After dealing with winter, there’s a good chance you’re excited for spring. You aren’t the only one anticipating warmer temperatures, so are bugs. Insect populations decline in winter, but many bugs are hiding just waiting for spring to arrive. We’ve made a list of pests that emerge in spring.
Ants
Ants spend the winter deep underground. As temperatures rise, the soil thaws allowing these pests to emerge. Ants gain more mobility as temperatures increase. Once they wake up, these bugs are hungry. Worker ants begin foraging for food to build their colonies. This can often lead them into homes where they can snack on crumbs.
Stinging Insects
Queen wasps survive winter hiding in sheltered locations. They come out in spring looking for food and a place to build a nest. Once they find the perfect spot, they work on growing the colony. Common stinging insects include paper wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and mud daubers.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are known to enter diapause during winter. They pause their growth and wait for warmer weather. In spring, they press play and become active. Mosquitoes emerge when temperatures reach and consistently stay above 50°F. Eggs laid before winter also begin hatching in spring. You can expect to find these pests near sources of water.
Fleas
While some fleas spend the winter on your pet’s fur, others won’t be spotted until spring. Fleas need warm temperatures to survive. Once spring arrives, these pests can be found in tall grass, shrubs, plants, and other organic matter. When an unsuspecting host walks by, they hop onto them.
Ticks
Many ticks are dormant in winter and become active in spring. Like fleas, these pests feed on hosts to survive. Tick species have different preferred hosts, but humans and pets can both be targeted. Ticks hide in grassy and wooded areas, which can make your yard the perfect hiding spot for these pests.
Earwigs
Though earwigs like cool and wet environments, they can’t handle being exposed to cold temperatures. That’s why they wait to emerge until spring. Once they come out, they will spend the day hiding under mulch, rocks, logs, and other yard debris. At night, they become active and seek food.
Overwintering Pests
Some pests seek shelter in homes before winter arrives. These overwintering pests begin moving around as soon as temperatures rise. You’re likely to see cluster flies, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, and boxelder bugs in your home in spring. They leave their hiding places and look for a way outside.
Bugs may enjoy the warmth of spring, but that doesn’t mean you should have to deal with them. If spring pests are bugging you, we have your back! For a more environmentally and family-friendly solution, check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.