Warm Weather Leads to Busy Pest Season

It’s official – 2012 was the warmest year in United States history. While the sunshine and sizzling hot temperatures may have drawn people outside, the warm weather also led to the early emergence of pests.

Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), told PhillyBurbs.com, “Insects are cold blooded, so they rely on cues from Mother Nature to regulate what they should be doing. They quiet in wintertime. But warmer weather is a wake-up call to insects. A couple days of warm weather shouldn’t cause changes in their pattern. But if it continues for several weeks, we will see increased activity.”

Luckily, there are a number of measures homeowners can take to reduce infestations of common pest invaders like ants, termites, ticks and spiders. The NPMA recommends sealing cracks and crevices on the exterior of the home, eliminating standing water sources, and storing wood and building materials away from your home.