Heat and Pests
They're Still There!
People often ask us “Isn’t it too hot and dry for pests?”
The answer is yes. But no.
Here is some insight to that answer…
How Droughts Affect Pests
Less than a few inches of rain has fallen in our area this summer, that paired with excruciating heat has created tough conditions not only for livestock, wildlife and your would-be lush yard and flowerbeds but also BUGS! Pests like scorpions, ants and roaches do just fine in hot climates in fact they thrive. Warm temperatures trigger reproductive processes and when conditions are right pest populations boom. That happened in spring and now this summer pests are turning to your home in hopes it will provide respite from the historic heat and drought.
How Pests Survive in the Heat
Pests need a few essential things to thrive: food, water and shelter…and guess what humans can offer all three!
Pests are turning to our homes and businesses in hopes it will provide respite from the historic heat and drought conditions. During times of drought home owners that run irrigation systems and sprinklers to try and keep their grass alive are in a sense an oasis in the middle of a desert and if you have a swimming pool it is no mirage it really is an oasis! Not only do pools attracting things like bees, wasp, ants, rats, mice they can also attract wildlife like racoons, opossum and squirrels can be attracted to the water and bring pests like ticks and fleas.
Just because we don’t see the pest doesn’t mean they aren’t there…
Tactics Change
In summers when we have “average” amounts of rain it is fairly common to see fire ants building mounds in our yards or next to our home’s foundation. In years of extreme heat and drought they tend to move indoors, under slabs or seek cooler moist temperatures deeper in the soil. In several instances customers filled inflatable swimming pools and think they are without ants but as soon as the pool is drained or it becomes an identified moisture source we begin to see ants or even feel them as is the case with fire ants when they bite and sting.
Call Angel Pest Control
If you live in our area you are certainly feeling the effects of a long, hot and dry summer and you don’t need the added strain of having to share your space with pests. Contact us at Angel Pest Control your local choice for pest control since 1987.
