There’s nothing quite like a summer barbeque to make you feel like summer has officially arrived. Good food, good drinks, and good company are all key elements that come together to form a successful barbeque experience. Pests like wasps, flies, and ants, on the other hand, aren’t anything you want lingering around. So what can you do to discourage them from joining the party?

Barbeque foods smell delicious. The problem is that humans aren’t the only ones who think so. Don’t let pests linger on or around food that is waiting to be served. Consider serving the food inside and taking it with you when you go outside to eat it. It’s easier to keep pests off of your plate when you have it on hand than it will be to shoo them away from food that is waiting to be served. If you do have to serve it outside, do your best to keep it covered. While you’re at it, encourage people to drink from plastic cups instead of cans or bottles. They can be great hiding places for stinging insects. They’re a lot easier to spot on plastic cups.

Spills and crumbs are like a standing invitation to all sorts of pests who may be attracted to the smells they give off. If you want to keep your barbeque pest-free, keep things as clean as you can. Address spills promptly or you’ll risk coaxing pests out of their hiding places in short order. Trash should be disposed of in a sealed container away from guests. While you’re at it, get rid of standing water as much as you can. Mosquitoes only need ½ inch of water to breed, so take care to avoid allowing your backyard to become their breeding grounds.

If you want to discourage pests from making themselves at home during your barbeque, you may need to discourage them from making themselves at home on your property altogether. Professional pest control services like Proterra Pest Control can help with this. We can treat your home, both inside and outside, to help you get rid of things like hornets, ants, and black widows that could turn your barbeque from a friendly get-together to an unpleasant experience for yourself or a guest.

No one wants to be dealing with pesky pests during their barbeque. Be smart about how you serve your food, do your best to keep things clean, and do what you can to keep them away. That way you can enjoy your food and your friends without having to deal with pests that would love little more than to help themselves to your delicious barbeque spread.

Need some help with pests this summer? Click here to contact Proterra Pest Control for all your pest control needs.