Summer time is when everyone comes out to play, especially the bugs. This is true, both humans and the bugs react to the weather during the summer months. But us humans embrace the warm weather and long days, whereas bugs are in search for food, water, and shelter because of the heat and lack of moisture.
The state of California is experiencing the biggest drought in recorded history of droughts. That’s a problem for us as we go through the summer months. People aren’t able to water their lawn or plants, which leads to the problem of excess bugs. It’s simple. The warm weather along with the lack of moisture in the ground brings the bugs to the surface as they search for both shelter and water.
But the drought is just magnifying the overall issue. Over anything else, bugs prefer the warmth. During the winter moths most bugs go into hibernation, conserving energy for the warm months. Also, breeding for most bugs takes place as the cool air is taken over by the warmth, usually in the late spring. This means that by the summer months, new-born bugs have had time to grow and they’re searching for food, water, and shelter.
So how do you prevent the bugs from interrupting your summer? It can be a hard task to take on but below you can find a checklist of simple things to do to prevent bugs from putting a damper on your summer fun.
o Keep the lawn mowed low.
This prevents the bugs from having a safe haven from the sun.
o Clear fallen leaves from your home.
If you have leaves or other organic debris up against the structure of your home, your welcoming the bugs inside.
o Clean up spills, especially sugary drinks.
Bugs love sugar, it provides them energy and food for weeks. By cleaning up spills you take away an energy source.
o Ensure all hoses are turned off after use.
This is common sense in a drought, but it’s a must have on the list. Bugs are in constant search of moisture during the summer months, by leaving a hose on you send a welcome signal to all bugs.
Those simple tips will help you keep the bugs away from your home, but it wont solve the problem for good. Ants are the most common summer pest. If you have ants indoors, try your best to combat them yourself with over the counter pest control solutions and at home remedies. If they start to expand to multiple rooms, call a professional.
Summer is a great season and shouldn’t be ruined because of bugs. If bugs are taking over practice the simple steps above or call a professional for help. Keep in mind that you share the outdoors with them, but don’t let them take away your fun.
