The Uninvited Pests of Popular Birthday Parties

The Uninvited Pests of Popular Birthday Parties

Birthday parties are a great way to not only celebrate the existence of the birthday person (obviously), but also to spend time with current friends and maybe even make some new ones. The specific food, activities, decorations, and theme of a birthday party are completely dependent on the preferences of the person who is throwing the party. Certain types of parties have risen in popularity over the years, both for children and adults. Each party setting has its own pros and cons, but one category of con that they all share is the potential for pest problems. The specific pests depend on the location and provisions of the party, so it is a good idea to be aware of the types of pests that could run rampant at your specific birthday party. Let’s take a look at five popular types of birthday parties and learn about the specific types of pests that could turn a fun birthday bash into a carousel of nightmares. 

Pool Parties

These parties are definitely more common for people who have a birthday in the warmer months of the year, but anything is possible when you have a heated pool and some supportive friends. Typically, pool parties take place during the sunniest time of the day and have plenty of easy-to-eat finger foods. The best ones have lots of cold drinks and a music playlist that captures the party mood perfectly. That being said, all of the best components of a pool party are exactly what attract pests. Well, maybe not the playlist, unless pests have exceptional music taste that we don’t know about. But the combination of open food, sweet drinks, stored pool items, and warm temperatures is just too tempting for many pests, and there are three kinds that tend to make an appearance much more often than others.

• Spiders: You may not think of independent spiders as being a common pool pest, but just imagine all of the possible hiding spots they have in a pool-centric backyard. They like anyplace that is dry, cool, and tucked away from high-traffic areas. Their favorite hiding spots at a pool party include the interior of the pool toy chest or container, around the pumps and equipment, under tables, on yard decorations, and under patio furniture. Brown recluses and black widows just so happen to be attracted to these kinds of areas, so it’s essential to inspect your yard for these species in particular before the guests arrive.
• Mosquitoes: Although mosquitoes don’t like the heat of the midday sun, they are common summer pests at any outdoor gatherings. They are most active at dawn and dusk, so you may see an increase in mosquitoes if your pool party goes into the evening. Female mosquitoes seek out blood when they need protein for their eggs, so they can be more aggressive when it’s breeding season. They can lay up to 100 eggs at a time and will infest a backyard before long if they are left uncontrolled. If your yard is damp from a recent rainstorm or you have a source of freshwater, you may find your yard overrun with mosquitoes during a prolonged pool party.
• Water Striders: Out of all of these pests, these are the least intrusive creatures to have at your party. The worst offense that water striders commit is being a creepy insect that no one wants to see in their pool. It looks like they can walk on the water, but water striders simply travel through the membrane on the water’s surface. This allows them to glide on the water without needing to pause for air. They eat smaller insects, so if your pool has other uninvited pests, you may see more water striders than usual. The good news is that they don’t bite us or pose any other kind of danger, so the simple fix is to scoop them out of the water when they come gliding by. 

There are a few ways to prevent pests from ruining your pool party. For one, make sure your pool is clean before the guests arrive by cleaning all of the natural debris and tiny pests out with the extendable net. If you have a professional who regularly cleans your pool and checks the chemicals, it’s a good idea to ensure they visit before the party date. During the party, try to keep all open food dishes covered when not in use. You can also leave a bottle or two of bug spray out for your guests if your party will extend into dusk, since no one wants to go home with the party favor of itchy bites. 

Barbecue Parties

Backyard barbecues are easy parties to host because the main focus is on all of the delicious food that comprises the birthday feast. Whether the food is made by the hosts, catered by a local business, or a potluck of dishes from the guests, one thing is for sure: the spread will attract more than just the party guests if it is not properly contained. There are many kinds of pests that love our food and will do whatever it takes to get their grimy little hands (if they even have hands) on it. Birthday parties that boast a full buffet of food, like backyard barbecues, often leave the food largely uncovered in an outdoor space. This is fun for the partygoers, but it could quickly go south if a horde of hungry pests find the dishes. 

