4 Pests That Can Ruin a Barbecue

 4 Pests That Can Ruin a Barbecue

Whether you have a planned family get-together every Sunday or you host a dinner on a random summer evening, it’s extremely likely that the backyard grill will be utilized at some point. There is nothing like some delicious barbecue cuisine after a long day of enjoying the warm weather. Whether it’s grilled steaks, chicken, pork chops, or corn on the cob (which we highly recommend), the mouthwatering smells emanating from the grill are almost as good as the actual food. Unfortunately, humans are not the only species that think so; pests of all kinds famously gravitate towards the aromatic foods at any outdoor gathering. Let’s take a look at the pests that commonly make an appearance at any barbecue, as well as some ways to prevent these uninvited guests from ruining the summer fun.

Ants

If you have food outdoors, ants will inevitably arrive. It may take a little while for them to get there, but worker ants live to forage for food that they can bring back to their nest and share with the colony. Ants have amazing an amazing sense of smell and can detect food from several meters away. Once they find the food source and determine that it is safe for consumption, they will leave pheromones in a path directly to the food so that their fellow workers can find the same food. This is how a single ant on a plate of grilled chicken can quickly turn into dozens of frantic ants trying to get a taste of the tasty meal. A rule of thumb with ants is that the numbers will be larger if they nest nearby. If there are lots of ants in a short amount of time, there is a chance that their anthill is close by within the yard.

Besides the plates and dishes of aromatic food, there are plenty of other reasons why ants could invade a backyard barbecue. For instance, any crumbs and spills will attract them after a while. Anything dropped on the ground or spilled onto the table needs to be cleaned up as soon as possible before the ants find it. Also, ants love moisture, especially when it’s warmer outside, so they will seek out standing water. Drink spills and puddles will be very appealing to these pests, as ants love anything sugary and sticky. Once the party is over, any food remnants on the grill can catch the attention of ants if it is left out for hours on end. After using the grill, make sure to scrape any drippings and burnt crumbs off the surface before storing it.  

Mosquitoes

This is the only pest on the list that does not invade barbecues for the actual food. Once female mosquitoes begin forming and laying eggs, they need blood for the protein. They are more common around standing water because mosquitoes lay their eggs in rafts near the shoreline. But they do not stay exclusively near ponds and lakes; mosquitoes can use puddles, full buckets, a dog’s water bowl, and damp soil as egg-laying sites. They are more active in hot and humid weather, especially around morning and dusk. This means that a barbecue party on a summer evening is going to be a hotspot for mosquito activity, which is unfortunate since that is when most barbecues take place.

Mosquitoes are known as a common disease-transmitting pest. Every year, there are hundreds of millions of malaria cases around the world, which means that more mosquitoes are infected with the disease than we think. But contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not inject blood into their host when they bite. They do inject some of their (potentially-infected) saliva, which is what causes those bites to swell up and itch. They will consume blood from any mammal, but there are multiple factors that could attract mosquitoes to a person. One is dark-colored clothing, as the pests seem to prefer these shades over lighter ones. Mosquitos have infrared vision, which is how they can detect warm-blooded beings from a ways away. Also, mosquitos are drawn to carbon dioxide and perspiration. So a group of people that have been sitting in the sun and talking for a while are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than people who are in the shade and not moving much. 

Flies

The act of enjoying a plate of delectable barbecue is often synonymous with the frustration of constantly batting away flies from your food. Flies, especially house flies and fruit flies, love the smell of food. They thrive in humidity and heat, and have amazing olfactory receptors that can detect food sources from miles away. If there are full trash cans anywhere near the fresh food, it is a fly’s paradise. They generally enjoy anything that is sticky and sweet, like fruit, ice cream, and lemonade. Flies don’t live in colonies, so they are only foraging for their own food and to potentially find a prime egg-laying site that will give their eventual larvae some food. With the amount of garbage they visit, it’s no wonder why flies transmit more bacteria than most pests.

