There’s no question that pests can be more active in certain parts of the country than others. Unfortunately, the South tends to have a higher pest presence, primarily due to its warmer weather.
Understanding how the weather affects insects can help you protect your home from these invaders. While the weather is just one factor impacting pest activity, it is an important one.
Taking steps on your own and finding a professional pest control partner can help keep pests away.
Because insects are cold-blooded, they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. Insects do tend to prefer warm weather, and many can’t even survive in colder weather conditions.
This is one reason why pest activity tends to slow down during colder months. In parts of the country with freezing winters, pests may even die off.
Conversely, warm weather also tends to speed up reproduction rates, which is another reason why the South is known for more pest activity than other regions.
In addition, southern states receive more rainfall, which can affect insect activity. When it rains, pests tend to seek drier ground, which may drive them indoors.
In general, when talking about how the weather determines insect activity, you might also have noticed that storms seem to bring more pests.
A big part of that is that when ground burrows and nests are flooded, it drives pests out of their home. Then, as they do look for a new shelter, they could wind up in your home.
Another consideration is any fallen limbs or trees resulting from storm damage. If these are left lying on the ground, you might be surprised by how quickly they can attract pest activity.
This is why it is always essential to clean up storm debris as quickly as possible.
While different insects have different weather preferences, as we’ve mentioned, most pests do tend to prefer warm weather.
Insect metabolism speeds up and reproduction increases during hotter months. That’s why you see even more of an increase in pest activity during the summer. With so many more pests around, some of them may likely end up in your home.
Generally, there are also more food sources available to pests in warm weather. For instance, insects that eat vegetation will have lots to choose from. The same goes for pests that prey on other pests!
And the longer days of summer also mean pests have more time to feed throughout the day.
Of course, there is a threshold for what most pests prefer. While insects like the warmth, many do not like extreme heat. That means that on some of the hottest days, pests might be drawn to find a cooler location…like the inside of your home!
If that weren’t bad enough, cold and wet weather can also have an impact on pests in ways you need to be aware of. When pests are uncomfortable outdoors, they’ll be more likely to find their way inside.
This can be problematic if they seek shelter within your home.
Some of the pests that seek shelter during cold weather include:
Weather is one condition that affects pest activity, but there are others.
In general, pests are opportunistic creatures that are always looking for an easier life. Your home can seem attractive to pests for many reasons, including as a shelter from unfavorable weather.
Pests are always in search of food, and if they can find food sources in your home, they’ll be more likely to stick around.
Most pests are attracted to sugars, crumbs, and uncovered foods. Cockroaches, ants, and rodents, for example, are attracted to things like dirty dishes in your sink, garbage or pet food left out, and crumbs on the floor.
Pet food can also be an attraction. Many homeowners store pet food in the garage, but keep in mind how close that is to the house. A little bit of spilled pet food in the garage can attract pests that soon find their way inside of your home.
And once they do find food, they bring their friends along for the feast. That’s when a pest infestation can become a problem.
No matter what might be driving pests inside, you want to find ways to keep pests out of your home in the first place.
Ideally, you should take steps on your own to keep pests out while also partnering with professional pest control services. Making a combined effort will be your best chance at keeping pests away.
Here are a few steps you can take on your own.
One way to keep pests out of your house is to keep it clean.
Clean crumbs and spills off floors; store all food in sealed plastic containers, including pet or bird food, and take the trash out regularly, keeping it in a sealed lid.
If you take any food outdoors (for picnics and parties) be sure to clean up spills and make sure that everything ends up in the trash can. Food brought outside often attracts pests to the yard.
Seek out the locations where pests are entering in the first place and prevent their entry. Here are a few of the common entry points for pests.
Since many pests will hide out in your landscaping (such as in plants and shrubs), it can help to keep everything as trim and tidy as possible. Keep your grass regularly mowed so that it doesn’t get overgrown.
Definitely pay special attention to your home’s foundation, as this is a prime problem spot.
For instance, keep leaves cleaned up around the foundation in plant beds. Pests love hiding underneath leaves, and with them so close to your home, pests could easily find their way in.
While you can take a lot of essential steps to keep pests out of your home, these opportunistic creatures are still going to find a way in. That’s why it’s optimal to invest in professional pest control in North MS as well.
As you seek options, you have choices when it comes to pest control in Tupelo, Oxford, and New Albany, MS. Be sure to do your research and look for a company that you feel confident has your best interest at heart.
When searching for the best pest control in Hernando, Olive Branch, Oxford, and Tupelo, MS, we’d love for you to consider Lawn & Pest Solutions.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer a full array of professional pest control and lawn care services. This means you don’t have to deal with two companies for these services; you can have one contact to call and one to handle these issues.
During an initial consultation, we want to gather information about your home, landscape, and pest control challenges to prepare a plan that makes the most sense for you.
At the end of the day, we want to help you achieve peace of mind so you don’t have to stress about pests lurking around your home, no matter the season or weather! We are here to help!
Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for the best pest control services for your home and landscape in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS? We’d love to learn more about you. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan perfect for you and your home.