• Ants: This one is probably the least surprising on the list. Worker ants have a great sense of smell and can detect food from several meters away. They spend the majority of their days foraging for food that will sustain their massive colony and support their reproductive queen. Once ants find a safe food source, they will lead their fellow workers to the same place by leaving a trail of pheromones — invisible chemicals — that they can follow straight to the food. If there is a sudden army of ants at your barbecue, it’s likely that their nest is in the yard. 
• Flies: These pests also have an excellent sense of smell, as their olfactory receptors can detect food from quite a distance. Flies thrive in the heat, so any outdoor birthday parties in the summer are likely to experience an uptick in their fly presence. Although flies are drawn to any kind of food we enjoy, they have a particularly aggressive sweet tooth. Their annoying habit of walking all over our food is because their taste receptors are on their legs, so they literally need to step on their meals in order to taste them!
• Yellow Jackets: Speaking of aggressive, yellow jackets are a notorious species of stinging pest that have a personal vendetta against anyone who disturbs their nests. They happen to keep their homes underground and along the ground, making it easy to accidentally aggravate the colony. Yellow jackets are hunters that look for reliable sources of protein and sugar, and they will be happy to find themselves at a barbecue. They are also drawn to flowery scents, so any party goers who wear strong perfume may find a striped insect trying to make friends with them. Since yellow jackets also like to hide in cans and bottles of soft drinks, it’s a good idea to take a cautious look inside your drink before taking a sip, especially if it’s been sitting out for a while.

The most efficient way to prevent pests from ruining your backyard barbecue is to keep all dishes and bowls of food covered when not in use. If pests do not have easy access to the main sources of the party food, they will not be as attracted to the area. On that note, it’s extremely helpful to have at least one covered garbage can available for your guests to throw away their food scraps. Abandoned plates and food remnants will attract the attention of hungry pests before long, so keeping all trash in a garbage can with a solid lid is an easy way to eliminate that attraction. Plus, it is much easier on you as the host to clean up the party as you go!

Camping Parties

For the adventurous types, a weekend camping trip is the ideal way to spend a birthday. From hiking to fishing to making s’mores, a couple days spent out in nature is plenty of time for all kinds of fun activities. Of course, any time spent out in the middle of nowhere means that you are right in the heart of pest territory. The good news is that a campfire, the center-point of any good camping trip, naturally deters pests from the area. The smoke and flames prevent them from getting anywhere near the people who are lounging around it, so this is a natural way to keep those pesky nighttime pests away (as long as you practice fire safety the whole time).

• Spiders: Spiders may be a more hidden pest while camping, but they are still worth mentioning. There is nothing like getting ready to sleep in your tent or truck bed, only to find yourself face-to-face with a spider! They like to hide amidst the greenery and dirt, so it’s easy to miss them. Spiders need to live where they have a constant food source, which means they can be found where there is a large insect population. It’s a good idea to check your tent for any holes before zipping it up so you don’t become accidental bunkmates with an arachnid.
• Mosquitoes: These pests are especially common around lakes and ponds, which happen to be popular features of many campsites. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still, fresh water, and the young mosquitoes spend the first three life stages completely in the water. This is also why they are more popular after a big summer rainstorm, since everything is drenched. If you’re camping near a body of water, right after a summer storm, or in the humidity, you will likely see quite a few mosquitoes on your trip.
• Wasps: One of the most important steps in choosing a camping spot is inspecting the immediate area for any signs of scary animals, such as a wasp nest. These pests are extremely territorial, so they will not hesitate to attack anyone who disturbs their nest. Wasps and other stinging insects are particularly active on hot days, so proceed with caution if you’re camping during a heat wave. They also have a sweet tooth, so they may visit if you are enjoying some kind of dessert at the campsite. 

