keep grill areas and outdoor eating areas free of food debris.

• Cut trees and bushes back away from the roof and outside walls of your house.

Spiders are arachnids that live in most of the world's habitats, including our Riverton outdoor and indoor spaces! They are excellent hunters, feeding on and helping to control populations of nuisance insects. Spiders are naturally reclusive and are good at hiding in plain sight. Some of the most common spider species we come across in our area include:

• Black widow spiders: Black widows are dangerous spiders with venom strong enough to trigger serious health problems. They are black, shiny spiders with a reddish hourglass-like shape on the bottom of their abdomen.

• Hobo spiders: These large, fast-moving spiders are light brown with pale markings.

• Wolf spiders: These spiders are dark brown with pale markings and hair covering their body and legs. They have short, powerful legs and an overall stocky appearance. 

• Woodlouse spiders: These unique spiders have a reddish-brown head and a cream-colored abdomen. Their legs are orange.

Spiders become a problem on our properties once they realize they offer them plenty of food, water, and shelter. If there are large populations of insects on your property, spiders will follow; they want to live where their prey lives. Spaces around exterior lights, near standing water, trash cans, flowerbeds, and gardens are common gathering spots for hunting spiders. Spiders often end up as unwanted visitors inside our homes after following their prey indoors or while searching for a dark, quiet place to lay their eggs. Though helpful, spiders don't belong in our homes or yards in large numbers, and their presence should be discouraged. If you see a lot of spiders, know that there are many other insects and pests around that you don't see.

Prevent spiders with the help of our professional services and our effective pest control tips.

• Move yard debris, garbage cans, and woodpiles away from your home's exterior where spiders like to hide.

• Remove areas of standing water from your yard.

• Seal cracks, crevices, and holes that offer entry points into your house.

• Inspect and repair or replace damaged window screens and weatherstripping. Install door sweeps.

• Use a vacuum to remove visible spiders and their webs from your home. 

Unfortunately, rodents are a familiar pest problem that homeowners in Utah and across the country deal with regularly. Rodents like Norway rats, house mice, and voles have learned that our yards and gardens provide them with everything they need. Then, when the weather becomes too cold or if food becomes scarce, they will turn to our homes for respite. Rodents are unwanted pests, and at the first sign of them on your property, you need to take action to eliminate them before these prolific breeders take over. If you are dealing with rodents, call Tanner Pest Control!

Having rodents in your family's indoor or outdoor spaces is not only annoying but dangerous. Rodents all have continuously growing front incisors; they gnaw almost constantly to keep the teeth from overgrowing. In our Utah yards, rodents cause damage with their teeth by gnawing on trees, plants, and wooden structures. In our homes, they chew on wires, drywall, furniture, and more. Rodents are notorious carriers of bacteria, parasites, and pathogens that make people ill. Other problems these critters cause include creating unpleasant odors, contaminating food, and leaving behind trails of urine and excrement.

Prevent rodents with the help of our professional services and our effective pest control tips.

• Never let your guard down; regularly inspect your home and yard for things that will attract rodents.

• Use door sweeps to remove spaces under doors that will allow rodents to move inside.

• Seal cracks in the foundation and exterior walls that can also provide easy access points.

• Keep the grass in your yard cut short and remove yard clutter where rodents can hide.

• Rodents enjoy feeding on pet food; pick up uneaten pet food, and store it in containers with airtight lids.

Boxelder bugs and elm seed bugs are both described as occasional invaders. These insects live most of their lives outdoors, but when the weather cools in Utah, they will migrate into our homes as they search for a place to overwinter. Both insects feed on the sap of trees using their specialized mouthparts; both will also emit an unpleasant odor when disturbed or they are squished. 

Each year in the spring, when the temperatures rise, these occasional invaders become active once again from their overwintering hiding spots. They will feed on boxelder trees, elms, and other seed-producing trees. When the weather is no longer in their favor, they will flock to warm, sunny surfaces, often the exterior of our homes. As they crawl along the exterior, they will find their way inside through any cracks and crevices they discover. Once inside, they will hide in dark, quiet areas like attics, wall voids, spaces behind large cabinets, and under floors.

Prevent problems with occasional invaders with the help of our professional services and our effective pest control tips.

• Repair cracks in walls.
• Place weatherstripping around windows and doors.
• Put covers over vents.
• Seal spaces around wires and pipes moving into your home.
• Cut tree branches back away from the exterior walls of your house.
• Clear your yard of excess yard debris.

Ants typically live outside, but when the weather turns and becomes too hot, cold, or wet for the ants to live comfortably, they often look into our homes for safe shelter. If ants are nesting within your home, they are likely doing so within wall voids, under floors, within pieces of structural wood, behind cabinets, or inside electrical equipment. Ants aren’t a pest that will keep their presence hidden; they will wander around your home during the day, walking over tables, counters, and through drawers.

Ants are one of the most common household pests, and there are many different varieties of ants that make themselves at home on our Utah properties. Three of the most common are the carpenter ant, pavement ant, and odorous house ant. All with the ability to make themselves a nuisance, contaminate food, and spread bacteria. The carpenter ant causes even more problems because of their nesting behaviors; these ants nest within pieces of wood, causing problematic structural damage over time.

Partnering with a professional to accurately identify the specific species of ant in your home is important so that proper treatment can be implemented. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Tanner Pest Control; we are happy to help you solve your properties ant problems!

Prevent ants with the help of our professional services and our effective pest control tips.

• If you see ants in your home, inspect the exterior of your home to see if you can figure out where the ants are entering.

• At first notice of cracks or other openings in your home’s exterior, use caulk or another material to seal them.

• Always store trashcans and recycling bins up off the ground and away from your home’s doors and exterior walls.

• Maintain a clean kitchen to make sure it doesn’t provide ants with a regular food source. 

• Repair leaky pipes and fixtures that supply ants with the water sources that attract them.