Do Monsoon Storms Bring Out Bugs?

The monsoon storms in Phoenix and Tucson definitely bring out the bugs. If you want to keep them out of your home, it is helpful to understand why. In today’s blog post, we’ll look at factors that contribute to more bug sightings and infestations in Arizona homes during monsoon season, which typically occurs between June and September. If you’re less concerned with the why and want assistance eliminating pests, the Northwest Exterminating service team is here to help!

How do the monsoons affect bugs?

Water is essential for life. Like us, insects need it, and bugs thrive when the monsoons bring rain. Here’s how:

• Vegetation coverage increases, providing more habitats for bugs.
• Plant sap and nectar are more abundant, offering food sources for bugs.
• Humid and damp habitats increase, allowing bugs to thrive and reproduce more readily.
• Stagnant water resources provide breeding sites for mosquitoes and other organisms.
• Thriving insect populations offer ample food for bugs that need protein.
• Warm weather combined with humidity can activate breeding and ignite the beginning of new life cycles for many bugs.

The desert can be harsh for living creatures, even those well adapted to dry conditions. However, the water resources and humidity that result from significant rainfall create the perfect conditions for bugs to thrive.

How does this help you keep pests out during monsoon season?

Understanding the connection between pests and moisture is a good starting point for pest prevention. Let's look at a few specific pests in our area.

• Earwigs
  Damp conditions give earwigs the moisture they need for their bodies. It also dampens vegetation and can lead to decaying plant matter, a favorite food source for these bugs. Earwigs also eat the aphids, mites, and caterpillars that feed on decaying plant matter.
• Spiders
  All spiders are predators. Some make webs to catch their prey, while others hunt for food. Spiders find plenty of food options in damp environments, where bug activity is higher. They also find plenty of places to get a drink of water.
• Scorpions
  These stinging pests thrive when more food is available. Like spiders, they eat other bugs, and more bugs always result in more scorpions. They're also attracted to damp or humid environments, which provide ideal habitation from the hot sun.    
• Ants
  As with other pests mentioned here, food and water availability are prime factors for activity and population growth. However, it is important to understand that some ant species don't respond well to too much rain. Lots of water can mean lower activity, depending on the species. One thing rain does for all ants is it often drives them into structures.  
• Mosquitoes
  Many mosquito species lay eggs in stagnant water. When we get monsoon rains, we see a substantial spike in mosquito populations, particularly a week and a half after rainstorms. It takes about that amount of time for mosquitoes to develop into "flying" adults.  

Do these facts provide you with some ideas as to how you can prevent pest problems? Continue reading for tips on how to keep pests out of your home during monsoon season.

Simple pest prevention tips for Phoenix and Tucson homeowners

• Trim grass and other vegetation to reduce humidity.
• Remove any objects in your yard that can collect rainwater and hold it for a week or longer.
• Address weeds to reduce nectar and plant sap as food sources for insects.
• Seal gaps and cracks in your exterior in advance of monsoon storms to help keep pests from entering.
• Replace weatherproofing to deter pests from finding their way to dry interior spaces.

How a home pest control service plan can help

When you have a home pest control plan in place, you do not have to worry about bugs and rodents entering your home during the monsoons or any other time of year. In fact, when you sign up for home pest control services with Northwest Exterminating, you receive:

• Four seasonal pest control services.
• Exterior pest treatments.
  Indoor pest treatments, if necessary.
• Free re-treatments if covered pests show back up in your home.

We also offer a preventative pest solution for desert communities

Northwest Exterminating, an industry-leading pest management service provider, also offers a distinctive solution for our unique desert environment. Check out our Desert Guard page to see how we target common vulnerabilities to keep desert pests out.

Contact Northwest Exterminating today!

When you want the highest level of pest control for an affordable price, you don't have to decide between services. You can have both. Contact Northwest Exterminating today; it is the best way to deal with the increase in bug activity during monsoon season.