It’s inevitable to avoid pests when you are camping, but there are a couple things you can do to cut down on the number of them that visit you. For one, pack a bug spray that clearly states it has DEETs in it, as these are the compounds that actually repel pests. Also, keep all trash contained and properly dispose of it in a receptacle when you can. When you are doing any kind of activity, do not go into thick brush or grass. This is where many bloodsucking pests like to hide, such as ticks and mosquitoes. 

Garden Parties

A garden party can be whatever you want it to be. Whether it’s a visit to a botanical garden, a picnic in a public garden, or a wine-tasting venture amidst the greenery, one thing is for sure: pests love gardens. They technically enjoy any place that has an abundance of plants, flowers, and produce, so gardens perfectly fit this criteria. It’s a great idea for a laid-back birthday party, but a garden party does run the slight risk of attracting the attention of some uninvited guests. 

• Ants: Any birthday party can potentially attract ants purely because they all feature food (especially dessert) in some way, which immediately draws the attention of these pests. They enjoy any kind of fruit or vegetable growing in the garden, particularly when they’re overripe and easier to carry away. Ants also interestingly farm aphids, which basically just means they carry aphids from plant to plant in order to make the aphids produce sweet honeydew for the ants. Talk about a hardworking pest!
• Slugs: Slugs may just look like a slimy piece of mud, but they are some of the worst garden pests around. They are nocturnal and do all of their feeding at night, so they like to stay buried in the soil during the day. This is how they avoid the harsh sunlight and retain their moisture. Slugs eat any kind of produce and chew holes straight through fruits and vegetables, rendering them useless. They are especially common after it rains since everything is damp and therefore exactly to the slug’s liking.
• Grasshoppers: Grasshoppers are every gardener’s and farmer’s nightmare, and for good reason. These pests devour any kind of crop at any alarming rate and will devastate an entire garden if left alone. They can eat half of their body weight every day, which may not seem like much but is still plenty more than most insects eat. They enjoy most types of fruit, flower, and plant. Grasshoppers may be a favorite food of birds, but they are not eaten quickly enough to make a major dent in the population of these plague-adjacent pests.

Garden parties, much like camping parties, are more likely to experience pests than other kinds of birthday parties. This just makes it all the more important to keep all food contained as much as possible. Whether the food is a picnic lunch or a smorgasbord of appetizers, keep it all inside their respective dishes when not in use. Also, make sure to properly dispose of all food trash rather than letting it pile up. If pests can’t get to your food, their attention will remain on the beautiful flora and fauna surrounding the birthday party.

Pointe Pest Control Always Brings the Party

Nothing ruins a birthday party quite like a pest invasion, which is exactly why Pointe Pest Control is dedicated to protecting local homes and businesses from all kinds of invasive pests. Our technicians are all highly-trained and experienced in solving frustrating pest issues. We begin every service with a complete inspection of the property and house exterior — and interior as needed — in order to find every area of pest activity. Then, we use our findings to create a customized treatment plan that will target every pest species on the property. Since all of our treatments are completely safe for humans and pests, you do not have to worry about toxic chemicals contaminating your space. Your complete satisfaction with our services is always our top priority. Contact us today for more information on our effective pest control and to ensure that your next party is a pest-free experience!

Citations

Battling bugs while camping. (n.d.). HomeTeam Pest Defense. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://pestdefense.com/battling-bugs-while-camping/ 

Common campsite bugs. (2022, August 3). Maggie’s Farm Products. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/campsite-bugs 

Feaster, F. (n.d.). 44 common garden pests. HGTV. Available at https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/landscaping-and-hardscaping/16-common-garden-pests-pictures (Accessed on September 11, 2023).

Goldberg, M. (2022, July 27). 7 common garden pests and how to get rid of them. AD It Yourself. Available at https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-get-rid-of-garden-pests (Accessed on September 11, 2023).

Keep your backyard bbq pest-free. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/10-tips-to-keep-your-backyard-bbq-pest-free/