Best Ways to Avoid a Wasp Sting

Wasps building their nest

Wasps have developed a bad reputation around Mid-South TN. Although some people think of wasps as bees’ unproductive and temperamental cousins, these insects are actually very important pollinators and even better at controlling populations of agricultural pests. They’ve earned the right to get a bit defensive if you mess with their nests! The more unfortunate of us know what it’s like to be stung by wasps repeatedly, even when you’ve done nothing intentional to disrupt their business. If you’re wondering what you can do to prevent wasp stings, read on for advice from the expert wasp control technicians at Inman-Murphy, Inc.

Avoiding Wasp Stings

The most effective way to avoid wasp stings is to keep wasps from building nests in your yard in the first place. Here are a few ways you can do this on your own without any pest control products or experience:

  • Be careful with your food. Don’t leave out sweet or protein-rich foods and drinks for too long.
  • Toss your food, containers, and drinks in sealable bins
  • Maintain your yard to keep overgrown grass, plants, and trees from providing prime nesting sites.

If wasps have already started building nests in your yard, you have to be careful not to make yourself a target for stings. Here are some ways we recommend you protect yourself from them: 

  • Be cautious around their nests. Moving slowly and carefully will lessen your chances of stings
  • Stay still if a wasp flies up to you to check you out
  • Don’t swat at wasps. They will quickly become angered and signal to their friends for help
  • If running away is your last resort, do so in a straight line without waving your arms.

How to Deal with a Wasp Sting

It can be easier than we would like to accidentally anger a wasp. Sometimes, they’ll sneak up on you and sting you without any prior warning. Here’s how you can ease your symptoms if you’ve been stung:

  1. Make a cold compress using an ice pack or a rag soaked in cold water
  2. Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever
  3. Use an antihistamine to help with swelling around the site of the sting

If you or someone else starts to experience faintness, difficulty breathing, nausea, or swelling of the face and mouth after a sting, call an ambulance right away. These are common symptoms of anaphylaxis, a serious form of allergic reaction. 

Removing Wasp Nests in Mid-South TN

It might be tempting, but you should never try to remove a wasp nest on your own. Wasp nests often host more individuals than you would imagine, so disturbing their nest can lead to a barrage of stings. Instead, reach out to your local wasp nest removal experts. Our technicians at Inman-Murphy, Inc. are trained in multiple methods of effective, harmless wasp removal. We can assess your situation to find the reasons that wasps are nesting and help you prevent further construction in the future. For a free quote, contact us today!

Rain in April Attracts Pests

A tick found in Millington TN - Inman-Murphy, Inc.

It can seem impossible to keep pests out of your yard (and even your home) when spring comes around. Do you know why that is? There are many factors that play into spring being the season that all kinds of pests thrive, but rainfall is one of the most important contributors. Every year, the rainfall brings about conditions for a few particular pests to exploit, and we are the ones that have to take precautionary measures against them. If you’re looking for DIY spring pest control advice for rain bugs, read on to learn from our expert exterminators at Inman-Murphy, Inc!

What Pests Does a Rainy Spring Bring?

A rainy spring leads to many benefits that pests around the Memphis Metro area use to their advantage. There are a few kinds of pests in particular that thrive after a rainy spring:

  1. Mosquitoes: The more rainfall in spring, the more mosquitoes will be bothering you during the summer. This is because mosquitoes breed in standing water, no matter the size of the source, so an abundance of rainwater pools will allow them to proliferate in peace and grow their numbers quickly.
  2. Fleas and ticks: Fleas and ticks get by by hiding in foliage, waiting until an animal that they can feed on walks by. These parasitic pests take advantage of ample plant growth after rainy springs to find perfect hiding places, which might be in your yard.
  3. Beetles: While a rainy spring makes our gardens flourish, it also gives all kinds of beetles opportunities for easy sustenance supplies.
  4. Fire ants: Fire ants and many other kinds of ants burrow in soil to grow their colonies, so a rainy spring will provide them with optimal soil texture for expansion.
  5. Termites: Sometimes called rain flies, termite swarmers come out during rainy springs to take advantage of water-damaged wood.

What Can I Do Post-Rainfall to Prevent Pests?

A rainy spring can lead to pest problems both indoors and outdoors. Here are some measures that you must take to ensure your property is protected from spring pests:

  • Seal cracks and gaps: Gaps around your doors and windows can be closed off with screens and weather stripping, and cracks in your walls or foundation can be sealed with a silicone-based caulk.
  • Clean your gutters: Leaves and other natural debris can build up in your gutters, leading to overflows that cause moisture problems or pools of standing water that attract mosquitoes to breed.
  • Prevent pooling water: Whether inside in your kitchen and bathroom or outside around your garden and patio, pooling water will always bring out thirsty bugs, so keep an eye out!

Help With Spring Pest Control

If your yard is riddled with pests every spring, it’s time to reach out to your local pest control company. The exterminators at Inman-Murphy, Inc. are well-versed in springtime pest problems around Millington TN. We train our team to conduct property-wide inspections, determining the reasons for your infestation, applying pertinent pest control products safely and efficiently, and teaching you how to avoid pests on your own going forward. Reach out today for a free estimate!

How to Prevent Winter Flies

Fruit fly in Millington TN home - Inman-Murphy, Inc.

Most people associate flies with the heat of the summer, especially here in Tennessee. Having flies infest your home is never fun, and they can confuse many homeowners when they are indoors during the middle of the winter. Believe it or not, flies are a common winter pest—and they’re seeking shelter inside your home for a reason.

From fruit flies to cluster flies, it’s important to learn what might be attracting these winter pests to your home in order to prevent them. Read more to learn everything you need to know about getting rid of winter flies in your property once and for all!

Common Winter Flies In Your Home

There are two flies that are typical culprits in your home during the winter: cluster flies and fruit flies. Here’s what you should know about these nuisance pests:

  1. Cluster flies
    • Big, dark gray flies with yellow hairs on their thorax and overlapping wings
    • Commonly found around windows, basements, or attics
    • Group together in dark, secluded areas to go into diapause or hibernation
    • Begin to re-emerge in the spring or on warmer days to regain heat and energy
  2. Fruit flies
    • Tiny flies that are light in color with big red eyes
    • Commonly found in kitchens or warm, moist areas like your trash or drains
    • Lay eggs in rotting fruit, food, or plant material
    • Often get indoors by hiding inside grocery bags

How to Prevent Flies This Winter

Fruit and cluster flies are common winter pests because like most pests, they cannot survive the cold temperatures outside. While cluster flies won’t reproduce in your property, fruit fly infestations can rapidly grow in size and become a real nuisance. The key to avoiding dealing with these pests is to prevent them in the first place. Here’s how to get rid of common winter fly problems:

  1. To get rid of cluster flies, it’s important to seal off your home in the fall months. This means sealing off cracks and crevices around the property. It’s especially important to seal up windows and doors, as these flies tend to access homes under baseboards and window frames.
  2. To get rid of fruit flies, it’s best to wipe out potential food and shelter sources. Always promptly throw away rotting food from your pantry or fridge. Take your garbage outside regularly and use tight-fitting lids on your cans. Lastly, focus on sealing cracks and crevices around windows and doors near your kitchen.

Need Help Getting Rid of Flies in Your Memphis Area Home?

If you have a fly infestation in your property this winter, it’s best to contact your local fly control experts for advice. At Inman-Murphy, Inc., we work hard to reduce the conditions in your home that could contribute to a fly infestation in the first place. Contact us today to learn more!