Rid-a-Bug Exterminating Blog

At Rid-A-Bug, we've been helping residents handle seasonal pest problems since 1972, and we've seen how summer conditions create ideal breeding grounds for various pests. Understanding these common summer invaders and knowing how to prevent them can save you time, money, and stress during the warmer months.

Let's explore the eight most common summer pests in our region and the most effective ways to keep them from disrupting your seasonal enjoyment.

1. Ticks: Tiny Pests with Big Health Risks

Ticks become particularly active during summer months, posing significant health risks to both humans and pets. These small arachnids thrive in heavily wooded areas, tall grass, and overgrown vegetation, where they wait for hosts to brush past.

Why Ticks Are Problematic

Ticks are more than just a nuisance—they're potential disease carriers. In our region, ticks can transmit:

• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Ehrlichiosis
• Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)

Once attached, ticks can feed for several days if undisturbed. The longer they remain attached, the higher the risk of disease transmission.

Effective Tick Control Measures

To minimize tick encounters around your property:

• Keep grass mowed to 3 inches or shorter
• Remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns
• Create a 3-foot wide barrier of gravel or wood chips between lawns and wooded areas
• Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees
• Remove old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide

When outdoors in tick-prone areas:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin
• Check your body thoroughly after being outdoors, especially under arms, in and around ears, inside belly button, behind knees, between legs, around waist, and in hair

Remember that pets can bring ticks into your home, so consult with your veterinarian about appropriate tick prevention products for your animals.

2. Bees & Wasps: Balancing Protection and Control

As temperatures rise, stinging insects become more visible and active. While many bees play crucial roles in our ecosystem as pollinators, some species—particularly wasps—can pose risks when nesting near human activity areas.

Understanding Different Stinging Insects

It's important to distinguish between different types of stinging insects:

• Honeybees: Vital pollinators that generally only sting when threatened
• Bumblebees: Important pollinators that rarely sting unless their nest is threatened
• Paper wasps: Build open-comb nests and can be moderately aggressive
• Yellow jackets: Ground-nesting wasps that are highly aggressive when disturbed
• Hornets: Build large enclosed paper nests and can be very aggressive

Management Approaches

When dealing with stinging insects, consider these guidelines:

• For bees: Since many bee species are beneficial and some are endangered, professional relocation is often the best approach. At Rid-A-Bug, we coordinate with local beekeepers to safely relocate honeybee colonies.
• For wasps and hornets: Professional removal is strongly recommended, as these insects can sting repeatedly and often respond aggressively when their nest is threatened.

To prevent nesting around your home:

• Seal holes and cracks in home exteriors
• Keep outdoor food covered and trash cans tightly sealed
• Repair damaged window screens and door sweeps
• Remove sources of standing water
• Keep sweet drinks covered when outdoors

3. Termites: The Silent Destroyers

While termites remain active year-round in our region, summer's warmth and moisture create perfect conditions for swarms and new colony establishment. In the Carolinas and Virginia, subterranean termites are the most common species, and they can cause extensive structural damage before being detected.

Warning Signs of Termite Activity

Watch for these indicators of possible termite infestation:

• Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawl spaces
• Discarded wings near windowsills or doors
• Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
• Bubbling or uneven paint on wood surfaces
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Frass (termite droppings) that look like small pellets

Effective Termite Management

Termite control requires comprehensive, professional treatment strategies:

• Professional inspection to determine infestation extent
• Complete colony elimination using targeted treatments
• Termidor or similar non-repellent treatments that termites carry back to their colonies
• Preventative barriers to protect against future infestations
• Regular monitoring for new activity

Do-it-yourself treatments generally fail to reach the queen and entire colony, often resulting in continued damage. At Rid-A-Bug, we use Termidor, a non-repellent that allows termites to spread the treatment throughout their colonies for comprehensive elimination.

4. Carpenter Ants: Wood Destroyers by a Different Method

Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood—they excavate it to create nesting galleries. However, the resulting structural damage can be significant if left untreated.

Identifying Carpenter Ant Problems

Look for these signs of carpenter ant activity:

• Large black or red-and-black ants in your home (typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch long)
• Small piles of wood shavings (frass) that look like sawdust
• Rustling sounds within walls
• Hollow-sounding wood structures
• Visible galleries or tunnels in wood when broken open

Controlling Carpenter Ants

Effective management requires:

• Locating and treating the main nest and satellite colonies
• Eliminating moisture problems that attract these ants
• Removing dead tree stumps and rotting wood near the home
• Keeping firewood stored away from the house
• Trimming tree branches and shrubs away from the home's exterior

As with termites, professional treatment is recommended for complete elimination and prevention of future infestations.

5. Carpenter Bees: The Wood-Boring Pollinators

Carpenter bees are important pollinators but can cause damage to wooden structures by drilling perfectly round 1/2-inch holes to create nesting tunnels.

Recognizing Carpenter Bee Activity

Watch for:

• Perfect circular holes in wood surfaces, especially on fascia boards, eaves, decks, and wooden furniture
• Pollen stains below entrance holes
• Large bees hovering near wood surfaces (males cannot sting but may act aggressively)

Managing Carpenter Bees

To protect your property while respecting these beneficial insects:

• Paint or varnish exposed wood surfaces (they prefer bare wood)
• Fill existing holes after ensuring they're unoccupied (usually in fall or winter)
• Use treated wood for outdoor structures when possible
• Consider providing carpenter bee houses away from your home

For serious infestations, professional treatment may be necessary to prevent structural damage.

