As the shifting weather brings more and more rain, the rising water levels can have unexpected consequences. In addition to altering how plants grow, the damp weather also affects insects and other bugs. During the summer, the warm conditions help the number of pests to grow faster. When it begins to rain in the autumn and winter, many of these bugs try to seek shelter indoors. It can be quite frustrating to find your house crawling with bugs after each rainstorm, but understanding why this happens and how to prevent it can help to make your home safe and free of any pests.
Why Do Pests Go Indoors When It Rains?
When it rains, bugs face many risks, including drowning, being washed away, and losing their food sources. They will go looking for a safer home after heavy rains flood their usual living areas and hunting grounds. Unfortunately, the dry and calm interior of human homes seems very appealing to pests who are searching for a new area to settle down. Most buildings are constructed on higher ground, so the areas around them do not flood as much, and the nooks and crannies of houses can provide shelter to a variety of bugs.
What Types of Bugs Move Inside in Damp Florida Weather?
Fire ants and other types of ants are one of the most common nuisances after it rains. When their underground nests are flooded, they float along the top of standing water, and they will immediately begin searching for a dryer area to rebuild. If you have any sort of termite problem in the first place, damp weather can make it far worse, since they thrive in locations with damp wood. Cockroaches are especially prone to hiding indoors if the weather has been rainy lately, since human habitats provide them with a reliable source of food and protect them from drowning.
How Can You Protect Your Home From These Pests?
The best way to protect against pests coming inside during the rain is to be proactive and take preventative steps. It is very important to make your home seem unattractive to pests that are looking for a new area to live. Try to promptly clean up any spills, vacuum regularly, and keep food in sealed containers in order to. You should also make sure that the outside of your house is not easily accessible to pests. You can remove any tree branches that lean against windows, since they can create a bridge that lets bugs into your upstairs. Loose brush and standing water around the home should also be cleared away in order to prevent pests from moving into your house. Make sure that your windows, doors, and any other cracks are properly sealed, in order to block bugs from coming indoors.
Regular pest prevention and maintenance from a local pest control company will ensure that there is not a large bug population just waiting to move inside, and spraying an insecticide around the outside base of the house can deter pests. If the damp weather is making your home or business a haven for pests, Bugs By Brian can promptly deal with any infestations and prevent future problems.
