From termites to mites, these common summer pests can cause significant damage. Here we will show you how to spot them early and stop them quickly.
Every summer, the same uninvited guest appears. There are ants in your kitchen, mosquitoes in your backyard, and sometimes something even worse is lurking inside your walls. Most homeowners address the obvious problems and move on. However, a few summer pests can cause serious and costly damage before you even know you have a problem.
So which pests are worth worrying about, and how can you prevent them without spending a fortune? Knowing when and what to look out for can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in pest treatment costs this season.
Why pests are most active in summer
Heat and humidity promote summer pest activity. Insects rely on external temperature to regulate their body functions, so the warmer the temperature, the faster they grow and reproduce.
“The normal life cycle of a mosquito is 10 days to two weeks, but under the right environmental conditions it can be half that time,” says Dr. Stanton E. Cope, a Chicago, Illinois-based entomologist and director of technical services for pest control company Rose Pest Solutions. This means that new generations can appear twice as fast and the population can increase before the summer peak.
Typical summer routines are also involved. “We tend to cook outside, hang out around pools, and participate in outdoor activities,” says Keith Hines, vice president of operations at Modern Pest, a Brunswick, Maine-based pest control company. “This provides more food sources for the pests and encourages them to find shelter closer to home.”
When to stop DIY and hire a professional
Not all pest problems require a professional, but some definitely do.
If this is the case, try DIY pest control.
- Problems are small and visible on the surface.
- You’ll find a few ants, an occasional fly, or a single spider.
- It can be treated with good hygiene and over-the-counter (OTC) products.
call an expert To protect your home from pests…
- Even after DIY treatments, the pests will still come back.
- Instead of the occasional straggler, there are many.
- The problem is hidden or reoccurring.
- Find termites.
- Stinging insects build nests in walls and underground.
- You notice the rodent.
- Find cockroaches and bed bugs.
“We want to get rid of pests before they take hold and become a problem,” Hines emphasizes. If DIY doesn’t work, you can often save money by calling early. For termites, professional treatment typically costs between $1,000 and $3,500, but if you wait, it’s a fraction of the cost of structural repairs.
the most expensive summer pests
Industry experts point to six summer pests that cost homeowners the most, from property damage to medical bills and pest control costs.
Ali
Ants are the most common pest service call across the country, and summer is their peak season. Heavy rains flood their underground nests and force them indoors, where they search for food and water.
While most species are a nuisance, carpenter ants can cause structural damage. “They create tunnels in damp, damaged wood,” says John Bell, Southeast market technical director for Terminix, a global pest control company. As such, it is of particular concern in the Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and Midwest.
Early warning signs include:
- Ant footprints marching along baseboards, counters and walls
- Small piles of dirt and debris near cracks (signs of a nest)
- There is a faint rustling sound inside the wall (could be carpenter ants)
- Soft or hollow-sounding wood in damp areas
When to call a pro: If you see ants repeatedly in the same location, this usually means there is a larger colony nearby.
mosquito
“Mosquitoes breed in standing water and can do so in as little as a tablespoon,” Bell explains. This means bird bathing areas, clogged gutters, and children’s toys left outside are all potential breeding grounds. The risk is highest in the South, where the season lasts from April to November.
Even if the drought continues, these problems will not go away. Mosquito eggs can survive for up to eight months in dry conditions and hatch as soon as it rains.
Early warning signs include:
- Swarms of mosquitoes gather at dusk or near shaded areas
- I find myself getting bitten by mosquitoes even when I’m outside for just a little while.
- I hear a high-pitched buzzing sound
When to call a pro: I know mosquitoes exist, but I can’t find their breeding source.
tick
Even in winter, the number of ticks does not decrease as much as it used to. If more ticks survive the cold season, their numbers will increase and their range will expand by the time summer arrives. “After one blood meal, a single tick can lay up to 10,000 eggs,” Cope points out. This helps explain how quickly the population recovers each year.
Ticks carry serious diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the burden is greatest in the Northeast.
Early warning signs include:
When to call a pro: Even if you find one tick, there are many more. Call a professional before it’s too late.
termites
Termites cause an estimated $30 billion in damage to homes each year, making them the most expensive pest on this list. Summer is the season for termite infestations, with termites taking off on warm, humid days, often right after rain.
“Homeowners should not panic if they find termites, as termite damage occurs over a long period of time,” Cope says. However, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite damage, so you will be responsible for the cost of treatment.
Early warning signs include:
- Feathers discarded near the window or door
- Mud pipes along foundations, walls, or crawl spaces
- Bubbling or peeling paint that looks like water damage
When to call a pro: If you see swarms (flying termites), it usually means there is an established colony.
stinging insect
Bell said the stinging insect sends more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. Risk peaks in late summer when colonies are fully established and most aggressive.
As natural food sources change, hornets and hornets are becoming more active in their search for sugars and proteins, Hines said. That’s why they start showing up around outdoor dining, trash cans, and beverage containers in August and September. “Homeowners should not attempt to remove bee colonies, wasp nests, or yellowjacket nests,” Cope warns.
Early warning signs include:
- Nests can be seen under eaves, in trees, underground, etc.
- Increased insect activity around trash, food, and drinks
- Buzzing sounds near walls, side walls, or attics could mean there’s a hidden nest
When to call a pro: I have noticed a sudden increase in wasp activity. They tend to become more aggressive as autumn approaches.
house fly
It’s easy to ignore house flies, but Bell says they’re a real health concern. A single fly can carry more than a million bacteria and contaminate food or surfaces by landing on them. Populations increase rapidly, especially during the heat of summer. A single female may lay up to 200 eggs at a time. “These pests breed in decaying organic matter, trash, and dead animals,” Cope notes.
Early warning signs include:
- Frequent flies indoors, especially near the kitchen and trash cans
- small black spots on the surface (fly droppings)
- Maggots near garbage cans and rotten items
When to call a pro: If flies continue to appear after cleaning, there may be a hidden breeding source.
Affordable ways to prevent pests
Cope said all the pests need to survive is food, water and shelter. Eliminating just one can go a long way. Bell adds that most DIY pest prevention costs little and depends on consistent habits.
Here are 5 inexpensive ways to exterminate pests.
- Controls humidity. Empty standing water (bird baths, pet bowls, plant saucers) at least once a week, fix dripping faucets, and keep gutters clean. “Clogged drains are one of the most common mosquito breeding sites that people never think about,” Bell says.
- Seal the entrance. Cope warns that rats only need a dime-sized gap to get in, and mice don’t need any more. Seal cracks with caulking or weatherstripping, add door sweeps, and repair torn screen doors.
- Keep things clean. Wipe up crumbs and spills, store groceries in airtight containers, and take out the trash frequently. Hines adds that trash cans should be placed away from the outside of your home.
- Maintain your garden. Bell points out that if plants touch your home, pests can enter directly into your home, so keep shrubs cut back.
- Move firewood and mulch away from exterior walls. “What’s stacked up in your home is just an open invitation,” Bell warns.
