How to Prevent and Treat Infestations for Summer Pests
For those of us in San Diego, summer is the season to come out and enjoy the weather – and the same goes for pests. Warmer temperatures, abundant food and water (high humidity), and longer summer days create the perfect environment for pest infestations. More sunlight means more time to feed and reproduce.
Understanding what pests thrive in the summer season is crucial for prevention and treatment of pest infestations in and around your home. Here’s a list of common summer pests and some summer pest control tips.
Termites in the Summer: More or less active?
Termites are more active in the summer due to warmer, more predictable weather. Wetter springtime months can flood colonies so termite queens only typically ramp up production when the soil is stable, moist and there is plenty of food around. For tips on termite prevention, read our blog here. For info on immediate termite help, visit our termite treatment page.
Summer Ant Infestations
Are ants suddenly appearing in your kitchen? There’s good reason ants come indoors during the hot summer months. Like termites, ant queens breed under warm conditions – when the weather is warm and stable. As outdoor colonies grow beyond capacity, some ants are forced to start looking for more food and shelter. Longer, warmer days mean that ants can stay out later and travel further, remaining exposed to the elements before the weather drops again at night. Additionally, as water sources start to dry up outside, ants start looking for food and water indoors. So make sure you fix any leaky and seal any food containers. For more ant prevention tips, visit our ant control page.
Summer is Mosquito Season
Is your yard getting overrun with ankle biter mosquitoes? Due to the mild climate in San Diego, mosquito season is year round but like termites and ants, peak breeding season is at the end of spring or early summer. Mosquitoes need standing water to breed so residual rain puddles, and water receptacles can be ground zero for San Diego mosquitoes.
Ankle biter mosquitoes are small, invasive mosquitoes with white stripes. They differ from regular mosquitoes because they are more active during the day and into the evening and often bite more than once. A warning to all of you at breweries, ankle biter mosquitoes like the taste of beer so are more attracted to beer drinkers!
Wasps and Bees in the Summer
Flying, stinging insects like wasps and bees peak in the late summer months, with August through October being the high season. Bees are attracted to bright flowers for pollination, while wasps feed on sugars and like picnics and barbecues. Once a wasp colony is fully populated, they become more active, searching for food and nesting materials. They can be more aggressive during the summer, especially if food sources like aphids and caterpillars become scarce.