Are pests more active during rainy weather? This is a common question, and in truth, it is a bit complicated to answer. There is tremendous variety among the different pests active here in Tennessee, and they all respond to rain in different ways. That being said, rainy weather can expose your home to pest threats in a variety of ways, and it is important that homeowners are informed and prepared about potential threats that could emerge from a rainy season.
So what changes in pest activity can rain bring about? And should homeowners be concerned about them?
Rain Does NOT Stop Mosquitoes:
Though rain may stop certain flying pests such as wasps in their tracks, mosquitoes are not daunted by a wet weather. Mosquitoes have a specialized flight pattern in the rain that allows them to avoid being knocked out of the air by raindrops. This means that they are not deterred by rainfall and will continue to spread and feed during storms.
Further, mosquitoes are actually MORE common after rainfall due to the fact that they reproduce in standing water. Female mosquitoes will take advantage of puddles formed by gathered rain to produce new eggs that will hatch a whole new generation of mosquitoes. For this reason, homeowners should expect a possible increase in mosquito activity after a period of rainfall.
Rain Brings Invasive Pests Into Your Home:
Rain can disturb our day to day activities, but for nesting, subterranean, or moisture averse pests species, rain can be a disaster. Heavy rains can flood the nesting sites of termites and ants, causing them to seeking higher dry ground. This can sometimes lead these pests into your home, where they may establish a new nesting site.
Further, scavenger pests such as rats and cockroaches can be forced out of the sewer systems (where they make their homes) and lead into your home in search of food and shelter.
Some pests, such as scorpions, are also averse to increased moisture in general. This means that even light rain might cause them to abandon their homes and enter yours, which is warm and dry by comparison. Once these pests have entered your home, they will find a dark, secluded space to hide out and may begin to reproduce and spread deeper into the home.
Water Damage Can Attract Pests:
Water damage caused by rainfall is a problem for homeowners in and of itself. Unfortunately, it may also cause you pest problems. Certain wood destroying pests such as carpenter bees have a preference for moist, rotting, and damaged wood. This can attract them to water damage around your home the result in an extensive infestation if left unchecked.
After extensive rainfall, homeowners should check around their home for signs of water damage, especially in attics and crawlspaces. Not only can these damaged areas be a risk for the structural integrity of the home, they may also be a beacon for pests.
Protecting Your Home From Pests After Rain:
Rainy days don’t guarantee pest activity, but they may be increasing your risk of infestation. The best way to be prepared and to keep your home safe from pests in rain or shine is to have regularly scheduled inspections of your home performed by a licensed pest control provider.
A well-trained technician is a pest expert capable of identifying the subtlest signs of pest activity as well as any conducive environmental conditions that may enable future infestation. By scheduling an inspection, you can identify any of the previously stated issues before they get out of hand, saving you time, frustration, and expense in the long-run!
Finding the right pest control provider to keep your home safe can be a difficult choice, but for homeowners in Chattanooga and Cleveland, that choice is an easy one. We here at Volunteer Rid-A-Pest have decades of experience in the pest industry! Our technicians are trained professionals, and we employ a range of safe, targeted treatment plans that can deal with any pest problem quickly and effectively!
So if you are in need of pest control solutions, or simply have a question, give us a call today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736!
By: Erik
