Pest Forecast: More pests may invade your home.

Weather related pest control tips: You can expect an increase in the number of pests you see this summer, plus more invasions, as these larger populations seek food. Specific pests you should watch for include: ants, outdoor cockroaches, spiders, crickets, ladybugs, yellow jackets, hornets, mice and rats.

Here's why:

• More moisture promotes pest reproduction and growth, so you have more insects! Ants, especially, reproduce in greater numbers in wet, warm climates.
• Additional pests mean a greater need for more food sources. Insects will continue to search beyond their normal habitats to find food.
• Invasions may occur as pests relocate to drier ground.

Wherelse excessive rainfall over a short period of time will flood the soil and cause insects, especially ants, to seek dry ground. Some pestsretreating from the unfavorable weather conditions will find shelter in the nearest location, which is often your home. Other facts to note:

• Ants can easily move an entire colony on short notice.
• Common areas that may become new homes overnight for ants are wall voids and under foundations.
• Excessive rain creates an abundance of ants, which increases the need for pest control services.

Pest Forecast: Pests most likely will seek water in and around your home.

Pest control tips for dry conditions

Rain will create additional pest growth, while lack of rain promotes pest invasions. If you enjoyed a dry, cool spring, chances are pests may be fewer, but they will be relentless in their pursuit of moisture for survival. Dry conditions affect pests in the following ways:

• Lack of moisture outside drives pests inside homes to find water.
• During dry weather, ants, earwigs, millipedes, pillbugs and sowbugs, crickets and spiders are the most common pests to seek waterindoors.
• Millipedes have been known to leave leaf litter, mulch or a lawn and move in migrations of thousands when their harborages dry out – inevitably invading homes that stand in their way.

Fewer pests are one benefit of a extended periods of dry weather or droughts. This affects the food supply also eliminating some insects. Here's what you can expect:

• With a reduced food supply, scorpions and certain spiders must venture beyond their normal habitats in search of a food source.
• Pests may establish breeding sites and harborages in and around your home – in debris, bricks, rocks, firewood, etc.