Have you seen more insects lately in the heat? So have we.
Longer than normal dry spells make insects go.. well… a bit crazy.
Just think about how nutty you felt during BC’s record breaking temperatures. Pests are no different. It forces their behaviour to change and forces their populations to flourish!
And it’s not just ants that you have to watch out for. All sorts of insects will want to escape the heat and come indoors, while rats seek shelter and water in residential backyards.
Let’s take a look at some pests that are hyperactive during these dry spells, and at the end we’ll tell you what you can do to combat them.
Why insects are more active during heat and dryer spells
What is it about the heat that makes insects go into overdrive?
Insects are generally cold blooded creatures, and temperatures tend to affect them differently than us warm blooded mammals.
When it gets hot, insects get active; oftentimes their life cycle would speed up, creating a population boom. One example is an ant colony. They will go into reproductive overdrive when threatened and they’ll do the same in extreme weather conditions.
In cases of extreme heat, bugs will also attempt to seek shelter in the shade of bushes, roots of plants, and unfortunately for us, within our homes.
Some creatures however aren’t simply looking for a respite from the heat. Mosquitoes for example use water as a breeding ground rather than drinking it. This is especially problematic for homeowners with pools, fountains or even some buckets of water left outdoors.
Pavement ant swarms are abundant in the hot and dry weather
Black garden ant (Lasius niger). The queens are much larger than the worker ants. © JvL via Flickr (licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Ants are simple minded creatures, and what motivates them typically (access to food and water) motivates them during droughts as well.
Food crumbs and open containers give them plentiful food sources. Even if you have no standing water in your home, the ants can get water from your faucets.
During dry conditions, ants will search for places where they can get water, typically in and around your home. While rain attracts pests of different kinds, lack of rain may also cause pest invasions. Ants are relentless in their search of moisture to survive, which makes ant control even more tricky.
During droughts, ants may be fewer, but they will come more frequently. Extended periods of dry weather will affect the ants’ food supply, which will cause them to venture out beyond their natural habitat.
Related: How to Identify Pavement Ants
Seen flying ants? The first bout of hot dry weather usually kicks off the ant swarming season.
In late spring and early summer, you often see winged ants, also called alates, which emerge from their nests © Clint Budd via Flickr
‘Swarming’ is the act of flying out of the nest to mate. This act of mating is often referred to as the Nuptial flight.
Yes, we’re talking about Flying winged ants. Learn more about Ants and how to combat them this summer.
What happens to rodents/rats in this weather?
For one thing, if the summer is warm and dry, you can bet that there will be more rats and mice around!
And it’s been well documented over the years that rat populations in Canada’s biggest cities are spurred on by dry, warm weather.
For these mammals, the summer months present an excellent time to find new places to nest. They become even more active in the summer when yards are filled with fruits, nuts, berries and bird seed.
Just like they sneak in during the winter to stay warm, they’ll sneak in during the summer to stay cool. Rodents tend to move around more during the summer time than they do during other seasons. They need to relocate from their warm, winter nests into places where they’ll be more comfortable in the heat.
The dry weather also forces rats to travel further looking for sources of food and water. The result is some residents who normally don’t have a rat problem are now seeing rats in their yards – and some in their homes.
You might see them scurrying across your yard, or taking shade amongst the shrubs, but chances are you likely bump into some!
Are Wasps more aggressive in the heat?
Wasps are an annoyance year round, but especially frustrating when you are trying to enjoy your summer BBQ!
Though wasps don’t necessarily become more aggressive during periods of high temperatures, there is simply more chance of encountering them, as the heat leads to a population growth.
An insect’s life cycle goes into overdrive in higher temperatures and wasps are no different, they love the heat.
If it is warm, you get more wasps being produced in a given nest and therefore you have more wasps out hunting about.
Then near the end of summer, when the queen wasp finishes laying the last eggs, this leaves less of a reason for many wasps to stick around the hive to defend it from danger. During this time, wasps are more likely to wander about and come into contact with us, and be the frustrating stingers we know and fear.
If you see a wasp nest, do the right thing and call for help. Stings could range from a frustration to genuine harm due to anaphylactic shock, so just leave the removal of these pests to the experts.
What can you do to combat pests this summer?
Natural pesticide sprays and traps are often a good option, but remember these methods will only slow them down, they won’t do anything for prevention.
Here are a few ways you can combat summertime pests;
- Eliminate food and water sources
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- Rats and ants crave (i.e. open containers, spills, and dripping faucets). Use air-tight containers – they will have a hard time getting in
- recommend building moats around pet food. If you put your cat bowl on a plate with soapy water, the ants won’t be able to get across.
- And clean behind fridges, and other places they’re likely to hide.
- Seal pest entry points
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- Seal cracks and crevices in interior and exterior walls. And make sure they can’t enter in or around windows or doors.
- Repair screens on windows and doors, and make sure that they fit right! Any loose screens or cracks might as well be an open invitation for pests to crawl right in
- Watch your potted plants for insect activity.
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- If necessary change the types of household plants you own.
- Replace plants in the house with ones that are more pest resistant. If not, try to make sure you don’t over water them, creating a perfect damp environment for a whole host of insects and pests.
- Gels and Bait
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- The best defense against ants is the use of chemical gels and baits.
- Place the traps in areas where ants are common and allow them to consume these baits. They can take these baits back to their colony and share it with the rest.
In Summary
Pests can be a nightmare if left uncontrolled. Pests are resilient and often hard to tackle without proper experience and know-how. If you find signs of an infestation at home, please reach out to us to learn about the various treatment options.
Service options include both once-off treatment and preventive services and free quotes can be given over the phone.
Call 604-559-9060, or use our webchat to speak with a pest expert.
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Check out some of our other guides with tips for homeowners.
How to prepare for spring pest season
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