There’s nothing like a good rainfall to clear the air a bit. Well, unless you’re talking about pests; you’ve surely stepped outside after a rainstorm only to notice a swarm of mosquitoes or crews of ants wandering about at a much higher density than they had before. But why? Not every insect is suddenly super-active after rainfall: butterflies and bees actually take shelter during and after a rainstorm, so why don’t mosquitoes, ants, and other insects? We have some answers.
Why (Some) Pests Come Out After Rainfall
There’s a few reasons that you see some pests- specifically insects- far more active following a good rain. When it comes to mosquitoes, much of their activity is tied to their size. Because they are so small, they aren’t barraged with as many raindrops as, say, a bee. This relative lack of discomfort has a dual purpose: because most other predator insects and mammals are taking shelter, mosquitoes have little competition in their hunting, and little reason to fear being eaten.
Equally important is the increased amount of moisture and standing water that comes after a rainstorm. Mosquitoes and termites both thrive in moist, humid environments, and a storm on a hot summer day can bring out both. Ants and subterranean termites often become more active for a completely separate reason: heavy rain can flood the underground tunnels where they make their homes, and they need to flee these nests to survive. Which leads to another problem…
Some Pests Will Try to Take Shelter in Your Home
While the pests listed above are more active outside during and after rainfall, they are largely the exception. Many pests will be looking for shelter during storms, and if their nests are damaged, they sometimes swarm in an attempt to find a more secure shelter. In this situation, your home or business can be the perfect place to build a new nest or hive. Some insects and wildlife that might look to enter your home during and after a storm include:
Protecting Your Property From Pests During Spring
- Keep things clean and tidy- Limiting the places that a pest or animal can take shelter in during a storm can make your property much less appealing to them. Keeping your lawn tidy, your plants and bushes well-trimmed, and your home (especially garages, basements and attics) uncluttered will give pests little reason to make your home and property their haven.
- Clear standing water- Do your best to clear out any amount of standing water from susceptible locations. Standing water can act as an insect breeding ground, and quickly turn into a serious pest problem.
- Seal any cracks and holes- Not all pests are going to come in through the front door. Cracks or holes in walls, ceilings, or foundations can bring pests running in during a rainstorm. If you seal these potential entry points, pests will have a much harder time figuring out how to get in.
- Keep trash in a secure place- Even during a rainstorm, accessible trash will be appealing to a whole swath of different pests. The desire to find shelter doesn’t mean they will not take advantage of an easy source of food, and easily accessible bags of trash can be just that.
- Don’t leave food out- This might not be directly tied to the shelter aspect of a pest presence, but having multiple pest benefits- like good shelter and food access- will only increase the chances that your home will become a prime target. Keep food securely stored, and don’t leave dirty dishes and spills out overnight.
- Contact Thomas Pest Services- Even if you do everything in your power to make sure that pests stay out of your home, sometimes it isn’t enough. That’s when you need to contact the professionals. At Thomas Pest Services, we offer an all-inclusive Complete Care Plan that covers pests from ants to wasps to cockroaches to rodents. This includes an exterior pest guard, which includes inspection and treatment of exterior areas to deter pests from entering your home in the first place. Just contact us for a free estimate!