Spring Pests in Virginia: How Warmer Weather and Rain Bring Unwanted Guests
Spring is that wonderful time of the year when the snow melts and the harsh temperatures of winter give way to balmy days and blooming flowers. Unfortunately, the return of warmer weather also means the return of nuisance pests like ants, mosquitos, termites, ticks, and more. Understanding why these pests come out and what attracts them to your home can help you understand how to keep them out of your house. Summit Environmental Solutions can also help. Our team of technicians offers the best pest control services in the Northern Virginia areas of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Fredericksburg. Get in touch today for a FREE estimate at 703-520-5868!
Why Spring Weather Triggers Pest Activity
Almost all insects can survive the winter, either by laying eggs, entering a cocoon, or simply going dormant. As the weather warms up and the ground thaws, various insect pests like ants, termites, roaches, and mosquitos begin to emerge, searching for sources of food and moisture. The increased rainfall that comes with spring will provide the moisture that pests need to survive, and rain puddles can provide the standing water that mosquitos need to breed.
Termites also begin to breed more in the spring, and you might spot winged reproductives, also known as “swarmers”, congregating near your home. It’s important to contact a pest control company as soon as you spot termite swarmers, as they will likely begin forming a colony on or near your property.
Ants become active again during the spring, and homeowners in Northern Virginia commonly complain of ants infesting their kitchens and bathrooms, with ants commonly spotted crawling on or around countertops, sinks, trash cans, and pet food bowls.
Common Spring Pests in Virginia
Homeowners in Northern Virginia deal with several common pests that become more active during the spring, including:
- Ants: probably the most common complaint, these pests will invade homes en masse as soon as a single scout ant finds a tiny morsel of food in your home.
- Mosquitos: warmer weather often means a return of these blood-sucking pests, which are especially active at dawn and dusk
- Termites: spring is swarming season, which means new termite colonies that may migrate to your home to feed on any wood they can find
- Spiders: as warmer weather leads to increased insect activity, spiders will come out again to hunt for their food
- Ticks: warmer weather means ticks will emerge, carrying Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Rodents: mice and rats will continue to search for safe places to nest with close proximity to food and water
How Spring Rain Increases Pest Problems
You’ve heard that April showers bring May flowers, but did you also know that April showers bring May termites and mosquitoes? Spring often brings sudden, short, and powerful rainstorms that leave behind puddles, floods, and saturated wood.
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs in, and rain collecting in puddles, overturned wheelbarrows, abandoned outdoor furniture, or anywhere else can allow a mosquito population to grow exponentially.
Rain will soften, moisten, and rot untreated wood, which can attract wood-destroying pests like termites and carpenter ants. While your new deck may not be affected, untreated wood like rotting logs in your yard can attract termites and carpenter ants, who will then move on to other areas of your property in search of more wood.
Spring showers can also cause flash flooding, which may send spiders, rats, mice, and other pests inside your home in search of a dry shelter.
Preventing Spring Pest Infestations
It may seem like spring pest infestations are unavoidable, but there are some steps you can take to keep them out:
- Eliminate Standing Water: make sure your gutters aren’t clogged up with leaves, as this provides a perfect source of standing water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Check around bird baths, children’s outdoor playsets, and anything else that might be collecting water in your yard, and promptly get rid of it.
- Seal off Cracks and Entry Points: check around doors, windows and foundations for any cracks, gaps, or weak spots that pests could enter through, and then seal them off.
- Keep Food Secured and Areas Cleaned: make sure that you are cleaning up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen, keep all food stored in airtight, hard plastic containers, and put away pet food at night.
- Waterproof Your Basement and Crawl Space: these areas are vulnerable to moisture issues, so ensuring they have proper drainage and dehumidifiers can keep moisture-seeking pests like termites away.
- Schedule a Pest Control Inspection: the best way to prevent spring pests is to have preventative treatments done by a licensed pest control expert like Summit Environmental Solutions
Best Pest Control in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Fredericksburg
If you need pest control services this spring in Northern Virginia, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions. Our team of pest control experts offers comprehensive pest control treatments and preventative pest control services to combat the onslaught of pests brought on by warmer temperatures and spring showers. Get in touch with us today for a FREE estimate at 703-520-5868!
