Pests, from termites, cockroaches, ants and rats, are affected by the seasons. This means that by looking at weather patterns and environmental phenomena, gardeners and homeowners can make well-informed predictions about pest problems to come. This allows them the opportunity to keep an eye on areas of concern, identify pests and find a solution, often calling in the professionals for assistance and guidance.

Read on, to find out more about the effects plant growth, heavy rain and other seasonal changes can have on the pests around you.

The Effects of the Weather

Plant Growth

During harvest season, for both large-scale farms and home gardens, the abundance of fresh produce can attract an increased number of pests. This includes the pests that consume the same food that we do, such as gnats and fruit flies, as well as the pests that live on them, such as spiders and frogs.

For outdoor plants, increased vegetation leads to more pests that eat their roots, stems, leaves and flowers. Insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, whiteflies, mealybugs and aphids all thrive on plant matter. Meaning the more there is to consume, the larger the number of insects to be found.

As with fruit flies and spiders, all the insects above have predators. Predator insects like praying mantis, ladybugs and wasps will increase with an abundance of their prey.

Heavy Rain

Heavy rain, or any change in the water table, can have an effect on the pest population.

Floods displace pests from their burrows, nests and colonies in search of drier areas, unfortunately that could mean your attic space, kitchen cupboards or garage.

Certain pests are attracted to the damp conditions that heavy rain can bring, such as a flooded basement or a garage. Pests like centipedes, silverfish, termites, spiders and earwigs seek out these damp conditions to live.

Mosquitoes are also likely to thrive in these conditions, as they develop in standing water. Eggs can be laid in as little as a quarter inch or 6 millimeters of water, becoming adult mosquitoes within one week. Mosquitoes can be found in any type of standing water, which means that eliminating the source might help during uncontrollable mosquito proliferation. Types of standing water include, ponds, lakes, marshes, ditches, flower pots, bird bathes, old tires, clogged gutters, empty wheel barrels and kids play toys.

Seasonal Changes

Temperature, whether caused by seasonal changes or more extreme conditions, plays a major role in pests trying to get into your home for shelter.

Warmer temperatures during spring and summer see increased pest activity, as insects like mosquitoes and flies thrive in warm weather and become more active during these seasons.

Winter months, see insects trying to survive by seeking refuge underground, where it is warmer or entering insect ‘hibernation’ known as diapause. When the weather heats up again in spring, gardeners and home owners can expect to see a resurgence of insects. Be prepared, that if warmer temperatures come sooner than expected in the year, so too will pests.

The colder temperatures in fall and winter can also drive some pests indoors, in search of warmth and shelter. Rodents, such as mice and rats, are known for seeking refuge in buildings during the winter months. They can squeeze through the tiniest of spaces to enter your home, so it is a good idea to do all you can to keep rodents out.

Seasonal humidity is another factor that affects pests, as high levels of humidity bring on periods of breeding and growth for several pest varieties, in particular cockroaches and ants.

Most insects breed during the warmer months, which is why there are often so many of them out in summer. Ticks, for example, breed during spring and early summer, so these tiny pests will be much more prevalent during these months.

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperature can mean anything from sweltering heat, extreme cold and blustering wind to intense droughts. Sharp changes in weather patterns will drive pests into hiding, as they have weather tolerances just as we do, unfortunately the hiding space is often your home.

Insects are cold-blooded, which means that they will seek out warmer areas to live during sudden cold spells. Some insects, like termites draw moisture from the soil when moving through self-made tunnels in the ground, extreme drought might force them to move to a place where water can be found. When nests and hives are displaced by strong winds, many insects will look to create a new shelter.

City-dwellers are less affected by this, as there is a smaller population of pests and insects present. Yet the homes of residents in suburban, agricultural and rural environments can become more of a refuge to pests affected by extreme temperature changes.

In The End

Gardeners have become attuned to the seasons. Whether it be in excitement for a flowering plant, the first apple of the season, to see if a hedge has taken in new soil or just an appreciation of winter months. Noticing subtle changes, such as warmer winters, stronger winds or increased rain can help gardeners prepare for what is to come, like preparing adequate drainage, cutting certain plants down, pruning and even moving plants indoors. Insects and pests form a part of this seasonal cycle, one that you can learn to notice, understand and master.