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While it may seem counterintuitive, it is best to continue sleeping in your bed even if you have a bed bug infestation. If you move to another room, the bed bugs may follow you, which can spread the infestation to other parts of your home. To minimize bites while you sleep, wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. In the meantime, you should also isolate any potentially infested belongings and take steps to kill the bed bugs on your mattress as quickly as possible while waiting for professional treatment.

Termites are most active and cause the most damage during the spring and summer, as warm temperatures and increased moisture accelerate their activity. This is also when swarming typically occurs, allowing colonies to expand. However, termites remain active year-round, especially in warmer climates or heated homes. Once a colony is established, it can continue to damage wood 365 days a year, even during cold weather.

The average lifespan of a stink bug is about six to eight months, depending on species and environmental conditions. Their life cycle includes three stages: Egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs hatch in roughly five days to two weeks, followed by a four to six-week nymph stage where they grow and molt. Once fully matured, adult stink bugs focus on reproduction and can fly to new areas, often seeking refuge in homes in search of warmth.

When it comes to keeping birds from doing their business on your porch rails, you have several DIY options and home remedies you can try: 

• Tie a fishing line from one end of the deck post to the other. Birds won’t be able to see the line across the railing, so they can’t land on it.  

• Hang wind chimes close by, which may scare birds away. 

• Apply a bird gel repellent to the railings, which contains smells that birds generally don’t like. Or, similarly, you can apply citronella or lemon oil around the railings, since birds don’t like strong smells.