6. Fleas: Tiny Jumpers, Big Problems

Summer's heat and humidity create ideal breeding conditions for fleas, which can quickly infest pets and homes. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, making prompt treatment essential.

Comprehensive Flea Control

Effective flea management requires a multi-faceted approach:

• Treat all pets with veterinarian-recommended flea prevention
• Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, disposing of vacuum bags in sealed containers
• Wash pet bedding, throw rugs, and other fabrics in hot water
• Treat your yard, focusing on shady areas where pets rest
• Consider professional treatment for home interiors if infestations are severe

Remember that flea eggs and pupae are resistant to many treatments, so follow-up applications are often necessary to break the life cycle.

7. Rodents: Seeking Shelter from Summer Storms

While rodents are year-round pests, summer thunderstorms and heavy rains often drive them to seek shelter in homes and outbuildings. A single pair of mice can produce up to 15,000 offspring in one year if conditions are favorable.

Signs of Rodent Presence

Watch for these indicators:

• Droppings, especially near food sources
• Gnaw marks on food packaging, wires, or wood
• Nesting materials like shredded paper or fabric
• Scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings, especially at night
• Musky odors from urine marking

Effective Rodent Management

To prevent and address rodent problems:

• Seal gaps around pipes, vents, and cables entering your home
• Store food in glass or metal containers with tight lids
• Keep pet food in sealed containers and don't leave it out overnight
• Move outdoor trash bins away from your home's exterior
• Eliminate water sources like leaky pipes and standing water

Professional treatment is recommended for established infestations, as it addresses not only current rodent populations but also entry points and attractants.

8. Mosquitoes: Summer's Buzzing Nuisance

No discussion of summer pests would be complete without mentioning mosquitoes. With over 170 species in North America and the ability to develop from egg to adult in just 10-14 days, mosquitoes can quickly become overwhelming during warm, wet months.

Health Risks and Prevention

Mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases, including:

• West Nile virus
• Eastern equine encephalitis
• La Crosse encephalitis
• Zika virus (in some regions)

To reduce mosquito populations around your property:

• Eliminate standing water in flowerpots, bird baths, gutters, and other containers
• Keep gutters clean and properly functioning
• Maintain swimming pools and regularly run pool pumps
• Use mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) in water features
• Keep lawn and vegetation trimmed
• Use fans on outdoor living spaces (mosquitoes are weak flyers)

For severe problems, professional mosquito management services can provide season-long relief with targeted treatments.

Summer Pest Prevention: Proactive Measures

The best approach to summer pest management is prevention. Here are key strategies to minimize pest problems:

Home Maintenance

• Seal cracks and gaps in your home's exterior
• Repair damaged screens on windows and doors
• Fix leaky pipes and eliminate sources of standing water
• Keep kitchen areas clean and food properly stored
• Reduce clutter that provides hiding places for pests

Yard Maintenance

• Keep grass trimmed and vegetation well-maintained
• Remove leaf litter and debris regularly
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground
• Trim tree branches and shrubs away from your home
• Use yellow "bug lights" for outdoor lighting (they attract fewer insects)

Travel Precautions

• Inspect hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs before unpacking
• Keep luggage elevated and away from beds and walls
• Check clothing and luggage before returning home
• Wash clothing in hot water after traveling

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Pests

• Are there more pests in summer than other seasons?

Yes, most pests reproduce more rapidly during summer months due to favorable temperature and moisture conditions. Additionally, many insects emerge from dormancy or eggs during this time, leading to noticeable population increases.

• How can I enjoy my backyard despite mosquitoes?

Strategic timing (avoiding dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active), using fans in outdoor spaces, wearing appropriate clothing, applying EPA-approved repellents, and considering professional mosquito treatments can all help make your backyard more enjoyable.

• Do DIY pest control methods work for serious infestations?

While some DIY methods can help with minor pest issues, they rarely address the root causes or reach hidden nests and colonies. Professional pest management provides comprehensive solutions that target entire pest populations and helps prevent future problems.

• How can I tell the difference between termites and carpenter ants?

Termites have straight antennae, uniform waists, and equal-length wings, while carpenter ants have bent antennae, pinched waists, and front wings longer than back wings. Additionally, termite damage contains soil and mud, while carpenter ant damage looks clean and smooth.

• Are all summer pests harmful?

No, many insects play beneficial roles in our ecosystem. Bees and other pollinators are essential for plant reproduction, many insects serve as food for birds and other wildlife, and some even help control harmful pest populations. It's important to correctly identify pests before taking control measures.

Protect Your Summer with Professional Pest Management

While these prevention tips can help reduce pest problems, established infestations often require professional intervention. At Rid-A-Bug, we've been providing effective, environmentally responsible pest management solutions since 1972. Our experienced technicians can develop customized treatment plans to address your specific pest concerns while minimizing impacts on beneficial organisms.

Don't let pests ruin your summer enjoyment. Contact Rid-A-Bug today at 1-800-682-5901 or visit our contact page to schedule an inspection or treatment.