Lakeshore homeowners deal with more than just mosquitoes. The water and shoreline vegetation attract ticks in the dune grass and brush, biting flies and midges near the water, no-see-ums at dawn and dusk, as well as spiders, ants, and wasps.
Waterfront properties deal with all kinds of pests. It comes with the territory. There is a lot of water and a lot of vegetation, and together, that creates habitat for a huge range of biting and nuisance insects.
Mosquitoes steal the show because they’re just that obnoxious. They can breed easily in nearby water and the standing water in your own yard. Right behind them are ticks, which lurk in the dune grass, brush, tall grass, and wooded edges along the shoreline, not the open beach itself, but the vegetated zones around it. With Lyme disease and anaplasmosis both rising in Michigan, the shoreline tick is a real concern.
Then there are flies. Biting flies like stable flies and deer and horse flies frequent waterside areas and deliver painful daytime bites. Midges and no-see-ums, tiny biting insects that breed in the moist shoreline soil, are especially active at dawn and dusk. They’re also so small that they can slip through most screens that otherwise keep out larger pests.
Because there are a lot of insects, spiders tend to do well here. Spiders feed on insects. And the usual home-invading pests still apply: ants after food on decks and patios, and wasps building nests under eaves and railings.
The good news is that even lakeshore pests can be handled through methods that are boring and reliable. Reduce standing water on your property and trim back vegetation. If you have tiny biters getting in your home, install finer-mesh screening on your windows. And if you need to bring in a professional for pest control, do so.
If you're tired of playing whack-a-mole with a different pest every week, Mosquito Squad of West Michigan Lakeshore can help. Mosquito Squad covers mosquitoes and ticks alongside perimeter pests like ants and wasps. This can help you protect your property with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
