Cayman 2006 Exterior & Interior Care — Section 3 • 91
Fruit fl ies invade the motorhome by attaching to fresh fruits and vegetables. Determine what food items
are generating the fl ies and discard that item in an outdoor trash receptacle. Fruit fl ies can be eliminated with a
homemade trap. Pour a few ounces of vinegar into a cup and cover the cup with plastic wrap. Secure the wrap
with tape or a rubber band and poke a ¼" hole in the plastic. Place the trap in the area where fruit fl ies are present.
Ants live in colonies. Only a fraction of the ant colony will leave to seek food. Spraying pesticides will only
kill the ants that are away from the colony. The colony must be destroyed to eliminate all ants. Keep ants away
from the sewer hose by spraying the hose ends with a soap and water solution.
Fleas can be removed by properly treating pets with a veterinarian approved treatment and by thoroughly
cleaning the motorhome. Vacuum vinyl areas and tile fl oors to remove dust, fl ea larva and fl ea eggs. Follow by
thoroughly washing those areas with soap and water. Carpets must be vacuumed and treated with a residual fl ea
control product labeled safe for indoor carpet and furniture use. Perform the cleaning treatment daily for three
days to ensure that all fl eas have encountered the treatment.
Flying outdoor insects are attracted to bright light. Yellow porch light covers on the motorhome work to
discourage insect invasion. During nighttime hours insects will be attracted to docking lights, or other bright
exterior lighting. If the presence of moths is detected inside of the motorhome, usually by holes appearing in
material, clean the affected clothing and all other items stored in the same area. Follow by completely cleaning
the closet, dresser or storage area. If cracks are detected, seal the cracks and treat the area with a properly labeled
indoor pest control product.
Birds:
Even birds can be considered pests, particularly when the motorhome is parked in the fl ight path of a fl ock.
Bird droppings are hard to remove and will leave stains. Prevent permanent staining to the motorhome roof by
regularly cleaning the surface to remove all bird droppings.
Damage from Pests:
Lizards have been known to crawl into the inverter and short out the circuit board. Lizards can be captured
using glue traps. To remove the lizard from the trap, dissolve the glue with vegetable oil and release it outside and
well away from the motorhome. A scorpion will glow blue-green in UV light. If the presence of scorpions in the
motorhome is suspected, investigate with an UV black light during the nighttime hours.
Best sources of information about common household pests:
The Internet is a great place to fi nd information about common pests, however, the information is not always
correct. The National Pest Management Association website can be useful resource about common pest. Another
good source for information are colleges and universities with entomology departments (entomology is the study
of insects).
Electronic pest control devices can be costly and most likely will not work on all types of rodents and insects.
When calling on the services of a professional to combat pest infestation, call a reputable business that is licensed
in handling pesticides. Check references. Explain that you are seeking assistance for a motorhome, as treatments
may differ from standard household jobs.
To Next Page
Loading...
