{"id":17044,"date":"2019-09-13T11:35:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T17:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scotthomeinspection.com\/?p=17044"},"modified":"2019-09-13T11:35:12","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T17:35:12","slug":"common-backyard-pests-in-denver-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotthomeinspection.com\/common-backyard-pests-in-denver-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Backyard Pests in Denver (and How to Get Rid of Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re not the only ones who enjoy Colorado’s warm and dry climate in the summer. Colorado has its share of bugs. Mosquitoes, bed bugs, Miller moths, and others that itch a ride <\/em>on people, may be the most annoying, but others are even more destructive. It’s a huge problem when these pests decide to camp out around your house, yard and garden.<\/p>\n

When inspecting your Denver home<\/a> for problems like termites and mold, knowing which pests to look out for is crucial. Cockroaches, ants, and mosquitoes keep the exterminators busy, but<\/strong> beetles, girdlers, webworms, and billbugs are some of the most common<\/a> backyard pests in Denver.<\/p>\n

Scarab Beetles<\/h2>\n

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Source<\/a><\/p>\n

Scarab beetles are another name for June bugs. They fly near bright outdoor lights and in direct sunshine. June bugs<\/a> start as fat white larvae, eating foliage, flowers and killing the grass. Dead patches of grass or damaged plants may mean there are ground-dwelling June bug larvae on the lawn. Natural insecticides such as neem oil and Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)<\/a> are effective ways to control them. Bt is a type of bacteria that acts as a toxin against insects like caterpillars and beetles, but it won\u2019t affect beneficial bugs in the yard and garden.<\/p>\n

Cranberry Girdler<\/h2>\n

Cranberry girdlers<\/a> look like something out of the movie “Alien.” They’re light-gray grubs with orange-brown heads.\u00a0 These sod-loving webworms eat turf roots before ascending on trees. Girdlers chew on Kentucky bluegrass, bentgrass, and fine fescues that grow in Denver yards. Chemical pesticides such as trichlorfon (Dylox), clothianidin (Arena), or halofenozide (Mach 2) are effective treatments to control these invaders. But keep in mind, trichlorfon is toxic<\/a> to people, birds, and fish, and is easily absorbed through the skin. Clothianidin isn’t toxic to humans, but it can pose a risk to honey bees<\/a> and other beneficial insects.<\/p>\n