Common Summer Household Pests

A household pest is any undesired animal that has a history of living, invading, causing damage to, eating food from, acting as a disease vector for, or causing any other harm to a human habitat. While most are considered a nuisance, household pests become dangerous when they pose a risk to health, property, or lifestyle. Household pests aren’t just limited to insects; they also include arachnids, rodents, and wildlife.

While household pests can be found year-round, some are more common in the summer months. Here are 8 of the most common summer household pests and how you can prevent them.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito season peaks in the summer months. The warm weather and humid environments accelerate their life cycle so they are able to reproduce in large numbers during this time. You are most likely to see mosquitoes when you have standing water on your property. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water and the hot, humid climate in summer is ideal for both breeding and to find food sources. Mosquitoes are dangerous to humans as they carry pathogens that can cause serious diseases like Zika and West Nile virus.

Mosquitoes can be prevented by:

Avoiding the outdoors at dawn and dusk
Wearing clothing that covers arms and legs
Eliminating areas of standing water
Repair or replace torn window screens
Apply insect repellent

Ants

Ants hibernate in the winter and come out in full force over the summer. They have to forage in the summer months to feed their growing colonies and to build up their reserves for fall. Ants are usually seen indoors in the summer because they are searching for food and water as these can become scarce for them.

Ants can be prevented by:

Keeping your home clean, especially the kitchen
Not leaving pet food and water bowls outdoors
Keeping trees and shrubs trimmed away from the house
Sealing cracks and holes in your home’s exterior

Fleas

Fleas are prevalent in the summer months, although they can be found on pets year-round. Pets will indicate the presence of fleas by scratching and biting when they come in from outdoors.

Fleas can be prevented by:

Treating pets for fleas with preventative medication
Vacuuming frequently, especially in areas that pets frequent, and disposing of the bag immediately
Treating your yard with outdoor flea spray
Washing pet bedding and toys weekly in hot water

Ticks

Ticks are problematic to humans and pets because they spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Tick bites increase in the summer because people and animals are spending more time outside. The US is also seeing an increase in ticks because of the combination of mild winters and an increased population of deer and rodents which are known to carry ticks.

Ticks can be prevented by:

Using tick preventatives on pets
Wearing long sleeves and closed toe shoes when outdoors
Avoid areas with high grass or woods when possible
Eliminating debris and wood piles from your property
Wearing insect repellent
Checking yourself and your pets for ticks immediately after coming in from outdoors
Removing any ticks found immediately

Termites

Termite swarming season is in the spring but these newly established colonies grow exponentially in the summer. Termites can go long periods of time undetected, causing significant damage to your home. It is important to keep an eye out for signs of termites so you can catch them early.

Termites can be prevented by:

Eliminating wood to soil contact around foundations
Creating a 4 inch barrier between wood mulch and your home
Keeping plants a few feet away from your home
Making sure storm drains point away from foundations
Fixing leaks and eliminating any other sources of excess moisture
Having an annual termite inspection performed

Grasshoppers

While most people view grasshoppers as just a nuisance pest, they can be devastating to gardeners and farmers. Grasshoppers can devour an entire field of crops in just a few days. Grasshoppers surge in large numbers in the summer months and are most prevalent in dry, hot summers. Grasshoppers can also cause damage to non-farmers as these are one of the only pests that can chew through screens.

Grasshoppers can be prevented by:

Plant flowers that deter grasshoppers (lilac, crepe myrtle, verbena, sage, juniper)
Plant vegetables that don’t attract grasshoppers (squash, peas, tomatoes)
Introduce predators by making your garden attractive to birds
Use floating row covers on crops and plants
Consider natural products that kill grasshoppers without harming other animals or plants (Nosema locustae or Beauveria bassiana)

Flies

Flies invade your home in the summer months to escape the heat. They only reproduce during the hotter months and reproduce even more prolifically when they get indoors. Flies will stick around well into the fall months.

Flies can be prevented by:

Keeping windows, doors, and vents sealed
Using garbage cans with tight fitting lids
Taking the garbage out when it is full
Storing food in airtight containers
Not leaving dirty dishes out
Not leaving grass clippings in the yard
Turning off outdoor lights at night

Stinging Insects

Stinging insects mate in the spring and their populations grow during the summer months. Hornets and yellow jackets are especially common in the summer because they have to establish new nests each year. These are usually found under decking or under piles of leaves. These stinging insects are potentially dangerous for people with allergies. Yellow jackets and bees can also get into the walls of homes, causing significant damage.

Stinging insects can be prevented by:

Wearing shoes when outdoors
Keeping trash cans tightly covered
Eliminating dirt patches on your lawn
Avoiding sweet smelling perfumes
Don’t swat at stinging insects

Don’t let these common summer pests ruin your summer. If you have a problem with any of these pests, contact a professional pest control company who can help eliminate them safely and prevent them going forward.