Apr 13, 2017, 09:53 AM by Fred Speer

Those unusually strong winter storms that hit California recently brought a lot of much-needed rain and snow. As a result, we may be seeing increased pest pressures in and around homes this spring and summer.

The National Pest Management Association recently released its spring and summer Bug Barometer, which forecasts insect pest activity levels for the coming months based on weather patterns. The forecast for California? There’s a good chance that people here will be seeing more pests as the weather warms.

According to the Bug Barometer, the West Coast of the United States will experience the following:

“Warmer, wetter spring weather may lead to higher than normal flying pest populations, including mosquitoes and stinging insects, which will continue through the summer months. Increased West Coast rainfall may drive cockroaches and other crawling pests indoors.”

“Ticks, mosquitoes, ants and other pests will be out in full force this spring and summer,” said Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., chief entomologist and vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the NPMA. “With growing concern over infectious diseases spread by pests such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, Lyme disease and more, diligent prevention and awareness are especially necessary given the high pest populations that are projected for the warmer seasons ahead.”

Another commonly encountered pest around California homes is ants. The Clark Man says that while heavy flooding may have wiped out some colonies, it also may have eliminated natural food sources for others and forced them, like cockroaches, to seek new food supplies inside homes.

In addition to flying insects, ants, and cockroaches, moisture-loving termites could see an uptick in activity because of the wet soil conditions and warm spring temperatures. The Clark Man says homeowners should keep a close eye for signs of termite activity in and around their home. These signs include:

• Mud tubes, found near a home’s foundation, built by subterranean termites to provide moisture while they travel between their colony and food source
• Wood that is soft and sounds hollow when tapped, or dark and blistering pieces of wood
• Uneven or bubbling paint is often a sign of moisture buildup, which could mean one of two things – water damage or termites
• Light, wood-colored droppings that resemble sawdust, called frass, inside or outside the home
• Discarded wings, near windowsills and doors, are often the only outwardly visible sign of an infestation

If you have a problem with pests in or around your home, call or text Clark Pest Control at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com. We will come out, make a proper identification of the pest or pests, and then provide a treatment recommendation.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.