Weather definitely plays a role in pest activity. Typically, pest activity in the summer will ramp up, whereas pest activity in the winter calms down. But colder weather can also make pests more eager to find their way inside as they seek warmth and shelter.
In this article, we’ll dive into the effects that weather can have on pest activity at your Kentucky home. We’ll help you understand how different weather extremes can impact pests and also what you should know about seasonal pest control.
Taking steps on your own as well as partnering with a pro can make a difference when it comes to keeping unwanted pests away!
Table of Contents
Understanding pest activity in summer
Understanding pest activity in winter
Weather attracting pests
How to keep pests out
Investing in seasonal pest control
Choosing seasonal pest control in Louisville, KY
You don’t have to be a pest expert to know that summer means more bugs. It’s something that you can easily observe here in Kentucky. There always seems to be a sudden ramp-up in pest activity during the warmer months.
That includes in your yard but also around your home, as many of those pests might be making their way inside.
There are a number of reasons why pests tend to become more active in the summer.
For one, the warmer temperatures are preferred by most insects. That being said, there is a threshold for what most pests can tolerate. A large majority of pests do not like extreme heat. Ants and heat, for instance, can be a mix that means more ants will look for a way inside. When summer temperatures get extremely hot, ants are more likely to try and find a way to get into your air conditioned home.
Many pests also prefer humid climates. Pests need moisture to survive (which is often a reason they find their way into damp indoor spaces, like basements). But summer thunderstorms and humid air can make outdoor conditions just right for increased pest activity in the summer.
Another reason that pest activity in the summer tends to ramp up has to do with the lifecycle of many insects. Pests are reproducing more actively in the summer. Ants, for instance, have a major surge in the summer months as they reproduce in great numbers to fortify the strength of their colonies as the colder months approach.
There also tends to be more food sources in warmer months. Pests that eat vegetation will have lots to choose from. And pests that eat other pests will as well! The longer days of summer also means pests have more time to feed throughout the day. They grow bigger, stronger, and more active as a result.
While people tend to have pests more on their radar during the spring and summer months when these creatures are so active outside, the colder months can still be an issue. The colder weather can actually draw more pests into your home.
A lot of pests do go into a state of dormancy or die off in the winter.
But certain pests will aim to “overwinter” indoors which means homeowners sometimes report that pest activity inside of their home might increase around this time. Spiders, for instance, commonly do like to find a way inside ahead of the winter. Since spiders feed on other insects, bugs that have come inside to find shelter might attract arachnids too!
Cockroaches are another common winter pest. It’s commonly believed that roaches can survive almost anything. So, some cold weather is not going to kill off cockroaches like it will other pests. In general, roaches love to come inside in search of food. This is problematic as cockroaches are known to spread bacteria and diseases.
Stink bugs and crickets are two other pests that people commonly find in their homes during colder months. These pests will hunker down and enjoy the warmth your home provides if given the chance.
It’s fair to say that certain weather conditions can attract certain pests. Specifically, severe weather tends to mean a surge in pest activity. You might notice that after a storm, there seems to be an increase in pests.
This is particularly true for flooding and excessive rainfall which leaves behind standing water. Standing water is a pest hotspot (including a breeding ground for mosquitoes). Ants also tend to be attracted to moist environments.
Humidity also tends to spike after storms, and as we’ve mentioned, a great number of pests love a humid environment. This is another reason why you might find that stormy weather tends to attract pests.
Another consideration is any fallen limbs or even fallen trees after a storm. If these are left lying on the ground, you might be surprised by how quickly it can attract pest activity. It is always important to get debris from a storm cleaned up as fast as possible.
No matter what the season, you want to make an effort to keep pests out of your home. There are steps that you can take on your own to achieve this.
For one, you will want to attempt to eliminate their entry points. Pests have to get into your home somehow. They commonly make their way inside via cracks and holes which they can easily slip through. These don’t have to be large. Pests can squish their moldable bodies through tiny spaces.
Make an effort to seal cracks in your foundation, repair rips in screens, and seal off doorway cracks.
You also want to be careful about anything that you’re bringing inside of the home (namely, packages and mail). Anything that’s been sitting outside could have a pest hiding in or on it.
Roaches, in particular, like cardboard because it provides both food (yes, they actually do digest the fibers) and shelter for them. Sometimes people introduce pests into their homes simply by bringing a package that has been sitting on their porch inside.
In addition, pay attention to landscaping around the foundation of your home as this is a spot where pests might make their way inside. For instance, keep leaves cleaned up in plant beds around the foundation. Pests love hiding underneath leaves and if these problem spots are located near the home, pests could find their way in.
You should also keep your shrubs and grass neatly trimmed to discourage pests from hiding out.
We’ve also talked about how many pests come inside in search of food. You can make your home less inviting to pests by making sure to store food in sealed containers. Wipe down your countertops and vacuum up crumbs regularly.
If you have food outdoors, be sure to clean up spills and make sure that everything ends up in the trash can. And keep those trash can lids securely on! The trash can itself can be filled with pests.
One area that is commonly forgotten is the garage. Many homeowners host parties in their garages or maybe store pet food there. But this can attract pest activity. Since garages are so close to the home, these end up being a common bridge for pests finding their way inside.
Despite all of your best efforts, pests can still make their way onto your property and into your home.
This is why we strongly recommend investing in Perimeter Pest Control, which works by creating a “shield” around your property that prevents pests from entering in the first place.
We know that when people think about pest control, they often think of an exterminator. But Perimeter Pest Control has some serious advantages.
The focus of a program like this is on “prevention.” That means keeping unwanted pests from ever making it inside at all.
Perimeter Pest Control also involves treating the outside of your home instead of the inside. People prefer this over having chemicals inside of their homes. And since it’s all outside, you don’t have to be home to receive treatment.
Since we’ve shown how pests can be active at different times of the year, we advise keeping up with seasonal pest control. Treatments in the spring and summer will help take care of warm months when outdoor pest activity can run rampant. And fall pest control can head off problems that you might have during the colder months.
When it comes to choosing pest control services in Louisville, KY, you have options. But it’s important to recognize that not all services are the same.
As you look at pest control companies, you want to make sure you’re choosing a company that has your best interest at heart. As with any service that you’re paying for, look for a company that cares about doing “what’s right.”
At Limbwalker, this is what we refer to as the “Limbwalker Difference.” It means that our focus is on providing excellent customer service and results.
Along with that mindset, we’re committed to going above and beyond to ensure your satisfaction. In addition to applying pest control products to help keep bugs out of your home, we’ll also provide helpful recommendations and advice that will allow you to better address your problems.
Tips like the ones we covered in this article, will help set you up for success no matter what the season. Whether you’re worried about pest activity in the summer or any other time of the year, we’ve got your back.
By allowing us to create a shield around your home, you can effectively keep these unwanted pests outside where they belong. That means you can get back to enjoying life more fully without worries!
Are you ready to stop worrying about unwanted pests at your Louisville, KY home? Get in touch with us to get a quote for our perimeter pest control services.