As the temperatures rise and the days get longer in spring, it’s a relief from the cold winter weather. However, one thing nobody looks forward to is dealing with pests. Unfortunately, a recent report from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is forecasting an uptick in pest activity for the upcoming spring and summer months.
The NPMA’s Bug Barometer, released bi-annually, provides insights into the expected pest populations across different regions of the United States. Expert entomologists study weather patterns, forecasts, and pest behavior to anticipate potential increases in pests like ticks, mosquitoes, ants, and cockroaches.
The report attributes the anticipated rise in pest activity to the extreme weather fluctuations experienced during winter, ranging from heavy snowfalls to unseasonably warm spells. Here’s a breakdown of what each major region can anticipate:
Northeast and New England: Warmer, wetter weather is expected to bring about an early surge of ants and ticks, with an additional increase in stinging insects during summer.
Southeast: Despite a record-breaking winter, insect populations are expected to remain high in the Southeast, with mosquitos, termites, and flies becoming more prevalent as spring turns into summer.
Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest: Ticks are predicted to emerge earlier than usual in these regions in spring, followed by increased mosquito, ant, and stinging insect activity during the hotter summer months.
North Central: While the North Central U.S. tends to be dry, an increase in rainfall will likely lead to surges in ant, cockroach, and tick populations, with the latter showing up earlier than usual due to an early spring.
South Central: Intermittent rainfall and tropical storms will create ideal conditions for mosquitoes in the South Central U.S., with ants and cockroaches seeking shelter indoors once summer brings hot and dry weather.
Northwest: The Intermountain region may experience an early tick season due to warm, wet spring weather, while earwigs and cockroaches could become common household pests in the Pacific Northwest despite lower rainfall levels.
Southwest: The Southwest’s diverse weather conditions will bring about various pest populations, with increased mosquito activity in spring and ants, cockroaches, and rodents seeking shelter indoors during the hot, dry summer months.