Most flies enjoy garbage and actual waste, but fruit flies basically live on rotten items. They love fermented food, so fruit flies can be found in overripe fruit, leftover beer, and mushrooms. You may have noticed that when a fly lands on a surface, it will walk all over and occasionally stop to rub its legs together, like a plotting mastermind. This is because flies need to walk on their food to taste it, as their taste receptors are on their legs. Once they decide that they actually want to consume the food, they need to turn the food into liquid since flies can only drink their food due to the limitations of their mouth parts. They vomit digestive enzymes (gross!) onto the food, thus liquifying it before they begin drinking. The reason why they rub their legs together is simply because they need to clean their taste receptors every so often.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets can also invade barbecues for the food, but the major concern with these pests is the pain they bring with their stings. They love protein and sugar, so a backyard party is the perfect spot for some hungry yellow jackets. These pests seek out different types of food for various reasons. For instance, protein is great for both larvae and adults because it bulks them up and keeps them feeling full. Sugar gives an energy spike to continue foraging for more food. At a barbecue, yellow jackets will hover around meat, beans, and soda cans for these exact reasons. They will also flock to a bowl of dry dog food if that is sitting out on the patio, so it’s a good idea to move the bowl every once in a while.

Since yellow jackets love sugary drinks so much, it can be a great help to pour beverages into cups rather than leaving them in cans if guests enjoy their drinks outside. Beer, lemonade, and soda are all enjoyable to yellow jackets, and it’s a painful surprise for someone to take a sip from their can and be met with a defensive wasp. The proximity of flowering plants and thick brush also makes a difference in the quantity of yellow jackets at the party. They like flowery scents and plants, like any other stinging pest. Floral perfume and flower-printed shirts can also attract yellow jackets if they are already nearby. Yellow jackets are unique in that they build their nests underground, usually in thick brush. Make sure to inspect your landscaping for any yellow jacket nests before your guests arrive, and contact pest control services to remove any that you find.

Host a Pest-Free Party

No matter what kind of pests typically visit your yard, there are some easy steps you can take to keep an outdoor party as pest-free as possible. Some of these depend on the layout of the yard and the amount of food that will be served, so feel free to alter these tips to fit your situation and pest concerns!

• Before the party, trim back any overgrown foliage surrounding the dining areas. Pests like to hide within thick brush, so it would give them easy access to the food and drinks of people sitting near the landscaping. 
• If serving food outside, keep all dishes covered when not in use. Some popular options include plastic wrap, beeswax wrap, tinfoil, and lids (if included with the serving dish).
• Have at least one garbage can (preferably with a lid) available. When guests can throw away their food trash, the pests will not be able to sniff out the food that’s left on the plates and napkins littering the table.
• On days without a breeze, set up an oscillating fan on the patio or backyard eating area. Flying insects will not be able to fly in the winds from the fan, so it should keep them away from the gathering areas.
• Make sure all doors and windows to the house are closed when not in use. It may be annoying to have to open and close the slider when going back and forth, but it truly does help in keeping insects out. Also, if you want to open up the house during the party, check the window screens for any large holes and rips. You can use extra screen material to patch up any gaps prior to the party.
• If it’s possible with the house layout, try serving the food indoors before moving outdoors to eat. Place all the serving dishes of food on the kitchen island or table, as well as any open pitchers of drinks. Insects can still flock to the individual plates of food if left out long enough, but they will not be able to resist the full buffet of food if it is sitting out. 

The key to preventing pests from invading in droves is to take away what they desire the most. Across the animal kingdom, that means three necessities: food, water, and shelter. When you keep the refreshments contained outdoors and make sure that the house is closed up, you remove most of the main pest attractants. It can take a little extra work, but it’s worth it to keep annoying insects away from your guests and all of the wonderful barbecue food that is essential to any backyard gathering that features a grill. 

Protect Your Grilling Season With Pointe

Whether you save the barbecuing for hosting guests or you fire up the grill every week, Pointe Pest Control is here to help you enjoy your backyard free of pests. We only use environmentally-friendly products that we guarantee to be effective against dozens of pest species. Plus, the expertise of our knowledgeable technicians is invaluable for both our preventative and responsive pest control services. We do not leave any pest problem unaddressed, and our team is ready to serve you as soon as possible. Contact us for a free quote on our pest control services and to learn how we can ensure that your yard is only filled with delicious barbecue smells, not hungry pests ready to invade your food.

Citations

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How to keep stinging pests away from your backyard barbecue. (2022, June 15). Eco-Care. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://www.ecocarepest.com/how-to-keep-stinging-pests-away-from-your-backyard-barbecue/

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