Pesky Pests in Your Pumpkin
Oh October—we have missed ye! With your apple cider, cool days, and spooky nights, you are arguably the best month of autumn. Halloween is one of our favorite holidays here at Tri-County Pest Control, and we totally love to get into the spirit of the season with a carved jack-o-lantern. While carved pumpkins are the hallmark of October, they can be a breeding ground for pests. Join us today to see how you can prevent your pumpkin from being a pest’s favorite spooky spot this season!
When carving a pumpkin, you need to remember that it was once a living plant, and keep in mind that there are plenty of bugs out there who love to feed on pumpkins. Many are attracted by the smell of the innards, which is why it is important to scoop all of that gunk out before you start carving (besides, you NEED to get those tasty seeds out, right?). We all know that the smell of pumpkin-spice to delightful to us, and the same goes for bugs of all sorts, including beetles, fruit flies, and even rodents.
Leaving a pumpkin out in the open will attract some pests—there’s just no going around it—but there are somethings you can do to limit the amount of pests that come by your pumpkin on Halloween night. For example, wait until a few days before Halloween to carve your pumpkin, as the less exposure it has to the elements, the less likely it will be to attract other spooky critters. Consequently, make sure you dispose of the pumpkin early, as some of those pumpkin pests may try to come inside once they know it’s Turkey Season.
If you really want the neighbors to see your expertly carved pumpkin a few days before Halloween, then use essential oils to your advantage. Take some water and mix it with a strong-smelling mint essential oil, such as peppermint or spearmint, and spread it on the inside. This will mask the smell of the pumpkin to pests all around (they hate the smell of mint) while providing some nutrients to keep your pumpkin from rotting. If you’re hardpressed to find essential oil, the petroleum jelly can work in a pinch.
No matter how you get ready for the spooky month of October, be sure that pest defense is somewhere on the list—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For expert advice, give us a call today so we can help come up with a comprehensive pest-defense plan that will keep your home critter-free all year long!
