Why Are Pests More Active In Summer?

Reasons Pest Infestation Ruin Your Summer Fun

As the climate warms up and you head outside to soak up the sun, the last thing you want is uninvited pest guests crashing your party. Unfortunately, the prime conditions that draw us outdoors also attract a number of summer pests.

Before you resign yourself to a summer stuck inside, understand what exactly makes the warmer months so appealing to critters and rodents. Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to keeping pesky intruders at bay.

What Is It About Summer That Pests Love So Much?

Warm weather stirs hibernating pests into action after a long winter months. Plus, key seasonal changes create an all-you-can-eat buffet that allows fast pest reproduction. Let’s break down the top 5 reasons you’ll see more ants, roaches, mosquitos, and mice during summer time.

1. Balmy Temperatures

Cold-blooded creatures like insects and spiders are highly temperature-dependent. As outside temp rise to their liking in spring and summer, you’ll see an increase in pest activity. Warmer weather energizes pests and brings eggs/larvae to maturity for reproduction.

Each type of pest has an ideal condition range. For example, cockroaches thrive in warmer temperatures between 70-80° F. Above 90° F will send many pests like fire ants underground.

2. Availability of Food Sources

Do you spend weekends tending a lush garden and lawn? Well, you just prepared free “pesticide-free” meals! Vegetation growth offers a buffet for plant munching insects and rodents. It includes:

1. Garden fruits, and vegetables
2. Trees, shrubs, grasses
3. Decaying plant debris
4. Compost piles

Pest predators also benefit from the smorgasbord. Where plant eaters gather, predatory insects, spiders, rodents, and birds follow.

3. Increased Moisture

Summer showers and humidity offer the ideal dampness many pests need to thrive. It creates perfect breeding condition for mosquito larvae and allows moisture-loving roaches and ants to flourish.

Drought actually backfires, driving pests indoors to seek stagnant water. So while you welcome some rain, avoid excess moisture precautions:

• Fix outdoor leaks
• Clear gutters
• Patch holes creepy crawlies use to get inside

4. Fast Reproduction Rates

Summertime heat accelerates life cycles for many pests. Colonies like ants and termites aggressively expand ensuring enough members survive winter. Female mosquitos also take advantage by laying hundreds of eggs.

Smart prevention tactics like pest control barriers, traps, and population-growth inhibiting treatments should start early in summer months before populations explode.

5. Extended Activity from Extra Hours Of Daylight

Humans aren’t the only ones benefitting from long days and late sunsets! Added daytime equals more hours for nocturnal and day-loving pests to actively seek sources of food.

For example, an earwig’s daily feeding window grows longer with expanded dusk and dawn. For mice, more hours also mean increase odds your home or garage offers better accommodations than their outside nest.

What Risks do Common Pests Pose?

They don’t just jeopardize your yard and home, but also health. Here are some of the top nuisances and what dangers they introduce:

Stinging Insects & Arachnids:

• Mosquitoes – Spread vector-borne disease like West Nile through bites.
• Ticks – Carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Stinging wasps, hornets, bees – Venomous bites hurt and can cause allergic reaction.
• Venomous spiders like the brown recluse – Painful bites that damage skin tissue.
• Cockroaches & ants – Contaminate food preparation areas spreading bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli.

Rodents & Wildlife:

• Mice & rats – Damage insulation or wiring with chewing; spread disease.
• Raccoons & skunks – Rabies risk; mess and contaminate pools.
• Snakes – While rare, venomous snakes sometimes enter yards attracted by prey like mice.

Implement Seasonal Pest Defenses

The threat of crashing pests means taking proactive measures at first signs of spring:

• Inspect for entry points and seal cracks.
• Install barriers like screens to block bugs.
• Manage food & water attractants.
• Adjust landscaping to limit harborage areas.
• Set smart traps before insect populations multiply.
• Treat early at signs like ant hills, mosquito breeding pools, and more.

In some cases home treatment only goes so far. It’s smart to get a professional pest control service. Pest control experts can assess conditions, identify vulnerabilities, and take aggressive action suited to specific pest threats before they get out of control.

The Key is Staying One Step Ahead!

Chances seem unfair that gorgeous summer weather benefits pest population and humans alike! But a bit of vigilance goes a long way in protecting your home without sacrificing sunny days.

Remember, early action before populations explode keeps fun humming along and risky pests at bay! Reach out now to discuss a custom pest control plan that stands guard through summer season and beyond.