How Does Drought Affect Pest Population?

“I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?” Famous lyrics from the band Creedence Clearwater Revival. These lyrics seem appropriate this month in Brevard County. There has been very little rainfall. Front yards are turning brown and the sun is beaming down. This got us us thinking that a good topic for this blog would be how lack of rainfall affects the pest population.

Some people might speculate right away that low rainfall is good for pest control efforts. That maybe the lack of rain causes them to die off right away. Well, in the case of mosquitoes this is actually true. Mosquitoes need bodies of still water to lay their larvae. That’s why is is important that you dont have containers or old tires sitting around your home. After it rains these things almost instantly become mosquito nesting grounds.

But other types of insects and pests will procreate regardless of rain. And the ones that are already on this planet will be looking for water sources and shelter from the hot sun, aka YOUR home.

Pests will first seek outdoor sources for water. This would include your air conditioning water run-off. But that is not usually enough. Outdoor leaky faucets may get their attention. But the good stuff is inside the home. This is why you see more pests in the bathroom and kitchen usually. The source of water in there. It also helps that the kitchen has tiny scraps of food that fall between or behind counters and appliances.

Pests like rats, mice, roaches, and various insects will become more aggressive as they seek life sustaining H2O. If the problem is minimal, you can put out simple insect baits or traps. But if you find yourself overwhelmed, you probably should call a pest control agent The agent will treat the area and also inspect it for what may be drawing the insects in. His tips can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Research also suggests that drought stress promotes outbreaks of plant-eating insects. This is important for your yard or garden. Sunstate Pest offers lawn care as well.

When it comes to pests, prevention is great, but pests are almost always inevitable. Proper treatment is the surefire way to keep them out of your home.