MISSION, KS--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2012) - (Family Features) Abnormal and fluctuating weather conditions have not only left our homes in need of small repairs, but according to the National Pest Management Association, the unseasonably warm weather has also caused the bug season to start earlier.

Steven Kutcher, a Hollywood entomologist with more than 35 years of experience says that during warm weather season, more than 180,000¹ bugs could pass through your yard and several could make it inside your home through openings you may not even notice. Wear and tear allows easy access for insects through openings such as windows, doors and cracks. The good news is if you are worried about an infestation there are a few tips that you can try before using a pesticide.

To help keep unwanted bugs out of the home Kutcher suggests these simple tips:

• Know Your Bug - If you have a pesky bug you cannot control, catch it and do your research. Put the bug in a glass container and further examine it while doing online research in order to find suggestions to keep them out of the house. Visit Bug University at www.RaidKillsBugs.com for pictures of common household pests.
  
  
• Prepare for Pests - To help protect your home and family from bug infestation, prepare in advance by having pest products on hand. Raid^® offers a trusted and effective line of products for killing and clearing homes of a variety of unwanted pests including ants. For example, Raid^® Ant Gel allows homeowners to quickly and easily eliminate ants by applying the clear gel to problem areas. The ants then carry the gel back to share the bait with their colony, killing these pests.
  
  
• Tackle Your Do-It-Yourself Projects - Bugs enter the home for food, water, protection from the weather and simply by accident. Be sure to tackle your outdoor and indoor DIY projects to repair any damage including weather stripping windows and doors and filling in any cracks in the wall or flooring. The more prepared your home is for peak bug season, the less likely insects and other pests can get in.
  
  
• Don't Bring Bugs Home - Shopping at a local flea market or garage sale is a fun way to spend summer days, but beware as bugs may be near. Be sure to check the purchases you make at each location for signs of insects including actual bugs. It's easy to get an infestation if you bring unwanted bugs into your home.
  

Learning how to tackle common household problems can help you and your family save money and keep everyone happy and healthy. And by ensuring you have the know-how and tools on hand, you can maintain and enjoy your home for years to come.

To learn more about how to keep bugs out of your home, visit www.RaidKillsBugs.com.

¹ Number of bugs passing through the yard are attributed to an experiment conducted by Entomologist Steven Kutcher over the summer months

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