Monsoon Pest Surge

The arrival of spring in March and the monsoon in late July trigger plant growth and insect activity. Pests also take advantage of puddles around houses and other sources of stagnant water.

The abundance of breeding grounds gives rise to mosquitoes, while cockroaches exploit damp conditions in search of food and shelter. In addition, termites are attracted to moist wood and become active during monsoon.

Mosquitoes

Most of us associate mosquitoes with the obnoxious whining they emit during sleep and the intense itchy welts that they leave on our skin. But despite their repulsive association with disease and nuisance, mosquitoes are fascinating creatures. An ever-growing body of research has revealed mosquitoes’ incredible and unusual behavioral, anatomical, and physiological traits.

Mosquitoes spend their lives searching for food, a mate, and places to rest and lay their eggs. They rely on a complex system of sensors to detect movement, heat, humidity, carbon dioxide, and other environmental cues. Once an adult female is ready to oviposit, she seeks a blood meal for the nutrient-rich proteins that will help her eggs develop. Although humans are commonly a mosquito’s blood-meal host, other mammals, birds, and reptiles will also satisfy her palate.

After emerging as adults, mosquitoes fly short shaky flights to find a place where they can rest and allow their newly up wings to dry and harden. Most species rest near water, but they also take refuge in vegetation and other structures that offer protection from harsh weather conditions.

Like bees and butterflies, mosquitoes are important pollinators that transfer flower-produced nectar between plants, enabling them to produce seeds. But the majority of a mosquito’s diet is not plant-based; it is made up of a mixture of sugary liquids, known as “fruit juice”, found in flower nectar and fruit.

The monsoon’s heavy rains create puddles and other stagnant water bodies that serve as ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The high levels of humidity also contribute to mosquitoes’ proliferation. The mosquitoes’ appetite for blood and their propensity to carry disease germs make them a significant threat to human health.

Cockroaches

The monsoon brings much-needed moisture to our desert landscape, but it also means pests are active. Pests thrive in the humid monsoon season because it offers them the ideal conditions to reproduce and search for food and shelter.

Heavy rains drive pests out of their natural habitats and compel them to seek shelter in our homes. This is why leaky roofs and cracks in walls become an easy entry point for unwelcome guests.

Cockroaches have a high moisture requirement and thrive in the moist monsoon weather. Cockroaches are cryptic insects and live in tight gaps, crevices, and corners. They can be difficult to find but a bright flashlight can help. Look for cockroach droppings on surfaces near harborage areas or under appliances. You can also use a tool such as a spatula or mechanics mirror to ‘flush’ out cockroaches from their hiding spots.

Ants and termites are also very active during the monsoon season. The warm, moist weather makes them more active as they search for crumbs and other food sources around your home. Moreover, the monsoon season is an ideal time for termites to breed and start new colonies.

The key to preventing these pests is ensuring that your home remains clean and free from any food and water source. Regular trash disposal, sanitizing kitchen appliances, and fixing any leaks can go a long way in keeping pests away from your property. In addition, scheduling a pest control treatment is the best way to prevent cockroaches, mosquitoes, termites, and other pests from infesting your home. HiCare’s comprehensive 3x mosquito, 4D cockroach, and termite treatments are effective at eliminating these pests, as well as preventing them from returning in the future.

Ants

The monsoon season brings much-needed rain to the desert southwest, but it also provides ideal conditions for pest growth. The rain creates a humid environment, perfect for mosquitoes and cockroaches, while the standing water provides breeding grounds and attracts termites and ants. As these insects search for shelter and food, they will often head into homes.

Ants are particularly problematic during the monsoon, with a surge in activity after rainy weather. This surge occurs because heavy rainfall floods their nests, prompting them to seek out drier areas. Since these ants are tenacious and have no problem invading human dwellings, this can lead to infestations.

Homeowners often notice ant invasions around sinks, bathtubs, and pet food dishes. This may be due to ants seeking out a water source, which they typically find in home plumbing and appliances. Ants will then leave pheromone trails for other members of the colony to follow, leading them into homes and businesses.

Fortunately, there are steps that homeowners can take to prevent ants and other pests from entering buildings during the monsoon. By storing food in airtight containers, using lids on trash cans, and fixing any leaky pipes or utility boxes, you can make it harder for ants to gain entry into your building.

If you need assistance preventing a pest infestation during the monsoon, consult with your local pest control experts. Many pest control companies offer a variety of services that include pest inspections, baiting, and non-repellent insecticides. Pest control professionals also use Integrated Pest Management strategies to target the root causes of pest problems and prevent future infestations. The National Pest Management Association has released its Spring & Summer 2024 Bug Barometer forecast, which indicates that homeowners can expect a rise in pest populations this year due to warm and rainy conditions.

Termites

The rains bring much-needed moisture to the arid landscape, and that can also create ideal conditions for pest breeding and activity. Termites, for instance, may start swarming during monsoon season, as they search for shelter to build new colonies. If not prevented in time, this could lead to serious structural damage to your home.

Depending on the species, some termite species, such as subterranean termites, produce large numbers of winged reproductive offspring, also known as swarmers or alates. These swarmers shed their wings in warm weather and begin mating to establish new colonies, and they are often the first sign of termite infestation in homes. Termites with wings can be distinguished from regular worker termites by their dark color and well-developed mandibles.

Swarming termites are often seen flying around windows or light fixtures, and they can also be found scavenging in cobwebs. They can also leave behind piles of shed wings, which should always be checked for signs of infestation. Other indicators of a termite problem include mud tunnels in crawlspace piers and hollowed-out sections of wood that look like straws.

During the monsoon season, it is best to have professional pest control services perform regular maintenance treatments for your home. These experts can use targeted treatments that focus on areas where pests are most active to prevent them from gaining access to your house. They can also help you implement a robust pest prevention plan to keep pests away in the future. This is especially true for swarming pests, such as mosquitoes and cockroaches, that require more robust preventive measures than a routine treatment can provide. This includes installing mosquito repellents, using a reliable cockroach exterminator, and making sure that all drains are free of standing water.

Scorpions

Scorpions are arachnids with eight legs and pincers, like their cousins spiders, mites, and ticks. They also have a long, segmented tail that curves over the back of their abdomen, containing a bulb-like venom gland and stinger. Scorpions are predatory arthropods, and their sting is deadly to humans and other animals.

Scorpion facts: Scorpions are found in deserts around the world. They use their claw-like pedipalps to capture prey, and then pass the little bits of flesh to their mouthparts – a pair of chelicerae. The chelicerae have pincers that rip and tear the pieces of food, and enzymes then dissolve the victim’s insides. After the scorpion swallows the meal it stings its victims with a poison that can kill them in seconds.

However, scorpions are reluctant to sting; their first instinct is to run or hide. They only sting when threatened, and even then they can control the amount of venom they inject. There are many species of scorpion, and some, such as the fat-tailed African Androctonus australis, can kill with a single sting. Other species, such as the tan scorpion (Androctonus tanus), are not lethal to humans.

In the desert, scorpions avoid extreme heat by hiding during the day in crevices and under rocks. They can stay hidden for months in the heat, but when it cools they must hunt for food.

They have amazing survival skills, too – they can slow their metabolism down to one-third the normal rate so that they use very little oxygen, and they can survive incredibly harsh climates. Researchers have frozen scorpions overnight and then put them in the sun the next day to watch them thaw out and walk away!