Seasonal Pest Control: What to Expect Throughout the Year in North Carolina

Knowing seasonal pest control patterns in North Carolina can help you manage pests before they enter your home. Imagine preparing for spiders before you notice a web or getting rid of rodents before you ever see gnaw marks on the furniture.

The natural changes in temperature, weather, humidity, and food availability are key predictors of pest behavior.

In this guide, we’ll talk through the natural patterns of common pests, and how you can use that information to protect your home.

Why is Pest Control Seasonal?

The changing seasons affect our behavior. In summer, we spend more time outside. In winter, we prefer to stay inside where it’s warm. The pests in North Carolina behave similarly. The changes in the seasons cause them to act in predictable ways.

It’s not just about temperature. Some pests are common in specific parts of the year because that’s when their food source is most available. A pest’s natural life cycle is also a factor, you may notice more activity during their natural breeding season.

The weather also affects how pests behave. A rainy season may lead to more pests trying to enter your home for shelter. A windy season can change how well they can fly outside.

Sometimes, seasonal trends in humans directly cause seasonal trends in pests. Our behavior changes create a perfect scenario for pests to find their ways into our homes.

Common Pests by Season in North Carolina

Now that we’ve discussed what affects common pests, let’s predict what you will see throughout the year.

Common Spring Pests

1. Ants – spring is a great time for ants to grow their colonies. The weather gets warmer, food is plentiful, and it is their breeding season. Springtime also brings rain, leading them to see your home as a prime spot for a new colony.
2. Termites – you’ll notice more termite activity because their natural reproduction cycles fall in the spring months.
3. Bees – bees come out of hibernation in the spring and collect pollen and nectar from the newly bloomed flowers.

Common Summer Pests

1. Mosquitos – summertime brings North Carolina’s rainy season, and this leads to standing puddles for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
2. Fleas – fleas thrive in warm, humid weather. People are typically more active with our pets in the summer, which gives them more opportunity to attach and find their way into our homes.
3. Ticks – similar to fleas, the uptick in ticks with the summer is mostly because of human behavior. We spend more time outside, ticks use that opportunity to attach to us, and infest our homes when we return.

Common Fall Pests

1. Roaches – cockroaches are attracted to warm, humid environments. So, when the temperatures start to cool down, our warm homes seem like an inviting shelter.
2. Stink bugs – like cockroaches, stink bugs feel the temperatures dropping outside and hope to ride out the cooler months in your home.
3. Rodents – you will see an uptick of rodents in the home because they’re looking for a warm place to nest and consistent food supply.

Common Winter Pests

1. Roaches – these pests are so common in colder months that they make our list twice. They’re looking to escape the cold, so you’ll notice more cockroaches in your home.
2. Bed bugs – winter is a busy time for travel. This means you might pick up bed bugs when you fly or stay in hotels.
3. Rodents – like in the fall, rodents will continue to try and get into your home to escape the colder temperatures outside.

How to Prepare for Seasonal Pests

There are some practices you can implement in your home that can work to prevent large, seasonal infestations of these common pests.

For the Spring and Summer:

• Clean up any food waste. Vacuuming up your crumbs will help prevent ants from being attracted to your home.
• Take out the trash frequently. Ants also get attracted to the leftover food in your garbage can, so emptying it frequently makes your home less tempting.
• Trim back your plants. Keep distance between your home and any plants in your landscape, this makes it harder for termites to infest your home.
• Treat your pets. Use flea treatments on your family pet to prevent fleas from using them as a host.
• Drain any still water. Drying up any puddles or dumping out outdoor containers will give mosquitoes less places on your property to lay eggs.

For the Fall and Winter:

• Seal any cracks and holes around your property. Sealing up any entry points will prevent roaches and rodents from getting into your home.
• Keep food sealed. Roaches and rodents are looking for food sources while they ride out colder months. Keeping your food secure makes it difficult for them to infest your house.
• Inspect your hotel room. When you enter a new hotel room, remove the sheets of the bed and thoroughly check the mattress for signs of bed bugs.
• Remove any moisture. Roaches and stink bugs thrive in moist environments. Things like cleaning out your gutters and draining any puddles will make your property a less suitable home for them.

Stay Ahead of Pests

It’s important to understand that pests are not limited to one season or the other, most can present a year-round issue, especially in an environment like North Carolina. But, by identifying trends in pests throughout the year, we can work to prevent infestations before they happen.

As you go through each season of the year, think about how you can alter your behaviors in this season and the next. There are lots of things you can do on your own, but professional inspections and pest control services are an important part of protecting your home from pests.

The team at Clint Miller Exterminating has over 40 years of seasonal pest control experience they use to protect your home. Get your free quote for seasonal pest control today.