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September 21, 2017Pests

Rainy Day Pests and How to Eliminate Them

Rain is a good thing… but can have some not-so-good results. A rainy day (or a period of a few rainy days in a row for us Georgia residents) often brings with it a flood of unwanted pests.

Before you pack your bags and move to a less rainy state, there are a few things you can do to help with this problem.

First, you should know what to expect. Here are the top pests you can expect after a big rain shower:

• Ants
• Cockroaches
• Spiders
• Millipedes
• Mosquitoes

Why all the bugs?

You typically see more of these pests simply because their shelters were destroyed from the rain. Many times, bugs’ homes include large holes and tunnels. When these fill with water, the bugs are forced up to the ground, and are unable to return to their homes — so they choose yours instead!

When it comes to mosquitoes, it’s a whole different (and even worse) story. Mosquitoes lay eggs in damp or wet places, like birdbaths, gutters, and flower pots. The eggs lay dormant until the rain moistens them and causes them to hatch. That’s why you typically see more mosquitoes after a heavy rainfall.

The rain can also soften wood, and do you know who loves wood? Termites. This is why we always recommend keeping dead trees, firewood, and other debris away from your home.

Bugs are like most humans and other creatures in that they just don’t like getting wet. Just like we run for shelter at the first sight of a raindrop, bugs will also take cover inside — it just so happens that they take cover where they’re not invited.

How do I protect my home?

By yourself, there are a few things you can do to keep pests from entering your home after a heavy rainfall.

• Eliminate sources of standing water that may have accumulated during the last heavy rainfall. This will help reduce mosquitoes in your yard. You can also get rid of mosquitoes with a quarterly or one-time treatment of your yard.
• Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed and away from your home. This will help keep bugs outside where they belong!
• Clean gutters regularly, especially after a heavy rainfall. If you’ve ever cleaned your gutters yourself, you know you can run into plenty of bugs up there. That should be enough to convince you to keep your gutters clean year-round!
• Seal entry points. This includes cracks, crevices, screens, and more. Grab some caulk and get to sealing!

Rainy days don’t need any added stress or hassles. When you prepare your home and yard for a heavy rainfall, it becomes a lot easier to enjoy the peacefulness of a good rainfall!