Like most animals, weather affects pest behavior in different ways. Some hibernate, some overwinter, or do something called “supercooling” in the colder months. Pests are a nuisance year round, but what do they do during the seasonal changes?
Winter
Pests are good at surviving. The winter months present the most challenging environments because insects are cold blooded creatures, and must take actions to stay alive during the freezing temperatures. Some of these actions include overwintering (similar to hibernation), or they do something called “supercooling” (freeze tolerant).
Overwintering
Some pests, like honey bees, wasps, hornets, spiders, and carpenter bees all overwinter. Overwintering is when pests plug up the entrance to their homes, and live inside the nests. Overwintering is usually spent during the young stages of life. During the larvae, nymph, pupae, and egg stage is spent overwintering. Female pests, such as carpenter bees, wasps, and hornets, take care of the young, and ensure they survive through the winter.
Freeze Tolerant
A few supercooling insects can be found across the U.S., namely the wooly bear, and the tiger moth. Freeze-tolerant and freeze susceptible insects all have a built-in “antifreeze.” It helps keep them alive during winter by creating a chemical inside their bodies. The chemical prevents ice crystals from forming inside them. Ice crystals form around organs and cells, while the surrounding fluid is untouched. But, even with the chemical in their bodies, insects cannot continue any type of activity if the temperatures drop below 40 degrees fahrenheit. Even in regions where winters are cool or mildly cool, insects still have the chemical in their bodies. Although they “supercool” their internal body temperatures to a point below freezing, this does not mean they are invulnerable. If the temperatures drop below the insects’ supercooled temperatures, they will freeze completely. These insects stay dormant for the winter, and warm their bodies back up in the spring. Insects are made of mostly water, so their size can determine how well they can supercool. Smaller insects contain less water, so they are able to supercool to colder temperatures than larger insects.
Spring
Rainy Weather
Rainy seasons can mean more pests inviting themselves indoors. For instance, lots of rain can flood ants’ nesting sites, so they go in search of dry ground-like your home. Increased precipitation boosts activity for moisture loving bugs like mosquitoes, cockroaches, stink bugs, and termites. Mosquitoes are dependent on water to lay their eggs in. Wherever stagnant water forms like puddles and small ponds, these are ideal locations for mosquitoes to increase their population.
Flooding
Flooding conditions can force some ground dwelling bugs including ants, beetles, gnats, yellow jackets, and ground wasps out of their nests. Their colonies fill up with water, drowning some and leaving the rest to find new food and shelter sources—which makes your property very appealing.
Summer
Dry Weather
A drought or long duration of dry weather affects pest behavior by disrupting their water and food supply. Obviously this encourages pests to search for food and water. If the pests have access to it in your home, there’s a good chance you will end up with an invasion. During dry weather, pests may build their nests closer to your home, so they have easier access to exactly what they need.
Mild Weather
There are no hot temperature cut-offs, meaning insects are just as active on a mild April day as they are on the hottest August day. The increased activity includes more than eating and preparing for winter. Some bugs ramp up their proliferation causing their numbers to increase exponentially. Warm weather also allows larvae to mature faster into adulthood. As a result of a shorter gestation period, it enables them to have a longer adult life and the ability to travel further. That’s why, in the summer, some unfamiliar pests might appear in your yard. Because of the activity of certain pests, it also causes an escalation in predator activity. Which means you might see other pests who are drawn to your property because of the abundant food sources.
Fall
Summer pests are often common in the fall as well. They are looking for a food source, or a place to store their food, and a place to keep alive, stay warm and hunker down before winter hits. This is also a good time for the home or business owner to prepare their property to make it less welcoming to these unwanted visitors.
Common Fall pests
Stinging pest behavior in general tends to be very active during fall. Just like squirrels and other rodents, stinging pests are preparing for winter. They are the most busy during fall collecting nutrients such as nectar, fruit, honey, and other small insects.
Cockroaches are looking for a dark moist area with food and water and warmer temperatures. For the homeowner, fall is a good time to have leaks fixed to cut off access to pests, spills and crumbs cleaned up, and open food containers sealed off.
Box elder bugs, stink bugs, ladybugs, etc. are also common fall pests. They are looking for a good place to overwinter. Whether it be on the tree in your front yard or inside your home.
There are quite a few changes in pest behavior throughout the seasons , and many ways to prevent these pests from making your home theirs. You can look up any number of DIY treatments, but if those don’t take care of your pest control problems, give the professional exterminators at Green Pest Management a call (302-777-2390) for the best pest control near you. Take a look to see if we offer treatments in your area (Delaware pest control, Pennsylvania pest control, New Jersey pest control, Maryland pest control). We can prevent or take care of any pests you may be experiencing during all seasons. Take a minute and listen to what customers are saying about Green Pest Management.
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