Photo by Mert Guller on Unsplash

2019 hasn’t been a good year for Pennsylvania with regards to pests. In many towns, a variety of pests has been creating havoc and it doesn’t seem as if a solution is at hand.

What makes this year different?

The 10 Plagues?

We’ll be fair and start by saying that some pest problems can be ascribed to people’s bad decisions. When restaurants aren’t following the proper procedures, there will be consequences and this is clear from recent news.

During June, in a relatively short period of two weeks, over 20 outlets in Philadelphia were closed down for health reasons. The outlets range from convenience stores to restaurants, and health inspectors made the decision to force them to close their doors after routine inspections. This wasn’t a crack down on local businesses—it was a result of health officials performing their regular duties.

The reasons health inspectors made their demands range from plumbing problems to cigarette buts in basements, but pests also played a huge role. Mice, roaches and flies are often attracted to areas with improper rubbish disposal practices.

But Pennsylvania’s problems with pests can’t all be attributed to restaurant owners. Even nature and weather seem to conspire against communities in the state.

In areas such as Lansdowne and other Upper Darby Township towns,flies have been a bother for weeks. There are so many in people’s backyards that residents can hear them buzzing even if they’re inside their homes.

To date, the reason for this strange phenomenon isn’t known. Even experts at Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion are unsure. There doesn’t seem to be an odor or sewer problem in the area. Without a known cause it’s difficult to solve the problem.

Another insect adds to the challenge as the year’s high rainfall resulted in more mosquitoes than usual. It developed into such a crisis that Philadelphia, PA was recently listed as one of the top 10 cities that are most bothered by these pesky flying insects.

Is There a Solution?

Although these are all tiny bugs, they’re having a huge impact on people’s quality of life. To prevent being exposed to them, many families feel trapped indoors at times.

Some home owners turn to DIY options such as flytraps and Maxforce Fly Spot Bait. The problem is that some fly traps carry a bad odor which can even be smelled as far as a neighbor’s house.

To keep a store or restaurant clean, it’s necessary to invest in quality pest control services. They must ensure the source of the problem such as the rat nest is taken care of.

Unfortunately, for something caused by the weather such as mosquitoes, not much can be done. Apart from keeping surfaces dry so water doesn’t collect and provide areas for breeding, residents simply have to cope for the season.

In 2019, one imagines that humans have mostly conquered nature and can keep pests at bay. But these scenarios prove that it can still be a daily battle.

What problems do you face in your area? Or perhaps you have a solution for flies, mosquitoes and other insects this summer? Please share your views below.