Making the Connection Between Development And Pest Activity
Burke is a bustling suburb of Fairfax County. Construction sites are now ubiquitous amid the many families moving in and developments proliferating. Growth and advancement are what construction represents, but that can also lead to unintended ramifications — specifically shifts in the pest populations of the area. The construction aspect of your home plays a very significant role in the number and type of pest problems homeowners deal with, Head over here to find out more.
Emigration of Insects from Nature
Habitat disruption wildlife is one of the very first things local building in Burke will displace from their homes. So when land is cleared for new construction, roads or housing developments, the natural vegetation, soil cover and existing structures — like fallen logs or burrows — are lost. This pushes critters, especially varmints like rodents, ants mosquitoes spiders even snakes into unchartered territory for food and shelter. Many times, they begin moving into nearby houses, garages, or commercial buildings, posing the chance of infesting the property.
Rats and mice are just a few of the opportunists that can be displaced from an active construction site and end up in basements or attics of adjacent buildings. Also, disturbed soil can rile subterranean pests, such as termites and ants, and drive them into new spots, possibly endangering wood structures located nearby.
New Habitats and Attractants
Construction sites may also provide favourable breeding conditions for different types of pests. Stacks of construction materials, wood scraps and trash create conditions for cockroaches and rodents to find food and shelter. Rain or excavation on job sites often results in standing water, a leading breeding site for mosquitoes.
In the humid, warm seasons of Burke, a few days of still water accumulated in open containers, depressions, or plastic tarps can cause a mosquito surge. This all adds up to a serious public health issue, with mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus remaining a concern in Northern Virginia.
Pest Invasions in New Buildings
Even though you might think that new homes and buildings are free of pests, newly constructed homes and commercial buildings are typically susceptible to ants, termites, cockroaches and other pests during and after construction. Open walls, no roofing for some parts and loose utility cables are a big reason for pests getting in. If not properly sealed and pest proofed during construction, pests will take up residence even before the building is occupied.
In new homes, wood-destroying pests, such as termites and carpenter ants, can be a particular worry. These pests may be introduced early due to untreated wood or moisture issues during the home building process but will remain hidden until after substantial damage has occurred. Other pests, like spiders and silverfish, can be transported in boxes and materials taken onto the premises.
How Local Construction Affects Pest Populations in Burke, VA
Nevertheless, Burke and Fairfax County, in general, have experienced growing anxiety over invasive insects such as the spotted lanternfly. Inadvertently, construction equipment and materials transported from other locations can import these insects into un-infested areas. Invasive species, once they have been introduced, often spread quickly, harming native plants and disrupting ecosystems.
New homes and buildings all mean new opportunities in Burke, VA, but they also disturb the local pests. Higher rodent, insect, and invasive species activity is a direct result of damage to and availability of food and habitat, as well as changes to their environment through new developments. With the help from our animal control services (as well as the rule of law) and each other, we can only hope that Burke will soon get the horrors of bed bugs under control so that Burke can continue to expand its collection of fine, bed bug-free homes and businesses.
