A Warm & Rainy Fall Could Mean More Ant & Cockroach Problems

Twice a year, the National Pest Management Association releases its Bug Barometer. This forecast of pest activity is a helpful gauge of what we can expect. Heading into fall with winter on its heels, the three pests they say to watch out for this year in our part of the world are mosquitoes, cockroaches, and ants. We'll tell you why ants and cockroaches are the two pests to focus on this fall and how warm weather and above-average rainfall can play a key role in making them more of a problem this year.

Warm temperatures lead to extra trouble with insects

Insects are cold-blooded animals, which means they do not maintain a constant body temperature. But do they like having cold blood? No. Cold temperatures slow them down and can cause them to become dormant. Many insects do this during the winter months; they just stop moving. Warmth has the opposite effect. Warm temperatures get insects moving, and when insects get moving, they do what insects do, which is to grow their numbers.

According to the experts, we are heading into an unseasonably warm fall. If temperatures persist, a few things are going to happen. The summer pest season will last longer, which means insects will have more time to lay eggs and grow their populations. With insects abundant around your home, you're likely to have more encounters with them—and when temperatures cool down, you'll have more insects looking for places to hide. This is especially true with cockroaches and ants.

Rainy days make cockroaches happy

Cockroaches are moisture pests. They need moisture to stay hydrated. While they are resilient bugs, they certainly don't thrive under dry conditions. If we get lots of rainy days this fall, as expected, we will see a lot more cockroaches, and when dryer conditions come in advance of winter, those plentiful roaches will start getting into our crawl spaces and homes if they haven’t already.

How rainy days affect ants

Rain saturates the ground. As water levels rise, it can drive ants out of the ground and into our homes. This is even worse when we have flooding.

When ants are driven indoors during the fall, they soon find out that living inside is a pretty good idea. We keep our homes reasonably warm throughout the winter months. You don't want ants to learn this, so it is important to get in front of ant problems in the fall, even when we aren't expecting lots of rain.

Are warm days and rainy weather all we need to worry about?

Sadly, the answer is no. We have trouble with increased pest entry every fall, even when we don't have an extended warm season, an abundance of insects, and rain driving them indoors. Our pest control specialists work diligently in the fall to make sure customers get the added protection they need to keep insects (and rodents) out when temperatures drop. While many insects simply hide and wait out the cold, the warmth leaking out of our homes can lure them indoors. When this happens, they can stay active in the winter months.

What can you do about cockroaches and ants?

These insects are looking for favorable conditions on your property and near your home. Your job is to remove potential attractants.

• Rake up leaves and remove piles of leaf litter, fallen tree branches, and other organic debris.
• Keep trash receptacles washed and covered.
• Pick up food around outdoor cooking areas and remove grease build-up on the grill.
• Keep grass trimmed, particularly running along your foundation walls.
• Clean your gutters to reduce perimeter dampness and lower humidity in your landscape vegetation.

Once you've addressed the things that can attract roaches and ants, turn your attention to sealing potential entry points.

• Inspect your exterior doors and address any gaps you find.
• Apply a good seal around your window and door frames.
• Repair rips in your screens.
• Replace damaged vent covers.
• Seal around plumbing or wire conduits that come in from your utilities.

The last piece to the puzzle is maintaining a clean and "food-free" interior. Cockroaches and ants will move in faster when they find food waiting for them.

• Wash floors, counters, and shelves.
• Vacuum rugs routinely.
• Wash dishes as you go, and never let them sit dirty in the sink overnight.
• Keep interior trash covered.
• Put pet food down only during meals.

Steps like these can reduce your chances of an infestation. For added protection or stress-free pest management, contact your Harris Pest Control team.

Sign up for year-round home pest control (if you haven’t already)

It is never too late to get started with year-round home pest control. Here at Harris Pest Control, we offer homeowners superior protection against insects and rodents in Florence, North Myrtle Beach, and throughout the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas. When you sign up with our locally owned and family-operated pest control company, we will provide regular pest treatments that keep the pests out!  Compare our residential plans and pricing to find the best solution for your home, or simply give us a call for assistance.