Meteorologists across the board are warning of extreme weather during the summer across most of the continental United States, according to a news release.
While natural events such as heatwaves, storms, floods and tornadoes are some of the more devastating impacts of extreme weather, the increase in bug activity is often overlooked. Although bugs generally do not cause the same devastating impacts as extreme weather events, they can become a severe annoyance and getting rid of them can become quite costly for homeowners.
The Pest Dude recently analyzed predicted summer temperatures and rainfall data for 2024 from Climate.gov to determine which pests are more likely to be problem in each state, the release says.
Florida’s warmer summer combined with more rainfall is likely to lead to an increase in activity in the state for mosquitoes, termites, ants, fleas, ticks, aphids, ladybugs, snails, slugs, gnats and moths.
Zachary Smith of The Pest Dude breaks down how each of these bugs can best be treated:
- Mosquitoes — use insect repellents; eliminate standing water; mosquito nets and screens; treat yard
- Ants — use baits and traps; seal entry points; maintain clean surfaces
- Termites — get regular inspections; install termite barriers; get professional treatments
- Aphids — use insecticidal soaps or oils; encourage natural predators; monitor regularly
- Fleas — use flea preventatives; vacuum frequently; wash pet bedding; install yard fencing for flea-carrying wildlife
- Ticks — use tick repellants; trim vegetation; do regular tick checks; treat yard
- Gnats — use gnat traps; reduce moisture; ensure proper outdoor drainage
- Ladybugs — seal entry points; vacuum; provide ladybug houses/shelter
- Snails — reduce moisture; set up barriers; handpick from plants/garden areas
- Slugs — use slug baits; create barriers; handpick from plants/garden areas
- Moths — use moth traps; properly store clothing/pantry items; clean regularly
For more information on why specific bugs will be on the increase and detailed treatments to use, visit https://pestdude.com/bugs-boom/.
Published July 10, 2024
