The hot, dry summers in Arizona and throughout the Southwest can be fierce, and as you head inside to enjoy a cold drink and a meal, bugs may be headed to your car in search of the same.
Any pest that can infest your home can infest your car. The same sources of food, water, and shelter they seek out inside can often be found in your vehicle in the form of moisture trapped
between panels, warmth from your engine, or discarded food debris hidden under your seats.
However, some difficult-to-remove pests can have an outsized impact when they get inside your car, introducing new pest problems you may not encounter at home.
Ant Pest Control for Cars
Ants navigate by smell more than sight, leaving pheromone trails behind them for others to follow and to search for food. Arizona’s heat can amplify the smells emitted by food, especially greasy foods like a French fry under your center console.
That’s why it’s so important to clean up food waste before ants get a chance to find it, because once they do, you’re not dealing with one or two—you’re dealing with thousands.
Car Pest Control for Bed Bugs
Bed bug infestations are just as likely to occur in your car as they are in your home. In fact, many indoor bed bug problems start in your vehicle.
Bed bugs are unique among pests because they do not live naturally outdoors. Instead, they have evolved to live exclusively in indoor environments where humans sleep or rest. After they’ve hitched a ride inside on your clothes, blankets, furniture, or from the previous vehicle owner, it’s easy for them to hide in any of the nooks of your car. From there, they can spread the infestation even further.
Bed bugs like to stay hidden until they sense body heat, which draws them out. Once they’re active, you may start to notice itchy bites or rusty-colored stains on your seats, especially in corners or seams.
Why Bees Are Attracted to Cars
Typically, bees are an outdoor pest. They may infest the siding of your home, but even in these cases, they rarely spread indoors. However, the situation is different when they infest your car.
Bees can be drawn to your car for a number of reasons, and surprisingly, the color of your paint
can make a big difference. Bright colors, particularly yellow, blue, and white, may resemble flowers to bees, prompting them to investigate further.
Sweet scents are another big draw factor for bees. If you’ve ever seen a swarm of them gathering around a public garbage can, it’s likely because someone threw away a high-sugar drink. Bees absolutely love soda, especially if it’s in cans or bottles that have been stewing in the hot sun, and they’ll gather to collect it just like they would with nectar from a flower.
To prevent bees from infesting your car, as with other pests, keep it clean. If you have a sweet-smelling air freshener, we’d recommend stashing it in your glove box before parking in the sun.
How To Get Rid of Bugs in Your Car
In order to prevent pest infestations, it is important to check your car regularly for the warning signs of pest infestations. Keep an eye out for live insects, insect wings, chew marks, droppings, or strange odors, especially after driving through a high-traffic area or if your car’s been parked for a long time.
Pay special attention to dark corners, beneath seats, cupholders, and trunk linings, where pests like to hide, and you’ll be able to catch them before they spread.
Request Your Quote for Pest Control From Burns Pest Elimination Today
If the pests come back and you’re starting to see signs of pest infestations, contact Burns Pest Elimination to request a quote for a comprehensive inspection. Early car pest control can stop an infestation before it enters your home.
Insects don’t take the summer off, and neither should you. Let Burns keep you protected from pests all year long.
