Summary: Spring is almost here, so the pest population is about to increase ten-fold. This blog explores the main reasons why there are so many more pests in the spring, as well as the easiest ways to prevent them from invading homes and businesses. Pointe Pest Control provides reliable pest control for every season’s pest worries.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring, the season of growth. We can think of several things that continuously grow throughout the spring:
- The outside temperature
- The greenery, including flowers, plants, and tree branches
- The number of birds hatching from their cozy eggs
- The amount of pollen in the air (and up our noses)
- The number of bugs and spiders in any given area
That last point is more concerning than the others. After all, we don’t want to go through the hassle of spring cleaning just for these new pests to make a mess of everything! But why are there more pests — or what feels like more pests — in spring in the first place? Let’s explore the main reasons why pests are so much more active when spring hits!
Warm Temperatures
The increased activity of most pests can be traced back to one simple fact of ecology. When the sun is out for longer stretches of time, the soil that’s in direct sunlight warms up. This motivates all of the insects and spiders that overwintered in soil to emerge from the warm dirt. Since these pests are cold-blooded, higher temperatures give them more energy.
Another factor to remember is that a mild winter usually results in a busy spring for pests. When there’s not a lot of snow and ice that need to melt, pests don’t have to wait long to be active. Insects and spiders have faster metabolisms in warmer weather, so they’re more desperate to find reliable food sources in the spring and summer.
More Daylight
This goes hand-in-hand with the previous reason. Warmer temperatures correlate with more daylight hours, which give pests more time for everything. Spring is often the breeding season for many pests because they need time to reproduce far in advance of the future cold months. Between mating, foraging, and nesting, pests have plenty of activities to fill their spring days.
In general, the increasing hours of daylight tell pests that they need to get to work. Sunlight equals safety in their minds, so they feel more protected from adverse weather and predators. If you’re wondering how nocturnal pests cope with less darkness, don’t worry. They broaden their active hours to be from dusk to dawn since the warm weather keeps them from freezing.
Added Moisture
“April showers bring May flowers” doesn’t just apply to plant life. For moisture-loving pests, spring rain is another benefit of the season. The water that collects in the yard and gutters are perfect water sources for thirsty pests, especially right after they emerge from their winter shelters. If it’s humid after a storm, you can bet that roaches, mosquitoes, and termites are loving it.
The additional moisture also comes from soil as it thaws and becomes humid on warmer days. This helps garden pests by giving them a moisture-rich place to hide when they aren’t busy terrorizing our plants. But all of this extra water isn’t enough to keep critters out of trouble. Many pests (ants, rodents, etc.) want shelter from rainstorms, which leads them straight to our homes.
Blooming Greenery
Blossoming flowers and budding tree leaves are the most popular features associated with spring, and pests are fans of these too! All of the pests that overwintered are hungry for fresh food, and it just so happens to be the growing season when they emerge. Some pests, like garden pests, prefer to eat and live in the same small area — which means trouble for us.
Young flowers, fruits, vegetables, and leaves are the most at risk of being invaded by pests. They’re not yet strong or hearty, so they don’t have the ability to fight off infestations. A plant’s worst enemies in spring are aphids, caterpillars, beetles, and stink bugs. They’re also visited by pollinators, like butterflies and bees, but these pests are more helpful than hurtful.
Active People
When we’re outside more often, we see more pests. This is simply because we’re spending more time in their natural habitat, so it feels like there’s a million more bugs than there were before. Spring is rife with outdoor activities for us to enjoy. Hikes, outdoor sports, and backyard barbecues are all fun, but they put us right in the path of energetic pests.
There are two main reasons why we see more pests when we’re outside. One is that these pests can be pretty aggressive at first, due to the fact that they went without good food and the company of other pests during the winter. The second reason is that bloodsucking pests can’t wait to get their hands (or mouths) on new food, ticks and mosquitoes being the worst.
Accessible Food
Speaking of new food, pests have way more options for food now than in the winter. Plant growth and people’s outdoor activities both add to the growing number of food sources for hungry pests. When pests have a reliable food source, they won’t willingly stay away from the sustenance. They either deplete the source or have to be eliminated (by a professional, ideally).
The fact that plants provide pests with food is clear by now, but humans play a pretty big part in giving pests access to food. Outdoor parties, picnics, and barbecues all make it easy for pests to get their meals. We’re basically bringing food straight to the very pests we want to avoid! That’s why it’s more important than ever to protect your party food from hungry pests.
The Secrets to a Pest-Free Spring
Pests may be more active in the spring, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your space! Preparation and awareness are essential in preventing spring pests from taking over your home. All of our favorite methods for pest prevention are basic chores that might already be on your to-do list. If not, we highly recommend adding these to your chore rotation.
The most efficient way to prevent springtime pests are:
- Seal Entry Points — The first step to keeping pests out is to seal up your home. Inspect the exterior of your house for new cracks and gaps. Seal small openings with waterproof caulk, and fill larger holes with steel wool before lining with caulk.
- Check Door/Window Screens — Fresh air is great, but check your window and door screens before opening up the house. Patch small holes with extra screen material, and replace screens that have a lot of gaps and rips.
- Store Food Properly — Pests are always looking for easy food sources, so it’s important to make your food difficult for them to find. Store all opened snacks and baking essentials (flour, sugars, cereal, nuts, grains, etc.) in airtight containers with good lids.
- Eliminate Standing Water — Mosquitoes need water for their eggs, and you do not want your yard to be their breeding site. Anything (yard decor, buckets, etc.) that collects rainwater should be emptied out. If your lawn isn’t draining well, look into aeration and other solutions.
- Trim Back Plants — When plants touch the house, they act as highways for pests to wander straight up to your home. Trim back all plants, bushes, and tree branches from the house by at least one foot. Also, mowing the lawn and weeding the yard helps a lot in preventing pests.
- Protect Your Pet’s Food — Pests aren’t just after “human” food; many species love protein-packed dog and cat foods. After your pet finishes eating, store their dish until the next meal. If your pet is a messy eater (most of them are), clean up stray food crumbs and spills.
Springtime is Pointe’s Time to Shine!
You don’t have to fear the rise in pest activity this spring when Pointe Pest Control is on your side! Our licensed technicians solve each pest problem by assessing the issue and targeting active pests with the proper treatments. We do not believe in a generic approach to pest control, where the technician just sprays some chemicals around the property. Instead, we get to the root of each pest problem with a customized combination of treatments. We implement long-term solutions that continue to protect your home long after the service ends.
Safeguard your home from pests this spring and contact us for a free quote on our reliable services today!
Citations
Pan, L. (2025, February 15). Why are pests more active in the spring and summer?. LinkedIn. Available at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-pests-more-active-spring-summer-leven-pan–tbvlc (Accessed on March 7, 2025).
The link between spring weather and pest activity. (n.d.). HonorGuard. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://honorguardpest.com/the-link-between-spring-weather-and-pest-activity/
Why are there more bugs in the spring? (2020, February). Children’s Museum Indianapolis. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://www.childrensmuseum.org/stories/why-more-bugs-spring
