NPMA Fall Pest Forecast For Virginia & Southeast U.S.
Fall is here, and it won’t be long before winter arrives. This means it is time to look to the Bug Barometer and see what we can expect from pests in our part of the country. What is the Bug Barometer? It is a bi-annual pest forecast put out by the National Pest Management Association. Their on-staff entomologists and industry experts look at prevailing weather patterns and correlate them to pest activity. Let's look at what they have to say about fall pest pressures in Richmond and throughout Virginia as well as the Southeast.
What does the Bug Barometer say?
The country's southeast region is experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures and above-average rainfall. If these persist, here are the pests you can expect to see.
- Ants
Water is a building block of life, but too much water can saturate the ground and drive ants into our homes. - Cockroaches
Cockroaches are highly motivated by moisture. They are always on the lookout for damp habitats, such as those provided underneath damp leaf litter. Elevated moisture always results in more cockroach activity. - Mosquitoes
These insects benefit the most from the extra water we've been getting. Many mosquito species lay their eggs in stagnant water resources, such as ground puddles.
Along with moisture, warmth plays a role in pest activity. Insects are cold-blooded, which means they change temperature with the weather. When it is cold, they slow down. In Richmond, Charlottesville, Roanoke, and surrounding areas, it gets cold enough to cause insects to go into dormancy. Warm temperatures have the opposite effect. They get insects moving. When insects are busy, they do what insects do: mate, reproduce, and grow. This is a recipe for population growth.
What can you do about insect activity near your home?
When ants, cockroaches, and other insects are busy near your home, it is vital to take steps to deter them. While you can't do much about the warmth, you can address moist conditions. Here are some examples of what you can do:
- Remove gutter clogs to allow rainwater to channel down and away from your home.
- Cut the grass near your home to reduce humidity.
- Remove leaves, weeds, sticks, and other organic debris.
- Install a vapor barrier in your crawl space.
It is also important to remove stagnant water so mosquitoes can't easily breed on your property. One female mosquito can lay a hundred eggs in a half inch of water. Here are a few places where she might do this:
- Buckets and other miscellaneous items that collect water.
- Dense soil in an overwatered plant pot.
- Cups or bowls left out around cookout areas.
- Kiddie pools, dump trucks, and other things children play with in the yard.
- Bird baths that do not have circulation pumps.
How to keep pests out of your home
Ants, cockroaches, and other pests get into homes through cracks and gaps. Here are a few common entry points they use:
- Gaps underneath exterior doors.
- Gaps around doors where weatherstripping is damaged.
- Cracks in foundation walls.
- Through rotting or damaged wood.
- Openings between foundation slabs and plates.
- Gaps around utilities.
- Damaged screens.
Inspect your home for these potential entry points and take steps to address them. Replace weather-proofing materials. Use a caulking gun to seal frames and fill in small holes. Use expanding foam to fill in larger holes.
A professional solution for mosquito reduction
If we continue to have extra moisture and warmth, mosquito pressures will remain high. While you can deter mosquitoes by addressing stagnant water and moisture, professional mosquito control is the most effective way to deter these pests and prevent bites. Contact your Evergreen Pest Solutions team. We provide one-time treatments or seasonal mosquito control between April and October.
As you consider whether to get mosquito control, keep in mind that there are other added benefits. Mosquito control also gives you control over fleas and ticks in your yard. The control material we use addresses all three of these pests—all of which can spread diseases to pets and humans. Contact us to learn more or to start service.
Sign up for year-round pest protection with Evergreen!
Every fall, we have elevated pest issues in our area. When temperatures drop, insects, spiders, centipedes, rodents, and other pests get inside. This is the time of year to take the steps that will keep them out. But remember, you're never alone when it comes to home pest control. Our Premium Seasonal Pest Control plan provides superior, ongoing pest protection. The pest treatments we use were developed by pest industry experts and are field-tested. Here's what you can expect from Premium Seasonal Pest Control:
- Professional pest inspections.
- Treatments to baseboards in your home and garage.
- Dusting applied to plumbing, beams, and your crawlspace.
- An exterior perimeter treatment is applied three feet high and three feet out from your foundation.
- Removal of spider webs.
- Cracks and crevice treatments around your driveway and walkways.
- And more!
Now is a good time to get started; contact us today to learn more. We look forward to helping you protect your home and family from nuisance and potentially harmful pests!
