Jul 16, 2021, 13:28 PM by Fred Speer

The extreme temperatures and drought that California – and other parts of the western U.S. – have been experiencing is not only affecting people who live there. Insects are affected as well.

Clark, your neighborly termite, grounds care, and pest management expert, understands how weather affects insect pests. As a rule, insects thrive in warm weather. Abundant food sources and insect reproductive rates typically increase in warmer months. This is why you see more bugs in and around your home when the temperature rises.

As temperatures increase, so do the metabolic rates of insects, which means they need to eat more to survive. Thus, insect pests will begin to invade homes in search of a tasty snack. Or, you may notice increased insect damage to your garden during warmer months.

"Pests like to be around moisture,” said Blair Smith, Clark Pest Control’s Technical Manager, in a recent interview with Chico, CA-based CBS affiliate KHSL-TV 12. “And, of course, in these hot summer months where it is dryer than ever out there, water can really be an attraction to come inside so they have a place to cool off and [get] something to drink.”

Just like humans, insects need water to survive. However, the effect of too little rain also affects insect behavior.

• - Extremely dry weather pushes many bugs indoors in search of water, including ants – especially the Argentine ant – and certain species of crickets.
  
  
• - Some insects thrive and multiply in dry, hot weather. For example, grasshopper and spider mite populations skyrocket under these conditions.
  
  
• - Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs and breed, so dry weather will affect their reproduction – even if the temperatures are within the range where they are active.

Mice like it hot, but not this hot

It’s a known fact that mice will seek a warm place inside homes to ride out the cooler winter months. But, like humans, mice also will do what everyone else does during a scorching hot summer day: find a cool place to avoid the heat.

Mice tend to move around more during the summer than they do during the rest of the year. They will build semi-permanent nests in warm parts of a home in winter. But when the mercury rises, they’ll seek a cooler part of your home, moving from the attic to a crawlspace or the back of a closet or kitchen cabinet.

Summer pest prevention tips

Keeping pests outside in the heat and out of your home this summer can be managed with the following pest prevention tips:

• - Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including entry points for utilities and pipes.
• - Make sure there are no tears in window and door screens.
  
  
• - Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from your house.
  
  
• - Keep basements, attics, and crawlspaces well ventilated and dry.
  
  
• - Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
  
  
• - Repair fascia and rotted roof shingles, as some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.
  
  
• - Replace weatherstripping and repair loose mortar around foundations and windows.

Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify you before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.

If pests are making your outdoor celebrations a little less enjoyable, call or text (800) WE NEED YOU (936-3339) or email us at clarkcares@clarkpest.com. We are ready to help solve your pest issues.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.